Passenger Injured in Car Collision – $493,500 Settlement

A front-seat passenger was severely injured after a car collision at the intersection of Cherry Street and W. Grand Street in Elizabeth, New Jersey when a negligent driver attempting to turn left onto W. Grand Street suddenly cut them off, resulting in a violent crash. Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Partner Steven Benvenisti filed suit in The Superior Court of New Jersey, Union County, proved that the left-turning driver was negligent in failing to safely operate his car for a left turn, and won the client a $493,500 settlement.

The injured woman was taken by ambulance to Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where she was given a pain injection for her back. She was diagnosed with cervical and lumbar disc bulges, lumbar radiculopathy, right shoulder anterior labral tear, a lumbar disc herniation, left knee medial meniscus tear and anterior horn meniscal tear, effusion, and chondromalacia. The client completed 14 months of physical therapy to treat her condition.

Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. retained medical experts to author narrative reports proving the permanent nature of the client’s injuries and the extent of her medical bills. The experts also reported that the accident aggravated pre-existing arthritis in the client’s left knee, and she will most likely require total knee replacement surgeries in the future. The experts’ reports helped Partner Steven Benvenisti win the client a settlement for her injuries, pain, and suffering.

Settlements are often limited by the total available insurance coverage. Insurance company adjusters and their lawyers often defend cases by claiming that a client was negligent and could have avoided being injured by arguing comparative negligence on the part of an injured client; or that their pain and suffering was caused by pre-existing medical conditions or prior injuries. Despite those defenses, the Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, PC lawyers won their client’s injury claim. Each client’s case is unique. Results may differ because of different facts, circumstances, and available insurance coverage.

Call us now for a free and confidential case evaluation. We are also available 24/7 online at our website, www.dsslaw.com.   

Medical Glossary:

Anterior horn meniscal tear: A type of tear in the meniscus, a cartilage in the knee joint, affecting the front portion (anterior horn).

Chondromalacia: A condition in which the cartilage in a joint, often in the knee, softens and breaks down, leading to pain and discomfort.

Disc bulges: When a spinal disc protrudes slightly and puts pressure on nearby structures, causing discomfort or pain.

Disc herniation: When a spinal disc’s inner material pushes through its outer layer, often causing pain or numbness due to nerve compression.

Effusion: The buildup of fluid in body cavities or tissues, such as the joints, which can cause swelling and discomfort.

Left knee medial meniscus tear: A tear in the medial meniscus, the cartilage in the inner part of the knee joint, often resulting from sudden twisting or injury.

Lumbar radiculopathy: A condition characterized by pain, tingling, or weakness in the lower back and legs due to compression or irritation of the spinal nerves in that area. 

Right shoulder anterior labral tear: A tear in the front portion (anterior) of the labrum, a ring of cartilage in the shoulder joint, on the right side of the body.