Getting rear-ended is among the most frustrating ways to get injured on Louisville roads. The crash is rarely your fault. But you are the one left in pain suffering through missed paychecks, physical therapy appointments and medical bills.
Our client was sitting in traffic in the Jeffersontown area when a driver in a local business vehicle slammed into them from behind. What appeared like a basic fender-bender had developed into months of necessary medical care. Our client had taken on severe neck, back, and shoulder pain from the wreck. The hastily written police report made note of “minor” bumper damage but failed to capture the serious deep soft-tissue injuries.
The Road To Recovery
Healing is not linear. Over the months that followed our client required a wide range of operations and services. Diagnostic scans were carried out to examine their lumbar and cervical spine through MRIs. Specialized chiropractic care and continuing physical therapy was required for their basic everyday mobility needs. Specialized pain management procedures including trigger-point injections worked to keep her out of excruciating pain.
All of these treatments required significant time spent away from work. Today, many people live a missed check or two away from disaster. For our client to suffer not only physical pain but economic anxieties for an accident they did not cause was unreasonable. This is why our team obtained each and every appointment’s medical record. These documents provided the objective proof needed to show these injuries were real and tied directly to the “fender bender” which changed their life.
Fork In The Road
Unfortunately, this case did not settle with a simple phone call. The at-fault driver’s insurance company treated the case as a disputed claim. In insurance company terms, this means they don’t want to pay the fair value without a drawn out legal fight that they hope you can’t afford. Insurers use this tactic constantly with rear-end collisions resulting in moderate vehicle damage. These companies bank on unrepresented victims accepting lowball settlement offers.
We worked diligently to assemble a complete legal picture. Then our team combined the police report, physical evidence, medical imaging, and clear proof of lost wages into a detailed demand. This forced the insurer to look at the human cost rather than the size of a dent in the car. Behind the scenes, we worked on our client’s final payout. We made sure to focus on negotiating down medical liens from health insurers and treatment providers, making sure the money at settlement stayed in her pockets.
The Finish Line
We resolved the disputed claim through a negotiated settlement without dragging out the client through a lengthy trial. Because we slashed down the medical liens, our client got to keep a much larger chunk of the final recovery.
If another driver hits you from behind, remember that minor bumper damage does not mean minor bodily injury. Insurance companies dispute fair claims such as our clients every day to save themselves a buck. Early settlements are almost never fair. Don’t navigate the insurance maze on your own and risk losing your case’s value to medical liens. Our team handles adjusters, paperwork, and bill negotiations so you can focus on recovery.
Feel free to call us at 502-771-0588 or email aaronkemper@lawhelplouisville.com.