$100M legal responsibility judgment towards Werner upheld regardless of attraction
An appeals court docket in Texas upheld a $100 million judgment towards Werner for a 2014 crash that killed one baby and paralyzed one other.
The crash occurred throughout a winter storm on December thirtieth on Interstate 20 in Texas. A jury discovered Werner and the truck driver answerable for the incident in 2018, awarding the victims greater than $100 million in damages. The ruling was upheld on Thursday, Might 18th in a Texas appeals court docket.
The automotive concerned within the incident was driving alongside I-20 throughout the winter storm when it misplaced management, crossed a 42-foot-wide grassy median, and collided with a Werner semi truck. Werner was discovered to be 70% answerable for accidents sustained within the crash, the motorist was discovered 16% accountable, and the truck driver was discovered to be 14% accountable.
Within the attraction opinion, it was famous that the crash occurred on black ice throughout a winter storm warning. The truck driver was touring at about 50 mph when the motorist misplaced management. The appeals court docket identified testimony suggesting that the truck driver ought to have been touring round 15 mph on the time of the wreck and may have even gotten off of the freeway.
Lawyer’s for the victims household additionally argue that Werner’s security methods and insurance policies in place on the time have been insufficient for the state of affairs. The truck driver had been out of trucking faculty for less than seven days on the time of the wreck, and was not allowed to make use of a CB radio as per Werner coverage.
