From Collision to Recovery: $600,000 Settlement for Injured Driver by Emily Reynolds
Our client was in a collision that occurred on February 7, 2024, on State Route 65 in Van Buren Township, Putnam County, Ohio. She had just left her shift at work and was traveling eastbound on State Route 65 approaching the intersection with Road 5. At the same time, the defendant was driving a semi-truck traveling southbound on Road
5 and failed to yield, entering our client’s path of travel and striking the driver’s side of her vehicle. The Leipsic Police Department responded to the scene. The at-fault party was cited under R.C. 4511.12 for failing to obey a traffic control device.
Putnam County EMS transported our client to Mercy Health Lima Memorial Hospital in Lima, Ohio, for treatment of her injuries. She suffered a large laceration to her forehead which measured 3.5 cm midline forehead, then curved and went 5.5cm towards left eye, 1.5cm deep and 1.5cm wide. She received stitches for the laceration.
Our client continued to receive treatment for many months. She was diagnosed with a concussion and later was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. She had headaches, sensitivity to lights, memory problems, anxiety, and sensitivity to sound. She attended occupational therapy relating to balance and cognitive issues. Our client also went to a plastic surgeon relating to her laceration. She ended up having a large scar with decreased sensation in her forehead and scalp. Due to her injuries and following treatment, our client was unable to work for months and lost a large amount of wages.
Our client came to Charles Boyk Law Offices soon after the incident for legal representation. Our office helped her through the pre-litigation process before filing the case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. During the pre-litigation and litigation phases, our office tracked all medical bills and records, investigated the multiple defendants, and hired experts to testify on behalf of our client. The firm added value with expert reports from a trucking standard- of-care expert and our client’s plastic surgeon regarding her future treatment.
We also held a focus group to introduce evidence in a controlled setting and gauge what people would value, as well as which evidence and facts interested them. After a year of discovery, depositions, and mediation, we reached a settlement agreement for our client. She accepted a $600,000 settlement for her injuries caused by this incident. Charles Boyk Law Offices worked diligently to get our client fair compensation for her injuries and pain and suffering caused by the negligence of the truck driver.