GETTING TO THE ANSWERS: WHY BAD CRASHES HAPPEN
If you have read our previous newsletters or blog articles, you know that we represent people who have been severely injured in crashes. We consider it a tremendous honor when a client entrusts us with helping them through an extremely difficult period of their life.
from the time they picked up the load until the time of the crash. This case had ramifications beyond the courtroom. It hopefully allowed other victims injured in a similar fashion to secure a recovery from those who profited from the negligent driver. In Question No. 2, the answer was clearly that the taxicab company did absolutely nothing to qualify or vet this driver. In that case, a Cook County jury awarded significant punitive damages against the cab company for failing to screen or train its driver. In July 2017, the Illinois First District Appellate Court held that the taxicab company, whose driver crashed into and injured our client, had an obligation to adequately vet its driver by checking their background, investigating their driving history, and training the driver before handing over the keys to the vehicle. Hopefully, this change in the law encourages other commercial transportation companies to screen drivers so that fewer untrained drivers end up on our roads. In Question No. 3, the answer was that a friend needed a job, and that friend just didn’t have the proper training to operate a heavy rig. Unfortunately, that resulted in our client being seriously injured. Through this result, it is hoped that the large delivery company that employed our client did a better job of making sure that delivery drivers properly chocked their vehicles and set their parking brakes.
In a number of serious injury cases we have been asked to investigate the following questions:
1. Why would a driver of an eighteen-wheeler fix their log books and drive to the point of exhaustion, fall asleep, and plow into stopped traffic at 60 mph? 2. Why would a taxicab company entrust the keys to a cab to a driver who had an abysmal driving record as well as an alarming criminal record?
3. Why would a trucking company entrust an eighteen- wheeler to a driver without a commercial driver’s license?
The answer in each of these cases played out in the discovery part of our cases as well as in the courtroom. Our job is to uncover the facts. The job of the court and jury is to decide who is on the right side of the lawsuit, and sometimes these cases have ramifications beyond the courtroom. In Question No. 1 above, the Illinois Appellate Court affirmed a jury verdict against one of the largest food brokers in the world because the food broker controlled the driver
-Pat Cummings
APRIL 2018 DATES OF CONSEQUENCE
ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON BREADCRUMBS Ingredients • 2 pounds asparagus • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil • Kosher salt • Freshly ground pepper • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped • 2 teaspoons lemon zest • Juice of one lemon (not packaged lemon juice)
April 1 April 5:
Easter Sunday White Sox Home Opener Cubs Home Opener Patriot’s Day / Boston Marathon U of I Moms Weekend Feast of St. Catherine of Siena
April 9: April 13-15
April 16:
April 29
Directions 1. Heat oven to 425 F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20–26 minutes, turning asparagus halfway through. 2. When asparagus is nearly done, heat remaining olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook
for 1 minute. Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fold in parsley and lemon zest. 3. Transfer asparagus to serving platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and top with breadcrumb mixture.
Recipe inspired by Food and Wine Magazine
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