Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
Illinois car crash attorney David Abels has obtained a $70,000 out-of-court settlement on behalf of a Chicago area woman injured in a collision with a driver insured by Geico.
The Illinois auto accident took place on October 19, 2010, at approximately 8:00 a.m. The client was injured when the automobile she was driving was rear-ended by another motorist.
The plaintiff was driving northbound on I-294 at or near mile post 31.0, Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois. The defendant was also driving his automobile northbound on I-294, behind our client. She came to a stop in stop-and-go traffic on I-294. The other driver failed to stop and/or reduce the speed of his vehicle and struck the plaintiff’s vehicle. The front of the at fault driver’s vehicle hit the rear of our client’s vehicle in a rear-end type of collision.
The Illinois State Police responded to the scene of the collision. After speaking to both parties, the investigation officer placed the defendant at fault for the collision. The investigating officer determined that he was distracted and exceeding safe speed for conditions at the time of the collision.
The defendant failed to stop and/or reduce his speed to avoid a collision, was driving at an excessive rate of speed, failed to pay proper attention to the road conditions, and failed to exercise due care for the safety of those in the area, including our client.
Following the collision, the plaintiff had an immediate onset of neck, back, chest, and shoulder pain.
Shortly after, she sought medical care from a physician. She complained of pain in her mid back and upper back that was worse with movement. A history was taken, a physical examination was performed and diagnostic tests were ordered. She was diagnosed with upper back strain, instructed to rest, and to have a physical therapy evaluation. Her doctor instructed her to follow up in one week.
Due to ongoing and increasing pain, our injured client returned to her physician for treatment on October 23, 2010. She complained of increased pain in her upper back as well as pain in her mid back, arms, and chest. Because of the increased pain, she was unable to obtain the physical therapy evaluation as instructed the physician. A physical examination revealed supraspinous tenderness and weakness in her arms. The doctor diagnosed her with back pain, instructed her to not lift or pull anything heavier than five pounds, and once again ordered a physical therapy evaluation. Her doctor also ordered a CT scan of her chest.
Following her physician’s recommendation, she attended physical therapy on October 27, 2010 and November 4, 2010. She complained of pain in her right hip as well as pain in her back and neck. She stated that the pain traveled from her left shoulder through the middle of her back and down to her right hip. The client described numbness in her gluteal region as well as numbness going down to her left hand. She also said she had stabbing pain that started in her back and spread to her check. She was diagnosed with neck sprain/strain, lumbar sprain, and brachial neuritis or radiculitis. During therapy, she engaged in stretching exercises as well as therapeutic exercises to decrease her pain and increase her functionality.
Our client next saw her doctor on October 28, 2010, where she continued to complain of upper and lower back pain as well as pain in her chest. An X-ray of her cervical spine was ordered, which revealed moderate decreased height of the C4-C5 disc space. The doctor instructed her not to lift, push, or pull more than five pounds and referred her to an orthopedic surgeon.
She next treated with a surgeon at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute on November 3, 2010 for an orthopedic consultation. She complained of pain in her neck, mid back, and low back. She said the pain was sharp, severe, and constant and that it was worse with standing, walking, sitting, lying down, and climbing up stairs. The doctor took a history and preformed an examination. He also reviewed the X-rays of her cervical spine. He diagnosed her with low back pain and cervical and thoracic strain.
The client saw another physician on November 9, 2010, complaining of left arm pain and back pain. A history was taken and she was examined. Based on his assessment, the doctor diagnosed her with cervical radiculopathy and recommended an MRI.
She was next seen by a treater on November 29, 2010. She complained of severe left shoulder pain with limited range of motion as well as pain in her lower pack. The doctor took a history and preformed a physical examination. The physician found pain on palpation of both trapezuis muscles as well as the left shoulder. He noted severe restriction of range of motion in her shoulder. She also had pain on palpation and spasticity of the lumbar muscles. He diagnosed the plaintiff with a severe sprain of the cervical and lumbar spine as well as a left shoulder injury. He prescribed muscle relaxants, pain medication, and ordered an MRI of the left shoulder. He ordered her off work and instructed her to engage in physical therapy.
An MRI of her left shoulder and of her lumbar spine was taken on November 30, 2010. The MRI of her left shoulder showed subscapularis bursitis. The MRI of her lumbar spine showed L4-L5 signal loss/dessication with a diffuse bulge causing bilateral foraminal narrowing.
The plaintiff began physical therapy on November 30, 2010. She complained of shoulder pain during household chores, including laundry, and had been unable to attend church because of her pain. She participated in a total of fifty-three (53) sessions of physical therapy through March 11, 2011.
She followed up with her doctor on December 17, 2010. She continued to complain of pain in her left shoulder as well as numbness in her left hand. She had low back pain that radiated to her right thigh. Due to her complaints, her doctor ordered an EMG of both upper arms.
She saw her doctor for the EMG on January 11, 2011. The physician took a history, examined her, and preformed the EMG. The test showed positive waves and fibrillations in the left infraspinatus, spuraspinatus, deltoid, biceps, and left middle cervical parasinal muscles of the left upper arm and the cervical paraspinal muscles bilaterally. He diagnosed her with moderate left C5-C6 radiculopathy as well as possible left brachial plexus or peripheral nerve injury.
The plaintiff next treated on January 14, 2011, where a doctor reviewed her MRIs and her EMG. He diagnosed her with cervical radiculopathy, left shoulder bursitis, and a sprain of the lumbosacral spine. Due to her ongoing pain, the doctor referred her to another surgeon for a consultation.
She saw the surgeon on January 26, 2011. He took a history, reviewed her records, and preformed and examination. He diagnosed her with bursitis with some associated inflammation. He instructed her to continue physical therapy.
The client continued physical therapy from March 14, 2011 through May 5, 2011, a total of twenty-four (24) sessions. She was discharged from physical therapy and from treatment on May 5, 2011, having reached maximum medical improvement.
The claim settled before filing a lawsuit, saving the client the costs of litigation.
If you have been hurt in an auto collision, contact Abels & Annes today for a free, no obligation consultation. Call us at 312-924-7575 or contact us online to speak directly to a lawyer today. There is no attorney’s fee charged unl