Two brothers who were seriously injured in a 2014 collision with a semi-trailer truck in Mojave, California, have commenced litigation to recover damages for their injuries. The lawsuit has been filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against CRST, a trucking company that is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
According to the complaint, the big rig crossed the center line and struck the car carrying the two brothers. The attorney for the brothers said that they both received serious injuries and are still receiving treatment, including a number of surgical procedures.
The central claim in the case is the allegation that CRST was negligent in failing to properly investigate the driver’s background before hiring him. The attorney said that the driver had been arrested eight times and charged with crimes ranging from DUI to theft to possession of drug paraphernalia. The complaint alleges that CRST knew or should have known about these arrests before employing the driver and allowing the driver to operate the company’s trucks. The complaint seeks damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and punitive damages in the amount of $350 million. The actual amount of damages will be determined by the jury at trial. CRST has denied all allegations of negligence on its part.
Trucking companies are legally required to use due care when they hire drivers, and their failure to do so has given rise to many lawsuits. Anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one in a collision involving a commercial trucker may wish to consult an attorney who handles accident cases. An experienced lawyer can provide advice on the law and facts of the case and give an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages.
Source: Cedar Rapids Gazette, “More than $350 million lawsuit filed against CRST,” Mitchell Schmidt, Feb. 6, 2017