CHESTERTON, Ind. (WNDU) — A 37-year-old Northwest Indiana man is set to receive what his legal team describes as the largest pre-trial personal injury settlement ever reported in Indiana.

Brad Detert, who was severely injured in a construction zone crash in Valparaiso in August 2020, has filed a lawsuit against those he believes are responsible for the incident. He claims they failed to comply with state and federal signage and safety standards at the work site. The primary defendant in the case is Traffic Control Specialists, Inc. (TCS).

“TCS had a legal duty to follow state and federal standards for safely directing traffic through construction zones,” said Otto Shragal, an attorney with Allen Law Group. “Because it failed to follow those safety standards, motorists were foreseeably confused, and a disoriented driver crashed into Mr. Detert’s motorcycle, resulting in catastrophic injuries. Juries in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland typically get it right when it comes to enforcing safety rules and regulations. Although TCS initially claimed they followed the rules, we confronted them with video evidence proving they did not. This factor motivated the largest pre-trial personal injury settlement reported in Indiana history.”

Detert’s legal team believes that this settlement will significantly improve his life. A news conference will be held at the Allen Law Group office in Chesterton on December 13, where Detert will be present and available for comment. WNDU.com will provide more details on the story, including remarks from Detert.