Parking Lot Crash Passenger Injury — $16,000 Settlement in Melrose Park
Key Takeaways
- Our client was a passenger and had no role in operating either vehicle involved in the collision.
- The other motorist pulled out from a parking lane and entered the path of the vehicle in which our client was riding.
- GEICO initially denied liability and made no settlement offer.
- We resolved the passenger-injury claim for $16,000.00 without filing a lawsuit.
What Happened
Our client was a passenger in a vehicle traveling through a commercial parking lot at 1921 N. Mannheim Road in Melrose Park. As her driver proceeded along the traffic lane toward a bank, another motorist pulled out from a parking lane and entered the vehicle’s path.
The vehicles collided before our client’s driver could avoid the impact. Because our client was a passenger, she was not responsible for controlling either vehicle or making the driving decisions that led to the collision.
The Injury
The collision caused pain in our client’s neck, lower back, and right shoulder. She also experienced muscle spasms and symptoms radiating into her right arm and leg. Her right shoulder was bruised after it struck the interior of the vehicle during the impact.
Diagnostic imaging documented disc abnormalities and findings involving the spinal cord and nerve structures. She received medical treatment from August 7 through August 28, 2023.
The Insurance Company's First Offer
GEICO initially denied liability and made no settlement offer. Because the collision occurred in a parking lot, the insurer disputed responsibility for the crash rather than accepting the claim based solely on our client’s passenger status.
Why That Offer Was Too Low
GEICO initially denied liability and made no settlement offer. Because the collision occurred in a parking lot, the insurer disputed responsibility for the crash rather than accepting the claim based solely on our client’s passenger status.
Damages Breakdown
| Final Settlement | 16000 |
|---|
What We Did
Our firm reviewed the crash information and documented that our client was riding as a passenger when the collision occurred. We collected her medical records and bills and evaluated the diagnostic findings concerning her neck, lower back, and right shoulder.
We then submitted a demand package presenting the circumstances of the parking lot collision, our client’s lack of involvement in operating either vehicle, and the medical treatment that followed. Through continued pre-suit negotiations, GEICO agreed to resolve the claim for $16,000.00 without a lawsuit.
Timeline
- Accident occurred July 28, 2023
- Key treatment began August 7, 2023
- Claim opened August 16, 2023
- Treatment completed / maximum medical improvement reached August 28, 2023
- Demand sent October 25, 2023
- Settlement agreement reached February 5, 2024
Total duration: 6 months
Why This Case Matters
Passenger claims can present unique insurance issues because the injured passenger may need to pursue coverage connected to one or more drivers. The passenger’s lack of control over the vehicles does not necessarily cause an insurer to accept responsibility or make an immediate offer.
Here, GEICO initially denied liability. We documented how the parking lot collision occurred, established our client’s status as a passenger, and presented the medical evidence supporting her injuries and treatment.
That work resulted in a $16,000.00 settlement without the additional time and expense of filing a lawsuit.
The Final Result
$16,000.00
The passenger-injury claim settled for $16,000.00 after GEICO initially denied liability and made no settlement offer. By presenting the collision evidence, our client’s passenger status, and the medical documentation, we resolved the claim approximately six months after the accident without filing a lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
An injured passenger may be able to pursue a claim against the driver whose conduct caused the collision. When responsibility is disputed or more than one driver may share fault, claims may involve multiple insurance carriers. The passenger must still document the injuries and damages caused by the crash. In this case, the claim was resolved through the other motorist’s insurer without filing a lawsuit.
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