$3,500,000 Verdict – Trucking Accident

The plaintiff, a 51-year-old truck driver for Overnite Express slipped and fell while getting out of his semi-tractor cab at Continental Plastics in Elk Grove Village. The plaintiff had leased a truck from the defendant which developed brake problems and was being repaired. During that time, the defendant had provided the driver with a replacement truck cab which was missing the driver's side safety grab bar. The plaintiff asked the defendant to repair or replace the grab bar, but was told to take it or leave it, so he took the truck; the fall occurred the following morning. The plaintiff struck his head in the fall, suffering a closed head injury with post-traumatic seizure disorder and post-concussion syndrome (seizures began two days after occurrence). He also sustained a herniated C4-5 disc with C5-6 nerve root compression, requiring laminectomy, and myofascial pain to neck and shoulders. As a result, he is unable to return to work as a commercial truck driver.