$6,500,000 Trucking and Motorcycle Crash Orlando, FL
Trial Pro recently obtained a $6.5 million recovery for a wonderful retired U.S. military veteran and motorcyclist injured as a result of a crash with a box truck. Our client suffered a broken leg that required trauma surgery and other extremity and spine injuries which required multiple surgeries. He eventually underwent lumbar decompression and microdiscectomy, lumbar fusion, cervical disc replacement, and arthroscopic shoulder surgeries. The Trial Pro attorneys were able to work closely with our client’s treating physicians to ensure he obtained necessary treatment for his numerous soft tissue injures, especially his disc injuries to his cervical and lumbar spine. We also assisted in coordinating neurosurgical, neurological, and neuropsychological evaluation and treatment to better understand and treat our client’s traumatic brain injury. The close coordination of multiple treating medical doctors and appointments was an important and necessary role in assisting our client who was struggling with physical, emotional, and mental injuries.
This case also involved more than 10 non-medical and medical experts. While the cause of the crash rested clearly with the defendant, the legal cause of our client’s injuries was heavily disputed, especially his claim for damages related to his traumatic brain injury, especially since he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. As Mr. Stakelum explains, “this claim was protected, developed, and strengthened through the immediate and ongoing use of numerous experts who assisted with vehicle inspections, accident reconstruction, biomechanical engineering, electronic data downloads, and life care planning. We also worked closely with our client’s treating physicians and other medical experts to convey our client’s orthopedic, neurological, and traumatic brain injuries to the defense (and ultimately a jury) through video interviews with doctors presented at mediation.” We have found over the years that video presentations that include first-hand interviews with clients, witnesses, family members, physicians, and other experts illustrate the strength of a claim far better than words on a page.
Mr. Stakelum and Mr. Davis also attribute this significant result to their trial preparation. While the case was not resolved prior to or at mediation, the parties eventually resolved the case shortly before trial was scheduled to begin. Mr. Davis explains, “Piercy and I really did not expect this case to settle. We discussed the facts of the case and potential value with numerous legal colleagues, both on the plaintiff and defense side, and we fully expected to try this case for our client. We had already begun our pre-trial bootcamp in the office and were organizing focus groups for mock trials to refine and better prepare our case for trial.” Ultimately, the parties agreed to settle this complex personal injury claim for $6,500,000.00 allowing our client to close this chapter and move forward with his life.
$1,900,000 Motor Vehicle Crash on Interstate 4 Lake Mary, FL
We represented a family man and driver a passenger car that was rear-ended by a larger work van on I4 in Lake Mary, Florida. We were able to prove that the driver of the van was speeding at the time it attempted to improperly change lanes before colliding with our client’s smaller car. We hired an accident reconstructionist as an expert to help establish the speed and forces of the vehicles involved in this violent crash, which further supported our claim for significant damages. Depositions also revealed that the driver of the van was familiar with the heavy traffic conditions of I4 in this area as it was very close to his place of employment. We held both the driver of the van and his employer accountable since this driver was acting in the course and scope of his employment at the time of the crash. After litigating this case at length and preparing for trial, the parties eventually reached a settlement in the amount of $1,900,000.00. This settlement will allow him and his family to purchase a home and help their children attend college.
$1,500,000 Rear-end Car Crash with Traumatic Brain Injury Orlando, FL
We obtained a $1,500,000.00 recovery for the driver of an economy sedan that was rear-ended by a pick-up truck in Orlando. Ourt client suffered several disc injuries in his spine that required minimally invasive surgery. We also, however, worked closely with a team of medial professionals who were experienced in identifying, explaining, and treating our client’s traumatic brain injury (“TBI”), which was first identified in a brain MRI administered soon after the crash. We work with neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, and others to develop and explain this serious type of injury. Ultimately, we negotiated a settlement in the amount of $1,500,000.00 for our deserving client.
$1,490,000 Trucking Crash on Interstate 4 Deltona, FL
We had the privilege of helping a young, hardworking father who was driving on Interstate 4 in Volusia County when a nearby box truck lost control and swerved directly into the path of our client who was unable to avoid slamming into it. The defendant initially tried to avoid responsibility for the crash by claiming that his vehicle had an unforeseen mechanical breakdown that caused him to lose control. Our extensive discovery into the matter through interrogatories, requests to produce, and numerous depositions revealed that the driver and owner of this truck were aware of numerous maintenance and mechanical issues with the truck prior to this crash but chose to continue to operate it anyway. This deliberate choice to drive a potentially Insafe vehicle on the roads that we all share placed all others using these roads at risk for serious injury and even death. Given the preponderance of evidence of their bad acts, the defendants capitulated and agreed to pay $1,490,000.00 to resolve our client’s lawsuit.
$1,100,000 Motor Vehicle Crash Ocala, FL
We represented a wonderful client who sustained neck and back injuries as a result of a rear-end crash in Ocala. His cervical and lumbar disc injuries eventually required an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion as well as a lumbar decompression and microdiscectomy, both of which were performed with a minimally invasive technique. We worked closely with our client’s neurosurgeon and other experts to explain the long-lasting effects of his injuries on the rest of his life. We were prepared to prove to the jury through life care experts and others that these injuries would have a lifelong need for additional care and remain a permanent condition. The parties agreed to resolve this case for $1,100,000.00.
$1,000,000 Car Crash on I4 Maitland, FL
We obtained a $1 million recovery for a wife, mother, and nurse who was rear-ended on I4 in Maitland. She had to stop for traffic. The vehicle behind her safely stopped. The second vehicle behind her, however, failed to stop and slammed into the vehicle behind her, which was, in turn, propelled into the rear of her vehicle. We loved fighting for this wonderful woman and her terrific loving and supportive family. Her injuries required a right hip arthroscopy, a knee surgery, and a minimally invasive lumbar microdiscectomy. We also worked very hard to develop our client’s lost wage claim to compensate her for the income she lost as a result of this crash/.
$1,025,000 Head-On Collision SR 417 Oviedo, FL
We obtained the maximum insurance policy limits of $1,025,000 for a gentleman who was involved in a violent crash in Oviedo. Another driver veered across the median into oncoming traffic before slamming head-on into our client’s vehicle. Our client sustained spine injuries as well as a very serious foot injury that required surgery to repair three broken and dislocated toes. Our client did not have health insurance, but we were able to help arrange for him to get necessary medical treatment with expert physicians in several medical specialties. We ultimately pressured the insurance companies to tender the respective policy limits.
$990,081.63 Trucking Crash Ormond Beach, FL
We negotiated a settlement of almost $1 million for the young driver of an Amazon truck that was rear-ended by another box truck in Ormond Beach. Our client stopped for a pedestrian to cross the road when the truck driver behind her failed to maintain a proper lookout and slammed9 into her Amazon truck. Our client was particularly happy with the outcome of her case because of the amount of her settlement as we ll as the speed of her settlement. Her entire claim was resolved for almost $1 million in approximately seven months! We are grateful for her trust in us.
$980,000 Slip and Fall/ Premises Liability Naples, FL
We obtained a $980,000 recovery for a young woman who slipped in cleaning fluid that had leaked from an improperly stored and damaged container at her place of employment. While she also had a workers compensation claim because she was injured while at work, we also advanced a significant “third-party” claim against the janitorial service that had improperly stored the damaged contained of cleaning agent that leaked onto the floor causing our client to fall. We conducted extensive discovery that enabled us to prove the liability of this cleaning company for the spill that caused our client’s violent fall and resulting injuries. Our client is using some of her settlement money to return to school and transition into a different career. We wish her well!
$950,000 Wrongful Death/Motorcycle Crash Orlando, FL
We represented the parents and family of a young man who was killed when a vehicle made a left turn in front of his motorcycle causing him to slide into the side of the vehicle. Our team of attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants spoke with the family seemingly on a daily basis guiding and listening to them during this traumatic time. This case was heavily litigated with competing accident reconstruction experts who disagreed about the facts of the crash including the speed of the decedent’s motorcycle prior to the crash. We used a powerful video presentation at mediation to convey the loss and suffering of the entire family. We will always hold this entire family in our hearts. We think about them often.