Illinois Wrongful Death Truck Crash Results in 6.5 Million Settlement - Carroll, et al. v. Geils Farms, LLC, et al. — Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blawg

A 32 year-old woman who was killed on Halloween in 2008 when a tractor-trailer rear-ended her stopped truck on Route 47 in Huntley, Illinois. The Illinois wrongful death case was settled for $6.5 million, which included severe injuries for the woman’s husband and young son. Carroll, et al. v. Geils Farms, LLC, et al., No. 09 L 39 consolidated with No. 10 L 1222.

The wrongful death lawsuit that was filed in Kane County, Illinois, by the family of the woman, claimed that the driver of the tractor-trailer was under the influence of drugs at the time of the truck accident. The truck also was alleged to have been unsafe because it was over-loaded; it weighed more than 80,000 lbs. In addition, the vehicle’s brakes were out of adjustment and some of the brake pads were contaminated by oil and grease.

The owner of the truck was a farm known as Geils Farms. In addition to the 32 year-old woman, her husband and son were both badly injured.

The driver of the truck who was alleged to be under the influence of marijuana. He is now serving a 45 month sentence in Illinois state prison.

The husband’s injuries included a broken spine, facial injuries and respiratory failure. He was hospitalized for one month following the incident and could not attend his own wife’s funeral.

The parties’ son, who was 3 at the time, suffered two broken legs, head injuries and a forehead laceration that remains as a permanent scar. The case settled at a mediation and was later approved by the court.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling Illinois wrongful death lawsuits for over 30 years, serving those areas in and around Cook County, including Palatine, Aurora, Deer Park, and Tinley Park.