$765,000 and $498,500 Settlements Reached in Flatbed Trailer Truck Crash Caused by Faulty Brakes

Steven Parker was an employee of Black Toppers Inc. when he was driving on Interstate 95 in a Black Toppers truck pulling a loaded flatbed trailer owned by Sam’s Paving. Parker lost control of his truck, which swerved to the right, and over-corrected, which led to him crashing through the highway’s guardrail.

Parker’s truck collided head-on with Carlos Mendez’s vehicle.

Mendez, 28, was killed in the crash. He was survived by his common-law spouse and five minor children. Mendez had been an electrician earning approximately $40,000 per year.

The Mendez estate sued Black Toppers and Sam’s Paving, alleging that the trailer had fishtailed due to its defective and corroded brakes, which caused Parker to lose control of the truck. The defendants denied these allegations. Before trial, Black Toppers settled for more than $498,500 while Sam’s Paving settled at a mediation before trial for $765,000.

The attorneys successfully handling this tragic case were Hoyt Tessener, Rosa Antunez Boatwright and Chris Bagley.

Canady v. Parker, No. 18-CVS-0283 (N.C. Super. Ct. Robeson County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling wrongful death lawsuits, tractor trailer accident cases, truck accident cases, catastrophic injury lawsuits, intersection crash lawsuits, head-on crash cases and motorcycle 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 Lincolnshire, Arlington Heights, Northbrook, Franklin Park, Berwyn, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Franklin Park, Lincolnwood, Skokie, Schaumburg, Lake Zurich, Plainfield, New Lenox, Lemont, Matteson, Frankfort, Mokena, Orland Hills, Zion, Lake Forest, Wildwood, Lake Bluff, Homewood, Chicago (Logan Square, Irving Park, Albany Park, Ravenswood, Uptown, Andersonville, Old Town, Near North Side, Near East Side, South Loop, Armour Square, Oakland, Indian Village, Hyde Park, Englewood, Austin, Brighton Park, Archer Heights, Wrigleyville), Stickney, Brookfield, Western Springs, Hillside, Elmhurst, Winnetka, Wilmette, Evanston and Rosemont, Ill.

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