Head-on collision of two dump trucks results in death of both drivers 

On Aug. 4, 2021, the defendant was driving a commercial dump truck on Moores Chapel Road in Mecklenburg County, N.C. According to plaintiff attorney Mark S. Jetton Jr., the defendants dump truck veered off the right side of the road and then made an abrupt over correction from the right shoulder into the opposing lane, colliding into the 26-year-old plaintiff’s vehicle head on.

Dixon

At the time of the accident, the plaintiff was on the job also driving a company dump truck. The head-on collision between the two dump trucks caused the plaintiff’s vehicle to catch fire. Plaintiff and defendant were both pronounced dead on scene. According to an autopsy report, the plaintiff’s probable cause of death was found to be thermal injuries, with a time of death proximately 18 minutes after the collision, information which Jetton reported to be vital in proving suffering.  

“One of the main arguments that I made in the case was just the horrific nature of this death,” Jetton said. “Based on the autopsy, what was found was that he didn’t immediately die on impact but was killed by burning to death. So, we thought the autopsy report was a very key piece of evidence.” 

Jetton

The plaintiff’s estate settled for $3 million on Sep. 1, 2022.  

Many details of this case have been withheld due to a confidentiality agreement.  

Is this a verdict or a settlement? Settlement
Type of case: Motor vehicle wreck
Amount: Single Limit Policy Limits Paid Property Damage and Personal Injury Settlement totaled at 3 million 
Injuries alleged: Death
Case name: Confidential
Court: Mecklenburg County, NC 
Case No.: Confidential
Date of settlement: September 1, 2022
Demand: Policy Limits
Insurance carrier: Confidential
Attorney(s) for plaintiff and their firm(s): Mark S. Jetton Jr. of Jetton & Meredith, PLLC, and Ronard Dixon of Dixon & Hall, PLLC
Attorney(s) for defendant and their firm(s): Confidential
Was the opposing represented by counsel? Yes
Were liability and/or damages contested?  Damages Contested 
Has the judgment been successfully collected? Yes