$70.5 Million Jury Verdict in Semi-Tractor-Trailer Crash with Passenger SUV

Tomasa Cuevas was traveling in her SUV with her two children, Alejandro, 16, and Maritza, 11. Amarjit Aulakh, an employee of Rai Transport Inc., drove his semi-tractor-trailer through a red light. This caused a T-bone collision with Cuevas’s vehicle.

Tomasa Cuevas, 42, suffered fractures to her skull and face as well as a traumatic brain injury. Alejandro, who was in the passenger seat, also suffered skull and facial fractures and a traumatic brain injury. Alejandro was a successful high school cross-country runner who may not be able to return to the sport. Maritza was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after this horrific crash.

Cuevas and for her children sued Rai Transport, alleging liability for Aulakh’s choosing not to obey a red light. The Cuevas family alleged that Aulakh had been involved in fourteen prior collisions and was driving with a suspended license at the time of this incident. The lawsuit did not claim lost income.

The jury returned a verdict of $70.5 million for Tomasa Cuevas and her children.

The attorney who successfully handled this case was Joseph Low IV of Long Beach, Calif.

Cuevas v. Rai Transport, Inc., No. BCV-18-100615 (Cal. Super Ct. Kern County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling intersection crash lawsuits, tractor-trailer collision lawsuits, traumatic brain injury cases, car accident lawsuits, motorcycle accident lawsuits and bicycle accident cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Lemont, Flossmoor, Olympia Fields, Evanston, Elmwood Park, Deerfield, Gurnee, Highland Park, Tinley Park, Chicago (Wicker Park, Logan Square, Bucktown, Bronzeville, Rogers Park, Albany Park, South Shore, Kenwood, Woodlawn, North Lawndale, East Garfield Park), Highwood, Inverness, Arlington Heights and University Park, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.