Case Study – Medical Event Crash Causes Injuries
Medical events can lead to a variety of emergency situations. Sometimes, those situations can hurt other people. In a recent case, we helped a person who was injured after another driver suffered a medical event. In this case study we take a look at how an injury attorney can help when someone else’s medical event causes injuries to bystanders.
This is a story of an actual case handled at Kane & Silverman. The names and exact details of the situation have been changed to protect the identities of the parties involved.
Case Type: MVA – Car Accident
Location: Pennsylvania
Date of Crash: 2022
Injuries: Cracked Ribs and Broken Hand
Initial Offer From Insurance: $0
Final Settlement: $20,000
Date of Final Settlement: 2024
Attorney: Randall M. Justice
Driver Crosses Into Oncoming Lanes of Travel
Ethan was driving home from work on a cloudy summer afternoon in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was driving on a bridge when an oncoming driver swerved into his SUV at high speed. There was no time to react or try to avoid the crash.
Witnesses Stop to Help
Several witnesses stopped to call 911 and check on both vehicles. Ethan was awake, but he was hurt and waited for emergency responders to arrive. The other driver was unconscious and needed emergency medical care. The police came and investigated the crash as the ambulance crews tended to the injured drivers.
Ambulance Ride to the Emergency Room
Ethan and the other driver were both transported to different emergency rooms by ambulance. The other driver had been unconscious after the crash. Ethan had pain in his ribs and a broken hand.
The Crash Was Just The Beginning
For Ethan, the crash was just the beginning of his problems. After his trip to the ER, Ethan had to figure out what happened to his SUV and try to get it fixed (if possible). He also needed to schedule follow-up doctor appointments and ongoing physical therapy. On top of that, he was unable to work for some time because of his broken hand and ribs. This crash was just the beginning of a long process that was going to cost him a lot of money – for something that wasn’t his fault. But, Ethan wasn’t getting any information from the at-fault driver’s insurance. That’s when he started looking for an attorney.
Referral From Another Attorney
Ethan called an attorney, who referred Ethan to us. When Ethan called us he was upset, he was losing money, and he just wanted some help. Randall Justice reviewed Ethan’s situation and we agreed to take the case. Our team went to work gathering the evidence and all of Ethan’s expenses related to the crash.
Medical Event Causes Crash
One of the first things we gather is the police report. In Ethan’s situation, the police report showed the other driver experienced low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and may have fainted while driving as a result. A medical event may have been a direct cause of this crash.
We discussed the police report with Ethan. Randall explained how car insurance works in Ethan’s situation and how the law applies in Pennsylvania. Under the law, the driver is financially responsible for the injuries and property damage they cause while operating a motor vehicle. The other driver’s insurance would pay for the medical bills, therapy, and loss of income. Even Pennsylvania state-minimum car insurance includes coverage for bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury protection.
Ethan only wanted to recover all his financial losses from this crash – he didn’t want to punish the driver. He understood He felt bad for the other driver, but he also couldn’t afford to take this big financial loss for something that wasn’t his fault. Randall went to work negotiating with this in mind.
Fair Settlement After A Crash
Ethan had some medical bills and physical therapy bills. He also lost about 1/3 of his annual income while recovering from his broken hand. While he didn’t want to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, he needed to pay off all the bills and recover his lost income.
Randall negotiated a settlement with the insurance company that Ethan was happy with. The settlement paid off all the medical and physical therapy expenses, covered repairs to Ethan’s SUV, and covered the lost income. There was enough extra in the settlement to pay us our percentage and still leave Ethan with a little left over. For Ethan, this was exactly what he wanted but couldn’t get from the insurance company on his own.
Medical Event Crash Injury Attorney
If the other driver suffered a medical event, you don’t deserve to be left with a mountain of medical bills. You deserve fair compensation. Talk to a medical event crash injury attorney for help with your claim. Kane & Silverman is a trusted personal injury law firm that helps injured people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. If you need help with your personal injury claim, contact us today for a free injury consultation. The consultation is free, and you don’t pay us unless we recover money for you. No win, no fee.