$300,000 Car Accident Settlement for Severe Leg Injuries
Mother Injured When a Speeding Driver Hit Her Parked Car
While her car was properly parked on the side of the road in a Chicago suburb, our client stood in front of the vehicle trying to jump the battery. Her three children were sitting inside the car. Suddenly, another driver traveling at a high rate of speed struck her vehicle, pushing it into her legs while she stood in front.
Her children sustained minor injuries, but the mother was severely injured, especially to her legs. Surgeries and extensive therapy were necessary as she struggled to recover physically and financially from the crash.
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the mother and her children, demanding fair compensation for the injuries caused by the collision. Although the insurance company initially refused to offer a reasonable settlement, the attorneys at Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC ultimately prevailed and secured a $300,000 settlement.
A Car Accident That Also Created a Pedestrian-Type Impact Injury
This case involved a motor vehicle collision, but the most serious harm occurred because the mother was standing outside the vehicle when the impact happened. When a person outside a car is struck by a vehicle or pinned between vehicles, the injuries can resemble those seen in a pedestrian accident.
Unlike an occupant protected by a seat belt, airbag, doors, and vehicle frame, a person standing outside a vehicle has very little protection. A sudden impact to the legs can cause fractures, ligament damage, nerve injury, soft-tissue trauma, scarring, disability, chronic pain, and the need for surgery or rehabilitation.
According to MedlinePlus, the legs are made up of bones, blood vessels, muscles, and connective tissue, and they are important for standing and movement. Accidents can damage the legs, and common leg injuries include sprains, strains, dislocations, and fractures.
Speeding and Crash Severity
The original facts of this case described the other driver as traveling at a high rate of speed. Speed can matter greatly in a crash because it affects stopping distance, control, and the force of impact.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains that speeding may increase the potential for loss of vehicle control, increase stopping distance after a driver perceives danger, and increase crash severity, leading to more serious injuries. In a case where a vehicle is pushed into a person standing nearby, those dangers can be devastating.
Determining Liability in a Serious Injury Case
In a personal injury case, the first major question is often liability. Liability refers to who was legally responsible for causing the accident. In this case, the lawsuit alleged that the other driver caused the collision by striking a properly parked vehicle and pushing it into the mother’s legs.
Insurance companies sometimes try to dispute liability even when the injured person appears to have done nothing wrong. They may question where the person was standing, whether hazard lights were on, whether the vehicle was safely parked, whether another driver had enough time to react, or whether any other factor contributed to the crash.
The Illinois Department of Insurance explains that Illinois uses modified comparative negligence. In general terms, an injured person may recover damages only if they are less than 50% at fault, and any recovery may be reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault.
Calculating Damages After Severe Leg Injuries
Once liability is established, the next question is how much compensation is fair for the harm caused. Vehicle repair costs may be calculated through repair estimates, but the value of serious physical injuries is more complicated. Leg injuries can affect walking, standing, working, caring for children, sleeping, driving, exercising, and daily independence.
Damages in a serious car accident case may include:
- Emergency medical care
- Hospital bills
- Surgery and follow-up treatment
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Medication and medical equipment
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced future earning ability
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Scarring, disfigurement, or permanent disability
- Loss of normal life and reduced ability to care for family responsibilities
Evidence That May Matter After a Parked-Car Collision
When an accident involves a parked vehicle, a driver traveling at a high rate of speed, and someone standing outside the car, early evidence can be important. The condition and position of the vehicles, the location of the injured person, skid marks, debris, road design, lighting, photographs, witness statements, police reports, medical records, and available video may all affect the outcome.
Insurance companies may also examine the vehicle damage, the point of impact, weather conditions, street layout, traffic patterns, and whether any businesses, homes, buses, or nearby cameras recorded the crash. Preserving this information early can help respond to unfair blame arguments and support the full value of the injury claim.
Legal Help After Serious Leg Injuries in a Car Accident
Severe leg injuries can change a person’s life long after the crash scene is cleared. When surgery, therapy, disability, scarring, or long-term pain is involved, the insurance company’s first offer may not reflect the true value of the case.
Since 1990, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC has represented injured people and families in Chicago and throughout Illinois. If you or a loved one suffered serious leg injuries in a car accident, pedestrian accident, or other motor vehicle collision, contact us for a free case evaluation at (312) 243-9922 or contact us online.
