Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Illinois injury lawyer David Abels has obtained a $100,000 insurance policy limits settlement on behalf of a client that was injured in a Kane County auto accident.
The collision which took place on June 20, 2011, at approximately 4:13 a.m. The plaintiff was injured when the automobile he was driving was hit head-on by a vehicle driven a driver insured by State Farm.
Our client was driving northbound on Farnsworth Avenue north of Reckinger Road in Aurora, Illinois. The defendant was driving his automobile southbound on Farnsworth north of Reckinger. The at fault motorist was distracted while driving and crossed the center turn lane of Farnsworth, entering the northbound lane that the victim was occupying. The negligent driver struck our client in a head-on collision while facing south in a northbound lane.
The Aurora Police Department responded to the scene of the collision. After speaking to both parties, the investigating officer placed the defendant at fault for the collision. The investigating officer cited the defendant for improper lane usage and also determined that he was distracted while driving. He also admitted to the responding officer that he consumed two mixed drinks earlier in the night. Based on that information, the investigating officer administered field sobriety tests which the defendant passed.
We argued to the insurance carrier that their insured failed to reduce his speed to avoid a collision, was driving at an excessive rate of speed, failed to pay proper attention to the road conditions, failed to stay within one lane of traffic, drove southbound in a northbound lane, 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 severe chest and abdominal pain.
He was transported by ambulance to Provena Mercy Center‘s Emergency Department. Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, a history was taken, he was examined, and diagnostic tests were performed, including CT scans of his abdomen, pelvis, cervical spine, and head. He complained of severe pain in his chest and abdomen. His CT scans showed fluid within the right hemipelvis, soft tissue swelling and induration in the right flank, hepatic steatosis, and a right frontal subgaleal hematoma in his brain. Upon exam, he had peritonitis. Our client required an emergency exploratory laparotomy as a result of his injuries.
After his emergency surgery, our client had shortness of breath and a persistent cough. He required an urgent CT scan of his chest after surgery and received a pulmonary consultation from another physician. The CT scan showed bilateral pleural effusion with bilateral pulmonary contusion. The doctor diagnosed him with severe hypoxemia, bilateral pulmonary contusion and hemothoraces. He recommended a chest x-ray, aggressive bronchodilator therapy and bronchopulmonary hygiene, and thoracentesis if right hemothorax increased or if the victim developed increased shortness of breath.
Our client had a second chest CT on June 22, 2011, which showed bilateral lower lobe consolidation or atelectasis associated with small right greater than left pleural effusions as well as subsegmental atelectasis or consolidation in the posterior dependent portion of the right upper lobe of his lung. On June 23, 2011, he had chest x-rays taken, which showed nonspecific worsening lower lobe areas of infiltrate and consolidation when compared with his previous CT scan. He was discharged from the hospital on June 24, 2011.
Due to ongoing and increasing pain, he sought follow up treatment with his surgeon on July 2, 2011. He received another chest x-ray which showed improvement from his June 23 x-rays. The physician examined the plaintiff’s surgical incision, removed the staples, and discharged him from his care.
As a result of the injuries suffered, our client has been left with a permanent scar several inches in length across his abdomen.
The claim settled for the limits of the defendant’s auto insurance policy. The case resolved without having to go to court, saving our client the cost of litigation.
If you’ve been hurt in an Illinois car crash, contact the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free, no obligation consultation. You can fill out a contact form on our website or call us at 312-924-7575 to speak directly to a lawyer today.
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