Commercial vehicle crash claims life of wife, mother: $3.99 million settlement

Action: Wrongful death

Injuries alleged:

Case name: Withheld

Court/case no.: Withheld

Mediator: Rene Trehy

Amount: $3.99 million

Date: Withheld

Most helpful experts: Sean Dennis, accident research specialist, and J.C. Poindexter, economist.

Attorneys: Names of Plaintiffs’ Counsel: Kevin J. Williams of Law Office of Kevin J. Williams, Winston-Salem, and Douglas B. Abrams and Margaret S. Abrams of Abrams & Abrams, Raleigh (for the plaintiff).

A young woman was driving to work when a commercial motor vehicle suddenly pulled out in front of her. She had no time to avoid collision and was killed in the crash. She was survived by her husband and a child.

The commercial vehicle’s driver was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

The parties engaged in substantial pre-suit discovery, including the retention of accident reconstruction experts. The estate also retained an economist and a production company to interview family members to show the impact of the loss of the wife and mother.

There were $1 million general commercial liability and $3 million excess policies available. The parties participated in a pre-suit mediation in 2023. As a condition precedent, the insurance company offered its $1 million general commercial liability policy before the mediation. The parties settled about 1½ weeks after mediation for the total amount of $3,999,999.