On November 18, 2014, our 28-year-old client was stopped in traffic on the 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles when she was suddenly rear-ended by another driver who failed to stop. The force of the impact was so great that the negligent driver pushed our client’s vehicle into the car in front of her—and that car also crashed into the one in front of it. Our client’s vehicle was totaled.
Our Client Suffered Soft Tissue Injuries That Limited Her Ability to Work
As a result of the crash, our client suffered soft tissue injuries and a partial thickness tear in her shoulder. She received chiropractic treatments, physical therapy, and acupuncture for approximately seven months. She also consulted with an orthopedic surgeon who suggested that surgery might help. Ultimately, our client decided not to undergo surgery.
Our client is single and works at more than one job, including acting. During the period she was recovering from her injuries, she could not be as physically active as she was in the past. As a result, she gained weight, which also prevented her from auditioning for certain acting roles.
Our Legal Team Persevered to Obtain the Compensation Our Client Was Entitled To
Insurance companies are notorious for arguing about the non-severe nature of soft tissue injuries. This case was no different. In addition, a partial thickness tear in a shoulder is usually a degenerative injury and not one caused by a trauma such as our client’s rear-end collision. Both of these issues made the settlement of this case difficult.
Steinberg Injury Lawyers had to persuade the insurance company for the negligent driver to take into account the recommendation of possible surgery, which would increase the amount of the settlement, and that our client’s partial shoulder tear was caused by this accident. Our legal team researched our client’s prior medical records, which showed our client had never complained of shoulder pain or received any treatment for this problem. Using these documents and the fact that our client was unable to work out, she convinced the insurance company that our client’s injuries were caused by this crash.
However, the insurance adjuster would not agree to what the firm believed was a fair offer. Even though the settlement amount was only a few thousand dollars below what our client was entitled to, Steinberg Injury Lawyers refused to give up—unlike many attorneys who would not have gone the extra mile for their client. Instead, the firm filed a lawsuit against the negligent driver. Immediately after the complaint was filed, the insurance company caved in and offered a few thousand more to resolve the case—which resulted in a full settlement of $75,000 for our client. While the proceeds will never give our client back the months when she could not pursue her acting career, the settlement enabled her to move on with her life. Were you in a car accident caused by a negligent driver? Contact us toll free at 800-989-6385 or start an online chat to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.