Truck driver wins $12M when trucking company doesn’t respond to lawsuit

Truck driver wins $12M when accused trucking company fails to respond to lawsuit. 

The Coffee County, Alabama truck driver was awarded the $12 million settlement last week for injuries he sustained on the job on March 1st, 2023. 

According to News 4, the lawsuit alleges that Kim Pearson Custom Hauling LLC was negligent, which led to the semi truck rollover that caused injuries to truck driver Joshua Lyerly as he hauled chickens to a poultry plant. Lyerly racked up six million dollars in medical bills following the accident. 

Pearson was named the defendant in the suit, but failed to respond to the allegations or suit. 

Lyerly was awarded the $12 million to cover his medical bills, as well as punitive damages. A temporary restraining order forbidding Pearson from offloading assets has been issued and will remain in place until the lawsuit is satisfied. 

“This sends a strong message in the fight for workplace safety and justice,”  said Cal Whaley, of the law firm Cherry and Irwin who represented Lyerly. No attorney was present to speak on behalf of the trucking company.