Indiana man secures record $37M settlement in construction zone crash

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A northwest Indiana man who was severely injured in a construction zone crash will receive more than $37 million in a pretrial personal injury settlement.

The crash occurred on Aug. 26, 2020 on U.S. 30 in Valparaiso. Brad Detert, 37, sued those responsible for the road construction work, alleging they failed to comply with state and federal signage and safety requirements at the work site, according to his attorney.

The primary defendant, Traffic Control Specialists Inc., was accused of failing to follow state and federal standards for safely directing traffic in the construction zone. Detert's lawyer said this led to motorists being confused and a disoriented driver crashing into Detert, who was riding a motorcycle, leading to his serious injuries.

"TCS had a legal duty to follow state and federal standards for safely directing traffic through construction zones. Because it failed to follow those safety standards, motorists were foreseeably confused and a disoriented driver crashed into Mr. Detert’s motorcycle and he was catastrophically injured," said Allen Law Group attorney Otto Shragal, who represented Detert along with Kenneth J. Allen.

Before the crash, Detert worked as an airline pilot and flight instructor.

"While we’ve won many verdicts, some larger, any higher amount would have required a jury trial, appeals and many more years of delay," said Shragal. "This settlement will make Brad’s life much better and we’re pleased for Brad to have reached this settlement without the need for trial."

The settlement is the largest ever reported in Indiana, according to prosecutors.