$384,853 Verdict – Jury finds both drivers negligent
Excerpt from Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
On Sept. 19, 2009, the plaintiffs, E. Wilkes and G. Wilkes (both 18 at thetime of the accident), were passengers ina vehicle driven by co-defendant Linder westbound on Route 10 in Chesterfield County. Linder t-boned a work van driven by co-defendant Samayoa, who at-tempted to turn left from Womack Road onto eastbound Route 10. Samayoa testified that he was following his son to lunch. Samayoa testifiedthat he did not see Linder’s vehicle until he had entered the westbound lanes of Route 10. Samayoa testified that Linder was driving erratically and was traveling 70-80 m.p.h. An independent witness testified that Linder was driving aggressively before the accident (tailgating and changing lanes) and was traveling 60mph at the time of the accident. Linder testified that he was traveling 45-50 mph in a 45 mph zone prior to the accident.