On February 15, 2022, our client was on her way home following a veterinary visit with her 11-year-old labrador. While traveling westbound, on a fairly busy road in Hoffman Estates, another vehicle exited a parking lot directly into her line of travel. Our client attempted to avoid the collision but unfortunately, did not have enough time or space to do so. Her car was caused to flip over twice before coming to a stop. Miraculously, our client did not suffer any fractures and her labrador was able to walk away, terrified, but seemingly physically unscathed.
With her main concern being the health and safety of her dog, our client chose not to take an ambulance to the hospital. She went home and tried to rest off the pain and stiffness for several days. After the pain did not subside with over the counter medication and rest, she sought treatment at Advocate Sherman Hospital where she was diagnosed with lower back, knee, and ankle strains. She underwent several months of physical therapy before ultimately having to undergo a series of steroid injections to both her hip and lower back.
The insurance carrier for the at fault driver attempted to shield themselves of any blame by first saying that our client failed to keep a proper lookout. Once we were able to quash that attempt, through diligent deposition testimony, the insurance carrier once again tried to establish that the four-day gap in treatment from the incident date, until the emergency room visit, was somehow proof that our client was not in fact hurt. We were able to depose our client’s physician, who unequivocally supported our client’s injuries and the nature of the pain she had and continued to endure.
Even with that, the insurance carrier still failed to make a reasonable offer, and we set the case for trial. We were able to get her physician to agree to testify live at trial. The level of aggression by which we prepared this matter for trial, ultimately led to a six-figure result that fully and fairly compensated our client for her losses.
