On August 19, 2017, our clients were traveling from their home in Wisconsin to Illinois. The wife was driving the family car while her husband rode his motorcycle. Intending to pull off at a rest stop, the couple became separated when the wife missed the exit. When her husband called to inquire where she was, she said that she had missed the exit and pulled over on the shoulder of the highway to wait for him. While speaking on the phone, the husband heard a loud crash and immediately rushed to his wife’s location. A semitruck had struck our client’s vehicle while parked on the side of the road, severely injuring the wife and the family dog. The wife was air-lifted to the hospital, and the family dog subsequently had to be euthanized due to its injuries.
The driver of the semi claimed he did not know how he came in contact with our client’s vehicle, but crash reconstruction showed that he traveled onto the right shoulder and caused the collision. Our client was listed in critical condition with numerous fractures to her chest, clavicle and spine, as well as lung contusions and body abrasions. She underwent multiple surgeries and remained in the hospital for over a month until she was able to go home under 24/7 care from her husband. Along with extensive physical therapy, the couple suffered greatly due to this accident.
The insurance company for the trucking company offered the available $1 million policy limits, which Attorney Vito Manicioto immediately rejected. Attorney Manicioto knew that the $1 million of insurance money would not fairly compensate the clients and demanded that the trucking company pay additional money out of its own pocket. At mediation, Attorney Manicioto was able to get the defendants to pay an additional $500,000 of its own money, resulting in a $1.5 million settlement for our clients, without the need to go to trial.
