Houston, TX Attorney Gene S. Hagood Announces $281 Million Verdict in Wrongful Death Case Against Trucking Company
Houston, TX (PRWEB) December 25, 2013 -- The Houston truck accident attorneys at Hagood & Neumann are proud to announce a $281 million verdict on behalf of a deceased military veteran who lost his life in a fatal truck accident in 2012 in the Eagle Ford Shale area of South Texas.
A unanimous jury in Dimmit County, Texas, returned the $281 million verdict against Heckmann Water Resources (CVR), Inc. on Dec. 4 in the case of Jose Luis Aguilar, et al v. Heckmann Water Resources (CVR), Inc., et al., according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “South Texas jury awards $281 million in lawsuit” (Dec. 8, 2013). The jury ruled that the trucking company, Heckmann Water Resources, was negligent and caused the fatal accident, according to the San Antonio Express, “Shale company ordered to pay $281M in wrongful death” (Dec. 7, 2013) and official court documents. (Case no. 12-06-11697-DCVCLM, in the District Court of Dimmitt County, Texas, 293rd Judicial District).
“This verdict sends a loud and clear message to trucking companies and drivers,” said Gene S. Hagood, a Houston attorney and one of the three lawyers who represented the plaintiffs. “If someone dies due to a trucking company’s negligent actions, that company will be held responsible. But this verdict is about more than just one family. This verdict will hopefully help make the roads safer throughout Texas and nationally for everyone.”
“It’s not enough to simply make promises to make our roads safer,” Hagood added. “Trucking companies must write and enforce correct policies and procedures, and supervise and train their employees. The drivers must operate their CMVs with courtesy, competence and respect all other drivers sharing the road. Everyone must follow the Department of Transportation regulations. Everyone deserves safe vehicles and drivers on our roads.”
The fatal accident on May 29, 2012 resulted in the death of Carlos Aguilar, a husband, son, father of seven, and a military veteran who returned from two deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq just a few years ago, according to the San Antonio Express article. Mr. Aguilar was killed after a u-joint and driveshaft separated from an 18-wheeler traveling at 67 mph owned by Heckmann Water Resources, an oil patch trucking company, according to San Antonio Express article and court documents for Case no. 12-06-11697-DCVCLM. The 20-pound driveshaft bounced off the road and crashed through the windshield of a truck Mr. Aguilar was a passenger in traveling in the opposite direction, according to the San Antonio Express article.
The jury awarded Mr. Aguilar’s mother, father, wife, seven children and estate $181 million in damages, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram article. Heckmann Water Resources was fined $100 million in punitive damages, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“The true tragedy behind many truck accidents is that – as we’ve seen in this tragic instance – they’re ultimately preventable,” said Hagood, a wrongful death lawyer in Houston. “Accidents such as Mr. Aguilar’s cannot be tolerated. And hopefully, this verdict will help prevent similar fatal truck accidents in the future.”
About Hagood & Neumann
Attorney Gene Hagood, who founded Hagood & Neumann over 15 years ago, focuses almost exclusively on personal injury litigation. In addition to handling cases involving truck accidents, Hagood & Neumann represents people injured in oil and gas rig accidents, workplace accidents, construction accidents, defective product accidents, and other types of personal injuries. Attorney Hagood has been selected as a Texas “Super Lawyer” each year since 2003, is on the American Board of Trial Advocates and is on the National Advisory Board of the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLA), an organization dedicated to promoting trucking safety nationwide.
For more information about what to do if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a truck accident, call (800) 632-9404 or visit http://www.h-nlaw.com for a free case evaluation.
Hagood & Neumann has offices located at 1001 Westloop South, Suite 745, Houston, TX 77027 and 1520 East Highway 6, Alvin, Texas 77511.
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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