Levinson Axelrod, P.A. Partner Adam L. Rothenberg secured a $999,000 settlement on behalf of a New Jersey state municipal worker who suffered serious injuries in an auto accident.
As court records show, our firm’s client was a 48-year-old municipal worker who was struck by a sedan near a post office in Milltown, New Jersey. She suffered neck injuries in the crash, including herniated discs, and a traumatic brain injury. Though she did not strike her head in the accident, she was diagnosed with a closed head injury following a CT scan.
As a result of the traumatic brain injury, our client suffered from a number life-altering symptoms, including vestibular dysfunction, vertigo, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive impairment, which included memory loss and deficits in executive functioning, attention, and information processing. She also suffered from constant headaches, ringing in her ears, which was diagnosed as tinnitus, and vision impairment that necessitated a prescription for prismatic glasses. Her symptoms caused daily struggles, and required her to rely on her husband for help with household chores.
Attorney Rothenberg filed a lawsuit against the driver who caused the accident, claiming he was negligent in operating his vehicle and that he improperly exited the post office. The motorist’s employer was also named as a defendant, as he had been driving in the course of his employment at the time of the accident.
Given the serious nature of our client’s injuries and their impact on her life, Adam and our legal team worked closely with medical experts to highlight her damages. This included not only her diagnosed medical conditions, but also her need for physical therapy and treatment by various specialists. Our client was out of work for eight months, and returned despite her limitations in order to continue her employment and become eligible for a pension and retirement benefits provided by the state. Due to her brain injury, vision impairment, tinnitus, and anxiety, she was unable to drive for two-and-a-half years following the crash.
Ultimately, Adam was able to negotiate a pre-trial settlement for $999,000, which included a total of $99,000 from the driver’s $100,000 policy limit coverage, and $900,000 from his employer’s coverage. This is despite the fact that the defense argued over the legitimacy of our client’s injuries, and provided reports from their own experts who stated that the accident was not serious enough to cause a traumatic brain injury and that her neck injuries were pre-existing and unrelated to the accident.
The settlement is a significant victory for our client, who is still being monitored by her neurologist and neuropsychologist, eye doctor, and otolaryngologist, and still continues to undergo psychological counseling. The compensation will provide the needed resources to cover her past treatment, as well as her future medical needs and the pain and suffering she and her husband endured.
We congratulate Adam on this case result. A Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the New Jersey Supreme Court, Adam has refined his ability to meticulously prepare cases as if they were going to trial, and to establish the evidence needed to prove clients’ claims. His reputation as a skilled and aggressive trial attorney also makes defendants less inclined to litigate, and more receptive to negotiations that produce full and fair settlements for our clients – something that is especially important to clients who suffer brain injuries and other catastrophic injuries that can cause tremendous disruption in their lives.
If you have a potential personal injury or motor vehicle accident case you wish to discuss, Levinson & Axelrod, P.A. is available to provide a free consultation. Contact us to speak with a member of our team. Our award-winning lawyers serve clients throughout New Jersey.