… A 41-year-old contractor was on his way to a job when his pickup truck was rear ended. The contractor injured his neck and shoulder.  Since he later filed for personal bankruptcy, the bankruptcy court had to approve my appointment as his attorney and any settlement.  After the case was settled with the other driver’s automobile insurer, a portion of the settlement had to be turned over to the bankruptcy trustee to pay back the contractor’s creditors.   … [Read more...]

… A 31-year-old consultant was driving into Pittsburgh about to exit the Fort Duquesne Bridge when a tractor trailer suddenly merged into her lane, crashing into her car. She had musculoskeletal injuries to her back and neck. The tractor trailer’s insurance company settled the case for a favorable amount.   … [Read more...]

… A 51-year-old telephone company account manager was stopped at a red light when his Jeep Wrangler was struck violently from behind by another vehicle. The impact pushed him across the road and into a nearby parking lot. He developed an impingement of his shoulder and a herniated disc, resulting in numbness in his leg and foot. When the other driver received the suit papers, which merely listed the names of the parties, he confused this incident with one of his other legal misadventures, calling the office to tell us “I didn’t know that that television was stolen.” The case settled shortly before trial.  A companion underinsured motorist … [Read more...]

… A 38-year-old project manager was driving home from work with her co-worker. She came to a stop at the end of the exit ramp on the highway. As she was waiting for the light to change, her car was struck violently in the rear by a large sports utility vehicle. She developed headaches and injured her neck and shoulder. A lawsuit was filed against the other driver and discovery depositions were taken. The case the settled soon afterwards.   … [Read more...]

… A 58-year-old jewelry store clerk was stopped in traffic on a four-lane highway. She noticed in her rear view mirror that a car behind her was driving erratically. Suddenly, the car crashed violently into the rear of her stopped vehicle. She was pushed into the vehicle in front, resulting in front and rear end damage. She had musculoskeletal injuries to her neck. She also lost income at the jewelry store, particularly for commissions she would have earned during the Christmas holiday. The case eventually settled with the insurance company for the rental car company that had rented the car to the driver.   … [Read more...]

… A 42-year-old investigative social worker was driving through a tunnel in her Jeep. A sports utility vehicle slammed into the rear of her Jeep, pushing her into the vehicle in front of her and turning her Jeep sideways. Before the crash, the social worker suffered from a condition called trigeminal neuralgia. This is a nerve disorder which causes sharp, stabbing pains in the cheek, lips, gums and chin. She needed surgery to correct this condition. After the crash, she developed a new type of pain from a condition called occipital neuralgia. This causes pain on one side of the back of the head. She went to the Pain Clinic for monthly … [Read more...]

… A 25-year-old man, his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s young son were backseat passengers in their friend’s car. An on-coming car suddenly turned in front of them causing a substantial impact. The man lost consciousness and had a neck and shoulder injury. Because he did not have a car, or car insurance, and his friend, the driver, was uninsured, most of his medical bills were paid by the Pennsylvania Assigned Claims Plan. A Board of Arbitrators awarded him money, with some of the award being paid back to the Plan.   … [Read more...]

… A 57-year-old psychologist and her 64-year-old wife were walking their dogs in a residential area. As they were crossing the street in the middle of the crosswalk, a car driven by an 83-year-old woman turned left into the crosswalk, striking both women and both dogs. The 64-year-old woman’s knee, leg and two vertebra were shattered. One of the dogs was killed. The psychologist and the other dog escaped with minor injuries. The 64-year-old woman recovered from her injuries after extensive medical treatment but will probably need knee replacement surgery. The case settled out-of-court for a significant sum.   … [Read more...]

… A 64-year-old traveling salesman was driving home from an appointment when an on-coming truck suddenly crossed into his lane, hitting his vehicle head on. Trapped in the car, he had to be extricated. The impact fractured his right tibial plateau, which is part of the knee joint. He was spared surgery, but was unable to work for several months. He faces the possibility of a total knee replacement down the road. The other driver’s insurance company and his own underinsured motorist company settled his claims for the policy limits. A reasonable amount of the liability settlement was allocated to his wife’s claim. That way, his employer’s … [Read more...]