One evening, a 19-year-old male college student was injured at his part-time job. He contacted the Law Office of Matthew A. Lathrop because he thought the workers’ compensation insurer was treating him unfairly. After he came in, Matthew learned that the teenager not only had a workers’ compensation claim but also a significant claim against the trucking company.
The Night of the Accident
On the night of the accident, the teenager went outside to help unload a semi-truck delivery. There was an awkward and narrow path for the truck to get to the loading dock. The teen was standing on the loading dock when he was hit by the truck that was going in reverse.
He was pinned between the truck’s back bumper and the railing of the loading platform for several minutes. As the truck pinned him, the teen heard his bones breaking. The pain of a crushed pelvis and other injuries was overwhelming. He screamed, then a co-worker heard him and notified the trucker.
Why the Truck Company Settled
The accident happened around 9 p.m. The trucker had started his day around 6 a.m. and traveled to multiple states by the time he arrived at our client’s workplace. His logs were in compliance with federal regulations, but it was a long day and he was tired.
First, Matt got to work straightening out the client’s workers’ compensation benefits. Quickly, his employer stepped up to pay his medical bills.
Turning to the trucking case, Matthew hired an expert on trucking rules to determine what happened and whether the trucking company could be at fault for the teen’s injuries. According to the expert, a trucker has a responsibility to know if people are around the truck before he backs into a loading dock. The only way a trucker can know if people are around is to get out of the truck and walk around it to make sure the area is clear. If anyone is in the area, it is the trucker’s responsibility to tell them where to stand so that they are safe.
During his deposition, the trucker admitted that it is his job to know if people are around. He knew our client was nearby, but he did not get out and check on his specific location.
After the deposition, the trucking company agreed to settle our client’s case for a confidential amount of money.
The Accident Cost Our Client a Year of His Life
At the time of the accident, our client was working part-time while going to college as a full-time computer engineering student.
He was hospitalized for an extended amount of time after the crash. He had surgery, but he has suffered permanent nerve problems that still affect him during high impact exercise or running.
After the accident, he couldn’t work, he couldn’t go to school, and he couldn’t live on his own. He had to move back in with his parents. He ended up graduating college a year later than he otherwise would have if not for the truck accident.
The truck accident settlement not only compensated him for his damages, but it also made him feel heard.
All Truck Accident Victims Deserve to Be Heard
If you are hurt in a Nebraska truck accident, you deserve to be heard by your attorney, the trucking company, and, if necessary, the court. Call the Law Offices of Matthew A. Lathrop today for a free, no-obligation consultation to see how we may be able to help you.