An Illinois appeals court has upheld an $8 million wrongful death award against two trucking companies and the driver who struck and killed a woman. It’s a complicated case – like so many truck accident cases – because three defendants were named: Transfreight, a trucking company contracted by Toyota to deliver parts; Kiswani Trucking, a trucking company subcontracted by Transfreight; and Robert Kleppe, the driver of the tractor-trailer that crashed into and killed plaintiff Stephen McHale’s wife. If you are injured – or if someone you love is killed – in an accident involving a truck or anyone acting negligently in the Chicago area, discuss your rights and legal options – including a possible personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit – as quickly as possible with experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer Joseph M. Dooley.
Stacey McHale was driving home after her a shift as a waitress in Orland Park in 2010 when she had a flat tire on I-294 near Midlothian. Ms. McHale pulled onto the right shoulder and was hit by the truck while she stood outside the driver’s side of her vehicle. She died instantly. Ms. McHale, then 36, was the proud mother of two. She coached her daughter’s soccer team and drove her son to hockey practice and games. The trial jury held all three defendants named in the lawsuit liable, and the appeals court upheld that ruling, granting justice for Stacey McHale.
A wrongful death lawsuit is warranted when you have lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence. Wrongful deaths can easily be prevented, but if they occur, you may be entitled to compensation to help you provide financial resources to your family. Otherwise, your family may have to move forward with their lives without the finances they need to live comfortably. If you’re the survivor of a wrongful death victim, speak right away to experienced Chicago wrongful death attorney Joseph Dooley.
This particular case shows how different parties can be held liable for a wrongful death, even if they were not directly involved with the accident. Both Transfreight and Kiswani Trucking were held responsible because of their employee’s actions. To determine whether other parties are liable in your loved one’s wrongful death, contact an attorney right away.
As tough as it will be emotionally, if your family loses a loved one due to the negligence of a truck, bus, or automobile driver, you must contact an experienced personal injury attorney promptly to obtain the sound legal advice you need. There is a statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits which means you must move quickly if you want to pursue legal action against the person responsible for your loved one’s wrongful death. In the Chicago area, with more than 25 years of legal experience representing personal injury victims and wrongful death survivors, Joseph M. Dooley is the attorney you can trust to provide frank advice and aggressive representation. If you have lost a loved one in a trucking accident or if you’ve sustained injuries in a truck accident, contact Chicago personal injury lawyer Joseph M. Dooley by email at [email protected] or call 312-236-7282 as quickly as possible.