Personal Injury Attorney

Rear Impact Exacerbates Pre-existing Injuries

Posted on by Charles E. Martin

• Our client was a restrained back-seat passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for traffic when it received a hard rear-end impact.
• He began having severe pain in his head and neck and blurred vision, indicating that he probably struck his head on something in the vehicle.
• Later that day he went to the emergency room at Swedish Medical Center where he was given a thorough examination. His pain level was reported as 7/10 in the shoulders bilaterally, neck and head.
• CT scans of the head and neck were ordered and revealed C5-6 and C6-7 degenerative changes and C5-6 bilateral neural foraminal stenosis. These conditions were aggravated by the auto accident causing his pain.
• On 12-10-2014 Walter went to his primary care doctor who noted the acute cervical strain and bilateral should pain and headaches. She prescribed Vicodin for pain and physical therapy.
• His pain evaluation at his first physical therapy appointment noted an inability to look down or side to side without pain which impairs his ability to safely drive. He also has pain when reachng for dressing.
• He continued physical therapy for several weeks but continued to have significant pain. He decided to try chiropractic care to get relief.
• The chiropractor diagnosed contiued pain in the shoulders, cervical spine, hip and headaches. X-rays noted the degenerative disc disease that was aggravated by this accident.
• He continued with chiropractic care for several weeks and noted some relief from his pain. It was recommended that he continue with the treatement but he had to discontinue due to family circumstances.
• He suffered months of pain from the injuries received in this accident.
• When a client has injuries that pre-exist the current accident it is more difficult to negotiate a settlement. It is importent that the attorney has the expertise and experience to prove that the pre-existing injuries were exacerbated by the current accident thus making them compensable.
• After several weeks of intense negotiations, attorney Chuck Martin was able to obtain a substantial mid-five figure settlement for our client.

If you or a loved one is injured in a motor vehicle accident, call attorney Chuck Martin of the law firm of MartinLaw PLLC for a free evaluation of your case. Chuck will use his 40 years of experience to guide you through the frustrating process of dealing with the insurance companies and obtain the best possible settlement for you in the least amount of time. Call Chuck now at 206-360-8141.

Coast Guardsman Victim of Hit & Run Driver

Posted on by Charles E. Martin

• This was a serious accident in which the at-fault driver was traveling approximately 50 to 60 mph while trying to pass another vehicle when he slammed into our client who was going about 30 to 35 mph.
• The at-fault driver left the scene but was apprehended a short time later and cited for causing the accident and hit and run. He was complaining of back pain at the scene.
• Our client, then serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, was driving a GMC Sierra pick-up which sits higher off the road than a passenger vehicle. The at-fault vehicle was an Oldsmobile Aurora which, during the collision, went under our client’s vehicle. This explains the relatively low dollar amount of the property damage but does not diminish the force of the impact causing injuries to both drivers.
• Our client began having neck and back pain immediately and went to Urgent Care for treatment the same day as the accident. The pain intensity was noted to be 8 out of 10.
• Our client called Urgent Care the next day to report that the pain medication they prescribed was not helping. He was advised to go to an emergency room.
• He went to the ER at Harrison Hospital where his medications were changed and he was advised to seek follow-up care.
• He underwent treatment at Westwood Village Chiropractic for four months. His pain threshold was lower due to the pain medication.
• Once his enlistment in the Coast Guard was completed he moved back to his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• His complaints of neck and back pain remained so he continued his treatment with the Albuquerque Neck and Back Pain Center.
• His medical bills totaled $7,611.70.
• He missed time from his job with the Coast Guard, but he is not pursuing a loss of wages claim.
• After several weeks of intense negotiations, attorney Chuck Martin was able to obtain a substantial mid-five figure settlement for our client.

If you or a loved one is injured in a motor vehicle accident, call attorney Chuck Martin of the law firm of MartinLaw PLLC for a free evaluation of your case. Chuck will use his 40 years of experience to guide you through the frustrating process of dealing with the insurance companies and obtain the best possible settlement for you in the least amount of time. Call Chuck now at 206-360-8141.

Whiplash leads to Trigger Point Injection

Posted on by Charles E. Martin
  • Our client was a restrained driver of a vehicle that was stopped for traffic when it was slammed into by the defendant’s vehicle.
  • She experienced whiplash which caused her to hit her head on the back of the seat. Her knee hit the dash.  She felt a band of pain around her abdomen.
  • She went to the emergency room at Swedish Medical Center where she was diagnosed with cervical strain. She was referred to the Swedish Family Medicine Cherry Hill Clinic.
  • The doctor at Cherry Hill noted that she had pain shooting up her neck to her head on the left and down her left arm and described it as a “numbing ache”. The pain was getting worse.  She was diagnosed with sprain of the left trapezius muscle.
  • When she returned to the clinic two weeks later the pain was not getting any better and was interrupting her sleep. Muscle spasms in the trapezius were observed. Trigger point injections were offered but declined for now.  She was referred for physical therapy.
  • She began physical therapy where they focused primarily on the left trapezius as the pain there was preventing a good night’s sleep.
  • Her pain continued so she was also referred for massage therapy..
  • She continued physical therapy for almost six months.
  • She continued to report significant pain in her left trapezius muscle so she was given a trigger point injection.

Our client was in considerable pain for seven months after this accident as shown by her extended course of treatment and acceptance of the trigger point injection.  She incurred medical bills of $5,900.00.  The medical records also document that her injuries interferred with her activities at her job and with efforts to find suitable employment after her job ended.

If you or a loved one is injured in a motor vehicle accident, you need to call attorney Chuck Martin of the law firm of MartinLaw PLLC for a free evaluation of your case. Chuck will use his 40 years of experience to guide you through the frustrating process of dealing with the insurance companies and obtain the best possible settlement for you in the least amount of time. Call Chuck now at 206-360-8141.

Teenage Girl Suffers Severe Facial Injuries

Posted on by Charles E. Martin

• Our client, a 14-year-old girl, was a front-seat passenger traveling with her mother and 9-year-old brother northbound on Newport Way NW near NW Holly Street in Issaquah, Washington.
• The defendant driver was stopped on Newport Way NW and NW Holly Street when he suddenly turned left to in front of our clients’ vehicle to head east on NW Holly Street.
• This caused a high-speed head-on collision into defendant’s vehicle.
• The airbags deployed on impact and struck our client in the face.
• The Issaquah Police Department responded to the scene and found our client had already been transported by ambulance to Swedish Hospital.
• The officers spoke with defendant and a witness and found defendant to be clearly at fault for the accident. He was issued a citation for an improper left turn.
• Both vehicles were towed from the scene and were determined to be total losses.

INJURIES AND TREATMENT

• Our client was taken by ambulance to Swedish Medical Center and placed in the critical care unit of the emergency department.
• She reported significant pain in her nose with swelling and numbness, burning in her eyes, pain with opening her eyes, difficulty seeing, and a headache after being struck in the face by the airbag.
• The examining doctor noted her pain increasing while in the emergency room, profound swelling to the periorbital area and over her nose, ecchymosis forming in the right nasal field of her eye, and persistent bleeding.
• He diagnosed a nose bone fracture without question, ordered a CT head scan and lab work, provided pain medication via IV, examined and irrigated her eyes, and discussed her condition with her parents.
• Following several hours of observation and pain management, she was given Valium due to anxiety with getting into a vehicle to go home and discharged to her parents with instructions to see an ophthalmologist and an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT), and given prescriptions for Augmentin, Lortab Elixir, and Zofran.
• She was seen the next day by the ENT specialist with severe facial swelling, difficulty opening her eyes, and associated nasal congestion.
• The examination confirmed severe periorbital, malar, nasal, and frontal edema and ecchymosis, severe edema along the nasal root and external nose with bloody discharge, and septum hypertonicity.
• Reviewed of the CT scan and advised her to return for a repeat evaluation in one week for consideration of a closed nasal bone reduction.
• Due severe pain, breathing problems through her fractured nose and vision difficulties, our client returned to the emergency room two additional times.
• Isabella returned to the EMT doctor with persistent swelling around her nose.
• The examination identified widening of the middle third of her nose and recommended another week of continued observation.
• On her next visit our client reported flattening of her right nasal bone after the edema had subsided.
• The doctor offered the option of a closed nasal bone reduction surgery and our client elected to consider the procedure and follow up by telephone.
• Our client reported to the ophthalmologist, and it was noted she had vision loss in one eye, eye irritation, light sensitivity, blurry vision, nasal congestion, nosebleeds, poor balance as a result of vision loss, and depression and anxiety while riding in cars and recommended follow-up in six months for repeat testing.
• Our client sought another opinion from another ENT specialist.
• He observed flattening of her right nasal bone with lateralization of her left nasal bone in keystone area and concurred with the original ENT doctor’s recommendation of a closed nasal bone reduction.
• She was also advised she may require additional surgery, including rhinoplasty, to address any persistent deformity.
• Our client underwent a closed nasal bone reduction under general anesthesia.
• Our client returned for post-operative care. It was noted she healing appropriately, and was directed to return in six weeks.
• On a return visit for post-op evaluation, it was noted she had a deviation of dorsal septum at keystone region to the left and internally high dorsal deflection of septum to the left.
• He recommended a re-evaluation when she turns 16 for possible surgery on her dorsal septum deviation both externally and internally.
• Our client consulted with the ophthalmologist and discussed continuing enlargement of her left pupil compared to her right, light sensitivity, and blurred vision.
• His exam was notable for anisocoria with her left pupil greater than her right and sectoral palsy of her left pupil from 12:00 to 4:00 on the pupillary margin.
• He advised that while her pupil would likely get gradually smaller, it would never react to light as fully as the right pupil.
• He directed her to wear sunglasses for light sensitivity and follow-up with her eye care provider.
• Her optometrist proceeded with a comprehensive eye exam. She reported blurry vision worse in one eye when looking long distances. She prescribed glasses and instructed her to return in one month to re-check her eye pressure.
• Our client sought consultation with plastic surgeon and discussed a substantial dorsal hump over her nose over the past two years since the accident.
• The examination confirmed the existence of a dorsal hump and recommended addressing it through cosmetic rhinoplasty.
• Our client was been advised by the plastic surgeon that her appearance can be improved with a revision cosmetic nasal contouring rhinoplasty once she turns eighteen or nineteen years old and her bones have stopped growing.

GENERAL DAMAGES

• Our client’s injuries in this collision were devasting and required lengthy healing. For weeks after the accident, her face was so swollen, she was unable to open her eyes. The pain from her swelling and trauma caused difficulty sleeping and breathing.
• Once she returned to school approximately a month after the accident, she wore a hat every day to hide her disfigured face, was called names by teachers and students alike, dealt with lowering of her grades, and became humiliated and depressed.
• Her volleyball season was cut short requiring full payment by her parents as a contractual agreement and dashing her hopes for a college career playing volleyball.

PRESENT CONDITION AND PROGNOSIS

• To date, our client, now eighteen-years-old, remains self-conscious of her deformed nose and dilated eye. She isolates, avoids activities that could potentially result in injury to her nose or eyes, and shies away from meeting people not in her immediate family or small circle of friends. She has never had a boyfriend or a date.
• She experiences severe anxiety and fear while driving and will not drive at night, on the freeway, or on any busy roads.
• When the accident occurred, she was playing volleyball on her school team and receiving recruitment inquiries from colleges. Due to her lack of playing time and poor performance following the collision, she has received no further scholarship offers or inquiries.
• Her left eye is permanently dilated with only partial ability to regulate light.
• She has no idea what her nose will look like after next surgery or what her future prognosis may be.
After several weeks of intense negotiations, attorney Chuck Martin was able to obtain a substantial mid-six figure settlement for our client.

If you or a loved one is injured in a motor vehicle accident, you need to call attorney Chuck Martin of the law firm of MartinLaw PLLC for a free evaluation of your case. Chuck will use his 40 years of experience to guide you through the frustrating process of dealing with the insurance companies and obtain the best possible settlement for you in the least amount of time. Call Chuck now at 206-360-8141.

Texting Teenager Causes Collision

Posted on by Charles E. Martin

• A texting teenaged girl slammed into our client’s vehicle as he was stopped at a traffic control light. She alleged that she was only going five miles per hour at the time of collision, but the damage to the vehicles indicated a higher speed.
• The damage to the client’s vehicle was greater than originally stated on the repair invoice. He continued to find damage on his vehicle that was not addressed by the repair shop. The repair shop was chosen by at fault insurance company, USAA.
• Our client was in severe pain after the accident and went to the ER at Swedish Hospital.
• The pain medication prescribed at Swedish was not effective, so he went to the ER at Harborview the next day.
• As a result of this accident, our client suffered an L4-5 annular tear causing a central protrusion of the ventral thecal sac and an L5-S1 disc bulge effacing 15% of the thecal sac and touching the left S1 nerve root, all as revealed on the MRI. This explains the severe pain he has endured since the accident and the need for extended medical treatment.
• The accident has caused panic attacks, anxiety, headaches, and insomnia. He has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder resulting from the accident. His anxiety level was rated as 10/10. His prior stress and anxiety conditions were under control and causing him no difficulty, but the accident has caused a recurrence and exacerbation of the pre-existing conditions.
The fact that there were minimal damages to the vehicles was raised by the insurance adjuster to minimize the value of the claim. The first attorney that the client consulted informed him that $1,000 was the most he would be able to recover and that he should handle the claim himself. The client then contacted attorney Chuck Martin after seeing his webpage. After two months preparing the settlement package, the claim was settled for $36,000.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call attorney Chuck Martin for a free consultation and an evaluation of the value of your case.

Parking Lot Accident

Posted on by Charles E. Martin

Our clients, two young females, were sitting in their car at a convenience store when a large pick-up truck slammed into the back of their vehicle on the driver’s side. It hit them so hard that it caused the passenger to lose bladder control. Their car was parked and not moving as the driver had just gotten back into the car after returning from the store. In fact, the engine of their vehicle had not been started.
The driver of the pick-up truck got out and told them he was sorry, that he didn’t see them, provided his insurance information, and assured them that everything would be taken care of. He later changed his story, decided not to do the right thing, and provided false information about what happened to his insurance company, USAA.
Both of our clients were pregnant at the time of this accident. One of them lost her baby.
The medical records indicated that both ladies had severe back pain and complications with their pregnancies because of this accident.
Parking lot accidents are particularly difficult as they are usually low speed with minimal damage to the vehicles. This is used by the insurance adjusters to minimize the injuries declaring that minimal property damage means minimal injuries to the occupants of the vehicles. Additionally, parking lot accidents almost always have disputed liability as the parties accuse each other of backing into them. That was the case here when the pick-up driver changed his story.
In spite of these challenges, Chuck Martin was able to negotiate significant settlements for both of these ladies.
If you, a love one or a friend have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call attorney Chuck Martin for a free evaluation of your case.

High Speed Rear-End Collison on I-405 by Uninsured Driver

Posted on by Charles E. Martin

• Our client was driving her brand-new Chevrolet Volt on I-405, moving only about 20 mph due to heavy traffic, when she was struck in the rear by an uninsured vehicle going approximately 40 to 50 mph. Her car was shoved into the car in front of her. She was taken by ambulance to the ER where it was noted that she had neck pain as well as pain across her shoulders and upper back. She was released within a few hours.
• Her car was severely damaged. The repairs cost over $10,000.
• The next day she also began having pain in her lower back and sought additional medical treatment. She was referred for orthopedic consultation. She reported tingling and numbness in her upper extremities and headaches. She also reported pain and weakness down her lower extremities and into her feet causing her to trip on stairs.
• She had MRIs of the cervical and lumbar spine. The lumbar MRI revealed L5-S1 disc degeneration, and an L4-5 left laminectomy, which was done three years previous. The cervical MRI revealed a fusion at C4-5-6, which was done seven years previous, and mild stenosis at C3-4, C6-7 and T2-3.
• She then had an MRI of the thoracic spine which revealed paracentral disc herniations at T2-3, T3-4, T7-8 and lower thoracic facet joint arthrosis, greatest at T10-11.
• Her past medical history included the following spinal procedures:
Cervical discectomy and fusion at C4-5;
Cervical discectomy and fusion at C5-6;
Lumbar discectomy at L4-5, no fusion.
• She continued to have significant neck and back pain and was unable to perform the activities that she was able to do before the accident. This includes household activities such as cleaning and gardening and recreational activities such as yoga, palates, weight training and aerobics. She was pain free and actively engaged in all these activities before the accident.
• She works as a property manager which requires significant physical activity inspecting houses, which she has been forced to curtail. Before this accident she was having no problem performing these activities.
• Initially she only received conservative treatment such as physical therapy and pain medication. She was forced to discontinue medical care due to lack of funds.
• MRIs revealed disc lesions at C6-7 and L4-5 encroaching on the nerve root and the spinal canal and foraminal stenosis at C6-7. The doctors indicate this correlates with her pain symptoms.
• The doctors recommended surgical intervention which would be performed on the cervical as well as the lumber spine.

Due to her extensive pre-existing conditions, which included three spinal surgeries, the insurance company insisted that the accident was not the cause of her current pain and disability. They gave the client a final offer of $15,000 prior to her retaining MartinLaw. Attorney Chuck Martin was able to obtain a favorable medical report from an orthopedic specialist. Within two months of Mr. Martin’s involvement on the case, he was able to procure a settlement for policy limits of $100,000 from the client’s uninsured motorist coverage. He was also able to recover an additional $6,000 for the diminished value of the client’s vehicle. He then persuaded the insurance company to waive their PIP (medical bills) subrogation of $10,000, bringing the total value of the settlement to $116,000. Again, they made a “final offer” of $15,000 to the client prior to MartinLaw’s involvement.

If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, it is imperative that you obtain a lawyer as soon as possible. People with lawyers recover, on average, three and a half times more money in settlement than people who attempt to handle their claim themselves. This is why insurance companies try to quickly settle with you before you have a chance to retain a lawyer.

To find out how MartinLaw and Chuck Martin can help you obtain a significant settlement on your car accident case please visit our car accident page. To contact Chuck Martin please call 206-360-8141 or submit the contact form for a free evaluation of your case.

Truck Forces Small Car Into Curb

Posted on by Charles E. Martin
  • Our client, a young man 25 years old, was driving his 2011 Volkswagon Jetta in the right lane of a 4 lane divided road (2 lanes in each direction) going about 35 mph when a truck in the lane to his immediate left suddenly moved into his lane, hitting the driver’s side of his vehicle and pushed him into the curb. Even though he was wearing his seat belt and shoulder harness he was tossed forward and backward during the impact striking his chest and abdomen on the steering wheel.
  • He began having headaches, chest pain and lower back pain with increasing intensity, prompting him to proceed to the emergency room at Provident Medical Center in Everett. There it was noted that he had significant muscle spasms. He was diagnosed with lumbar strain and muscle spasms and prescribed medication for pain and anxiety and a muscle relaxant.
  • On January 21 he followed-up with his primary care physician at Group Health in Everett where the muscle spasms were again noted. He was diagnosed with thoracic sprain and was referred for physical therapy.
  • On January 26 while visiting his mother in Edmonds, his pain and spasms became unbearable. He went to the emergency room at Swedish Hospital in Edmonds where it was noted that the medications previously prescribed were not helping. His medication was replaced in an attempt to stop the spasms.
  • A follow-up visit to his primary care physician gives a detailed description of the intensity and location of his pain, right between the shoulder blades with visible spasms.
  • He tried physical therapy but it was not helping and in fact made the pain worse.
  • Another follow-up report from his primary care physician indicates that the pain was “unrelenting”.
  • An MRI of the thoracic spine revealed degenerative changes.
  • A subsequent report diagnosed “severe episodic pain in the face of chronic pain. He has an impressive response to the pain at times”.
  • After months of doctor visits with little to no relief from the pain, he was referred to a Pain Management Clinic where he was diagnosed with chonic thoracic pain and chronic neck pain exacerbated by the motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately, the pain clinic offered nothing additional to alleviate his pain or help him to manage the pain
  • He has continued with his treatment through the present time with no relief. He lost his health insurance coverage when he turned 26 years old as he was on his mother’s policy. He is attempting to obtain coverage through Obama-Care so he can continue his treatment and hopefully find an answer for the pain.

 

Although the case presented major difficulties due to the pre-existing conditions, the law firm of MartinLaw was able to secure a significant five-figure settlement for our client within a few months after the accident.

 

To find out how MartinLaw and Chuck Martin can help you obtain a significant settlement on you car accident case please visit our car accident page. To speak with Chuck Martin please call 206-684-9468 for a free evaluation of your case.

Senior Citizen In Bike Lane Hit By Truck

Posted on by Charles E. Martin

Our client, a lady in her seventies, was riding her bicycle in the bike lane when a man driving a large pick-up truck turned right from a cross street and struck her from behind, knocking her to the pavement.

  • She was rushed by ambulance to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with four rib fractures on the right and pneumohemothorax (collapsed lung). She was given an epidural for pain.
  • A CT scan revealed a massive right rotator cuff tear. X-rays revealed a right elbow enthesopathy (detached tendon).
  • She remained hospitalized for six days before being transferred to a rehabilitation center. She underwent occupational and physical therapy. She remained there for six additional days. She was given instructions for home self-care and was advised to keep her right arm in a sling.
  • She continued follow-up care with orthopedic surgeon. She underwent epidural injections in her shoulder. An MRI on March 18 revealed the large rotator cuff tear with associated muscular atrophy, tendinosis of the subscapularis and arthropathy.
  • She endured several grueling months of physical therapy and rehabiltation. Developing adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) is common in this type of injury and she will have to continue a dedicated self-help home care program of exercise and stretching.
  • Due to her age it was decided that rotator cuff repair surgery was not a viable option despite her limited range of motion. However, her orthopedist indicates that a total shoulder replacement is a very real possibily.
  • Prior to the accident she had a very active lifestyle. She played golf with friends twice a week and biked with friends several times a week. In the winter she participated in bowling. All of these activities have been curtailed during the rehabiitation from her injuries.
  • She has developed symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression and will need to continue to address these issues with additional talk therapy.
  • She also needed dental work for a cracked tooth and crown.

The law firm of MartinLaw PLLC was successful in completing a mid six figure settlement for this lady within six months of the accident.

To find out how MartinLaw, PLLC and attorney Chuck Martin will handle your car or bicycle accident case please visit the bicycle or car accident page.

 

Five Figure Settlement For On-The-Job Truck Wreck

Posted on by Charles E. Martin

• Our client was a restrained front seat passenger of a Ford F350 pick-up truck moving through an intersection when another vehicle ran a stop sign causing a massive collision. Both vehicles were traveling an estimated 40 mph.
• He was on the job at the time of the accident, working for the Public Works Department for the small city where he lives.
• The impact was on the passenger side where our client was sitting.
• The other driver admitted at the scene that he was distracted while talking to his passengers.
• Both vehicles were totaled.
• It was obvious at the scene that our client was suffering from potentially serious injuries. He was transported by ambulance to the emergency room at Whidbey General Hospital.
• At the ER, our client reported pain in his chest, abdomen, neck and back. Several CT scans were ordered which revealed bilateral L5 spondylolysis. He was diagnosed with contusions of the ribs and the abdominal wall.
• A tool box from the back of the truck came flying to the front and struck our client on the side of his head and gashed his left ear. He was discharged with pain medication.
• His neck, back and rib pain continued so he returned to the ER two days later. Additional CT scans were ordered which revealed degenerative disk and facet disease in the cervical and lumbar spine. He was again discharged without answers for the continuing pain symptoms in his side.
• As the pain continued to get worse he returned to the ER for a third time five days later, reporting shortness of breath and back pain. He was again discharged with a diagnosis of rib contusion and back spasms.
• He reported to the ER a fourth time a week later, determined to find answers for his continuing and increasing pain. CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis areas were ordered. It was finally determined that he had a displaced fracture of the right 12th rib with callus formation, meaning the rib was rubbing and irritating the surrounding tissue causing a callus to form. This was apparently the source of the side pain.
• He began treating with his primary care physician about three weeks after the accident. It was noted that he likely hit his head in the accident and had cervical and lumbar strain and severe tenderness along the right rib area. It was also noted that nearly every breath caused pain to his side. Sneezing caused unbearable pain. He was ordered to stay off work.
• He was referred for physical therapy which began about a month after the accident. This entailed electrical stimulation, ultrasound, therapeutic exercise and manual therapy.
• It was noted in the records that the gash on his ear had become infected requiring antibiotics.
• Our client has endured a difficult and painful course of medical treatment that continued about three months.
• The radiological studies show bilateral L5 spondylolysis as well as cervical and lumbar degenerative disk and facet disease. These conditions were exacerbated by this accident making his recovery even more painful and difficult.
• He works at a physicaly demanding job with the Public Works and street repair Department of the small city where he lives.
• His employer requires its employees to use sick leave and vacation time for time off from an injury. The L & I (workers’ compensation) benefit is paid to the employer. That benefit has to be reimbursed to L & I if there is a liability settlement.
• He reports that the accident ruined the Holiday Season for him and his family. Due to his pain and disability he could not participate in the usual Holiday activities. He could only sit and try not to move too much or sneeze.
• His favorite hobby is playing the drums with a band. He was completely unable to participate in this activity during his recovery. He continues to have pain and great difficulty attempting to engage in this activity.

A compact but well-documented, indexed and tabbed settlement package was sent to the insurance company. After several weeks of exhaustive negotiations, the case was settled for a high five figure amount within six months after the accident.

  • To find out how MartinLaw, PLLC and attorney Chuck Martin will handle your car or truck accident case please visit the car accident page.