$15 Million Spine Injury Settlement After Truck Rear-End Crash

A truck driver, the plaintiff, Joseph Streetman, was operating a Penske truck on a highway when he was rear-ended by a pickup truck that had just been rear-ended by a tractor-trailer driven by Walto Hendricks. Hendricks was driving for his employer, Gardner Trucking.

Streetman, 77, was taken by ambulance to an emergency room where he was evaluated and released. He was later referred to an orthopedic surgeon and underwent a cervical fusion, lumbar laminectomy, and shoulder surgery.

Streetman had medical expenses that totaled $415,000. He also had a claim of lost income of $55,000.

Streetman sued Gardner Trucking, alleging negligent hiring and training of Walto Hendricks, the tractor-trailer driver. The defendant argued that Streetman’s injuries resulted from his degenerative conditions. The defendant also maintained that Hendricks, the driver of the Gardner Trucking tractor-trailer, had no history of prior collisions.

Before the start of a jury trial, the parties settled the case for $15 million.

The attorney successfully handling this lawsuit for Joseph Streetman was Brent Goudarzi.

Streetman v. Gardner Trucking Inc., No. 2018-142-B (Tex. Dist. Ct. Gregg County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling tractor-trailer crash lawsuits, truck accident cases, catastrophic injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits 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 Northbrook, Glenview, Mettawa, Vernon Hills, Lake Bluff, Zion, Gurnee, Crystal Lake, Long Grove, Glencoe, Des Plaines, Rosemont, Oak Park, Oak Lawn, Cicero, Joliet, Bedford Park, Wheaton, Aurora, St. Charles, Chicago (Gage Park, Back of the Yards, North Lawndale, Greater Grand Crossing, Chatham, Bronzeville, South Loop, River North, Near North Side, Old Town, Wicker Park, Ravenswood, Rogers Park, Albany Park, Beverly), Bensenville, Frankfort, Crete, Beecher, Maywood, Forest Park and Crestwood, Ill.

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