They are a calamitous curse of North Florida: poorly lit log trucks slowly pulling out onto rural highways in front of oncoming traffic in the darkness before dawn.
The crash report typically puts the fault on the victim because the victim hits the log truck from the rear, just after the truck has pulled onto the highway. While The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic has been successful in recovering multiple million and multi-million dollar policy limit settlements from insurance companies after these truck accidents, neither the grieving families nor The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic will feel justice is done until the deadly trucks no longer prowl the predawn highways.
Part I: The Story of Bruce Barnes
Putnam County, 1988
The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic’s first case 25 years ago against a poorly lit log trucks was a real mystery because it was a true phantom vehicle. The log truck kept right on trucking even after the crash that nearly ended the life of Bruce Barnes.
Bruce was a 28 year old son of migrant farm workers living in Crescent City, Florida, working nights to support his young family while attending community college in St. Augustine on veteran’s benefits during the day.
In the predawn hours of March 15, 1988, Bruce was on his motorcycle headed up U.S. 17 to go to class when a log truck pulled onto the highway right in front of him in “downtown” San Mateo. Bruce’s motorcycle hit the left rear tire of the truck and went down in the middle of the highway.
Bruce was paralyzed and would have become road kill but for the heroic efforts of a Good Samaritan who stopped his car in the middle of the highway to direct traffic around Bruce. The log truck never even slowed down, but presumably ended up in one of those coveted places near the front of the line at the paper mill that morning.
Bruce’s surgeon referred him to The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic to try to find the log truck and hold it accountable. The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic obtained the list of the first trucks at the Palatka Mill that morning, identified which trucks might have been coming from the direction of San Mateo, and then obtained scrapings from a left rear tire rim that showed evidence of impact with Bruce’s motorcycle.
The paper mill settled presuit for its role in the case, but the logging company obstinately continued to deny any involvement. During closing argument at trial, the defense attorney patronized Bruce, a 28-year-old veteran, as a “boy.” After the jury returned a substantial verdict for Bruce, the insurance company for the logging company voluntarily paid its entire policy limits plus the excess verdict.
Although he will never be able to ride a motorcycle again, Bruce has gone on to live a happy and productive life in Crescent City.
They are a calamitous curse of North Florida: poorly lit log trucks slowly pulling out onto rural highways in front of oncoming traffic in the darkness before dawn.
The crash report typically puts the fault on the victim because the victim hits the log truck from the rear, just after the truck has pulled onto the highway. While The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic has been successful in recovering multiple million and multi-million dollar policy limit settlements from insurance companies after these truck accidents, neither the grieving families nor The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic will feel justice is done until the deadly trucks no longer prowl the predawn highways.
Part I: The Story of Bruce Barnes
Putnam County, 1988
The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic’s first case 25 years ago against a poorly lit log trucks was a real mystery because it was a true phantom vehicle. The log truck kept right on trucking even after the crash that nearly ended the life of Bruce Barnes.
Bruce was a 28 year old son of migrant farm workers living in Crescent City, Florida, working nights to support his young family while attending community college in St. Augustine on veteran’s benefits during the day.
In the predawn hours of March 15, 1988, Bruce was on his motorcycle headed up U.S. 17 to go to class when a log truck pulled onto the highway right in front of him in “downtown” San Mateo. Bruce’s motorcycle hit the left rear tire of the truck and went down in the middle of the highway.
Bruce was paralyzed and would have become road kill but for the heroic efforts of a Good Samaritan who stopped his car in the middle of the highway to direct traffic around Bruce. The log truck never even slowed down, but presumably ended up in one of those coveted places near the front of the line at the paper mill that morning.
Bruce’s surgeon referred him to The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic to try to find the log truck and hold it accountable. The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic obtained the list of the first trucks at the Palatka Mill that morning, identified which trucks might have been coming from the direction of San Mateo, and then obtained scrapings from a left rear tire rim that showed evidence of impact with Bruce’s motorcycle.
The paper mill settled presuit for its role in the case, but the logging company obstinately continued to deny any involvement. During closing argument at trial, the defense attorney patronized Bruce, a 28-year-old veteran, as a “boy.” After the jury returned a substantial verdict for Bruce, the insurance company for the logging company voluntarily paid its entire policy limits plus the excess verdict.
Although he will never be able to ride a motorcycle again, Bruce has gone on to live a happy and productive life in Crescent City.