While driving on I-80 in Totowa, New Jersey, a woman was sideswiped by a tractor-trailer, which caused the tractor-trailer to jackknife and leak diesel fuel, closing the highway for hours. Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Partner Samuel L. Davis filed suit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County for the personal injuries suffered by the injured woman.
The client was taken by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center for medical evaluation and treatment. Just two weeks prior, she had undergone a complete mastectomy as part of her ongoing breast cancer treatment. The accident caused her to suffer injuries to her neck and back, including disc bulges, disc herniations, and annular tears, but she was only able to receive treatment after completing chemotherapy ten months later. She received some relief through epidural steroid injections and median branch blocks but ultimately underwent percutaneous discectomy surgeries in both her cervical spine and her lumbar spine.
Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. hired medical experts to examine the client and author narrative reports explaining the client’s injuries and their permanent nature. The firm also hired an economic expert to estimate projected lost income because of her permanent disability. With the help of these experts, Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Partner Samuel L. Davis proved the woman’s need for monetary compensation for her injuries, pain, and suffering, and won her a $1M settlement.
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 by our truck accident attorneys. We are also available 24/7 online at our website, www.dsslaw.com.
Medical Glossary
Annular tear: A tear or rupture in the outer layer of the intervertebral disc, which is a cushion-like structure between the vertebrae in the spine. It can happen due to injury, wear and tear, or degenerative changes over time. An annular tear can cause pain, stiffness, and potential nerve-related symptoms, as the tear may allow the inner disc material to press on nearby nerves.
Cervical spine: The first seven vertebrae in the spine.
Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses medicines or drugs to destroy cancer cells, typically given as an infusion into a vein (IV), but some are given as an injection, taken as pills, or applied directly to the skin.
Disc bulge: Bulging discs are a condition in which the inner portion of a spinal disc remains contained in the outer portion of a spinal disc. The outer shell often becomes weaker, and the disc begins to bulge to one side of the spinal canal or flatten. Many experience bulging discs after an injury.
Disc herniation: A disc herniation occurs when a portion of the disc, which acts as a shock absorber for the spinal bones, is pushed into the spinal canal. While some disc herniations may result in no pain or discomfort, others can result in excruciating pain and numbness.
Epidural steroid injection: Epidural steroid injections are a minimally invasive procedure that can relieve neck, arm, back and leg pain. The steroid calms down the irritated nerve that is causing the pain and swelling. Relief from the injections typically last for three months or more.
Lumbar spine: The lower back; consists of five bones.
Mastectomy: A surgical procedure involving the removal of all breast tissue, typically used as a treatment for breast cancer.
Median branch block: A type of spinal injection to temporarily block the pain signals coming from the nerves found in the joints of the spine.
Percutaneous discectomy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure that removes part of a herniated disc that is irritating a nerve, allowing prompt pain relief.
