$5.5 Million Jury Verdict in Tractor-Trailer Intersection Crash That Killed Driver

Donald Peace was driving to work in rainy conditions in the middle of the night. As he drove along a two-lane highway, Keith Rock attempted to back out onto a side street, blocking several lanes of the highway. Rock was driving a tractor-trailer for Berkeley Scrap Metal.

Peace’s vehicle crashed into the Berkeley Scrap Metal tractor-trailer that was blocking the street; he suffered fatal injuries. He was survived by his wife and two adult children.

The Peace estate and family sued Berkeley Scrap Metal, alleging liability for Rock’s choosing not to keep a proper lookout when backing onto the side street.

The lawsuit also alleged that the tractor-trailer lacked adequate reflective tape as required by federal motor vehicle safety regulations.

The defendant, Berkeley Scrap Metal, defaulted. The jury signed a verdict in favor of the Peace estate in the amount of $5.5 million.

The attorneys successfully handling this tragic case were J. Robert Potter and Steven Cole.

Peace v. Berkeley Scrap Metal, No. 4:18cv00041 (N.D. Ala.).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling tractor-trailer crash lawsuits, wrongful death cases, traumatic brain injury cases, intersection crash lawsuits, car accident cases, truck accident lawsuits and bicycle accident cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Westmont, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Melrose Park, Wood Dale, Schaumburg, Schiller Park, Oak Park, Glencoe, Bedford Park, Blue Island, Chicago (Roseland, South Shore, West Lawn, Beverly, Roscoe Village, Washington Heights, Calumet Heights, Hyde Park, Wrigleyville, Humboldt Park, Austin, Irving Park, Portage Park, Edgewater, Uptown, Andersonville), Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Itasca, Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines and Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.