$162 Million Settlement Reached in Deadly Van Rollover Crash
A $162 million settlement has been reached for a traffic accident that claimed the lives of seven people and injured several others. The car accident occurred on Saturday, April 24, 2021, along Interstate 85 at the Interstate 985 split in Gwinnett County. A vehicle ahead of a passenger van holding several women from a sober living community unexpectedly changed lanes, police said. The van then spun out of control, rolled onto its side, and slid across two lanes, bursting into flames. Six of the women in the vehicle were killed. Ten survivors of the crash were taken to nearby hospitals. Bystanders attempted to save the women from the burning van, witnesses recounted.
The victims were all women from a sober living group home called We Are Living Proof. They were on their way to a meeting in Buford. Some of the women were graduating from the program that day.
According to the lawsuit, the 2002 Dodge Ram, which attorneys for the plaintiffs said was prone to tipping over, was likewise not properly maintained. The vehicle was equipped with the wrong load range tires. The lawsuits alleged that the design of the van’s steering system was faulty, and its fuel system allowed gas and gas vapors to ignite and burn the van’s occupants after the crash.
This settlement is believed to be the largest in Georgia for a single traffic accident.
Elements of negligence
In this case, the plaintiffs filed their suit against the sober living facility that they were a part of. They claimed that the facility negligently maintained the van that ultimately tipped over during an attempt to swerve out of the way of a vehicle that had entered their lane. As part of their negligence claims, they cited the failure of the sober living home to place the correct tires on the vehicle which they claimed caused the van to flip over while making a routine traffic move. The defendants denied any liability as part of the lawsuit’s settlement. However, they chose to pay the victims and their families $162 million to settle claims of personal injury and wrongful death.
Essentially, companies like sober living homes that transport individuals to and from events are responsible for maintaining their vehicles in roadworthy condition. When they fail and the van tips over leaving 7 people dead and many more injured, they can be sued for negligence. In these cases, the defendant is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle has the correct tires. All individuals are responsible for the maintenance of their vehicles. When a maintenance failure contributes to an accident, the individual who owns the vehicle is responsible. When it comes to companies, the same rule applies.
Talk to an Atlanta, GA Traffic Accident Lawyer Today
The Atlanta, GA personal injury attorneys at The Forsythe Law Firm, LLC represent the interests of traffic accident victims in lawsuits filed against negligent defendants. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your case right away.
Source:
fox5atlanta.com/news/historic-162m-settlement-reached-deadly-georgia-van-rollover-crash
