Motor Vehicle Negligence – Driver, passenger suffer injuries after truck crosses into lane

Virginia Lawyers Weekly//April 20, 2026//

Depositphotos

Virginia Lawyers Weekly//April 20, 2026//

Listen to this article

$5.973 million settlement

Injuries alleged: Polytrauma to driver and passenger that resulted in multiple injuries, including fractures to ribs, back, wrists and feet

Date resolved: March 6, 2026

Special damages: $2.3 million for plaintiffs’ past and future economic damages

Amount: $5,973,818.62

Attorneys for plaintiff: Anthony M. “Tony” Russell, Roanoke, and Les S. Bowers,
Charlottesville, MichieHamlett

Case description: The defendant was driving a work truck and crossed the double yellow line into the plaintiffs’ lane of travel, crashing head-on into their vehicle.

The defendant was convicted of reckless driving. Nevertheless, the defendants denied liability with respect to the plaintiffs’ civil actions. The plaintiffs were granted summary judgment on liability so the jury trial would only concern the plaintiffs’ damages.

The plaintiffs successfully bifurcated their cases for jury trial, after the trial court had initially consolidated the plaintiffs’ cases for discovery and trial.

Before scheduled mediation, the parties settled the cases for the defendants’ liability policy limits of $5,973,818.62.

Tags: Les S. Bowers, reckless driving, polytrauma, Negligence and Tort Law, MichieHamlett, economic damages, Summary Judgment, Settlement

Select Region or Brand

Upcoming Event