A jury in Illinois has awarded the widow of a man killed in an accident involving a truck a whopping $22.7 million. Another trucker injured in the accident has been awarded $12.4 million.
In May of 2012, Aaron Swenson was stuck in traffic on the Tri-State Tollway in the suburbs of Chicago due to construction when a commercial vehicle rear-ended him going approximately 57 miles per hour and sent his vehicle crashing into the truck in front of him. The impact was so powerful that it triggered a five-car collision.
The vehicle which caused the accident was driven by defendant Adam Troy, who tested positive for multiple different drugs in his system despite the accident occurring before 8 am. Investigators found that Troy had not applied the brakes before the accident and, according to the crash data recorders on board, he had actually accelerated within three seconds of impact.
Aaron Swenson was not the only victim in the accident however. Joseph LeSanche, the 22-year-old driver of the truck in front of him, endured serious back injuries which now leave him with chronic pain.
After the accident, Aaron Swenson’s wife, Theresa Swenson, and LeSanche tried to settle the case out of court, but the carrier, Hussmann Corp., refused, insisting that the case go to trial. Nearly four years later, once the case was finally heard, it took a jury just three hours of deliberation to award Theresa Swenson $22.7 million and LeSanche $12.4 million.
The case took so long to be resolved, that Theresa Swenson had time to go to law school, graduate, and pass the bar exam before the trial even began. She now plans to do work helping others in similar situations.
According to Theresa Swenson’s lawyer, though she is satisfied by the verdict, she doesn’t consider it a win.
“She didn’t want to be in court. She wanted her husband,” her lawyer said according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. “It’s not a victory for her, and she doesn’t feel that way because she would rather have her husband back.”
Source: truckinginfo, cookcountyrecord, chicagolawbulletin, stltoday, abc7chicago
Jack says
I hope the Perp is rotting in Prison for Murder!
Jerry says
Drugs and big trucks, who would ever think that was a good idea.
jeff pearson says
First this is why you as a small trucking company.. Aka owner operatot incorporate your company..
Second one who takes drugs whether it is mirijuana or LSD should not be allowed behind the wheel of any kind of vehicle including a bike.. Somebody knew that this guy had a problem.. But didnt want to say anything.. So now every driver is going to be thought as a drugie murderer.. And the lower into that barrel goes EVERY DRIVERS reputation.. Soon it will be at the very bottom and no place to go except into the wooden floor.. Pathetic.. When i first started to drive.. Our reputaion was close to the best on the road… And today its eating at the floor of the bottom of the barrel.
T B says
What drugs did he have in his system? You can have drugs in your system for up to 7 to 10 days after taking it. Alcohol can show up in you for up to 84 to 120 hours Hell they even ask you now about what you have been eating for the last 72 hours and sleep and not just being off duty. There is to many ways to put you the driver in jail now that I said Good Bye and I got out of trucking. I seen to many of my friends end up in jail or the company they worked for at the time of a big accident just drop them and tell them they are own their own and to pay for their legal bills
Jason Kane says
Considering the fact that he accelerated into stopped traffic, I’d say it’s safe to say he was currently on the drugs.
Rose says
His actions and response to stop traffic indicates it was recent use. I would say…..he was impaired in some matter for sure.
Georgejansen says
Good lawsuit. And I’ve been trucking since 1995
Mike Lawson says
The way some of the trucks are driven on I-294 in Chicago is downright disgraceful. Tailgating four-wheelers, using left lanes illegally, excessive speed, not moving left for emergency/police vehicles, aggressive driving, and you name it!! Gives us all a black eye, because of the actions of a few!
Fraudy Flintstone says
The saftey manager at my company says dirty tests are there biggest reason they fire drivers … sad ….
Ray says
It’s also why on the 2nd day of company orientation there’s only half the applicants still there from day 1.
Ron Wood says
“the company they worked for at the time of a big accident just drop them and tell them they are own their own and to pay for their legal bills” I had Express 1 out of Buchanan,Michigan pull this one me. They want owner/operaters,just for that reason ! Then they told the judge in my case ” He’s NOT an employee of our company. He’s a independant contractor”. It got them off the hook with the judge.So the judge tells me to get my own lawyer,which who can afford their high prices,and cops who manipulate the true facts of a traffic accident ? When I was from out of state didn’t help either ! It’s called the Ohio ” Buddy system “,and you’ll spend all that money just to lose in a state that “protects their own” resident. The Ohio cops in their ad claim that “We treat everyone fairly”. A big fat lie that is !
Dave says
Have seen some dumb car drivers hitting brakes in front of trucks( Angel of deaths) on clear road.
Lack of education from dmv and lack of commen sence are major factors in those crashes, then there are some mentally sick truck drivers behind wheels.
One of major factor in most extreme accidents is electronic log book in truck industory where truck driver has to drive with in that time frame from point A to point B regardless of all traffic obstacles on road or to loose their job. I believe electronic log book should only be used in instate driving and should be made illigle to use over the road on all long hauls.
Pat says
So sad. Get the tweakers off the roads. So many idiots.