Parents File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Trucking Company After Death of 9-Year-Old Son

The grieving parents of a 9-year-old boy have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a semi-truck driver and the company he worked for after their son died in what the parents describe as a preventable accident. According to the lawsuit, the semi-truck driver was speeding and following too closely at the time of the crash that killed the 9-year-old boy.

The crash occurred on July 25, 2024, on I-465 in Indianapolis. The child’s father and little sister both survived the crash. The three of them were on their way home to New Albany from a summer vacation in Michigan while the decedent’s mother worked on her new business. Their stated aim was to make a lot of family memories before the start of school.

According to the crash report, the semi-truck driver was speeding in a construction zone and following the plaintiff’s vehicle too closely when he crashed into the family’s car. The father doesn’t have any memory of the accident at all. He had just stopped to get gas and chocolate shakes, then he woke up in a hospital bed a couple of days later.

Allegations against the semi-truck driver and his company 

According to the family’s attorneys, this was more than just a freak accident. Choices were made and these choices did not keep their son safe. The wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the driver, his company—Forward A2B Inc.—and the owner of the vehicle, Solomon Bros LLC.

According to the plaintiff’s lawsuit, the semi-truck driver did not have a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) at the time of the crash. The plaintiffs claim that he “carelessly and negligently followed too closely” and “failed to reduce his speed.”

Allegations against the trucking company include the accusation that they failed to screen and supervise their drivers, and failed to implement safety policies and procedures. Records further indicate that the driver violated Hours-of-Service rules, which are meant to prevent tired drivers from operating their trucks. Specifically, the report indicates that the driver was supposed to stop for a break prior to his 11th hour of driving but instead “continued to drive for another 23 minutes.”

In addition to facing a wrongful death lawsuit, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) placed Forward A2B “Out of Service” and declared them “unfit” to operate. According to the FMCSA spokesperson, Forward A2B was placed Out of Service on Oct. 28, 2024. That means that Forward A2B cannot operate until the federal government determines they’ve addressed their safety issues.

Talk to an Oakland, CA Truck Accident Lawyer Today 

If you’ve been injured in an accident with a commercial trucking company, call the Oakland personal injury attorneys at Venardi Zurada today. Our attorneys have helped several clients secure settlements and win jury awards from negligent trucking companies. We serve the Bay Area from our office locations in Oakland and Walnut Creek. Call our office today to learn more.

Source:

wrtv.com/news/wrtv-investigates/parents-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-following-july-crash-that-killed-9-year-old-son