A Sarasota Circuit Judge on Monday upheld a jury verdict to award a 6-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl whose father was struck and killed by a Landstar Ranger Inc. truck driver $1 million each. An additional $7500 was awarded to pay for funeral expenses.
The children's father was crossing the highway in search of water to cool his overheated radiator when he was struck by the truck driver around 6 a.m. on March 28, 2007. The settlement was awarded for mental pain and suffering.
While the judge did agree with the defense that the children's father was comparatively negligent in crossing a highway as a pedestrian, he still upheld the verdict.
Discrepancies in the driver's story factored into the decision to award the children then settlement. Experts for the prosecution were able to show that the driver did not properly keep a lookout for pedestrians, did not move over into the inside left-hand lane, did not apply his brakes, and was speeding prior to the accident.
This settlement will not bring the children's father back, but it provides financial security for them following the loss of their guardian. If you or someone you know is in a similar position, help them achieve justice by calling the
Tampa truck accident attorneys of Beltz & Ruth, P.A., today by calling 800-235-897 to discuss their legal options.