Jury Awards $1.18M to Crash Victim in LA Truck Lawsuit

Case Background

A Los Angeles County jury delivered a final judgment in the personal injury case of Vincent Carlos Hamlin against the commercial trucking company 562 Express Inc. and its employee driver, Andrew Eleazar Menendez. The lawsuit, filed on September 9, 2024, stemmed from a motor vehicle collision that occurred earlier that year. Hamlin had claimed that the Defendants’ negligent operation of a commercial vehicle led directly to a major accident, which caused him significant physical injury and financial loss. The trial concluded in late September 2025, when the jury found the Defendants responsible for the crash and ordered them to pay substantial damages.

Cause

The central cause of action in the complaint was General Negligence, arising from a motor vehicle accident. Vincent Carlos Hamlin alleged that the Defendants the driver Andrew Eleazar Menendez and his employer, 562 Express Inc. had carelessly and unlawfully operated the commercial truck. The complaint specifically pointed to violations of the California Vehicle Code, including sections relating to the duty of drivers to exercise ordinary care and proper signaling during lane changes or turns. Hamlin asserted that the driver’s failure to abide by these laws and exercise necessary caution had been the direct and legal cause of the collision, which then caused all of his subsequent injuries and damages. Furthermore, Hamlin had also pursued a claim of Negligent Hiring, Training, and Supervision against the corporate Defendant, alleging that 562 Express Inc. was directly at fault for employing a driver who caused the crash.

Injury

Following the accident, Hamlin reported suffering serious, debilitating injuries. The complaint described that he had experienced a variety of physical and psychological injuries, including pain, suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement. These conditions required extensive medical attention. Hamlin’s attorneys presented evidence that the injuries created a major impact on his life, causing physical impairment and limiting his ability to participate in normal daily activities. The legal proceedings focused heavily on establishi