Case involved a commercial truck whose driver was distracted because he was using his cellular phone to access the internet at the same time he was operating his vehicle.

The verdict against JC Fodale Energy Services, based in Shreveport, Louisiana, included $30 million in punitive damages. It also included almost $7.3 million for physical pain and mental anguish, $2.9 million for physical impairment, almost $1.3 million for medical expenses and $1.1 million for loss of past and future earnings.

In July of 2011, a mother was stopped at a traffic light with her 9 year old son and 11 year old daughter on Illinois route 15 in Belleville, Illinois. The driver of a commercial delivery van / truck was using his cellular phone instead of paying attention and slammed into the back of the woman’s car at almost 50 miles per hour!