A 56 year-old man received a $100,000 settlement for injuries he suffered in a serious car accident in Boston, MA. When the insurance company began to argue that the injuries suffered in the accident were not directly related to crash, Mahaney & Pappas, LLP took immediate action and got our client what he deserved for his injuries and damages.
How the Accident Happened
In the early morning hours of September last year, our client, a 56-year-old gentleman, was driving his car in the section of Boston, MA known as Jamaica Plain. He was on his way into work that morning. While he was in the typical morning traffic in Boston, he approached a crosswalk and noticed a woman with two young children waiting to cross the street. He slowed his vehicle down and came to a stop at a marked crosswalk to allow the pedestrians to cross. While at a complete stop at the crosswalk, another driver, who was distracted while driving, didn’t notice the stopped car and negligently rear-ended it.
The Injuries Suffered in the Crash
Immediately after the collision, our client began to experience lower back pain. He was taken by ambulance to the emergency room in Boston and treated for his injuries. This client had prior back injuries that resulted in a back surgery. Due to this, the emergency room doctors recommended that he follow up with his orthopedic surgeon right away.
Our client came under the care of his orthopedic surgeon in less than a week after the accident. The medical records from his orthopedic surgeon noted that, although he has a history of a lumbar surgery, he was doing relatively well until the time of the accident. Our client initially attended physical therapy, which failed to provide any real relief from the pain and discomfort he suffered. That is when an MRI of his lumbar spine was performed. The MRI result showed evidence of his previous surgery with hardware, but also showed stenosis causing a broad-based central disc protrusion. The surgeon’s medical notes indicated that this diagnosis was status post MVA (motor vehicle accident). The surgeon recommended a revision lumbar surgery laminectomy and instrumented fusion.
Four months after the accident, our client underwent lumbar surgery for removal of the hardware and a laminectomy and spinal fusion. He had no complications from the surgery and progressed very well, according to his medical records. After the surgery, he completed physical therapy, which helped him strengthen his back and increased his mobility and range of motion.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
After the accident this client began to incur expensive medical bills and missed a lot of time at work. That is when he decided he needed a Massachusetts personal injury attorney. He found Mahaney & Pappas, LLP and after his discussions and meetings with Attorney Chuck Pappas, he decided to hire us to represent him in his personal injury case.
A personal injury claim was filed immediately, and we began our investigation into the accident. We were able to obtain photographs of the vehicles, which were very helpful in supporting the severity of the crash. The damage to both cars was substantial. We were also able to obtain the identities of one of the individuals who was waiting to cross the street at the crosswalk. She explained how our client came to a complete stop to let her cross. She also explained that the other driver made no attempt to stop and drove directly into the rear of our client’s vehicle. The way she explained the accident and the frightening sound of the impact was helpful to establishing the severity of the crash, which helped supported the claim that this accident caused the injuries and need for the revision lumbar surgery.
It wasn’t surprising when the auto insurance company that insured the other vehicle tried to claim that the need for the back surgery wasn’t related to the accident. This is, of course, one of the many tactics the insurance companies use to try and minimize personal injury cases. In anticipation of their arguments, our office obtained a special report from our client’s orthopedic surgeon that explained that in her opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the motor vehicle accident was the direct cause of his disc protrusion and need for re-operation with decompression and extension of his spinal fusion up to the next level.
Armed with the special report we obtained, the photographs and witness statement, we were able to obtain the full insurance policy limit of $100,000 for our client to compensate him for the damages he suffered in the accident.
If You Have Been Seriously Injured In an Accident You Should Speak With An Experienced Massachusetts Accident Attorney
You may be entitled to financial compensation for injuries suffered in a car accident in Massachusetts. Dealing with the insurance companies and getting proper compensation from them, however, can be difficult. This is why, if you were hurt in a car accident, you should consult with an experienced Massachusetts accident lawyer.
The Framingham, MA personal injury attorneys at Mahaney & Pappas, LLP have dedicated their law office to representing car accident victims and helping them and their families get the money they deserve. Our mission is to get the maximum financial compensation for our clients for the injuries, damages and losses they suffered. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, feel free to contact us online or call (508) 879-3500 for a free meeting to discuss your claim.
We offer contingent fee agreements on car accident cases, which means you don’t pay us anything unless and until we get you the money you deserve for your injuries.
