Edward L. Allen

Traumatic Brain Injury
The plaintiff was working at a plant in Ashland, when he was struck by a large door that had fallen from the ceiling. Though on his original doctor visit he was prescribed medication and told to rest, the plaintiff’s condition continued to deteriorate.
Simple tasks had become complicated and he had trouble word-finding. His headaches had become so severe that his blood pressure surged, with medical professionals acknowledging that his levels were elevated enough to put him on the verge of a stroke. The plaintiff began to suffer seizures, tremors, and emotional outbursts that he was unable to control. Those close to him noticed the marked change in his personality.
Neurologists and doctors originally met the plaintiff’s issues with doubt. Attorney Edward Allen helped the plaintiff by connecting him with a brain injury specialist, and getting numerous depositions from medical professionals. The case was settled for $500,000.

Wrongful Death
A 33–year–old registered nurse and mother of two was killed when a fully loaded commercial motor
vehicle lost control, crossed the center line, and struck her vehicle at highway speed. Her husband
and two young children were traveling in a separate vehicle directly behind and witnessed the
violent collision.
The Allen Law Firm did not shy away from the complexities of this case as we sought justice for the
decedent’s family. Claims for corporate negligence and corporate wrongdoing, specifically for
negligent hiring and retention, were filed. The defendant driver, who had been on the job for just two
months, had a history that should have raised concerns for the employer. According to Edward Allen,
“This litigation was hard fought from the beginning. It turned on the ultimate success of our
proof of corporate negligence. This crash was caused not only by a commercial driver’s failure to
stay on the correct side of the highway, but by the commercial carrier’s decision to hire an unfit
driver and its failure to provide adequate training to its employees.” The father–and–son legal team,
Edward and Parker Allen, successfully demonstrated that the driver was unfit.
On the eve of trial, the defense admitted corporate negligence, including negligent hiring and
retention. The case resolved at the courthouse on the first day of trial, shortly before jury selection
was set to begin.
“We showed up ready to pick a jury and try this case to verdict,” said Parker Allen. “That is the only
way to achieve a result like this. We spent weekends with this family, learning who their loved one
was and how deeply she impacted everyone around her. The trust we built allowed us to achieve an
incredible result for a deserving family.”
Allen & Allen remained dedicated and worked tirelessly to secure this historic wrongful death
recovery. The $24 million settlement was reached at the courthouse on the first day of trial. This
settlement is the largest reported wrongful death recovery in Virginia history, whether by settlement
or verdict. It doubles the prior record for a wrongful death settlement.