West Virginia Motorcyclist Wins $500K in Suit Against Travelers, Truck Driver

A jury has awarded more than $500,000 to a motorcyclist in South Charleston, W. Va., who was injured in a lumber spill wreck.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports jurors reached the verdict last week in Larry Keeling Jr.’s case.

Keeling’s attorney Ben Salango says his client was riding his motorcycle on Corridor G in August 2014 when lumber that had spilled across the roadway caused him to crash.

Salango says Keeling, who was injured, had to retire from his job after undergoing two surgeries.

He filed a lawsuit against Kevin Hanson, who was driving the truck pulling the trailer full of lumber, and Hanson’s insurance company, Travelers.

Keeling’s lawyer says Travelers refused to accept responsibility for the accident.

Attorneys for Hanson and Travelers couldn’t be reached for comment by the newspaper.