Atlanta – McArthur Law Firm is pleased to announce a favorable resolution in a wrongful-death case, securing a $12.5 million settlement on behalf of the surviving child of Stevie L. Bryant, a young mother who tragically lost her life following a catastrophic motor vehicle collision caused by an unsafe construction zone in DeKalb County.
The incident occurred in May 2020 along southbound Interstate 75/85 in downtown Atlanta. Bryant was riding as a front-seat passenger when another vehicle clipped the Mercedes sedan in which she was traveling, sending it into an uncontrolled spin. The vehicle ultimately struck the exposed end of a concrete median barrier at a perpendicular angle. At the time of the crash, the construction zone had been left in an unsafe condition after the construction crew departed for the day.
Less than three hours after the collision, Bryant died on the operating table at Grady Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in the crash.
It was our contention that the construction company, Precision 2000, failed to properly secure the work zone and violated safety requirements governing traffic control devices. Specifically, the construction team had placed an impact attenuator in front of the exposed concrete barrier but failed to properly attach it to the wall, install all required modules, or fill the units with water to meet weight specifications. These failures were in direct violation of both the company’s contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation and the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
Plaintiff counsel alleged that had the attenuator been correctly installed and secured, it would have absorbed the force of the impact and prevented the fatal injuries. Depositions of construction employees, the project manager, and the company’s safety director further established the negligence underlying Bryant’s death.
The case was set for trial in DeKalb County State Court, but after years of litigation and less than a week before jury selection, the defendants and their insurer agreed to resolve the matter. The resulting $12.5 million settlement, which exceeded policy limits, ensures long-term security and justice for Bryant’s minor child.
This case was handled by Katherine McArthur, senior partner at McArthur Law Firm, alongside Lindsey S. Macon, who took the lead on the case, whose prior experience in insurance defense proved invaluable throughout settlement negotiations. The McArthur team worked closely with co-counsel Bruce Hagen and Matt Hagen of Hagen Rosskopf, whose longstanding relationship with the child’s father played a critical role in achieving this result.
While no outcome can undo the devastating loss suffered by Bryant’s family, we are proud to have secured a resolution that provides meaningful accountability and financial protection for her child’s future.
You can read a news article about this case on Law.com
