Massive $1.25 Million MVA Settlement

I represented a client along with Julie Siegel of Siegel Injury Law for injuries she sustained on November 12, 2019
in a motor vehicle collision.

The case was pending in the St. Louis County Circuit Court. Discovery and the deposition of the parties were taken
and the case was set for trial in June 2023 when we were able to settle the case during the second mediation in
February 2023 for $1.25MM.

After the first mediation bogged down, the parties ended that and met to review and verify the special
damages in the case. This enabled the defendant and its insurer to see the high value of medical. Plaintiff
had taken some of her treating physicians depositions for trial and was about to take another when the case
settled.

This incident occurred on Highway 270 in Maryland Heights when Defendant rear-ended Plaintiff. Plaintiff was
stopped in traffic when Defendant crashed into her. The impact was sudden and forceful pushing Plaintiff’s
vehicle into the vehicle in front of her.

There was no dispute on liability – the police report noted: “distracted and paying attention to his cell phone
rather than to the road.” Defendant also testified in his deposition that he was looking at his cell phone reading
Facebook messenger messages rather than in front of him going 60 mph right before and at the time he rear-ended
Plaintiff’s vehicle. The impact was significant.

The crash caused Plaintiff to sustain injuries painful injuries to her head, neck, spinal cord, left shoulder, ribs,
hand and foot. She had a mild concussion and brain injury as a result of the crash as well. Plaintiff has
preexisting anxiety and depression, which the accident made worse. She claimed PTSD as well.

Plaintiff was diagnosed with a C5-6 and C6-7 herniated disks, a T2 vertebral body fracture and left Shoulder
SLAP tear. It was recommended she undergo C6-7 epidural injections.

However, after failing to respond to conservative treatments, Plaintiff treated with Dr. Matthew Gornet at
the Orthopedic Center of St. Louis. Dr. Gornet examined and treated her predominant neck pain, trapezial
pain, frequent headaches, and dizziness. Dr. Gornet recommended a cervical disc replacement at C4-5, 5-6 and
6-7 which Plaintiff had in February 2022.

Dr. Corey Solman saw Plaintiff on November 2, 2020 for her continued left shoulder pain. Dr. Solman diagnosed her
with left shoulder type 2 SLAP lesion and bicep tenosynovitis AC Joint Arthrosis. Because Plaintiff failed to
receive symptom relief from conservative treatments, he recommended she undergo a left shoulder arthroscopy with
labral debridement, biceps tenodesis, and a distal clavicle resection. Plaintiff had surgery with Dr. Solman on
January 12, 2021.

Plaintiff has treatment with multiple trauma counselors to attempt to come to terms with the PTSD, generalized
anxiety, and anxiety that this motor vehicle accident and her subsequent injuries has caused her. Plaintiff had
post-traumatic stress related fear of driving, anxiety, and depression. She has expressed feelings of being a burden
to her children and all of those around her. She felt reliant on those around her to function on a daily basis.

Plaintiff’s charged medical bills were about $500K and she was still obtaining vestibular treatment, physical therapy
and counseling.

We’re thrilled to have been able to get our client the compensation she deserved.

Gary Burger

Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO

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