Location: Intersection of Central Avenue and East Titus Street, Kent, WA
The at-fault driver was acting within the scope of her employment for Confidential Company. Our client was traveling northbound on Central Avenue in Kent, Washington. At the same time, the at-fault driver was stopped at a stop sign on East Titus Street. As our client continued straight in his lane of travel, at-fault driver suddenly and without warning attempted to cross Central Avenue. At-fault driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic, pulled in front of our client’s vehicle and caused the front of his vehicle to collide with the passenger side front of hers. Following this first impact, at-fault driver pulled forward, then suddenly reversed and struck our client’s car a second time. Soon thereafter, Kent Police arrived on scene. After completing their investigation, Kent Police determined the at-fault driver was at fault and issued her a citation for Failure to Yield at a Stop Sign.
Initially, our client treated with a chiropractor, acupuncture, physical therapist, and a physiatrist. However, when his injuries didn’t improve after more than 4 years after the collision, he was referred out for an MRI, the MRI revealed moderate disc protrusion of L5-S1. He was recommended surgery by his orthopedic surgeon, who successfully performed the L5-S1 lumbar fusion surgery.
The at-fault driver’s insurance company argued that surgery was not related, not reasonable, and not necessary and hired several experts who affirmed their position. In contrast, our expert witness, a neurosurgeon, supported our argument that the low back fusion surgery was necessary, reasonable, and related to the car collision. In the end, one month before a two-week trial, we were able to secure $280,000.00 in mediation settlement from the at-fault party’s insurance company, 11 times the at-fault party’s initial offer. The client had a total medical expense of $130,000.00.
