$6.75 Million Truck Accident Settlement For Fatal Crash in Mobile, AL
How Dean Waite Proved Fault and Delivered Justice for a Grieving Alabama Family
A promising life was tragically cut short in seconds on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, Alabama. A young woman on her way to school was hit and killed by a commercial truck that failed to yield. The impact was devastating—not just physically, but emotionally and legally.
The trucking company tried to shift the blame. The insurance carrier denied responsibility. But Attorney Dean Waite knew the truth was buried in the details. Through a determined investigation and strategic legal pressure, the firm secured a $6.75 million settlement for the victim’s family.
This case is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake in fatal truck crashes—and how critical it is to have the right lawyer fighting for you.
When Trucking Companies Try to Dodge Responsibility
The truck wreck occurred at an intersection controlled by a traffic signal. The commercial driver made a left turn on a yellow light, colliding directly with the victim’s vehicle as she entered the intersection heading northbound.
From the outset, the trucking company’s insurer tried to frame the incident as the young woman’s fault. Their argument hinged on ambiguity about the traffic light’s timing and color. In Alabama, contributory negligence laws mean that if a victim is found even 1% at fault, they can be barred from recovering any compensation. Given the all-or-nothing scenario, that made the stakes even higher for the victim’s family, and the tactics even more aggressive on the other side.
What followed was a hard-fought investigation designed to get beyond the noise and uncover the truth.
Reconstructing the Crash to Prove the Truck Driver Was at Fault
One of the most important steps in the case was commissioning a full crash reconstruction. Dean Waite and his dedicated legal team worked with investigators to piece together what happened second by second. Using physical evidence from the scene, data about traffic signal timing, vehicle positioning, and witness accounts, the reconstruction showed the trucker tried to “beat the light” and turned left into the victim’s path.
That critical detail helped shift the narrative from “he said, she said” to hard evidence of negligence.
Once that evidence was in hand, the defense could no longer hide behind uncertainty. The case moved forward quickly from there, with court-ordered mediation prompting the insurance company to resolve the case.
Why Fatal Truck Crashes in Alabama Demand a Rapid Legal Response
This tragic case also highlights a key truth about wrongful death claims involving commercial trucks: delays can be devastating. Trucking companies are often quick to dispatch their own teams to the scene, gather their version of the evidence, and lock down their narrative. If the victim’s family doesn’t act fast, critical proof can disappear—or worse, be distorted in ways that make recovery harder or even impossible.
That’s why Dean Waite & Associates prioritizes rapid investigation. In fatal truck accident cases, our firm moves quickly to:
- Preserve evidence at the crash site
- Obtain truck driver logs, black box data, and maintenance records
- Identify potential violations of FMCSA safety rules
- Speak to witnesses while memories are still fresh
- Retain qualified crash reconstruction experts
With this level of legal pressure applied early, trucking companies are far less able to delay or deny responsibility.
What the Settlement Means for the Family and Others Facing Similar Loss
No amount of money can bring back a loved one. But financial compensation matters. The $6.75 million settlement in this case means the family will have the resources to begin healing without added financial stress. It also holds the trucking company accountable and sends a clear message: cutting corners to save time on the road has consequences.
For other families navigating similar grief, this result offers hope. It shows what’s possible when you have a law firm that’s aggressive, experienced, and unwilling to back down.
Court-Ordered Mediation and the Power of a Strong Legal Strategy
Even with solid crash reconstruction evidence, cases like this don’t resolve themselves. The insurance company only agreed to settle after court-ordered mediation, a process that requires both sides to present their arguments to a neutral third party. This step can often be a turning point in complex wrongful death cases, especially when liability is contested.
Attorney Dean Waite came to mediation fully prepared, with expert findings, traffic light timing data, and a compelling account of how the crash unfolded. That preparation made all the difference. It showed the insurance company that if they didn’t settle, they would face an uphill battle with undeniable evidence and a strong, credible legal team on the other side.
Why Families Need a Lawyer Who Handles Serious Truck Accident Cases
Not all personal injury law firms are equipped to handle high-dollar trucking cases, especially when the crash involves disputed liability, complex crash evidence, and corporate defendants with aggressive legal teams. Fatal truck wrecks are different from standard car accidents. They often require:
- Deep understanding of federal trucking regulations
- Access to forensic crash experts and data analysts
- Courtroom experience with wrongful death litigation
- The resources to fight large insurers and national trucking companies
Our Alabama law firm has all of the above, and that’s why this case ended in a $6.75 million recovery instead of a denied claim.
The Dean Waite Difference: Standing Up for Families Across Alabama
At Dean Waite & Associates, LLC, we don’t just take truck accident cases—we take them personally. Our team knows the law, knows the tactics trucking companies use to avoid blame, and knows how to win high-stakes wrongful death cases across Mobile and the Gulf Coast.
We’re proud of the $6.75 million result in this case, but we’re prouder of what it means for the family. They now have a measure of justice and the chance to move forward.
If your family is facing the loss of a loved one due to a commercial vehicle crash or any other type of accident involving negligence, contact us online today. Let us stand with you, fight for you, and help you pursue the justice and accountability you deserve.
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