Car Accident Case — $4,700.00 Settlement in Chicago

On a Saturday afternoon in September, our client was parked near 7500 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago when a United States Postal Service (USPS) truck made a left turn within the intersection and struck the rear-left side of our client’s vehicle.

Our client sustained cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sprains along with post-concussive headaches. Our client also reported left hip pain and received medical evaluation and physical therapy.

The lack of an initial offer did not mean USPS had valued the case at $0. Instead, the agency had not yet accepted the administrative claim for review because of the missing information. Until that issue was corrected, our client could not obtain compensation for the documented injuries and medical treatment caused by the collision.

The lack of an initial offer represented a 100% undervaluation of the case, as the USPS initially refused to even recognize or process the claim because they alleged it lacked a “sum certain” and an original signature. This zero-offer stance completely ignored the fact that the USPS driver had openly admitted to the collision while executing a left-turn maneuver.
The agency’s reluctance to open a claim completely failed to credit our client’s documented physical injuries.

Our firm reviewed the collision information, medical records, and medical bills. We identified the federal administrative process that applied because the other vehicle belonged to USPS. We then submitted a completed Standard Form 95 containing the required signature and a specific amount being claimed.
Once the administrative claim was accepted, we presented the medical evidence, addressed the dispute over where our client’s vehicle was parked, and negotiated directly with the agency. The matter settled for $4,700.00 without a lawsuit. We also addressed the outstanding medical liens and bills as part of resolving the case.