Wrongful Death – Truck Crash

Background:
Dorris Edwards was on her way home to Kansas City from Tennessee at the close of Thanksgiving week-end. She was stopped in traffic on I-70 between St. Louis and Kansas City due to an accident up ahead. Her Jeep Cherokee was struck from behind by a semi tractor-trailer owned and operated by Werner Enterprises, Inc. and driven by a driver-trainee. The driver had been driving for 7 hours without a break (a violation of company policy) while his trainer slept in the sleeper berth. The driver admitted he did not apply his brakes or steer toward the shoulder to avoid the collision. Dorris Edwards perished in the crash.

Action:
Steve Edwards, Dorris’ only son, filed a lawsuit against Werner Enterprises, Inc. and its driver.

Result:
As a result of this lawsuit Werner Enterprises, Inc. agreed to institute changes to its driver training program that will potentially save future lives on the nation’s highways.

What Steve Edwards has to say about our firm:
“I had never been a party to a lawsuit. My mother was my whole life – my whole family. I wanted to find out what happened to her. Jeff Burns and Tim Dollar came to my home in Chicago to meet with me and explained the entire legal process. I felt relieved to know they would be looking out for my legal rights and those of my mother. It gave me the time I needed to absorb and comprehend the sudden loss of my mom and best friend. Not only did my lawyers achieve a great financial result, they succeeded in convincing a major trucking company to change its policies for the good of the public”.