Woman suffered spinal cord stimulator pain after crash — $175,000 settlement

Type of action: Personal injury, auto accident

Injuries alleged: Spinal cord stimulator pain, aggravation of pre-existing lower back injury

Date resolved: 9/26/2022

Special damages: $81,301/19

Verdict or settlement: Settlement

Amount: $175,000

Attorney for plaintiff: Rakin R. Hamad, Alexandria

Description of case: Plaintiff was stopped at a red light when she was rear-ended by the defendant in Prince William County. Due to multiple prior injuries to her lower back, plaintiff had an implantable pulse generator (IPG) implanted in her back five years before this collision. The IPG is a rechargeable battery-operated spinal cord stimulator (SCS). After this collision, the plaintiff immediately complained of pain over her implant site. Roughly a year after this collision, plaintiff continued to have pain over her implant site and was unable to charge her IPG as she had before the collision. Due to her continued pain and issues with the IPG being able to hold a charge, plaintiff underwent a SCS IPG revision procedure, and the implant location was moved in hopes of reducing her pain.

At issue in the case was whether the charging issues were due to the collision or the IPG being at the end of its life. The normal life for the IPG was nine years and the plaintiff’s IPG had to be replaced after six years.

The case was settled for $175,000 after extensive negotiations.

Rakin R. Hamad, counsel for the plaintiff, provided case information.