Lawsuit filed against JR Motorsports over accident in Jacksonville
29 Comments Published April 1st, 2008 in NASCAR News
A local [Florida] family is sueing JR Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr. following a rear end crash by a tractor trailer.
In November 2006, Michael Harris and his son, 21 year old Chris, were driving in their pick up truck headed south on Interstate 95 in St. John’s County [FL]. Harris was several cars in front of a Champion tractor trailer. Traffic started to back up and slow down on the interstate. Harris’ lawyer, Charles Sorenson, says he slowed down to, going about 15 miles per hour and then pulling on to the shoulder. The only problem, Sorenson says is the semi didn’t slow down with everyone else. Sorenson says the impact was so severe, the bolts in the pickup’s seat, which hold it down to the floor, were broken. Both father and son were wearing seatbelts, but both went to the hospital. Both are still being treated for neck and back injuries.
According to the lawsuit, JR Motorsports is the owner of the tractor trailer. The owner of JR Motorsports belongs to NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Sorenson says Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will most likely be deposed in the case. JR Motorsport’s team told First Coast News it has received the lawsuit, but will not make any other comment at this time. The driver of the semi, Ricky Mace, is also being sued.
Sounds like Michael Harris and Son feel like the lottery hit them instead of they hit the lottery.
“Hi, hey can I have your autograph please…. and by the way, can you also sign this summons?”
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Wow 2 years later and now this comes up.Hmmm sounds like someone wanting what they dont have.
Nova
Apr 1st, 2008 at 9:43 am Quote
“Wow 2 years later and now this comes up.Hmmm sounds like someone wanting what they dont have”
That’s the way this crap works, it a long drawn out process. Sounds like a air tight law suit, and I wonder how much the settlement is going to be, all I know is father and son won’t ever have to work again.
whats sad is with neck and back injuries, they may not be able to work, a far settlement would be fine.
Duh guys………………….. APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a die hard Junior fan, hell I’d be honored to get run over by one of Junior’s property.
Only kidding.
First of all, I hope this isn’t a bad April Fool’s joke. A guy I know was racing at a NASCAR sanctioned track when a wheel broke off the car and went into the stands. A little boy was killed and his father was injured as a result. The family had to sue the guy, to get to sue the promoter/ owner of the track, in order to sue NASCAR. All the money in the world couldn’t bring that child back.
I dont know how many of you have driven a tractor trailer but a tractor trailer takes a full football field to safely stop from 55 miles per hour and given the way people drive these days i am very surprized there isnt more accidents then there are
I am surprised they waited two years. Perhaps they thought they would get better with their injuries? I don’t know but I was sued when I had an accident that was no fault. My insurance company fought with them for two years and finally settled it. They were as much fault (speeding) as I was. I bet they got their bills paid and the rest went to their attorney. They weren’t even hurt badly. They were all walking after they broadsided me going 50 mph. Later on one of them tried to say that their breast recontruction was harmed by the shoulder harness! I was just minding my business waiting to to turn when they jumped the green light because they couldn’t slow down. Yes it takes 100 yards or more to stop a semi. What do you want to bet they didn’t know until recently who owned the semi? Probably investigated the driver. That is what they did to me. I got a post card from one wanting me to call. I called him and immediately found out he was working for their attorney so I refused to answer questions and hung up.These injury attorney lawyers and their investigators are something else. They found out where I worked, how much I made etc.
can anybody say GREED?
if it was some foriegner behind the wheel of his own truck there would be no lawsuit on anyone but being that this belongs to a famous person who has money well………what’s so surprising about some greedy person who waits 2 years to file lawsuit?
I sympthasize with them for their injuries but it just seems greedy
Mare, I’m not sure about your way of thinking but if any body rear ends my vechile no matter who they are I’d sue them (unless the accident was my fault)
SOME OF YOU GUYS SAY GREED , WHAT IF THE SHOE WAS ON THE OTHER FOOT. I BET YOU WOULD FOLLOW SUIT
Humm, too bad abt this wreck, and glad this didnt cause a death. Neck and back injuries are nothing to laugh at people. As for who ownes the semi, it all boils down to being covered by your insurance to pay for the father and son. Happens every day…………………………………..
Just happens to have been Jr Motorsports.
What a JOKE this is!!!! Come OOOOON! Neck and back injuries at 15 mph and if the “other” vehicles were also going slowly at around 15mph, how is isn’t that a big rig could be going much faster? It can’t. Also, the explanation of the accident details, there is NO WAY that neck and back injuries are going to last this long, IF they even occured!! What it sounds like to me is they found out that the rig was owned by big money and now are trying to get big money. And, why sue Jr himself? He has NO LIABILTY to this. Whether his is the owner or not. There is not THAT much money acculumated through ANY treatment that these two have done that the INSURANCE does not cover for those minor injuries. Unless you have a shady chiropractor that is ALWAYS going to say that there is a problem.
And really, as IF Jr is carrying the basic liability amounts. LMAO Bull. You only can sue (and win) IF the insurance paid out is not enough to cover what the loss was. Also, the insurance hasn’t paid, because obviously they did NOT establish the injuries were caused by the accident. This is a farce. And I will stand by this, I have been in two accidents caused by others and had to sue 3 insurances and 3 people, one whicjh was just the policy holder on the car, for not having enough coverage to cover my losses/damage. That’s why I know this. This newest accident I was in happened a 1.5 yrs ago and I am going to have to sue as well, because I have permanenant damage to my hip from it. But this is from someone head-on’ing at 40mph. And I have got nothing but grief over that speed saying I shouldn’t have the problem I do. But, for a 15mph… BOGUS!!
GREEEEEDY people. I hope to hell they lose big. And, no its not because I am Jr’s fan, simply becaue too many people are doing these fake lawsuits over nothing because they simply see big money or big names behind the owner of something. what scum!!!!
Jr88fan, I guess you have never been on a highway during rush-hour.
Also they are not suing Jr himself they are suing JR Motorsports which happens to be owned by Jr. Kinda like if I sue Microsoft you could say I am also Suing Bill Gates, because he owns Microsoft.
[quote comment="37977"]What a JOKE this is!!!! Come OOOOON! Neck and back injuries at 15 mph and if the “other” vehicles were also going slowly at around 15mph, how is isn’t that a big rig could be going much faster? It can’t. Also, the explanation of the accident details, there is NO WAY that neck and back injuries are going to last this long, IF they even occured!! What it sounds like to me is they found out that the rig was owned by big money and now are trying to get big money. And, why sue Jr himself? He has NO LIABILTY to this. Whether his is the owner or not. There is not THAT much money acculumated through ANY treatment that these two have done that the INSURANCE does not cover for those minor injuries. Unless you have a shady chiropractor that is ALWAYS going to say that there is a problem.
And really, as IF Jr is carrying the basic liability amounts. LMAO Bull. You only can sue (and win) IF the insurance paid out is not enough to cover what the loss was. Also, the insurance hasn’t paid, because obviously they did NOT establish the injuries were caused by the accident. This is a farce. And I will stand by this, I have been in two accidents caused by others and had to sue 3 insurances and 3 people, one whicjh was just the policy holder on the car, for not having enough coverage to cover my losses/damage. That’s why I know this. This newest accident I was in happened a 1.5 yrs ago and I am going to have to sue as well, because I have permanenant damage to my hip from it. But this is from someone head-on’ing at 40mph. And I have got nothing but grief over that speed saying I shouldn’t have the problem I do. But, for a 15mph… BOGUS!!
GREEEEEDY people. I hope to hell they lose big. And, no its not because I am Jr’s fan, simply becaue too many people are doing these fake lawsuits over nothing because they simply see big money or big names behind the owner of something. what scum!!!![/quote]
I take it you’ve never been rearended? well I have and it wasnt at a very fast speed that was 5 years ago an I still have neck and back problems,and he states he was doing 15 not the truck and you cant say greedy? it doesnt state what there sueing for as far as bills lost wages etc.
No Lee I haven’t been rear-ended. I have been t-boned 2 times and head on 3 times and not one of those was my fault. Also, I got injured in all but one of those accidents. I think head on is very similar, actually worse then rear, because you see it coming and are tensing your body at impact which causes more problems for you, but its not like you can help it.
As for rear end crashes, I am not saying people don’t get hurt, they do, and I know some that have. But, I just do not beleive at 15 mph is going to cause those injuries they are claiming this length of time later. They found out big names and big money are there and “Oh my neck, Oh my ass oh my finger” started. Sorry I don’t buy it.
As for Fisha… I know what they are saying as Jr being the owner of the rig. That’s the point. They are suing him because HE IS the owner. Which to them means money and losts of it. The thing that you aren’t seeing is NO tractor trailer is going to carry the bare limits on their insurance. Especially not one that carries a millions plus dollar car or the machinery and stuff in it. Give me a break. There is NO WAY these people had a neck strain that is worth more then 250,000 (which last I looked was pretty up there on liabilty). I hope to hell they catch these two blood suckers off playing wrestling or football somewhere. You know, doing something they say they can’t do because their injuries. I cant wait for this to fall apart on them. Its people like that, that make it rough for people who ARE really hurt and going through issues from wrecks. Jerks. Its just sad taht Jr is so nice he will end up paying them something.
Oh wait I forgot.. I was in a rear end when I was like 11 with my mom. The car that hit us was doing the 25 speed limit as we started turning into a parking lot. Yup… not hurt. Mom she hurt her neck for all of a few days. Now does that amount up to what we KNOW these guys are looking for? NO!
The only thing I will give people is that every accident and person is different. There cant be the same impact style to two different cars ,etc and one group walks away with no injuries and the other has injuries. So that I will back up. But I dont believe these two have had it that bad this lentgh of time that they can sue over and above the insurance policies. I just dont buy it.
I have been rear ended.However I couldn’t prove if it was an accident or my occupation (nursing lifting people) I would love to hear and read their medical records considering I am in the medical field I know all about the extent of these injuries. If it is soft tissue it’s hard to prove now if there is definitive evidence with X-Rays etc then the insurance company should settle. Something tells me it will be settled this way.
[quote comment="38015"]As for rear end crashes, I am not saying people don’t get hurt, they do, and I know some that have. But, I just do not beleive at 15 mph is going to cause those injuries they are claiming this length of time later. They found out big names and big money are there and “Oh my neck, Oh my ass oh my finger” started. Sorry I don’t buy it.[/quote]
If you read the article you will realize that the car was slowed to 15mph and was on the Shoulder of the road, but the Semi hit them going full clip down the road. Not only is the entire accident the fault of the driver of the semi that idiot should never be allowed to drive anything again.
Oh and BTW even if they were both going 15 mph a Truck, especially a Semi does more damage to a car, then another car would.
Thats my point it says they were doing 15mph not the semi it doesnt say how fast it was going just says didnt slow down,an getting rearended by a semi is completely different than by a car.
[quote comment="38015"]No Lee I haven’t been rear-ended. I have been t-boned 2 times and head on 3 times and not one of those was my fault. Also, I got injured in all but one of those accidents. I think head on is very similar, actually worse then rear, because you see it coming and are tensing your body at impact which causes more problems for you, but its not like you can help it.
As for rear end crashes, I am not saying people don’t get hurt, they do, and I know some that have. But, I just do not beleive at 15 mph is going to cause those injuries they are claiming this length of time later. They found out big names and big money are there and “Oh my neck, Oh my ass oh my finger” started. Sorry I don’t buy it.
As for Fisha… I know what they are saying as Jr being the owner of the rig. That’s the point. They are suing him because HE IS the owner. Which to them means money and losts of it. The thing that you aren’t seeing is NO tractor trailer is going to carry the bare limits on their insurance. Especially not one that carries a millions plus dollar car or the machinery and stuff in it. Give me a break. There is NO WAY these people had a neck strain that is worth more then 250,000 (which last I looked was pretty up there on liabilty). I hope to hell they catch these two blood suckers off playing wrestling or football somewhere. You know, doing something they say they can’t do because their injuries. I cant wait for this to fall apart on them. Its people like that, that make it rough for people who ARE really hurt and going through issues from wrecks. Jerks. Its just sad taht Jr is so nice he will end up paying them something.[/quote]
The story says the pick up was doing 15mph not the semi ,it didnt slow down it may have been doing 40 50mph who knows it doesnt say and how do you know there not really HURT are you a doctor did you treat them,like I said I got rearended 5 years ago an still have trouble with my neck and back probably will rest of my life so you shouldnt be judging these people by claiming there lying,I guess because your a jr fan these people must be lying maybe they are maybe not.
Oh here we go (rolling eyes).. just because I’m a Jr fan. Boo friggen woo. The point IS that they do not state what the speed was of the truck. However, it does say that traffic was backing up and slowing down. The driver of the TRUCK(not a car) said HE was doing 15mph. Ok so, that’s what HE says. Your saying 1. that he was in a car, 2. that he was on the side of the road stopped. The fact IS that IF the traffic was backing up and slowing down and this guy says he’s doing 15mph, its logical that the traffic around him could not have been doing 40-50+ mph. Rush hour/heavy traffic is not going to allow a large speed and IF this 15mph speed is what people were doing, IN A TRUCK, then a big rig surely isn’t going to be doing much more of that if any. This has nothing to do with me being a Jr fan, so get over it. This just sounds like two guys thinking they hit the lottery based on whiplash. BFD. The point of the matter is that big rigs insurance carries are not going to allow very little on their policies. And I highly doubt, even IF these to guys still have issues, have surpassed the limits on the insurance. I know for sure in one of my accidents which caused permanent knee damage, multiple surgies, etc. The insurance was not enough and I had to sue. They carried $15,000. My medical was over $60,000. And I walked away with $75,000 through litigations because and ONLY because they did not have enough coverage. You cannot tell me that a neck strain is worth more then surgeries and permanent damage, etc. That a truck that carries multi-dollars worth of equipment, is going to not be able to cover these two. It’s ridiculous that they are trying to get something more then that policy limit based on the details of their “injuries”. Damn some of you bitter people want to hang this guy and automatically assume that these two are pure victims. I don’t buy it, there is a lot of fluff here and it will come out.
And Fisha… SO what if this guy had an accident. Why do you have to say “He should never be able to drive again”? What the hell? He had an accident, not some intentional negligent driving over and over again, drunk driving, suspended license, repeat infractions, etc. So your saying one accident and no one should be able to drive again period? That’s just stupid. It says nothing to any negligence other then this being an accident. They happen, that’s why their called accidents.
Oh, I am wondering… IF this guy said he “pulled over to the side of the road (shoulder) and was doing 15mph, then how did the truck driver plow into him since he was ON the road driving? See you want to act like its all cut n dry and poor whoa’es me on the guys, yet you all dont know all the details either. At least I am looking at more angles of this. But, that goes to show, most of you stating hang the guy, would be one’s to jump on a meal ticket. I’m sorry but this sounds like some guy trying to get a free ride. But, if someone gives the WHOLE story or at least the OTHER SIDE as well, then I might change my mind. Right now I just here a lawyers fluff and two poor pity me people’s side. And we all know Lawyers are snakes.
Fisha695 Registered User
Apr 1st, 2008 at 8:26 pm Quote
Mare, I’m not sure about your way of thinking but if any body rear ends my vechile no matter who they are I’d sue them (unless the accident was my fault)”Qoute”
Listen to Fisha695 he knows all, he even knows how to spell correctly, l0l.
Fisha695 will sue you if you don’t tell things the way they are supposed to be told, Fisha695 you kill me with all your know-it-all answers to all these comments, just like you told my buddy what a minority was, l0l !!!
LMAO “Know-it-all”. … too funny
Yeah, this is the kind of thing as this “lawsuit” and Fisha”s thinking “I’ll sue ‘em (hurt or not) attitude that is casting us big dollars on all of our insurance! Peopel rather go sue someone for something…. anything… any reason, rather then work for it! Yet, the rest of us end up paying. Disgusting.
If they re-end me chances are they F’d up my car, and even though I could do all the work myself materials are still expensive as “heck”. I mean I don’t know about y’all, but I like to keep my car in immaculate condition.
Yeah, they will still have to work, you don’t get that much in a rear end collision, once I settled for 10 grand and that’s all I could pursue over a drunk driver.
quote comment=”37907″]Nova
Apr 1st, 2008 at 9:43 am Quote
“Wow 2 years later and now this comes up.Hmmm sounds like someone wanting what they dont have”
That’s the way this crap works, it a long drawn out process. Sounds like a air tight law suit, and I wonder how much the settlement is going to be, all I know is father and son won’t ever have to work again.[/quote]