$5.28 Million
Plaintiffs were proceeding straight on Louisiana Highway 28 West into Alexandria when a dump truck failed to yield at a median and caused an intersectional collision. the impact caused the plaintiff’s vehicle, which was carrying four members of a family, to roll several times before coming to rest on its rooftop. The two rear-seat passengers sustained minor injuries compared to the injuries of the two occupants of the vehicle’s front seats. The plaintiff-driver suffered serious knee and back injuries that necessitated a knee replacement and spinal stimulator. The 86-year-old front-seat passenger had pre-existing health issues and dementia. That plaintiff sustained a broken leg, sternal fracture, and aggravation of the dementia and died two months after the wreck. The dump truck driver did not have the required commercial driver’s license. He testified that he did not see the plaintiff’s vehicle prior to the wreck even though the weather was clear and his vision was not obstructed. The defendant stipulated to liability several weeks before the scheduled trial. A court-conducted settlement conference two days later resulted in settlement of all claims for $5.28 million.