T-Bone Car Accident Case — $13,000 Settlement in Chicago
Key Takeaways
- Travelers Insurance initially refused to evaluate and then ignored our client’s claim.
- Our client had incurred roughly $5,000 in physical therapy bills, as well as a substantial loss of normal life.
- We were able to recover a total of $13,000.
What Happened
Our client was driving his taxi northbound on South Damen Avenue in Chicago at less than 25 miles per hour. Another driver attempted to turn left after exiting the Cermak Produce parking lot. The driver crossed the southbound lanes and struck the driver’s side of our client’s taxi.
After striking our client’s vehicle, the other driver collided head-on with a vehicle traveling southbound. Our client and the southbound driver had the right of way. The collision occurred because the other driver entered Damen Avenue without yielding to approaching traffic.
The Injury
The collision caused pain along our client’s left side, primarily in his lower back. He had not experienced prior problems with that area of his back. He completed more than three months of physical therapy and was prescribed medication to manage the pain. His documented medical expenses totaled $4,469.21.
The Insurance Company's First Offer
After reviewing the demand submitted on our client’s behalf, Travelers insurance requested a full blown investigation. This would have included obtaining all of our client’s prior medical history and forcing him to sit for a recorded statement.
Why That Offer Was Too Low
Insurance companies do this sometimes and its not because our client’s claim is weak but simply because they think that they can. All it does is delay payment to our client and allows them to dive into the personal details.
What We Did
Our firm reviewed the crash report and investigated how the collision occurred. We collected our client’s medical records, medical bills. We then prepared a demand that explained the other driver’s failure to yield, the lower-back injury, the treatment our client received, and the financial losses caused by the crash.
When Travelers questioned whether all of the treatment was related to the collision, we emphasized that our client had no prior lower-back problems and that his symptoms and treatment followed the crash. Through continued negotiations and highlighting the strengths of our case, we were able to resolve the case for $13,000.00 without the need to file a lawsuit or divulge our client’s entire medical history.
Timeline
- Accident occurred April 10, 2023
- Key treatment began May 25, 2023
- Claim opened July 26, 2023
- Treatment completed / maximum medical improvement reached August 29, 2023
- Firm was hired September 1, 2023
- Demand sent Early October 2023
- Settlement agreement reached February 21, 2024
Total duration: 10.5 months
Why This Case Matters
This case shows that resolving a claim without filing a lawsuit does not mean accepting the insurance company’s first position. Travelers initially questioned whether all of our client’s treatment was caused by the collision and then made overly burdensome requests of our client.
We used the crash report, medical records and bills, to show why the relevant documentation was enough to evaluate and fairly compensate our client.
By presenting those facts and continuing to negotiate, we were able to obtain an acceptable offer of $13,000.00.
The Final Result
$13,000.00
The case settled for $13,000.00. We obtained an actual number and fair resolution by showing that our client’s lower-back symptoms and treatment followed the collision and by documenting his medical expenses and loss of normal life. The matter was resolved without filing a lawsuit, allowing our client to avoid the time and expense of litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Loss of normal life refers to the ways an injury prevents someone from doing the activities they ordinarily enjoyed or needed to perform before an accident. It may include difficulty working, exercising, completing household tasks, sleeping, caring for family members, or participating in hobbies. Because these losses do not come with a bill or receipt, they are documented through the injured person’s description of daily life before and after the accident, along with supporting medical records and testimony when available.
An insurance adjuster investigates claims for an insurance company. The adjuster may review the crash report, photographs, medical records, bills, wage-loss documents, and other evidence. The adjuster then evaluates whether the insurance company is responsible for payment and how much it should offer to resolve the claim. The adjuster works for the insurance company, not for the injured person.
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