Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
An Illinois personal injury attorney at Abels & Annes has resolved a case for a $25,000. The claim arises out of an automobile collision which took place on September 13, 2011 at approximately 12:02 p.m. at or near 2701 South Harlem in Berwyn, Illinois. Our client was injured when the automobile she was driving was hit by a vehicle driven by the defendant.
The plaintiff was driving northbound on South Harlem at approximately 25 miles per hour. The defendant was driving behind our client on northbound South Harlem. At that time defendant, who was traveling too fast, rear-ended the plaintiff.
The Berwyn Police Department responded to the scene of the collision. After speaking to both parties, the responding officer determined the defendant was at fault for the collision and issued him a citation for driving too fast for conditions.
Based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the occurrence at issue, we argued to the defendant’s insurance carrier that it was clear that the sole proximate cause of the collision was the negligent conduct of their insured.
Our client sought treatment from Rush Oak Park Hospital‘s Emergency Department immediately after the collision. A history was taken, she was examined, and diagnostic tests were performed. She complained of pain in her lower back that was worse with bending as well as bilateral knee pain. On exam, she had tenderness on palpation of her right lumbar paraspinal area. She was diagnosed with lumbar spine sprain/strain, pain in her lower legs, muscle spasms in her back, and trapezius strain. She received prescriptions for pain medications and muscle relaxants and was ordered off work.
Due to ongoing and increasing pain, the plaintiff sought follow up treatment with a medical doctor on September 15, 2011. At that time, she continued to complain of lower back pain that radiated to both of her legs. Her pain was constant and severe and it ranged from sharp to stabbing to aching. Her pain interfered with her sleeping, often waking her in the middle of the night. The pain prevented her from engaging in activities of daily life and severely limited those activities she could engaged in. Additionally, her pain was worse with pushing and lifting heavy objects, walking, sitting, or standing for long periods of time, and bending forward.
The physician took a history and examined her. She had tenderness and spasms from L2-L5 bilaterally as well as difficulty squatting and while walking heel to toe. She had limited range of motion in her thoracholumbar spine because of the extreme pain she experienced. The doctor diagnosed our client with lower back pain with a radicular component at L5-S1, myofacial pain syndrome, and lumbar strain and sprain.
The physician noted that she had an underlying degenerative condition in her back that was asymptomatic before her injury. In his medical opinion, the automobile collision aggravated her underlying condition and necessitated treatment. He instructed the plaintiff to continue taking her medications, undergo a lumbar MRI, refrain from lifting and/or pushing objects heavier than 15 pounds, and remain off work.
Pursuant to the doctor’s orders, our client underwent an MRI of her lumbar spine on September 16, 2011. The MRI revealed low back injuries.
She returned to the doctor for additional treatment on September 20, 2011. At that time, she continued to complain of lower back pain with radiation into both legs. Her physician reviewed her lumbar MRI and diagnosed her with small disc bulges. He prescribed a course of physical therapy to relieve her pain and discomfort as well as return her to normal functionality. He directed her to continue her medications, refrain from pushing or lifting objects over 15 pounds, and remain off work.
On September 27, 2011, she returned to the doctor and complained of lower back pain with radiation into both legs. He compared her lumbar MRI to a previous lumbar MRI taken in 2008. Upon comparison, the physician determined that the bulging discs were not part of her degenerative disc disease and were caused by her motor vehicle collision on September 13, 2011.
The client engaged in a course of physical therapy from September 22, 2011 through October 26, 2011. She engaged in twelve (12) sessions consisting of heat and cold therapy, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, massage, manual traction, joint mobilization, therapeutic exercises, a home exercise program, neuromuscular reeducation, and kinesiotaping to her paralumbar area.
The claim settled without having to go to court, saving the plaintiff the cost of litigation. State Farm Insurance is paying on the claim.
If you have been hurt in a collision, contact the Illinois car crash lawyers at Abels and Annes for a free consultation. Call 312-475-9596 to talk to a lawyer 24/7.
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