We’re all too used to hearing the familiar story: A trucker is driving along when all of a sudden, someone cuts in front of them or stops suddenly. The stopping distance being what it is, even a completely alert, safe driver can’t do much to prevent an accident if they find themselves in that situation, but it’s almost always declared the truckers fault.
Not this time.
This time, George Reaves Jr. rear-ended another trucker on I-70 and not only did he not cause the crash, but he was actually awarded $1.1 million dollars by a federal jury. How’s that for a twist?
The accident occurred on I-70 back in 2010 when the other trucker stopped his rig in the middle of the roadway at 3am. Reaves suit alleged that when his UPS tractor-trailer hit the other truck he suffered serious injuries to his head, face, back, and other body parts, and lost the tip of his tongue. Reaves was then rear-ended by another truck.
The jurors actually awarded Reaves a total of $2.2 million including $1.5 million for pain and suffering, but they found him to be 50% at fault for the collision and so reduced the award accordingly.
His lawyer spoke about the trial outcome on Tuesday saying “I’m really happy about it because George got his day in court and got to tell his story and basically justice was done… Honestly, it’s a miracle he’s still alive.”
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Source: stltoday
Image Source: stltoday
Robert Gift says
Why was the other trucker stopped in the middle of the Interstate highway at 3 a.m.?
Around a curve with less sight distance?
Reflectors on stopped trailer could not be seen until too late?
Reaves could not go around the stopped rig?
Glad he was not killed. Hope that his injuries heal completely.
Larry says
How was justice done? He was proven at fault.
Paul says
Justice was not done. The Lawyer just got paid thats all.
Matt says
He shouldn’t have gotten any money! Half at fault is the same as 100 percent at fault. You either are or aren’t.
WTF.
adam ballard says
I was in a rear end too I was at fault too a car slammed on its brakes suddenly and I couldn’t stop fast enough I locked up my brakes I got a following to closely ticket I had the right following distance what I was taught plus I lost my job and can’t find another one I don’t know what I can do
Dee says
adam ballard,
What following distance were you taught?
It will be hard to find a job for insurance reasons.
I think you are better driver after this accident, you will be more careful than a new driver with no accidents.
calambert says
THERE’S NO MERCY FOR THOSE WHO CUT DRIVERS OFF NO ONE WIN’S SERIOUSLY !!! I Hope Not to Many Drivers ATTENDED that School, BOOKS are Tools LEARNING Guides they are Not absolute or 100% accurate Where is Your COMMON SENSE ! Who writes BOOKS “AUTHORS ” do “AUTHORS” Drive Trucks ? Probably NOT would be a good answer. IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BACKOFF AND SLOW DOWN ! How are you going to get where your suppose to be when You have to Stop and get a NEW Bumper or Raidator or How are You going to make any Money When You have to Keep buying NEW cars for everyone ! THINK ! OH NO IT’s ROCKET SCIENCE, ONE LAST thing Drivers the Speed posted on curves is for AUTOMOBILES NOT TRUCKS 5 mph under the posted speed limit under good driving conditions is usaully safe but still use judgement. I CAN SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE OVER 36YEARS ACCIDENT FREE COMMERCIAL DRIVING IF YOU CAN’T TOP THAT SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN.
jd says
You can celebrate! You are now free from one of the worst careers anywhere.
Go back to a 2 yr college and study for a marketable job that pays well and has normal hours. Try accounting or welding. You just hit the jackpot and don’t even know it.
Nosactivated says
This is why I installed a dash camera for just this reason.
calambert says
I sure hope the Driver Gets Well and as for JUSTICE !!! no His Ambulance chasing LAIR was just tickled pink he made some money from someone’s elses suffering. I think Both Drivers that Crashed into that IDIOT OOP’S TRUCK should be awarded 100% of their moneys WHY Because there would NOT be any Accident if the OOP”S Truck wasn’t in the middle of the Road at anytime ! JUSTIFY the Cause Why didn’t the OOP’S Truck Open up the Reflectors and place them Properly and maybe get OFF HIS LAZY – – – and walk down the road aways behind the truck with a flash light and wearing a SAFETY VEST so as to be seen and Motion to On Comers of the Hazard ahead. DRIVER’S WEAR A SAFETY VEST WHILE OUT OF YOUR TRUCK IN AND AROUND TRAFFIC AREAS MAKE YOUSELF VISIBLE !!! HEY WHAT HURT’S WORSE BEING IN THE HOSPITAL OR SAYING I’M GLAD I WORE MY VEST !!!
Allen says
Remember, it’s not about right or wrong, truth or justice, it’s just a system and a very broken one. The person that can manipulate the system the best is the winner. I’ve yet to see a Fed Ex or a UPS driver operate a vehicle other than unsafely – speeding, following too close, unsafe pass, failure to yield, improper lane change, etc. The ONLY reason I can figure they don’t get a citation is the companies pay off the states to look the other way. That’s why I invested in a dash cam. I’ve lost count of the numerous times over the years I’ve almost been hit by Fed Ex or UPS pulling doubles and triples during an unsafe pass. I don’t care if you speed and pass, but at least clear my tractor before you cut over or if you have, leave me more than 1/2 second from the rear of your trailer to the front of my tractor.
Phillip says
The way I see it if the 2nd truck did pull in from of the 1st truck(UPS), the 1st driver should have immediately increased his following distance between the 2 CMV’s. If the 1st vehicle was not able to do so because the idiot 2nd driver slammed on his brakes as soon as he swapped lanes then he should have been made at fault 100%. But that is truly a fairy tale life there. Unless as one other poster stated that he has a dash cam for such things.
Randy says
I’ve only been driving for 7 years, but 6 1/2 of them have been hauling hay with doubles. As you know, hay loads are always top heavy and doubles don’t always like to go strait, especially with a short wheel-based cabover. I learned real quick that speed wasn’t my friend. I’ve even had guys in my company bitch about me going slow, but I’m also the only one to have no tickets, accidents, or loss of any part of my loads. I can’t even begin to count the number of UPS trucks have gone flying past me and I usually keep it at about 59 on the highway. So what’s the hurry? And yes, even hay has to be delivered on time too, but I’m not going to kill myself or anyone else to make up 5 or 10 minutes, especially in a CABOVER. Head On = Dead Driver.
Ron says
Back in 2005 I had a Columbus Ohio attorney tell me for 8 months that I was not at fault for a guy who ran a redlight into the side of my truck,and they would defend me in court. Well the day my wife,and I went to court.the attorney informed us the they would not be defending me.So no one stood up in court in my defence…he got his name on the papers,so he would get his big fat fee,and I lost my CDL.Equal justice? not in Ohio.
Christopher Potvin says
Um….He did cause the crash! He rear-ended a parked vehicle! Yes it wasn’t supposed to be there but he was outrunning his headlights plain and simple or just wasn’t paying attention. Neither was the guy behind him! Was the other Truck Broke down? Did He have triangles out? Did the other driver just abandon his vehicle?
$140-$300 buys a good dash cam that can save your career and prove the other guy was at fault. In this case I think it would swung this case the other way if the camera clearly spotted the parked truck and there was no obvious reduction is speed in an appropriate amount of time
CA Medicine Woman says
Well, this is a first. No traffic, 3am, interstate highway, and yet there was no alternative left to Reaves but to slam into the stopped rig? How fast was he going, and what was the weather?
There is a great deal missing from this story, to be sure. How a driver can rear-end a stopped vehicle on a multi-lane controlled access roadway at 3am is beyond me, but I’m betting driving too fast played a huge role, with driver distraction coming into play. I’m betting Reaves’ lawyer worked hard to keep safe, experienced, professional drivers off the jury, kind of like what a lot of companies try to do when making hiring decisions these last few years.
But, while Reaves may have won this round, he’ll get little, if any, of the monies awarded. Normally, he would have had no other recourse but Workmen’s Compensation, an interesting system designed to shield employers from any liability (even in cases of willful and intentional acts), while the injured worker is pressured into a settlement for far less than they are entitled to by the many lawyers employed by the employer’s insurance carrier (I just went through that nightmare). But, Reaves filed what is called a “3rd Party action,” which is the case he won.
So, Reaves’ lawyer will get half of that $1.1 million (assumes no further reductions in future appeals). Then, Reaves will be required to repay UPS (his employer) every penny paid out via Workmen’s Compensation. Reaves will likely end up with less than 10% of the actual settlement.
If Reaves is smart, he’ll use what is left to go back to school and learn a trade is in demand, but not so much in demand that he is likely to be replaced by an H1-B or H2-B visa worker who willingly gets paid much less than if a US Citizen did the job.
karen says
It’s sad to read truckers need dash cams and other electronics to compensate for lack of common sense. The company doesn’t have to assume any responsibility for a driver if electronic equipment proves a driver at fault, especially if stopped for logs, speeding or whatever. No driver is perfect and electronic recording of imperfect behavior will only get a driver deeper into trouble. Mental evaluations to test a driver for tdemperment, sensibility and attitude use to keep good, long term drivers on the road. I’d rather be driving around other drivers who don’t need electronics as a replacement for common sense . It only takes a few seconds to evaluate and respond to a deadly situation. All electronics can do at this point is record the event. Unless cameras can record every side of the vehicle, inside and out, it cannot truly detail an emergency response.
karen says
Twenty years ago in Atlanta, GA., car thieves would steal a car, joy ride then leave them parked dead center of a six lane interstate with lights off. I know because one morning about 6:00 a.m. I was traveling east toward Atlanta and had to avoid a parked car in the third lane. Back then truck traffic was sparse, not like traffic is today. Truck speeds were average, as well. I avoided the situation and warned others about the
karen says
I warned others about the situation, but because I was on my toes and avoided an accident, I was able to keep myself alive and my career going. What would electronics prove. That I missed a car? That I saved my truck, my load and my life? Would a camera tell how the police were alerted and fellow drivers to prevent a collision? Would a driver who had taken proactive steps to help prevent a collision from occuring be credited and compensated for good driving? Would points be removed from DAC records ? No. Electronics only protects the one way view without emotion, without noting high quality decisions made by good drivers.