$1,000,000 Settlement Awarded to Car Accident Victim

COURT AND COUNTY
Supreme Court, Suffolk County

AGE AND OCCUPATION OF PLAINTIFF
Plaintiff was 43 years old at the time of this accident and 46 years old at the time of settlement. Prior to the accident, Plaintiff worked at a physician’s office as a medical biller.

DESCRIPTION OF CASE
Plaintiff, who was driving her minivan, was struck in the passenger side by a Chevrolet Suburban vehicle that ran a red traffic light.

INJURIES/DAMAGES
Plaintiff sustained neck and low back injuries, and underwent a neck surgery consisting of an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion at the C5/6 and C6/7 levels. Plaintiff sought damages for her pain and suffering, lost earnings and medical expenses. The defense retained a radiologist, orthopaedic surgeon and neurosurgeon who all concluded that Plaintiff’s neck and back injuries existed before this car accident. The defense also retained vocational rehabilitation experts who concluded that Plaintiff was physically able to return to her former employment as a medical biller.

VERDICT/SETTLEMENT AMOUNT
$1,000,000

NOTE
This case was handled by Stephen J. Murphy and David L. Scher.