The “Great Texas Freeze” was a $1 billion-plus natural disaster. Temperatures common in the north hit the unprepared south very hard. End result?

$44.1 Million New Prime Inc Lawsuit for Truck Accident Death of Christopher Ray Vardy:

The Great Texas Freeze caused one particularly huge pile-up in Fort Worth, Texas. A whopping 133 vehicles were involved. These ranged in size from personal vehicles to humongous tractor-trailers.

Date and Place:

What Happened: The I-35 Pileup and New Prime Inc.’s Role:

There was light freezing rain and a freezing mist several hours before the crash. There were warning signs.

NTE Express, which manages the part of the toll road where the accident happened, didn’t de-ice the road or monitor it for potential problems.

Plus, people were driving too fast. The speed limit is 75. There’s evidence some people were doing 100.

Then some drivers hit black ice. They lost control of their vehicles. Skidded.

Drivers behind them likewise lost control. Didn’t stop in time. Or did stop. And then got rammed by a driver behind them.

Pretty soon there was a massive pile-up of vehicles of all types and sizes. All lanes blocked.

One ambulance even had to drive through a ditch to get to the scene. Some drivers who could get out of their vehicles climbed and walked on vehicle roofs rather than risk injury on the slippery road. A cop who did walk on the road slipped and injured his shoulder.

Six people died. Thirty-four had to be hospitalized.

New Prime is a trucking operator. One of its drivers, Steven Ridder, was in the pile-up. His truck killed the driver of the car in front of him.

New Prime Inc.’s Role in the Accident:

Christopher Vardy saw the mess. Stopped in time. Should have been safe.

Sadly, no. Ridder rammed into him from behind. Because Ridder was going too fast to stop in time.

Vardy’s car was pushed into the mass of crash debris and injured victims. It took a crane to find and pull him out. First responders later said they’d never seen a car damaged as badly as Vardy’s was in the crash.

Vardy was alive when extracted. He was able to communicate with first responders. Sadly, he wound up dying from injuries incurred from the accident.

Vardy’s widow got a lawyer and sued New Prime Inc. because:

Mrs. Vardy won. She got over $44 million in compensation

The $44.1 Million Verdict:

Why the high verdict?

Because:

Plus:

What This Verdict Means for Trucking Accident Victims Christopher Vardy in Texas?

Importance of Hiring A Personal Injury lawyer Truck Accident Lawsuit:

Another huge factor in the win for Mrs. Vardy and her family is that they clearly had a good lawyer to handle their case.

Corporations tend to have huge legal teams. Going against one without professional legal advice can spell disaster. You may get far, far less than you deserve. Or even nothing at all.

Ledger Law is the go-to firm if you’ve been in a traffic accident in Texas. We have the experience and expertise you need to build your case. We also won’t charge you until you’ve either agreed to a settlement or won a judgment. If we don’t win, we don’t get paid. It’s as simple as that.

Need help? Call us. The first consultation is always free.

Conclusion:

Driving on icy roads is always dangerous. But it’s even more dangerous in the Lone Star state because:

• Vehicles aren’t properly equipped.
• Drivers are both overconfident and under-experienced.
• Texas drivers (almost) always drive faster than they should.

Thankfully, the state has taken measures to improve things since the Great Texas Freeze. But accidents can happen anywhere. Anytime.

If you or your loved one is in one, get legal help right away. If you’re not 100% to blame, you may be entitled to money that can help cover medical bills, recovery, lost wages, and a host of other expenses.