Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Ryan Zehl has recovered a record-setting settlement for the family of a woman who was tragically killed in a head-on collision with a commercial truck in Brazoria County, Texas.
The settlement is the #1 Largest Truck Accident Settlement in Texas in 2019, as well as the largest in the defendant’s 66-year corporate history.
This is also the 10th consecutive case in the past 11 months in which Mr. Zehl and his team have obtained a record-setting verdict or settlement for their clients.
Commercial Truck Hit Our Client Head-On at 65 MPH
The deadly crash occurred on July 20, 2017, as Christina Burley, 24, was driving a compact car south on County Road 2611. Her husband, James Ray Burley, 47, a trucker, was a passenger in the vehicle.
Larry Wayne Sassin was traveling north in a large commercial pickup truck owned by his employer, Johnson Supply and Equipment Corp. Traffic slowed ahead of Sassin, forcing him to swerve left and into the path of the Burleys’ car. The two vehicles collided at about 65-mph.
A Life-Flight helicopter transferred the Burleys to a hospital. Sadly, Mrs. Burley’s injuries were fatal and she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The Crash Severely Injured Mr. Burley and Tragically Killed His Wife
Mr. Burley sustained severe injuries to his head, legs, colon and the rest of his body. His wife, Christina, was tragically killed in the crash.
Mr. Burley continues to experience ongoing pain in his back, neck, and both knees. He is unable to walk without a cane or walker, and requires assistance setting in and out of the bath and shower. His short-term memory, executive functioning, and speech are impaired, and he can no longer work as a truck driver. He also suffers from depression and experiences regular emotional outbreaks over the loss of his wife, as well as the profound changes in his physical abilities and overall quality of life.
Although Mr. Burley has since moved in with his brother, who continues to care for him, he will soon require a home health aide to provide 24-hour care and supervision.
The Truck was Driven by a Sales Clerk Who Had No Training or Experience Driving a Commercial Vehicle
Ryan Zehl, with the assistance of Matt Martin and Eric Allen, established that, as a counter salesman, Mr. Sassin had never received any training and had no experience driving company vehicles. Therefore, he should not have been permitted to drive Johnson Supply’s delivery trucks.
Their investigation also suggested that Mr. Sassin was distracted or fatigued at the time of the crash, which prevented him from slowing for traffic in time to avoid the deadly collision.
The case settled for $23.5 million in March 2019.
As a result of our record-setting truck accident settlement, Mr. Burley will be able to receive the best medical care available and provide for himself and his family for the rest of his life.
Contact Our Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here
Our Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers have won over $1 billion for thousands of clients throughout Texas, Louisiana, and across the United States, including record-breaking verdicts and settlements against the largest companies in the world.
If you or someone you love were hurt or tragically killed in a truck or 18-wheeler accident, please call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to send us a confidential email via our “Contact Us” form.
All consultations are free and, because we only work for a contingency fee, you’ll owe nothing unless we win your case.