Manuel* and his son, Jesse*, were driving to work like they always did each weekday morning, running their father-and-son business. They had no idea that day they would be rear-ended by a speeding 18-wheeler, leaving them both with injuries and thousands of dollars in medical bills.
At Crosley Law, we were proud to help this family hold the negligent driver and trucking company accountable. We secured a $165,000 settlement for Manuel and a $135,000 settlement for Jesse, helping them move forward from a traumatic experience.
*Client names changed to protect privacy
A morning commute turns violent
The collision occurred in Spring 2024, near Olympia Parkway and I-35. Traffic had started slowing down during the early rush hour. Manuel, who was driving, began to brake in response.
Behind the father and son, a commercial 18-wheeler failed to do the same. The truck swerved, sideswiped another vehicle, and then slammed into the rear of the father and son’s Chevy Silverado.
The impact was violent enough to bend and buckle the steel frame of the truck, crush the bumper, and shove the bed forward into the cab. The semi driver initially tried offering $2,000 cash to settle things on the spot. Our clients declined.
The injuries: delayed pain and long-term treatment
Neither Manuel nor Jesse realized they were hurt until several days later. This is a common occurrence after crashes.
Jesse began to feel pain in his left wrist and shoulder about five days after the collision. Imaging showed multiple spinal injuries, including:
- A herniated disc in his mid-back with a tear
- A herniated disc in his lower back with a pinched nerve
- Swelling in his wrist and shoulder
Jesse received wrist and shoulder injections. At his last office visit with his treating physician, Jesse stated to his doctor that he had completely healed.
Jesse underwent multiple injections and imaging for his shoulder, wrist, and spine pain.
Manuel developed symptoms four days after the crash. His MRIs showed multiple herniated discs in his neck and back, along with widespread pinched nerves. He underwent a cervical and lumbar epidural steroid injection.
Like his son, Manuel had no lingering complaints of pain at his last office visit with his treating doctor.
Manuel had two spinal injections to treat nerve root impingement.
Holding the trucking company accountable
Crosley Law’s investigation revealed clear negligence on the part of the truck driver. This included the driver’s failure to maintain a safe following distance and comply with signs prohibiting trucks in the left lane of traffic.
We built a strong case, backed by medical records and crash photos, and presented it to the trucking company’s insurance carrier in a time-limited settlement demand.
During negotiations, the insurance company argued that neither client deserved a large settlement because:
- The injuries were likely pre-existing because the father and son were manual laborers.
- Both of the clients had completely healed and had no complaints of pain at their last office visits.
- Each of the gentlemen had medical bills that amounted to less than $34,000.
Crosley Law got Manuel and Jesse justice
The father and son never expected to get tangled up in a legal battle with a commercial trucking company. But when the insurance carrier tried to minimize their claims, Crosley Law made sure their voices were heard.
We were ready to counter the insurance company’s arguments with some of our own. Neither of our clients had any prior history or medical records that showed any sign of pre-existing conditions before the accident, making the insurance company’s claim speculative at best.
And although both clients had healed from their current injuries, we demonstrated how the crash had caused changes to the soft tissue structures at critical areas of their bodies. These changes could result in higher chances of flare-ups or injuries in the future.
When negotiations were complete, our clients received coverage for their medical bills and compensation for pain and suffering. The settlement totaled out to:
- $165,000 for Manuel
- $135,000 for Jesse
Injured by a Commercial Truck? Call Crosley Law
Rear-end collisions involving 18-wheelers can be serious. If you’ve been hurt by a negligent truck driver, you need a team that knows how to handle high-stakes cases and push back against big insurers.
Call Crosley Law at (210) 529-3000 or contact us online for a free consultation.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
