Settlements In Motor Vehicle Accident Lawsuits Dealing With Closed Head Injuies
One of the more serious types of injuries which can result from a motor vehicle accident is a closed head injury. A closed head injury can result in lifelong personality changes, motor control deficits, [problems with memory, and language problems. Due to the nature and extent of the damage to the victim of a closed head injury these cases are frequently complex. The lawyer handling the case needs to have a detailed understanding of the medicine involved in closed head injuries. The lawyer additionally needs to be able to effectively and respectfully communicate with the plaintiff and the plaintiff's family. The attorney moreover needs to be very familiar with insurance issues and ways to locate all assets hat might be applied to a settlement or award.
Consider the following cases:
In the first lawsuit the driver of a van struck the back of a motor vehicle that was at a full stop with the turn signal activated waiting to take a left turn. The impact threw the vehicle into a nearby ditch. Police and emergency respondents transported the driver of the car to a hospital close by. The 50 year old female victim was confused and disoriented. These are signs of a potential closed head injury. She also complained of major pain in her neck, back, wrist and knee. She ended up with numerous serious injuries to her neck, spinal cord and wrist. Furthermore, she had to undergo several surgeries. Among them were a total knee replacement. She also went through infections to her wound. The woman was afflicted with a deep depression and having issues with her memory. She incurred roughly $230,000 in medical expenses. The law firm that handled this claim reported that they achieved a settlement in the amount of $1.35 Million for the woman.
In the second lawsuit a driver went right through an intersection that had both a stop sign and flashing lights. As he entered the intersection his van struck a car. A woman in her early thirties was driving the car. She stayed in a coma for 5 months. As a result of the accident she suffered a head injury that caused her to have problems with concentration and short-term memory. She also experiences motor problems. She requires living assistance as the accident left her permanently disabled. She could not got back to work where she had been earning $30,000 a year. The law firm that represented the woman brought claims against not only the driver but also the driver's employer (because the driver was acting within the scope of his employment at the time the accident happened). The firm published that the lawsuit settled for $7.0 million present value. The first $3,000,000 was to be paid out in cash.
As the claims above show head injuries from car accidents may leave the victim with significant and even devastating lifelong disabilities. In addition to any physical injuries from the accident the plaintiff can go through memory problems and incapacitating depression (Case 1), as well as concentration, short-term memory loss and motor control deficits (Case 2). A head injury can forever change a person