Diener Law Settles Personal Injury Case for $1 Million

Russell Johnson of the law firm Diener Law in Raleigh, in association with Robby Jessup and Joan Davis of the law firm Howard Stallings in Raleigh, obtained a one-million-dollar settlement in a disputed liability wrongful death case. These attorneys represented the estate of a Mexican immigrant who was killed in a head-on collision with a transfer truck. The truck driver and trucking company initiated the lawsuit by asserting claims against the estate for personal injury and property damage. The estate proceeded to counter­claim for wrongful death.

State troopers and initial experts who investigated the crash all said that the Mexican immigrant was at fault for causing the wreck and had crossed the center line. In fact, in the incident report, the investigating officer indicated that he suspected alcohol was a factor in the wreck. The family of the decedent reported that he had just left for work, approximately fifteen minutes before the wreck and was sober. The autopsy confirmed that the decedent was not under the influence of alcohol.

After investigating the claims, an eyewitness to the crash was discovered who had called 911 (but had not spoken to law enforcement at the scene). This eyewitness reported that it was the truck driver who crossed the center line and caused the wreck, not the Mexican immigrant.

In discovery, it was found that the truck driver had a revoked driver’s license at the time of the wreck, and had a driving history that disqualified him from employment as a commercial driver. Surveillance videos of the truck driver (taken by the trucking company’s workers comp carrier) also came to light that cast serious doubt on his claimed injuries.

Policy limits for the trucking company of $1,000,000 were paid at mediation with Bill King in April, 2017.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident call (888) 386-9047 for a free consultation. At Diener Law, we’ve been helping North Carolina immigrants since 2004 with experience in immigration, car accidents, work injuries, criminal and domestic matters. Russell Johnson has been named a “Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney” by Super Lawyers since 2013.