Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly
Plaintiff was heading home and stopped in traffic at a stoplight in Henrico County. Defendant was drunk and traveling at 45 mph. His SUV violently collided into the back of the plaintiff’s vehicle while it was stopped at the stoplight. When the police arrived the defendant’s vehicle was in the middle of the road and he was slumped over in the driver’s seat. The police performed the appropriate tests and arrested him for a DUI. At the police station he blew a .29.
Plaintiff suffered a neck strain and developed Tietze. Client also developed tingling in her hand, arm, neck, chest, and shoulder. PT was prescribed and client was in PT for eight months. In the entire eight months plaintiff only missed two days of PT. After PT concluded plaintiff was better.
Plaintiff’s medical bills were $25,000. The total liability limits available were $100,000. The case settled for $75,000, with the law firm only spending $33 in costs, plus the nominal cost of acquiring the client’s medical records. In the end, the plaintiff netted more money than her best case scenario at trial. Had a jury returned a verdict for $100,000 or more, due to the additional costs and attorneys’ fees, the plaintiff would have netted less than this $75,000 settlement.
[19-T-082]Type of action: Motor vehicle accident
Injuries alleged: Neck strain, Tietze, Tingling in hand, arm, neck, chest, shoulder.
Date resolved: May 13, 2019
Special damages: $24,971 plus lost wages.
Verdict or settlement: Settlement
Amount: $75,000
Attorney for plaintiff: K. Matthew Long, Richmond
Insurance carrier: GEICO
