Zach Pritchard obtains eight-figure result following years of stalling from the reckless driver’s insurance company.
Cartersville, GA, April 1, 2026 – Pritchard Injury Firm proudly secured a pre-trial settlement of $10 million on behalf of the family of a 42-year-old devoted wife, mother and teacher who was fatally injured when her car was struck by a reckless driver near the Etowah River in Northwest Georgia.
The fatal crash occurred in Bartow County on Jan. 9, 2021. On that picturesque Saturday morning, the married couple of 12 years had finished breakfast at a local diner with their eight- and six-year-old daughters and were driving home to their farm in Euharlee.
At the time of the crash, the family was traveling westbound on Euharlee Road when a reckless driver was speeding at 107 miles per hour on the wrong side of the road in a 45-mile-per-hour zone. The speeding driver struck the right side of the family’s vehicle, which was forced off the south edge of the roadway, slid down an embankment and finally rested mere feet from the Etowah River. The mother was seated in the front passenger seat and bore the brunt of the impact. She suffered extreme blunt force trauma from the collision and succumbed to her injuries.
Adding insult to injury, the negligent driver fled the scene. He was apprehended by Cobb County Police on the same day and is serving a 45-year sentence for homicide by vehicle, hit-and-run and other criminal charges.
A Five-Year Quest for Civil Justice
The tragedy did not end on Jan. 9, 2021, nor when the driver – who pled guilty to the criminal charges – was sentenced. The driver’s insurer, Allstate, refused to negotiate in good faith with the grieving family for the loss of their matriarch, who had been an educator at Bartow County College and Career Academy and a pillar of the community.
The family quickly reached out to Pritchard Injury Firm, due to their reputation as compassionate injury advocates and for success in litigating against well-funded defendants and insurance companies. Firm Founder Zach Pritchard identified with the plaintiff, who had become a widower and single father, and accepted the case due to the available evidence and particularly because he could easily put himself in the shoes of this grieving man.
“Our families were strikingly similar, and we’ve driven on that same road, which is just 10 minutes from our Cartersville office,” Pritchard recalled. “The family suffered a tragedy that affected the entire community. The crime committed by the driver was not contested. However, the behavior of his insurer was unethical, unnecessary and even cruel.”
Allstate denied coverage for the date of the accident and rejected the initial five-figure demand for the victim’s life, countering nothing in return. For the next four-plus years, Allstate tied up the judicial process – constantly failing to produce claims files, not complying with standard court orders and rejecting good faith negotiations with Pritchard on behalf of the shattered family. Throughout the case’s timeline, the Court was forced to sanction Allstate due to their lack of professionalism.
The case moved toward a scheduled trial date in early February 2026. Through consistent and fierce advocacy, Zach Pritchard reached a settlement with Allstate just a week before trial for $10 million.
“I believe Allstate saw how prepared we were for a trial, recognized they had already tested the judge’s patience and realized their many errors,” said Pritchard, who was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list for 2025 by National Trial Lawyers. “These negotiations demonstrated how major insurance carriers are not as affable in real life as their commercials and marketing suggest.
“It was an honor to fight this long-haul battle and secure appropriate compensation for this beautiful family.”
CONTACT:
Kayla Walker
Director of Marketing, Pritchard Injury Firm
Ph: 470.420.4200 | Kayla@PritchardInjuryFirm.com | www.PritchardInjuryFirm.com
About Pritchard Injury Firm
Pritchard Injury Firm is a distinguished catastrophic injury firm serving plaintiffs in greater Georgia and Tennessee. Led by Owner and Managing Attorney Zach Pritchard, the firm has deep experience in all areas of injury law, including (but not limited to) auto collisions, bike accidents, animal bites, premises liability, pedestrian tragedies, truck accidents, traumatic brain injuries, negligent security and wrongful death. Pritchard Injury Firm was ranked #11 in Georgia’s Legal Community on the 2024 Inc. 5000, underscoring its status as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies.
Pritchard Injury Firm offers a free initial consultation and provides honest and practical feedback. Though a settlement with a defendant is usually preferable, the firm compiles evidence in preparation for trial. For more information visit PritchardInjuryFirm.com.