Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
Illinois auto accident attorney Gary Annes has resolved a case for a Chicagoan injured by a hit-and-run driver.
This claim arises out of a collision which took place on May 4, 2011, at approximately 8:00 p.m. The plaintiff was injured when the automobile he was driving was rear-ended by a 2001 Chevy pickup.
Our client was driving southbound on Clark Street in Chicago, Illinois. The at fault driver was also driving southbound on Clark Street, behind the plaintiff. He stopped for a red light at Clark’s intersection with Jackson Boulevard. The defendant failed to stop and/or reduce the speed of the vehicle he was driving, and struck our client’s 1997 Acura RL. The front-end of the Chevy hit the rear-end of the Acura.
After the collision the defendant fled the scene of the accident and drove westbound down Jackson, a one-way street with eastbound-only traffic. He was caught by police soon after.
The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene of the collision. After speaking to parties and witnesses, the investigating officer placed the hit and run driver at fault for the collision. The responding officer determined that the Chevy driver operated his vehicle in an erratic, reckless, careless, negligent or aggressive manner and was exceeding the authorized speed limit.
The defendant failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to stop and/or reduce his speed to avoid a collision, was driving at an excessive rate of speed, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area.
Surprisingly, the defendant was insured with the Hartford. In my experience as an injury lawyer, nine out of ten drivers that flee the scene of the accident are uninsured. Here, not only did the defendant have insurance, he had a policy with a highly rated company. Why he left the scene is unknown, and drugs and/or alcohol did not play a role.
Following the collision, our client had an immediate onset of neck, back, and shoulder pain. Shortly thereafter, he sought treatment at Provident Hospital of Cook County’s Emergency Department. Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, a history was taken, he was examined, and diagnostic tests were performed, including x-rays of his lumbosacral spine and a CT scan of his cervical spine. He complained of back, shoulder and neck pain, made worse with turning his head from side to side. He was diagnosed with neck sprain/strain and contusion. He was prescribed pain medication and instructed to seek follow up treatment.
Due to ongoing pain, the plaintiff sought treatment with a physician in downtown Chicago on May 10, 2011. There he complained of pain in his neck, shoulder, right elbow, and lower back. A history was taken and a physical exam was performed, which found pain on palpation of both supraspinatus muscles, pain in the right elbow and forearm, and tenderness on palpation of the lower back. He was diagnosed with a sprain/strain of the cervical and lumbar spine and contusion of the right elbow. His doctor prescribed pain medication, physical therapy, and ordered an x-ray of his right elbow.
Pursuant to his physician’s instructions, he began physical therapy on May 11, 2011. He presented with neck pain and stiffness, lower back pain and stiffness, right elbow pain and left shoulder pain. He engaged in thirty-six (36) sessions and was discharged on August 9, 2011.
Our client received an x-ray of his right elbow on May 12, 2011. The x-ray had no significant findings. He returned to the doctor’s office on June 7, 2011 where he was diagnosed with a sprain/strain of the cervical spine and contusion of the left shoulder. An MRI of his left shoulder was ordered, which he received on June 21, 2011.
The plaintiff learned on July 5, 2011, that the MRI of his left shoulder revealed supraspinatus tendinopathy and punctuate intrasubstance partial tear. He complained of cervical spine pain, left shoulder pain, and lower back pain that traveled down to both legs with numbness in each leg. The docotor prescribed pain medication and referred him to another doctor for an orthopedic consultation regarding his left shoulder.
At the consultation he complained of left shoulder pain and stiffness, trouble sleeping and inability to lift weights. The orthopedic physician reviewed the MRI of his left shoulder and diagnosed him with an AC joint injury. He recommended steroidal injections in the left shoulder.
On the physician’s recommendation, he received acromio-clavicular joint injection of steroids and local anesthetics at a surgical center on September 28, 2011. This procedure provided our client with significant pain relief.
The case settled for $36,500 without having to go to court.
If you have been hurt by a careless driver, contact the Chicago car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes and see if you have a case. Call 866-99-ABELS to speak to a lawyer today.
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