SANTA CLARA JURY AWARDS MAN $49 MILLION IN PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES FOR ACCIDENT ON PACHECO PASS WITH TWO TRUCKS
It takes an experienced individual to drive a big rig truck because of the large size of the vehicle, the length of time that the drivers are required to drive, and the lack of maneuverability of the vehicle. Drivers go through training and testing in order to drive these vehicles, but may be on the road for upwards of 12 hours a day. Although there are regulations on the number of hours drivers may spend on the road at each time, there is still considerable pressure on the drivers to arrive at their destination on time. Sometimes these types of pressures and restraints cause the drivers to act negligently and may result in injury to someone else.
A Santa Clara County jury awarded Drew Bianchi $49 million in damages after an accident in 2007 on Pacheco Pass. The stretch of the road on which the accident occurred is known as “blood alley” because of the conditions of the road and the number of accidents that occur there. Bianchi was in a car with three other people when two trucks collided into each other in the center lane of the highway. One of the trucks struck the back of Bianchi’s vehicle; the accident left him permanently brain damaged. The lawsuit was against the two truck drivers and their employers. One of the employers settled with Bianchi for $2 million, which left its driver alone at trial.
The jury also found Caltrans (the state transportation agency) 5% responsible for the accident because of its failure to improve conditions on the road. One of the drivers also acted negligently in part because he was talking on a cell phone at the time of the accident. Although Bianchi’s future health care will be taken care of by the damages awarded to him in this lawsuit, he will never be able to accomplish his dream of becoming a doctor. We may not be able to reverse your injury, but the attorneys of Greenberg & Rudman LLP may be able to represent you and help protect your rights. We can help you obtain compensation for your injuries, so call us now at 1-800-252-9776 (1-800-ALAWPRO) for a free and confidential consultation of your case. You can also go to www.alawpro.com to read more about trucking accidents and brain and spinal cord injuries.
