September 2019
Auto v. Auto: Two Accidents in the Same Month
Our client involved in a hit and run accident and a rear accident in the same month. Unfortunately, our client did not have uninsured motorist coverage for the first accident. When the adjuster evaluated her car for the second accident, he learned she was involved in another accident earlier in the month. After we submitted a policy limits demand to resolve the claim, the bodily injury adjuster questioned our client’s injuries and was hoping to pin them on the first accident. However, the negotiating attorney successfully argued that the injuries she sustained for second collision were different form the first collision. As such, we were able to secure the full policy limits for the second accident in less than a year. After our client learned about the settlement, she became very emotional as she did not expect anything from her case. She let us know that before she hired our office, she tried to handle the case on her own and was yelled at by the adjuster trying to discourage her from pursuing her case with a law firm.
Auto v. Auto: T-Boned at a Stop Sign
The defendant ran a stop sign and t-boned our client, who was driving with her 2 children. Our client sustained had a lower back injury which necessitated an injection. Her daughter had a small bruise on her head and went to the ER. After a few rounds of negotiations, we were able to resolve our client’s client for 50% more than what the insurance company initially offered without having to file a lawsuit in less than a year.
Auto v. Auto: Rear End
Our client was rear-ended on the freeway at night with her son in the backseat. Her son was not injured and our client suffered from minor muscle sprains/strains. However, the accident caused our client to suffer from a lot of anxiety. Despite the minor property damage and low medical bills, we were able to settle her claim without having to file a lawsuit for a favorable amount in less than 7 months.
Auto v. Auto: Underinsured Motorist
Our 27 year old client was broad-sided by a driver that caused her vehicle to veer off the road and collide into a park bench. Her vehicle was a total loss. She sustained both neck and back injuries. visible inflammation of her hand, and bruising of her abdomen that did not dissipate for nearly two weeks after the collision.
We exhausted the at-fault party’s limits. As such, an underinsured claim was submitted to her own insurance company. Initially, her own insurance company made an extremely low offer to resolve the claim claiming that our client was young and is going to recover daily quickly. We rejected that argument and suggested we mediate the claim. At mediation, we made all the right arguments but he insurance company still did not want to pay what we believed was reasonable. Shortly after the mediation, however, the insurance company accepted our demand and we were able to resolve the claim for more than 7 times the insurance company’s initial offer.
Bicycle v. Auto: Clavicle Fracture
This was a difficult case with a client who was riding his bike, when the defendant swung open their car door. As a result, our client flew from his bike onto the pavement, and sustained a clavicle fracture. Treatment was relatively limited with only 8 doctor’s visits, as his only non-surgical option was to wear a sling. As such, his medical bills were very low.
After getting to know our client, the negotiating attorney was able to argue to the adjuster how this injury affected client’s work in IT, especially only being able to type with one hand. Clearly, this had a huge impact on his job performance. Additionally, our client had a newborn at home, so carrying her was extremely difficult. He was also taking care of his ill father. Needless to say he was a very sympathetic client. Despite his limited treatment and low medical bills, we were able to secure the policy limits from the at-fault party’s insurance company and more money from our client’s underinsured motorist coverage. As a result of our efforts, our client netted 50% of the total settlement.
