A FAMILY has bagged an eight-figure settlement from a major rental company after a car accident led to their son being fatally struck.
Joseph Zephries, 20, died in January 2024 after he was hit by a car while working at the side of the road in Huntley, Chicago, Illinois.
Now, in a lawsuit against the driver as well as Enterprise Rent-A-Car, his family has received an $11.5 million settlement – a record amount for wrongful death settlements in the county.
According to police, Zephries “was on the south shoulder of the road completing utility line location services” for USInfrastructure Company, or USIC.
But while working, he was hit by a Kia Forte, rented from Enterprise, and died from his injuries at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital.
His father, Stephen Zephries, said: “He was just an amazing young man and we miss him every day and that just won’t stop.”
The driver, Brandon Evans, a 28-year-old Chicago man, remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
Evans was employed by Enterprise at the time and was in a company car.
Court records state that he was later charged with the petty offense of traffic violation of failing to reduce speed.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Zephries,” Enterprise spokesperson Michael Wilmering said in an email to the Northwest Herald.
“This was a heartbreaking and tragic accident, and we hope the family finds closure and peace during this difficult time.”
According to the civil complaint, Evans was “fatigued and drowsy” which caused him to crash.
Attorney for the Zephries family, Brad Balke, said he hopes the settlement serves as a warning against drowsy driving.
He said: “We want this to be a warning to anyone who may feel drowsy while driving to get off the road and give yourself a break.”
On Zephries, he added: “This was a young man who was full of life – motivated, enthusiastic, and driven by a clear vision of the future.
“Joey had big dreams and the kind of energy that lifted up everyone around him.
“His loss is immeasurable, but we hope this result honors the legacy he was already building.”
Zephries, who also went by Joe Piazza, started his own car show organization in 2020 called Spade Society.
His friend Kyle Sexton later raised nearly $20,000 from a GoFundMe fundraiser to help support the family with funeral costs.
“The size of this settlement reflects the extraordinary young man Joey was and the depth of loss his family has endured,” an attorney for the Zephries family Ben Crane said in the release.
“Enterprise stepped up and did the right thing by recognizing that a jury would have placed tremendous value on Joey’s life.
“This is the largest wrongful death settlement in McHenry County history, and it highlights the urgent need for rental companies to implement stronger safeguards – Joey’s legacy demands nothing less.”
The settlement was approved by Judge Joel Berg, according to court records, and surpasses the previous record set in McHenry County of $7.5 million, according to a Coplan + Crane law firm press release.
PARK UP
If you’re feeling tired and fatigued while behind the wheel, the most important thing to do is to stop driving immediately and take a break.
That includes pulling over to a safe location – not on a hard shoulder or median – and finding a well-lit area.
If possible, a 20-minute power nap to regain alertness might be a good idea.
You can also try drinking one or two cups of coffee or a caffeinated beverage.
New driving laws in 2025
Drivers across the United States are having to adjust to a slew of new road rules that take effect in 2025. Some of those include:
Daylighting law prohibiting drivers from parking their cars within 20 feet of any crosswalk in California Stricter street racing penalties in California Changes to car seat age and weight requirements in Colorado Fines for failing to follow designated enter and exit areas for express lanes in Colorado Bans on handheld devices while driving in Colorado and Missouri Drivers allowed to have a digital copy of their license on their cell phones in Illinois Yield right of way to emergency vehicles in Illinois Drivers required to take a vision test to renew licenses in Kentucky School bus safety law in Oregon Vehicle safety inspections scrapped in TexasHence then, the article about family scores 11 5 million from major rental company after car accident driver made common mistake and lost was published today ( ) and is available on The U.S. Sun ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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