Arizona Jury Awards $19.25 Million in Fatal Rear-End Truck Collision
One driver was killed and passengers were seriously injured when his vehicle collided with the rear of a disabled tractor trailer parked on the side of the road. The tractor trailer's hazard lights were flashing. The driver's family filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful death and personal injuries against the tractor trailer company, the trailer manufacturer, and the tire manufacturer. The jury found in favor of the plaintiffs.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Wrongful Death Injuries
Wrongful death claims arise when a car accident fatality is caused by another party's negligence. These cases compensate surviving family members for their losses and the decedent's pain and suffering.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $19,250,000
- County
- Maricopa County, AZ
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Wrongful Death
- Accident Type
- Truck/Commercial
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $19,250,000 is above the median of $6,500,000 for wrongful death cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $800,000 to $15,000,000, based on 34 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In July 2011, a vehicle’s right front tire experienced a tread/belt separation while traveling in Arizona, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle then collided with the rear of a disabled tractor-trailer parked on the roadside with its hazard lights flashing. The collision resulted in the death of the vehicle's driver and serious injuries to his wife, two daughters, and another passenger. A fifth passenger was not injured.
In July 2013, the driver's family members and an injured passenger filed a lawsuit in Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County. They alleged wrongful death, personal injury, strict product liability, and negligence. Initial defendants included the tire manufacturer, the company that installed the tire, the manufacturer of the trailer, and the trucking company that employed the tractor-trailer driver. Claims against the tire manufacturer, tire installer, and trailer manufacturer were dismissed prior to trial. The trucking company, the sole remaining defendant, offered a $1 million judgment, which the plaintiffs declined.
The case proceeded to a jury trial with the trucking company as the defendant. Key disputes included whether the trucking company's driver had safely parked the disabled vehicle and whether the vehicle's driver had been negligent by using a cellphone while driving. In March 2015, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding a total of $19.25 million in damages. This included $10.25 million for wrongful death, and the remaining $9 million for the injured passengers' claims.
Understanding This Case
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Maricopa County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome differs from typical similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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