Whetstone Perkins & Fulda Achieves $11 Million Settlement in Truck Accident Wrongful Death Case

    COLUMBIA, SC, August 16, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The law firm of Whetstone Perkins & Fulda announced on Tuesday that attorneys have reached a settlement with oil and gas trucking company Eagle Transport Corp. in the wrongful death lawsuit of a man who was killed last year when his tractor-trailer crashed into another big rig carrying gasoline. Eagle Transport Corp. agreed to settle the truck accident case for $11 million.

The truck carrying the gas was blocking the road at the time of the collision. The tanker exploded on impact, and the driver of the other rig was burned to death.

"Our client suffered a horrible death that was completely preventable," said Charles Whetstone, partner attorney at Whetstone Perkins Fulda. "Although the settlement tragically won't bring him back, our firm is pleased that we were able to help his family achieve some measure of recompense for what they suffered."

The driver of the gasoline truck was attempting to turn around in the middle of an unlit state Highway 4 at 3 a.m. when the accident occurred. A subsequent urinalysis returned a positive result for the drugs amphetamine and methamphetamine.

The lawsuit cited both drug-related impairment and improper training as sources of negligence that caused the fatal crash. John Eric Fulda, partner attorney at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda, told The State that he believed the "terrible manner" of their client's death was a factor in the settlement agreement.

"The fire was so intense it burned down surrounding telephone poles and melted the highway asphalt," he said.

The driver of the gasoline truck has been charged with reckless homicide. He is in jail awaiting trial.

About Whetstone Perkins & Fulda

Attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda have extensive courtroom experience, attaining multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients who suffer injury due to auto accidents, medical malpractice and defective products, as well as families in wrongful death claims. The firm has offices in Columbia, Kingstree and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and serves clients throughout the state.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Whetstone-Perkins-Fulda-LLC-154382054599355
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WPFLLC
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WMPFLLC/videos

# # #