Results

• Motor Vehicle Negligence
• Worker’s Compensation
• Medical Malpractice
• Personal Injury Negligence
• Product Liability
• Premises Liability

Motor Vehicle Negligence

Client was hit in a t-bone fashion by a drunk driver, who had a blood alcohol concentration of .20, more than twice the legal limit. Client suffered a fractured collarbone, four broken ribs, fractured pelvis (in 3 places), a collapsed lung, fractured left orbit of the eye, removal of glass from eye lid, subarachnoid hemorrhage, multiple abrasions, contusions and lacerations, and permanent hearing loss in the left ear. A lawsuit was filed and the case settled several weeks after mediation for $975,000.00.

Client was traveling on the highway when the driver of a box truck made a U-turn and caused a severe collision. Client’s injuries consisted of contusion to head with loss of consciousness, closed head injury with post-concussive syndrome, C7 transverse process & pedicle fracture, fracture of the 1st left rib, C3-4 herniated disc, T3 compression fracture, anterior listhesis of L4 on L5 with instability, retrolisthesis of L2 on L3, left shoulder contusion, and carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy. Client underwent several surgeries due to spinal injuries. A lawsuit was filed and subsequently resolved during mediation for $550,000.

Client’s ankle was pinned between a forklift and a metal post, causing a crushing injury of the ankle with multiple fractures of the medial malleous and a distal fibia fracture. Multiple surgeries were required to correct the crush fracture and rotation of the bone. Case was resolved for $325,000 prior to filing a lawsuit.

Client was hit head on, causing a fracture of the sacrum, fractured pelvis in two places, injuries to the neck and back, and multiple abrasions to the face from airbag deployment. This case was arbitrated by a panel of three arbitrators, resulting in an award of $300,000.

Client was involved in a single car collision as a passenger. Client sustained the following injuries as result of the collision: broken right femur, torn ACL in right knee, torn right rotator cuff, lacerated liver, lacerations and bruises on right leg, chipped teeth, multiple cuts and bruises on right arm and hand, broken right wrist, bone graft from hip to right wrist, multiple cuts and bruises on neck and chin area. Client also underwent 5 surgeries and blood transfusions. A lawsuit was filed and resolved during mediation for $250,000. This exhausted all insurance policies available.

Client was directing traffic at a construction worksite and was hit by an inattentive driver. Client suffered multiple lacerations, contusions, a dislocation with fracture of the ankle and fibula, an ACL injury of the knee and injuries to the chest, left hip and back. The case was resolved for $240,000 prior to filing a lawsuit.

Client was involved in a four-car collision, suffering injuries to his head and leg, as well as a herniated disc necessitating surgical treatment. This case was arbitrated by a panel of three arbitrators for an award of $240,000.

Client was injured in a serious rollover crash when a mail carrier failed to yield the right-of-way. Client suffered a 10cm laceration to the top of the head and an acute C5-6 dislocation with fracture, vertebral rotation and multiple large free fragments which required immediate surgical intervention due to paralysis risk. In addition, client sustained multiple lacerations and contusions and injury to the lower back. The case was settled for $230,000.

Gaston County resident was hit by a drunk driver. The drunk driver was killed at the collision scene. Our client suffered severe injuries to the foot, which required several surgeries. A lawsuit was filed, and the case was settled several weeks after mediation for $171,000.

Client was hit when a tractor-trailer ran a red light. Client suffered the following injuries: loss of consciousness at the scene, deep liver laceration, lacerated left lung, deep lacerations of left underarm and right knee, multiple fractured ribs, multiple lacerations, and bruises. Client underwent several surgeries due to internal and external injuries. A lawsuit was filed and was resolved in mediation for $152,800.

** In addition, we have resolved over 27 other personal injury cases resulting from auto collisions with awards ranging between $100,000 – $150,000.

Worker’s Compensation

Client suffered an injury by accident while attempting to light the pilot to the water heater while employed by a fast food restaurant. Client suffered first-degree flash burns to the face and arms and later developed depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Client’s claim was settled for $500,000.

Client suffered an injury to the lower back while was lifting heavy boxes. Client continues to suffer with chronic back pain and severe depression. The injuries, in our opinion, left the client permanently and totally disabled from suitable employment. There was a Medicare Set-Aside performed. This analysis indicates that the medications and future physician follow up treatments and other medical needs would be $223,007.96. Not knowing what the future would hold in regard to physical and /or mental treatment, we settled this claim for $400,000. Client received a weekly compensation rate of $249.82.

Client suffered a compensable injury while employed by an electric company as a lineman when the client sustained a flash burn to the face, neck, chest and abdomen. This claim was settled for $390,000.

Client suffered a compensable injury to the left shoulder after catching a falling patient while working as an RN. Ultimately, the client underwent four surgeries to the left shoulder. The client’s permanent physical restrictions to the left arm were no lifting or carrying greater than 2 (two) pounds, and no repetitive overhead activities. Client’s claim was settled for $390,000.

Client suffered a compensable injury to the right ankle while on a ladder. Client was reaching for a fan and had a sharp shooting pain in the ankle. Further, the client suffered a compensable injury to the left shoulder while moving steel and debris and hyper-extended an arm. This claim was ultimately settled for $320,000.

Client was working for an electric company as lineman when hit with a severe electrical shock that caused several injuries and ailments throughout the body, which are typical of electrocution injuries. This claim was settled for $270,000.

** In addition to the above case we have resolved over 13 worker’s comp case ranging between $100,000 – $250,000.

Medical Malpractice

A Charlotte area resident was burned during cancer surgery. The case was settled prior to filing a lawsuit for $695,000.

A Charlotte area resident developed signs of cancer for a period of one year while her family doctor failed to diagnose, and treated her for acid reflux. The cancer went into a full Stage 4 and patient had serious medical complications due to the failure to diagnose. A lawsuit was filed and the case was ultimately settled for $375,000.

A Charlotte area resident was taking Coumadin for a heart attack. The Coumadin caused a subdural hematoma in the brain and the cardiologist failed to diagnose and give proper instruction resulting in the Plaintiff’s death. This case was filed and was ultimately resolved for $265,000.

A Charlotte area resident was in a nursing home when one of the caregivers fractured the patient’s leg. It appeared that the caregiver attempted to hide this act of negligence. This case was settled for $175,000.

A Charlotte area resident was in the hospital having tests run and was in the radiology department where he was dropped and his hip was fractured. This case was voluntarily mediated and resolved for $125,000.

A Charlotte area resident was in a medical facility where bed rails were not in place and she fell to the floor injuring her head, ultimately resulting in her death. A lawsuit was filed and was resolved in mediation $100,000.

A Charlotte area resident had received a hysterectomy. Some surgical equipment was negligently left inside patient which had to be removed approximately three months later. A lawsuit had to be filed. The case later settled for $75,000.

Personal Injury Negligence

Client was working for an elevator company in a five-story office building. Client was working at the bottom of the elevator shaft when a HVAC employee dropped a six-foot piece of duct work down the shaft. The duct, weighing approximately 100 lbs., struck the client in the head and shoulder area. Client suffered a fractured clavicle, shoulder and mid-back injuries, and fractured #30 tooth. A lawsuit was filed and was settled at mediation for $70,000.

Client dining at a local eatery swallowed a sharp object with a bite of food. Unable to bring the object back up, the client reported to the ER where an x-ray revealed the ingested item was a roofing nail. Within hours of ingesting the nail, the client’s condition deteriorated to a critical level, forcing emergency surgery to remove the nail. A lawsuit was filed and the case was settled at mediation for $60,000.

Client was beaten by an off-duty bouncer at a grill. Client suffered permanent scars to the right side of the face, abrasions to the elbow and hands, and a bump on the head. A lawsuit was filed against the grill for negligent training, negligent supervision, negligent handling of the situation in question and failure to provide a safe premise. Client’s case was heard before a jury, wherein the jury awarded the client $5,320 in compensatory damages and $15,760 in punitive damages. There was an appeal to the jury verdict; however, a divided Appeals Court affirmed the original verdict, saying that the punitive damage award was proper.

Product Liability

Client purchased a weed eater for household use from a local home improvement store. Client used the weed eater at home on two occasions, and then on the third time the spinning device on the weed eater, which does the cutting, broke loose from the machine itself. It ricocheted off the house and hit the client in the eye. We had the weed eater inspected by an expert engineer, and it was found that the plate and bolt pulled through the plastic material because there was not sufficient strength in the plastic material to keep this from happening. Apparently, there was a design flaw that the manufacturer discovered some time later and actually recalled the weed eater so they could repair the plate. The client suffered a detached retina of the right eye, resulting in a loss of most all the vision from the right eye and legal blindness in that eye. A lawsuit was filed and was ultimately settled several weeks after the mediation for a confidential amount.

Premises Liability

Client went to an eye doctor for an eye exam. The client’s eyes were dilated for the exam. Upon completion of the exam, client entered the hallway to leave the doctor’s office and fell over a large box that had been left in the hallway, suffering a spiral fracture of the hip that required surgical intervention. This case was resolved prior to filing a lawsuit for $100,000.

Client was injured while viewing a newly constructed senior living community. Client was walking along the sidewalk and tripped, sustaining injuries due the height change from the sidewalk to the driveway in front of the home the client was viewing. The client suffered a torn rotator cuff, multiple lacerations to the face, and serious dental injuries. A lawsuit was filed and the case resolved for $85,000 prior to mediation.

Client was shopping at a local grocery store when spilled cleaning solution caused the client to slip and fall . Client suffered a fracture to the left elbow. A lawsuit was filed in this case, and we proceeded to trial. This case settled for $30,000 prior to the opening argument.