Largest Reported NJ Personal Injury Settlement during the Court’s 2022-2023 term

Woman Side-Swiped by Tractor-Trailer–$400,000 Settlement

While driving in Edison, New Jersey on the New Jersey Turnpike, a woman was side-swiped by a tractor trailer truck. The collision pushed her into the guardrail. Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. Partner Patricia Z. Boguslawski sued the trucking companies in the Middlesex County Superior Court, proved that the 18-wheeler performed an unsafe lane change, and secured our client a $400,000 settlement.

The woman was taken by ambulance to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She suffered injuries to her neck, back, shoulder, and knee, and was diagnosed with a disc herniation and several disc bulges. She was also diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-concussive syndrome, Adjustment Disorder, and Somatic Symptom Disorder. To treat her spine, our client underwent a nerve root block injection, an epidural steroid injection, triggerpoint injections, and several Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS) injections. She also attended months of physical therapy and psychotherapy to treat her conditions.

Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. hired a vocational economics analyst to determine the financial loss suffered by the client. The expert found that our client had suffered a loss in future earning capacity of several hundred thousand dollars. The firm also hired medical experts to author narrative reports proving the permanent nature of our client’s injuries. The experts’ reports helped Partner Patricia Z. Boguslawski in her fight to win the client compensation 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

Adjustment Disorder: A mental health condition that occurs when individuals have difficulty coping with a stressful or challenging life event. It can include symptoms such as feelings of sadness, anxiety, irritability, or difficulty sleeping. These symptoms are usually temporary and resolve once the person adjusts to the situation or receives appropriate support and treatment.

Disc Bulge: A disc bulge happens when the cushion-like discs in the spine push outward beyond their normal position. It can cause pressure on nearby nerves, leading to pain, tingling, or weakness. Treatment for a disc bulge may include physical therapy, medication, or in severe cases, surgery.

Disc Herniation: A condition where the soft cushion-like disc between the bones of the spine gets damaged and bulges out. This can happen due to wear and tear or an injury. When the disc herniates, it can press on the nerves in the spine, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, neck, or legs.

Epidural Steroid Injection: A medical procedure used to relieve pain in the back or legs. It involves injecting medication into the epidural space, a space near the spinal cord. The medication helps reduce inflammation and numbs the nerves, providing temporary pain relief.

Nerve Root Block: A medical procedure used to alleviate pain caused by irritated or compressed nerves in the spine. During the procedure, a local anesthetic or anti-inflammatory medication is injected near the affected nerve root. This helps to numb the nerve and reduce inflammation, providing temporary relief from pain and allowing for further diagnostic evaluation or conservative treatments.

Percutaneous Nerve Electrical Stimulation (PENS): A medical procedure used to relieve pain by applying electrical stimulation to specific nerves. During the procedure, a healthcare provider uses a small needle to deliver low-level electrical impulses to the targeted nerves. This stimulation can help disrupt pain signals and provide relief for various chronic pain conditions.

Post-Concussive Syndrome: A condition where individuals experience a variety of symptoms following a concussion or head injury. These symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and changes in mood or behavior. While most people recover from a concussion within a few weeks, post-concussive syndrome is when these symptoms persist for a longer period, often affecting daily life and requiring medical management and support.

Somatic Symptom Disorder: A mental health condition where individuals experience physical symptoms that are distressing or disruptive to their daily lives. These symptoms may be related to bodily sensations or functions and can cause significant distress and impairment. Despite medical evaluations that may not reveal any underlying physical cause, the symptoms are real and can benefit from psychological treatment and support.

Trigger Point Injection: A medical procedure used to alleviate muscle pain and tension. During the procedure, a healthcare provider injects a small amount of medication, such as a local anesthetic or a corticosteroid, into a specific trigger point or knot in the muscle. This helps to relax the muscle, reduce pain, and improve range of motion in the affected area.