The family of a Portsmouth, VA, man, 25, who was killed in a car accident agreed to a $3.5 settlement during mediation in Virginia.
The accident happened on Interstate 64 (I-64) in Norfolk, VA when a tractor-trailer rear ended the vehicle that was driving slowly due to a problem with a tire. Both vehicles caught fire and the young man, a passenger, lost his life.
During deposition, the trucker admitted he had not seen the passenger vehicle until seconds before the collision. However, our attorneys were able to establish that the trucker’s account of the accident, given to state troopers, was inaccurate.
The defense argued the driver caused the accident by driving slowly on the highway at 25 mph, at night, with no hazards on. John was able to convince the insurance company for the trucker that this defense would fail in a courtroom.
The firm discovered, through extensive investigation, that the trucker failed to adequately treat his diabetes despite doctor’s orders and was not properly taking his medication, prior to the crash. The defendant contested whether the diabetes was a cause of the crash. The attorneys working on this case were dedicated to getting justice for the young child of the decedent. All of their hard work resulted in a settlement that will help to cover the decedent’s daugther’s expenses as she grows up.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
One Comment
Chuck Adams
This is very sad news to everybody involved.Every driver training course should have to see this case. Big truck drivers and beginner drivers need to realize the life and death consequences of not thinking.
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