Close Menu
Douglas NowDouglas Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
What's Hot

South Georgia State College waives application fee in November

October 29, 2025

Traffic stop for no insurance turns into illegal drug investigation

October 29, 2025

Jury acquits David Spivey of embracery charges in connection with investigation related to Vann Brown death case

October 28, 2025
Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok
Trending
  • South Georgia State College waives application fee in November
  • Traffic stop for no insurance turns into illegal drug investigation
  • Jury acquits David Spivey of embracery charges in connection with investigation related to Vann Brown death case
  • CCA Lady Patriots win first-ever high school flag football games in Coffee County history
  • Wiregrass names semi-finalists for 2026 GOAL Award
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok Pinterest
Douglas NowDouglas Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
Douglas NowDouglas Now
Home»News»Attorneys settle $32.5 million wrongful death case involving tractor-trailer wreck
News

Attorneys settle $32.5 million wrongful death case involving tractor-trailer wreck

SubmittedBy SubmittedFebruary 6, 2024375 Views
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
Submitted photo
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Copy Link

Peak Wooten McDaniel & Colwell LLP’s Brandon Peak and Chris McDaniel and Mabra Law’s Ronnie Mabra recently settled a disputed liability wrongful death case pre-trial for a record $32.5 million. The case centers on an early-morning tractor-trailer wreck that claimed the life of a young husband, father of four, and U.S. Army veteran. Gwinnett County State Court Judge Ronda S. Colvin presided over the case.

 

 

Before sunrise on December 7, 2021, Christopher Crump was driving to work in Camilla, Georgia. At the same time, the driver of a tractor-trailer who was leaving a food processing plant failed to yield while turning left and caused a deadly underride collision that killed Mr. Crump. The plaintiff’s team established that the tractor, owned by G.R.E.L. Trucking LLC (defendant), had not undergone a required annual inspection in almost two years. Further, it was being operated with a defective “pigtail,” a coiled hose that supplies power from the tractor to the trailer. The pigtail’s wiring was exposed and in such poor condition that it failed to provide power to the trailer. As a result, none of the trailer’s lights worked when the collision occurred.

 

 

The plaintiff’s team also proved that the retroreflective tape on the side of the trailer, which was owned by a food processing company, was damaged, worn and peeling, and failed to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations’ requirements. The combination rendered the tractor-trailer a highly dangerous, invisible roadway hazard. Because Mr. Crump could not see the tractor-trailer, he was unable to avoid it, setting in motion the horrific collision that took his life.

 

 

The defense vigorously contested liability throughout the case, blaming the decedent for failing to see and avoid the tractor-trailer. Defendants’ motions for summary judgment and other pre-trial motions were denied. The case settled before trial following a court-ordered mediation.

 

 

“When we were hired by Mr. Crump’s widow, our client had two goals: to make sure that the defendants enacted safety measures to prevent this from happening again and to take care of the couple’s children following their dad’s death. We are proud to have accomplished both of those goals,” said Peak Wooten partner Brandon Peak, who served as lead counsel in the case.

 

 

The defendants have now implemented processes to ensure the equipment they use is safe and does not expose other motorists to unnecessary hazards. “Those changes will save lives,” Peak said. “And while there is no substitute for having their dad alive and active in their lives, we obtained a recovery that will ensure a solid financial foundation for Mr. Crump’s wife and daughters as they move forward.”

 

 

 

“This was an important case for an incredibly courageous client,” said Peak’s partner Chris McDaniel. Increasingly, he said, companies and carriers attempt to avoid liability by subcontracting loads to smaller carriers. “Many times, these smaller carriers have little-to-no insurance or established procedures that will ensure they are hiring safe drivers and using safe equipment. This exposes members of the public to extreme and unknown dangers as they are going about their daily lives.”

 

 

Mabra Law founder and plaintiff’s co-counsel Ronnie Mabra noted the team’s appreciation for the work, attention and care that Judge Colvin and her judicial staff provided prior to the settlement. “While our team welcomed the opportunity to try this case, we are told this is the largest pre-trial settlement for a single wrongful death case in Georgia history. We are proud to have secured this result for our client and her children. We uncovered some bad conduct in this case and were able to put a stop to it so other families won’t have to go through what the Crump family has been through.”

auto accident Mabra Law Peak Wooten McDaniel & Colwell LLP semi truck wreck tractortrailer accident wrongful death
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Copy Link
Douglas Now Profile Pic
Submitted

Related Posts

Billy Harrison Meeler, 84

October 29, 2025

Diana Sue Stone Pelton, 75

October 29, 2025

Johnny Franklin Ward, 86

October 29, 2025

Comments are closed.

Top Posts

Convicted child molester allegedly gets drunk, lends truck to girlfriend, forgets and reports it stolen, then gets arrested for failure to register

February 19, 202574,391 Views

18 bodies in various states of decomposition found at funeral home during eviction process

October 27, 202468,139 Views

Dollar General employees catch 58-year-old female allegedly trying to pay for merchandise with movie money

August 27, 202567,207 Views

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

November 11, 202446,385 Views
RSS Latest Headlines from Fox News
  • Harvard hosts panel on bridging political divide featuring only Democrats, NAACP president
  • Cuomo narrows Mamdani’s advantage in latest poll ahead of NYC mayoral election
  • DeSantis says he won’t tolerate H-1B visa ‘abuse' in Florida universities
  • Phil Jackson revisits Knicks fallout, blames 'busted' bond with Carmelo Anthony
  • Trump and Xi set for first face-to-face meeting in 6 years as major trade war looms over both nations
Follow us on Social Media!
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Pinterest
Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
© 2025 Coffee County Broadcasters, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Newell Media

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.