Wrongful Death Settlement

The Case

A 42-year-old father of three was killed when a commercial delivery truck ran a red light at a busy intersection in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The truck driver, who was operating under pressure to meet delivery deadlines, had been driving for over 14 hours in violation of federal Hours of Service regulations. The victim was on his way home from work when the collision occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a wife and three children under the age of 12.

The Challenge

The trucking company and its insurer immediately deployed an accident response team to the scene, attempting to control the narrative before our firm could investigate. They argued that the traffic signal was yellow, not red, and that our client's husband may have been distracted. Our team had to act quickly to preserve critical evidence, including the truck's electronic logging device (ELD) data, dashcam footage from nearby vehicles, and traffic camera recordings. We also faced the challenge of proving the trucking company's systemic failures in driver oversight and compliance with federal regulations.

The Result

Through aggressive investigation and litigation, we obtained the truck's ELD data showing the driver had exceeded legal driving hours. Traffic camera footage confirmed the truck ran a red light. We also uncovered a pattern of Hours of Service violations by the trucking company, demonstrating corporate negligence. Faced with overwhelming evidence and the prospect of a jury trial in Gwinnett County, the trucking company's insurer agreed to a $4.5 million settlement. The settlement provided the family with financial security for their children's education and future needs, while holding the trucking company accountable for its dangerous practices.