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A Settlement Against the Odds

by | May 21, 2018 | Car Accidents

Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima newest personal injury attorney, Barbara Strady won a battle against State Farm after mediating a motor vehicle collision this week. Our client walked away from this controversial collision with a pain and suffering settlement of $240,000.00

But, like any story, there is more to the picture than just a money settlement. It’s a justified settlement for the negligence of another driver who caused tremendous injuries, financial burdens, and pain and suffering to another person – our client. Here at Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima, our attorneys fight for the rights to help compensate the injured person and hold the wrongdoer accountable. 

Details of the collision

On September 7, 2016, our client was coming home from work. While our client was driving eastbound on St. Rt. 125 in Clermont County, at about 45 m.p.h. The tortfeasor (the wrongdoer) ran a stop sign at White Ash Rd. as he attempted to make a left turn onto westbound St. Rd. 125, causing a violent impact with our client’s vehicle. The tortfeasor hit our client with such force it caused our client’s vehicle to redirect and head towards oncoming traffic, hitting another vehicle head on. Our client’s knees struck the dashboard and suffered severe trauma to the right foot.

Our client’s vehicle was totaled, and the airbags deployed. The tortfeasor was cited for failure to yield right-of-way and for a stop sign violation.

When the ambulance arrived, they attended to our client, who provided a list of complaints and demonstrated severe injuries of the right ankle and foot, right knee, and right wrist. Our client was taken immediately to the hospital. The hospital took x-rays which revealed a displaced fracture through the lateral process of the talus (an ankle fracture). The doctor provided an orthotic boot and a Velcro wrist splint with a referral to see an orthopedic specialist.

After the initial hospital visit, our client treated with an array of physicians, specialists and surgeons to treat the injuries that were sustained.

Injuries sustained

As a result of the collision, our client needs an ankle fusion with a bone graft to her right ankle and left knee surgery for a torn meniscus. In addition to the right ankle and left knee injuries, she also suffered injuries to her right wrist, neck, headaches, left ribs, lower abdomen extensive bruising, and upper and lower back.

Because of this collision and the negligence of another, our client’s life drastically changed- daily life changed while wearing a hand brace, wearing a walking boot, being non-weight bearing, walking with crutches, using a walker, using a roll-about, eventually a platform walker, suffered from panic attacks, suffered insomnia, and the inability to work for six months and then returned to working reduced hours as a result of her injuries.

Our client is 49 years old, is happily married and working a job that she loved. Her life as she knew it is over forever because of the negligence of another driver. Once she has the ankle fusion surgery, she will have a permanent condition which will restrict movement of the subtalar joint. She will have no more walking barefoot in the grass, sandy beaches, rocky paths, unlevel ground, climbing ladders, stair climbing, squatting, or kneeling. This is life changing.

In an instant, our client’s life changed forever. The attorneys at Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima want you and your family to be protected if this happens to you. Please make sure you are covered if a tragedy like this happens to you or your family. Find out what your auto policy covers and what the limits mean for you and your family. Call us to discuss.