$20,000 Settlement for Herniated Disc and ACL Sprain/Tear (Car Accident)

Sara (not real name) was driving her SUV in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida.

According to the crash report, a car driven by Bertha (not real name) made an improper lane change into Sara’s lane causing the car’s right rear to make contact with the SUV’s right front.

After contact, Bertha’s car came of the road and struck a stationary object. After Sara’s SUV was hit by the car, her SUV ran off the road, rolled over and came right side up.

The community service officer (CSO) noted in the traffic crash report that there were tire marks on the road indicating that Bertha’s car was partially in Sara’s lane.

Sara was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The CSO determined that Bertha was at fault for the crash.

The Accident Caused Bruising On Her Body

Sara claimed that the accident caused bruises to her hand, wrist, arms, forehead and legs. She also had contusions (bruises) to her head, chest, pelvis and spine.

X-rays of the pelvis, knee, and chest were ordered. She also received CT scans of the head, chest and neck. An MRI study of her spine was also ordered.

The hospital billed charges were large; however, Sara’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) with GEICO paid most of the bill. The remaining amount was adjusted (reduced) because Sara had health insurance.

We sent copies of the hospital bill and other hospital related bills to GEICO and the other driver’s insurance company.

After she left the hospital, a short time later, Sara then was then seen by an orthopedic doctor. She was suffering from cervical (neck) pain, thoracic spine pain, low back pain, left upper arm pain, left knee pain and left ankle pain.

She Had MRIs of Her Spine and Knee

Sara claimed that the accident caused or worsened a:

L5-S1 broad-based posterior disc herniation with posterior annular tear and bilateral facet hypertrophy indenting the thecal sac and moderately narrowing the bilateral neural foramen right worse than left.
a sprain/interstitial tear of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee

GEICO Insured Her With $10,000 of Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Insurance

GEICO insured Sara’s with $10,000 in non-stacking underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance. GEICO paid this $10,000 UIM limit around the time that the ticketed driver’s bodily injury liability insurer, Windhaven, paid its $10,000 limit.

I represented Sara.