4 Real Life Personal Injury Case Results
Table of Contents
Simply speaking, you’re entitled to seek compensation for personal injury if you’ve been accidentally hurt or injured by someone else’s negligence or failure to practice reasonable care. While the term “reasonable care” can vary on a case-by-case basis, the overriding rule is that the injury must be proven to be the result of the defendant’s action or inaction.
The five most common causes of personal injuries in the U.S. are:
- Automobile accidents.
- Medical malpractice.
- Slip-and-fall accidents.
- Workplace injuries.
- Assaults.
What’s the process for a personal injury settlement?
Each case is different, but the majority of personal injury settlement negotiations work like this:
- You and your lawyer file a claim with the at-fault person’s insurance provider;
- The insurance provider responds with a “reservation of rights” notification, which merely states they are investigating the matter;
- As you continue to heal from your injuries, you and your lawyer will send a notification to the insurance provider outlining the specifics of the entire episode, including medical bills you’ve incurred, out-of-pocket expenses you’ve been forced to make, lost wages and claims for pain and suffering;
- A claims adjustor for the insurance provider will respond with – typically – a lowball offer in an attempt to convince you to settle for as little as possible;
- You and your lawyer continue to negotiate for what is a truly fair settlement; and
- When the insurance provider responds with a final offer, you either accept it or consider pursuing the matter in court.
How is a personal injury settlement amount reached?
There are essentially four (4) factors considered when reaching a fair compensation for a personal injury.
- The severity of the impact, which includes damage to personal property.
- Special damages cover personal injuries you’ve suffered, lost income, medical bills you’ve already accrued and anticipated future medical treatments.
- General damages cover the pain and suffering you’ve already experienced from the injury, and the level of pain and suffering you’re expected to endure in the future.
- Limitations on life’s activities include how you’ll be affected from here on because of your injury. This can include reduced income earning potential.
What must be proven to show liability for a personal injury?
In order for someone to be found negligent, it must be proven that they:
- Were responsible for providing a level of care to you;
- That level of care was broken;
- The failure to provide the level of care was responsible (directly or indirectly) for causing injuries or damage.
- The victim suffered injuries or damages as a direct result of the situation.
Real-life case results
Case 1: Haymond Law Recognizes Head Injury and Forces Recovery
Thomas Jenkins took his usual route to the bus stop after work in Waterbury, CT. He knew the area well and took care to stay in the nearby crosswalk. Unfortunately, not all drivers take the same care. As he crossed the street he was struck down by an inattentive driver.
The driver was apologetic, but Thomas was in pain. In fact, at that time, no one could know the full extent of his injuries.
Case Facts
He suffered spinal fractures and needed a hip replacement. Yet, Thomas was not returning to his normal self.
Friends and family noticed changes in his mood, behavior and the sense of loss he felt. Fortunately, the team at the Haymond Law Firm recognized these symptoms and knew that Thomas was likely suffering from PTSD as a result of the physical trauma he was enduring.
Case Results
$500,000
Our team developed the evidence to show that Thomas’s head injury was impacting his life just as much if not more than the permanent limp and pain he had suffered as a result of his fractures. As a result, the insurer knew that the presentation of this evidence at trial would decimate any defense it could try to muster and forced them to pay a settlement. Had the evidence and importance of Thomas’s head injury been left underdeveloped, the insurer would not have been willing to offer even half of what it ultimately paid. Thomas and his family credit the Haymond Law Firm for taking care of their needs.
Case 2: HLF recovers money for construction site injury
Case Facts
A roofer lost 40% vision in one eye when he was hit in the eye by a nail at the construction site. The insurer denied liability and we filed suit. The defense argued that the injury was the man’s own fault and that a 40% loss of vision was not significant.
Case Results
$232,500
We established that the construction site manager failed to supervise the site and failed to warn the roofer of the danger. We also demonstrated that the roofer’s loss of vision was a major loss to him – he could no longer enjoy playing basketball, seeing his daughter perform or watch a movie the same way. On the eve of trial, we achieved a large settlement.
Case 3: Injury to Wrist & Lost Wages
Betty Silver, a longtime resident of Manhattan, was waiting at the intersection of 3rd Av. and E 84th Street by the crosswalk when something sudden and unexpected happened. A plumbing company van, which was standing on 3rd Av, began to back up towards her. She yelled out but the driver could not hear her over the beeping from the truck backing up and the street noise. Notwithstanding that the truck did everything in its power operate safely. The van continued backing up and knocked her to the street, causing her to fall onto her right side. She had put out her arms in order to prevent her head from hitting the pavement and as a result, she had hurt her right wrist.
Case Facts
She had been under the treatment of an orthopedist for prior problems in her right hand and wrist and decided not to get in the ambulance to go to the ER, as the police had suggested. Due to previous problems with that wrist, she instead saw her orthopedist who splinted her wrist, and then, cast her wrist as it was slow to heal. Fortunately, within a month, she was able to type and by the following spring, she was able to return to her favorite pastime of golf. However, she did fall at home in the month following the van incident.
Case Results
$670,000
The client was referred to Attorney Keyes of The Haymond Law Firm, who is licensed in NY and CT. The case presented a number of issues including; who was going to pay for her medical care and lost wages? Who would pay for her future medical care? Should the medicals be paid by medicare or her health insurance? How should the recovery be maximized?
Fortunately, Attorney Keyes, a knowledgeable NY practitioner, was able to have the van’s No-Fault coverage pays the medical bills and the client’s lost wages and negotiated a settlement with Van’s insurer for the six-figure policy limits without the need for filing a lawsuit in Manhattan, which would have taken years to resolve.
Case 4: Haymond Law Gets Results For Woman Injured On Defective Property
Our client traveled to see her daughter-in-law and on her way out of the apartment complex to go home, she suffered a painful injury on her leg.
Case Facts
While leaving, our client was injured on a defective step that had a nail protruding from a wooden step. The nail caught the client’s leg on the way down the stairs, causing a significant laceration. She went on to develop an infection and ended up with a scar from the wound.
Attorney Robert Keyes, Haymond Law’s Senior New York Attorney was able to identify the landlord of the defective premises. He was also able to notify the insurer of the building of the claim, and forward them a demand package.
Case Results
$250,000
Although the claims adjuster received the demand package in a timely fashion, the claims adjuster did not return numerous phone calls, emails, and letters regarding the settlement demand.
Attorney Keyes, relying on his many years of experience, was able to contact the appropriate State authorities to force the claims adjuster to review the matter and to make a settlement offer. This was done without the necessity of a lawsuit being filed. The settlement was substantial and our client was appreciative of the efforts our team made on her behalf.
