Couple killed after travel trailer impacted vehicle
Type of action: Wrongful death
Attorneys for plaintiff: Elliott Buckner, Scott Bucci, Joseph Cantor and Jeff Stedman, Richmond
Case summary: Husband was driving an SUV, towing a travel trailer, with wife as passenger, returning home from an extended trip. The rear of the travel trailer impacted a commercial vehicle at a lane reduction/merge point on the highway, causing the travel trailer to fishtail.
Husband was unable to control the vehicle, which ran off the side of the highway and crashed. Both husband and wife died at the scene, leaving two adult sons as beneficiaries.
Liability of the defendant driver and contributory negligence of husband were both vigorously contested by the defense. Plaintiffs’ counsel conducted multiple pre-suit focus groups to test venue and whether cases should be filed and tried together or separately.