Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Trucker and Trucking Company

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) October 5, 2015 – A survival action was filed against an Oklahoma trucking company relating to wrongful death charges in an accident that took the life of Joe Bradford. This fatal accident occurred May 2014 when a tractor-trailer collided with a vehicle exiting a parking lot.

According to police and eyewitness reports, the tractor-trailer was heading west on W. Ferguson on May 28, 2014. The trucker was Ronald Dickson, owner-operator of Dickson’s Trucking of Atoka, Oklahoma. As his truck was making its way down the street, Joe Bradford was coming out of a parking lot. Dickson slammed into Bradford’s vehicle. Emergency responders found Bradford unresponsive at the scene and he died shortly thereafter.

The lawsuit was filed in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas (Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas Case 2:15-cv-01271-JRG-RS), alleging negligence and seeking compensation for loss of consortium and support, mental anguish, bereavement and grief, loss of earning capacity, enjoyment of life, property damage, medical and funeral expenses and pain and suffering. The lawsuit is also seeking exemplary and punitive damages.

Dickson was charged with failing to properly maintain his truck, keep a proper lookout, maintain a safe, legal speed and distance, turn, brake and make an attempt to avoid the collision. Dickson’s company was issued with a citation for failing to comply with safety and traffic regulations, negligent entrustment of a commercial vehicle and failing to maintain and inspect his rig.

“There are a number of unanswered questions in regard to this situation,” said Brooks Schuelke, an Austin personal injury attorney with Perlmutter & Schuelke, PLLC, who is not involved in the case. “For instance, what speed was the trucker going? Was the onboard black box accessed quickly? Was he driving while distracted or under the influence? Was Bradford partially responsible for the accident?”

Lawsuits involving trucking companies and truckers are quite complex, due to various jurisdictional issues and the number of third parties that may be named in such a suit. In this case, the trucker and his company were based in Oklahoma, but the accident took place in Texas. Each location has unique traffic rules and ways to handle wrongful death lawsuits.

“If you have been involved in an accident with a semi, we stand ready to assist you,” adds Schuelke. “It is important that you know your legal rights and what to expect should you choose to move forward with a lawsuit.”

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