Davis Law Group recently resolved a case in which our client was rear-ended by a pickup truck. It was undisputed that the truck hit our client at a speed of 9 mph. After two and a half years of litigation, the legal team was able to recover a settlement of $2 million from the at-fault party.
The Facts
Our 58 year-old client was rear-ended by a commercial truck while stopped in a line of traffic at a red light. Our client was operating a work van that had a metal partition that separated the front cab of the van from the back. The presence of this partition led to our client hitting his head and suffering altered consciousness (dizziness).
At the hospital, a CT showed that our client had a pseudoaneurysm in the left internal carotid artery in his neck, and was also diagnosed with a brain injury that caused memory deficits, mood changes, headaches and impaired his executive functioning. About 14 months after the collision, our client developed a secondary pseudoaneurysm, this one occurring in the vertebral artery near his cervical spine that ultimately required surgery. The experts hired by Davis Law Group related this new pseudoaneurysm to the treatment he had received for his neck. Under Washington law, a defendant that causes an initial injury is still responsible for a worsening of the injury, or new injuries, from any accident-related medical treatment.
The defendant and his insurance company disputed all of the injuries were caused by "this incredibly minor fender-bender." They hired 7 experts to dispute that such a minor collision was capable of causing a pseudoaneurysm in the cervical spine. They also argued the doctors were responsible for causing the second pseudoaneurysm, and thus were not responsible for this new condition.
The client incurred past medical bills exceeding $500,000. There was no loss of income, as the client had been retired for a few years.
The Recovery
Attorneys Chris Davis and Kyle Jones argued that the defendants were responsible for all of our client's injuries, but despite accepting liabilty, the defendants argued he only suffered minor sprain and strain.
Nearly four years after the accident, and just one month before trial, the at-fault parties offered an acceptable settlement that will allow our client to move forward.
Davis Law Group worked tirelessly to ensure that our client received a settlement that would not only cover past and future medical expenses, but offer peace of mind.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident with a commercial vehicle, Davis Law Group offers free case evaluations. use the chat or contact form on this page, or call 206-727-4000 to schedule a consultation.