Jury Enters $3.4 Million Verdict for Surgically Repaired Broken Ankle Caused by Forklift Driver

Jimmy Hill was 66 years old and was unloading a truckload of chicks at a farm when an employee of the transportation company J.B. Hunt drove a forklift over Hill’s ankle. Hill underwent surgery to repair the broken ankle and later died of post-operative sepsis. He is survived by his adult son.

Hill’s son sued J.B. Hunt claiming its employee, the forklift driver, chose not to follow the company’s safety policies and safety training. The lawsuit did not include a claim for lost income. The jury’s verdict of $3.4 million found the defendant J.B. Hunt 98% responsible and a non-party 2% liable for Hill’s injuries and untimely death.

The attorneys representing the Hill family were John P. Zelbst and David Butler. For trial the plaintiff engaged the expert services of an internal medicine physician and engineering expert, both of whom testified at the trial.

Hill v. J.B. Hunt Transportation, Inc., No. 6:13-cv-00429 (E.D. Okla., Oct. 31, 2014).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling forklift accident cases, work injury cases, highway construction injury cases and trucking injury cases for individuals and families who have been injured or killed by the negligence of another for more than 38 years. In and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Bedford Park, Bridgeview, River Forest, Park Forest, Forest Park, Maywood, Berkeley, Bensenville, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Northbrook, Chicago (Lawndale, Little Village, Polish Village, Jefferson Park, Edgebrook, Sauganash, West Ridge, Rogers Park, Lakeview), Chicago Ridge and Palos Park, Ill.

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