Hawthorn Woods T-Bone Crash — $56,000 Settlement in Hawthorn Woods
Key Takeaways
- Erie Insurance initially denied liability, blamed our client for the collision, and made no settlement offer.
- Our client was transported by ambulance for emergency hospital treatment after the T-bone collision.
- She incurred $56,282.40 in documented medical expenses for emergency and follow-up treatment.
- We filed a lawsuit in Lake County and continued challenging the insurer’s liability position.
- The case ultimately settled for $56,000.00 without mediation or trial.
What Happened
On a Thursday morning in December, our client was involved in a T-bone collision at the intersection of North Midlothian Road and North Old McHenry Road in Hawthorn Woods.
The parties disputed who was responsible for the collision. Erie Insurance accepted its insured’s account, placed responsibility on our client, and initially denied the claim. The Lake Zurich Fire Department transported our client from the scene for emergency hospital treatment.
The Injury
The collision caused right-sided neck pain, chest and abdominal pain, and significant left-elbow pain. Our client received emergency evaluation and later underwent additional imaging, medical evaluation, and physical therapy. Her documented medical expenses totaled $56,282.40.
The Insurance Company's First Offer
Erie Insurance denied liability and made no settlement offer. It maintained that its insured was not responsible and that our client had caused the collision.
Why That Offer Was Too Low
The insurer’s position meant our client would receive no compensation despite requiring ambulance transportation, emergency hospital treatment, diagnostic imaging, follow-up care, and physical therapy. Her documented medical expenses alone totaled $56,282.40.
Because the parties provided conflicting accounts of the intersection collision, resolving the claim required more than submitting the medical records. We needed to challenge the factual basis of Erie Insurance’s denial and demonstrate that its liability evaluation was not the only reasonable interpretation of the evidence.
What We Did
Our firm obtained and reviewed the medical records, medical bills, and available collision information. We evaluated the conflicting liability accounts and presented the evidence supporting our client’s claim.
When Erie Insurance maintained its denial, we filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Lake County. Litigation allowed us to continue developing the claim and created an opportunity to test the insurer’s liability position through the court process. We continued negotiating directly with the insurer while preparing the case to move forward.
The case ultimately settled for $56,000.00 without mediation or trial. We also negotiated the outstanding medical bills and resolved applicable lien issues as part of finalizing the recovery.
Timeline
- Accident occurred December 15, 2021
- Emergency treatment began December 15, 2021
- Claim opened December 20, 2021
- Treatment completed / maximum medical improvement reached May 23, 2022
- Demand sent October 17, 2022
- Settlement agreement reached December 14, 2023
Total duration: 24 months
Why This Case Matters
This case illustrates the difference between an insurance company’s liability decision and the final outcome of a claim. Erie Insurance initially accepted its insured’s account, blamed our client, and made no settlement offer. Accepting that decision would have resulted in no recovery.
The disputed liability required us to examine the collision evidence, develop our client’s position, and file a lawsuit in Lake County. The litigation placed the insurer’s denial in a setting where the competing versions of the collision could be examined rather than decided solely by the adjuster.
By continuing to pursue the claim, we moved the case from a complete liability denial to a $56,000.00 settlement without mediation or trial.
The Final Result
$56,000.00
The case settled for $56,000.00 after Erie Insurance initially denied liability and made no monetary offer. Our firm challenged the insurer’s reliance on its insured’s account, filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Lake County, and continued pursuing the claim through litigation and direct negotiation.
The settlement was reached approximately 24 months after the collision and resolved the disputed-liability case without mediation or trial. We also addressed the outstanding medical bills and applicable liens before distributing the settlement proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
An insurance company’s denial reflects its evaluation of the available evidence; it is not a binding determination of fault. An attorney can investigate the collision, evaluate conflicting accounts, gather additional evidence, and challenge the insurer’s position. When negotiations do not resolve the disagreement, a lawsuit may allow the parties to obtain evidence through discovery and ultimately present the liability dispute to a judge or jury. In this case, litigation and continued negotiation moved the claim from no initial offer to a $56,000.00 settlement.
About the Attorney
Get a Free Consultation
Talk to a lawyer about your case
If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident anywhere in Illinois, don't wait. The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case. Call us for a free consultation — we'll listen to what happened, give you an honest assessment of your options, and tell you exactly what comes next.
No runaround. No fees unless we win.