Sample Awards:
In my experience, the best settlements are obtained by preparing every case as if it is going to be tried. The insurance companies treat most claims for injuries cavalierly. To get the insurance company to take your claim seriously, you must show the adjuster that you are capable and willing to take the case to trial. There is no magic here. The best awards come from diligent, thorough preparation of the claim.
$100,000.00. Broken Fingers. Client was hit by another car and the impact was so great that the Fire Department had to use the jaws of life. She was taken to a local hospital where emergency surgery was performed to repair several fractures to her right hand. After many months of physical therapy, Client was able to resume her normal activities.
$100,000.00. Eardrum Injury. Client was struck broadside when the other driver ran a stop sign. Client complained of tinnitus symptoms. I suggested that he meet with an ear specialist to determine the full extent of the injury. The doctor’s report indicated that the client suffered a significant injury. The case settled for the maximum allowed under the policy.
$500,000.00. Gunshot Wound. Client was 9 years old when he was shot in the face by a friend when they were playing with a handgun. Evidence indicated that the gun owner left the weapon in an unlocked safe, a violation of Massachusetts law involving the storage of firearms. The case settled for the full insurance amount.
$250,000.00. Motorcycle accident. Client received substantial injuries while riding his motorcycle when struck by a car. The impact broke his femur bone in two places. Client underwent surgery to have a steel rod placed in his leg and was out of work for several months. Case settled for $250,000.00 which was the full amount of the insurance policy. The case was worth more, but the driver, age 89, had no other assets to satisfy a judgment.
$70,000.00. Slip and Fall. Client damaged her knee when she fell down stairs at a restaurant. An engineer was hired who found a violation of the state building code. The insurance company did not contest the code violation and the case settled quickly.
$97,500.00 Car accident. Client was passenger in car that was hit by a tow truck, sustaining a ruptured disc in her neck. The injury substantially impacted her ability to work. In addition, she could not enjoy her activities with her children as she once had. Liability was disputed and the case was put into suit. In my representation of client, I found that the other driver has submitted a false accident report to the police department, one that was very different from the report he previously gave to his insurance company. In addition, my analysis of the debris at the scene of the accident showed that the other driver to have been at fault.
At the mediation hearing, the insurance company made an initial offer of $35,000.00 and asserted that the offer was fair in light of other reported settlements. I argued that my client’s case deserved more given the effect the accident had upon her relationship with the children and that we were prepared to go to trial if necessary. The insurance company relented and the case settled.
$50,000.00. Car Accident. Client, age 17, received a laceration in her forehead after driver lost control of his car. After the accident, she was taken to Children’s Hospital where a surgeon sutured her wound. Case settled for the maximum amount in the policy.
$40,000.00 Pedestrian Accident. Client was struck by an intoxicated driver. He underwent arthroscopy surgery for an injury to his knee. The insurance company would not offer more than $25,000.00 to settle the claim. I immediately filed a complaint in the superior court. As the case was being prepared for trial, I received an expert witness report from the insurance company. The report stated that my client’s injuries were not caused by the accident. The doctor explained that the nature of my client’s injury could only have occurred by repetitive stress. I found that the doctor had written a book in which he wrote that my client’s type of injury could be caused by either a single impact or repetitive stress. At the mediation hearing, I produced the book. The case settled quickly.
$21,000.00 Slip and Fall. Client partially tore a ligament in her shoulder when she fell on a snow covered driveway. The records from the National Weather Service showed that the snow was light and could easily have been removed by homeowner.
$18,000.00 Dog Bite. Client was bitten by a Rottweiler. Defendant denied that she was the dog’s owner. I took depositions from witnesses to prove otherwise. Case settled one month before trial.