$1.025 million settlement for woman seriously injured in semi-truck crash stemming from road rage

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – An attorney for an Indiana woman who was seriously and permanently injured in a Cook County car collision has released dash cam video that shows the moments before the crash as a warning to drivers to never let their emotions put themselves, and others, at risk.

On May 27, 2019, 59-year-old Plaintiff Melanie Pryor was driving westbound on U.S. Route 30 (“Lincoln Highway”) near the intersection of West Brookwood Drive in Olympia Fields, Ill. At the same time, a male driver was traveling in the same direction on Lincoln Highway and went around the left side of Ms. Pryor’s vehicle and onto the median. The male driver quickly cut back in front of her, stopping in the middle of the busy roadway and started to get out of his vehicle to confront Ms. Pryor after he felt she had cut him off at the previous intersection.

While stopped in the middle of the roadway, a semi-truck driver for LA Roca Xpress, struck the rear of Ms. Pryor’s vehicle at full speed. The impact of the collision forced Ms. Pryor’s vehicle into the male driver’s vehicle stopped in front of her. As a result, she sustained serious and permanent injuries, including multiple rib fractures, a hip injury that required surgery, and facial injuries.

Dramatic footage of the collision was captured on video via a camera in Ms. Pryor’s vehicle.

“Seeing this video, we are so relieved that Melanie is still with us today. It is frightening to see how quickly an everyday situation can turn dangerous or deadly. We hope that by releasing this video, it will deter drivers from letting their emotions get the best of them on the road.  It is never OK to put others’ lives at risk over a road rage incident.  Further, this case shows the importance of paying attention and keeping your eyes on the roadway at all times, especially for drivers of large commercial vehicles.  Even though the car illegally stopped in the middle of the roadway in front of Melanie, if the La Roca Xpress driver had been paying attention to the road in front of him, Melanie would likely not have been injured.” Plaintiff’s attorney Rob L. Kohen said.

On May 6, 2021, Ms. Pryor was awarded a $1,025,000 million settlement, which includes the insurance policy limits for the semi-truck company/driver and male driver’s vehicle.

For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at mmangan@salvilaw.com or (312) 372-1227.

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