Verdict splits fault 60-40 between truck and motorcycle in collision

A crash on a two-lane road diverged into two stories before a Franklin County jury, which split its verdict 60-40 between the two parties.

On April 12, 2018, Matthew McCoy was trailing a pickup truck on his motorcycle when he alleged the truck shifted into the wrong lane toward a mailbox on the left. As McCoy drove forward in front of the truck, the truck cut in front of him and they crashed on Highway KK in Franklin County.

The truck driver alleged he had stayed in the right lane before turning into the driveway.

The crash resulted in McCoy breaking his left leg in two places, which required an Achilles lengthening procedure and a total knee replacement after the crash. According to his expert, he would need two more future surgeries. McCoy was 29 years old at the time of the crash. Afterward, he had limited mobility and could no longer run or hike on uneven ground.

An expert for each party criticized the other driver, and physical evidence contradicted both versions of the collision. The truck driver died before trial, after giving his deposition.

The 12-person jury deliberated for more than three hours before delivering its verdict on July 3. According to Steve Buckley, a St. Louis attorney who represented the Edward Jones Trust Company at the time, the jury requested all exhibits except for the surgery photos, and a copy of the police report. The jury also asked if McCoy would receive compensation if they split the fault in half and wrote in a dollar amount, and the jury was told it should be guided by the evidence and instructions.

Judge Ryan Helfrich ordered Edward Jones to pay an additional $1,783.99 in taxable court fees, plus 10.33 percent post-judgment interest per annum until paid in full.

David Simkin, an attorney for McCoy, did not respond to a call requesting comment.

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Motor vehicle collision

Type: Verdict for plaintiff

Total value: $425,000 for both parties

Breakdown and distribution of total value: $225,000 to plaintiff, $200,000 to defendant

Allocation of fault: 40 percent comparative fault to plaintiff, 60 percent to defendant

Verdict date: 6/28/2024

Court: Franklin County Circuit Court (MO)

Case number: 20AB-CC00104

Caption: Matt McCoy v. Edward Jones Trust Company

Injuries alleged: Leg, knee, ankle, foot

First pre-trial demand: $250,000

Last pre-trial demand: $250,000

First pre-trial offer: $100,000

First offer detail: Two weeks before trial

Last pre-trial offer: $150,000

Last offer detail: One week before trial

Tried before: Judge

Person presiding: Judge Ryan Helfrich

Attorney for plaintiff: David Simkins, Cofman Townsley (Clayton, Missouri)

Attorney for defendant: Stephen Buckley, Bischoff, Buckley, Collins, & Zimmer (St. Louis, Missouri)

Insurance company: American Automobile Association for Edward Jones Trust Company

Plaintiff experts: Joshua Naudad, surgical specialties; Adam Crepin, accident reconstruction (St. Charles, Missouri)

Defendant experts: Steve Garrets, motorcycle safety (Corvallis, Oregon)