Deaf Couple from Polk Hit by Truck While Changing Tire
Vincent Tyschenko Matthews and Mariah Alexis King died as a result of a collision on the shoulder of the Florida Turnpike in October 2013. Matthews and King were changing a tire when a Peterbilt tractor-trailer heading northbound hit them. The driver of the semi-truck ran from the scene of the crash and was finally caught by authorities. Robert Bates is reported to have turned himself in to the Florida Highway Patrol in St. Lucie County. Naturally, this case has a criminal element to it that will be dealt with by prosecutors and the court system. However, the civil justice aspect of the case is equally important. All semi-trucks involved in interstate commerce must have a federal DOT motor carrier license and are required to carry $1,000,000 in liability limits. There may be additional insurance available under a lessor-lessee scenario. Further, since the driver involved in this crash left the scene of the accident, it is possible that punitive damages may be an element of the claims brought on behalf of the families of the deceased. This case is certainly tragic and deserves immediate legal attention. A legal team should request any and all available evidence, including trucking company records, be preserved. If such information is destroyed in bad faith by a defendant, that defendant may be subject to sanctions in litigation. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Central Florida truck accident, please contact a truck litigation attorney for a free consultation. Florida truck accident cases can quickly and easily get complicated and become too much to bear. The agents of the trucking company are hard at work to make sure that you do not reach their financial assets. You need someone on your side to make the trucking company and its insurance company pay attention to your case.
