St. Louis County jury rejects $1M accident claim

A jury sided with the defendant in a $1.053 million motor vehicle collision in a case in St. Louis County Circuit Court.

B&D Hauling was found not liable for the 2022 motor vehicle collision that occurred in north St. Louis County off of Interstate 270. B&D Hauling’s employee, Hurshel Head, was driving the company’s commercial dump truck near the Washington Street-Elizabeth Avenue exit when he and the plaintiff, Keith Taylor, collided.

Taylor was driving a Dodge Charger at the time of the incident and had four passengers with him — his then-girlfriend, Asha Medley-Turner and their three children.

Head died due to illness shortly before trial and was dismissed from the lawsuit. He took a video deposition prior to his death which was played for the jury.

Head testified in his deposition that he was driving down I-270 when a car from the left lane tried to cut him off and struck the front tire of the dump truck. The plaintiff believed Hurshel came into his lane but testified to the jury that his right blinker was on. The plaintiff’s passengers also testified they were changing into Hurshel’s lane when the accident occurred.

Taylor complained of injuries to his neck and back and underwent lumbar spine surgery following the incident. The plaintiff’s side contended Head caused the accident due to his age — 75 — and should not have been on the road.

The plaintiff was represented by lead attorney Jason Hine of Miller & Hine in St. Louis and Jeffrey Hine of Osburn, Hine & Yates in Cape Girardeau.

The defendant was represented by lead attorney Lawrence Hall, along with Lisa Guberman, of The Chartwell Law Offices in St. Louis.

The plaintiff brought in three experts: Surgeon William Reed of Spine & Joint Centers of Missouri, pain management doctor Mark Belcher, also of Spine & Joint Centers of Missouri, and accident reconstruction specialist William Hampton of W.E. Hampton & Associates, Inc. in Missouri.

The defendant’s two experts were accident reconstruction specialist Adam Forest of S.E.A., Ltd. In Missouri, and surgical doctor Frank Petkovich of Petkovich Orthopedic and Spine Care in Missouri.

There was no dash camera or physical evidence at the accident scene to establish liability, so the Hall said the trial came down to witness testimony and common sense.

“(In) this case, the evidence supported — because of admissions of the plaintiff — they (the plaintiff) wanted to change lanes at the time of the accident. Hurshel’s testimony was that he knew exactly where he was supposed to be … and he had no reason to move,” Hall said.

Hall said the video of Head’s deposition played by the plaintiff’s counsel as evidence of Head being unfit to drive that day was taken a year and a half following the accident.

“They attempted to attack Hurshel by claiming he should have never been driving a truck on that day,” Hall said. “Hurshel’s video deposition … was taken a year and a half after this accident and at that time, Hurshel’s health had begun to fail, he had carpel tunnel and he had difficulty raising his left hand to be sworn, and that was pointed out … as evidence as why Hurshel should never have been driving a truck on that day.”

He added he was thankful the jury recognized everyday people like Head, and the president of B&D Hauling, Brian Brown, was also satisfied with the outcome.

“We are very satisfied with the result that St. Louis County jurors, and jurors in general, recognize and appreciate folks like Hurshel Head who don’t make our news headlines every day, just go about their business and do their work on a daily basis,” Hall said.

Hines could not be reached for comment.

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Motor Vehicle Collision

Verdict for defendant

Total value: $1.053 million

Allocation of fault: 0 percent for both plaintiff and defendant

Type of action: Motor Vehicle Collision

Venue: St. Louis County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: 23SL-CC00497, 3/5/2025

Caption: Keith Taylor v. B&D Hauling, Inc.

Injuries alleged: Head, brain, neck, back, spine

Injuries details: Plaintiff complained of injuries to his neck and back. He also underwent lumbar spine surgery

Special damages: Pain and suffering, future surgery and treatment

Plaintiff’s Attorneys: Jason Hine of Miller & Hine in St. Louis and Jeffrey Hine of Osburn, Hine & Yates in Cape Girardeau

Defendant’s Attorneys: Lawrence Hall and Lisa Guberman of The Chartwell Law Offices in St. Louis

Plaintiff’s experts: Surgeon William Reed and pain management doctor Mark Belcher, both of Spine & Joint Centers of Missouri, and accident reconstruction specialist William Hampton of W.E. Hampton & Associates, Inc. in Missouri

Defendant’s experts: Accident reconstruction specialist Adam Forest of S.E.A., Ltd. In Missouri, and surgeon Frank Petkovich of Petkovich Orthopedic and Spine Care in Missouri