Follow-on Rear End – $100,000

The collision occurred as a rear-end (follow-on) impact. Our client’s injuries include neck pain with cervical radiculopathy, mid and lower back pain with lumbar radiculopathy, left-arm numbness, wrists, and left-leg complaints. Medical specials total $95,107.55, and medication charges total $71,181.97. Treatment was substantial and includes MD care, chiropractic, pain management, advanced imaging (MRI brain; MRI...
The collision occurred as a rear-end (follow-on) impact. Our client’s injuries include neck pain with cervical radiculopathy, mid and lower back pain with lumbar radiculopathy, left-arm numbness, wrists, and left-leg complaints. Medical specials total $95,107.55, and medication charges total $71,181.97.

Treatment was substantial and includes MD care, chiropractic, pain management, advanced imaging (MRI brain; MRI cervical showing 2–3 bulges; MRI lumbar showing up to a 2 mm bulge; cervical X-rays), and interventional procedures, a fluoroscopy-guided cervical epidural catheter placement with injections at C4–5, C5–6, C6–7, and bilateral lumbar transforaminal epidural injections at L3–4, L4–5, L5–S1. He was then seen at California Back and Pain Specialist and diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy, neck pain, lumbar radiculopathy, and low back pain; he continues with pain management and reports persistent arm numbness.

Relevant history includes a pre-existing “bad back” for which our client was taking medication prior to the collision, the defense tried to use this in our favor. Key negotiation drivers are the objective MRI findings, documented radiculopathy and ongoing PM care, fluoroscopic procedure reports, and the combined medical/medication liens.

Given the objective findings and the invasiveness of the care (advanced imaging and two fluoroscopy-guided injections), we secured the at-fault carrier’s policy limits of $100,000, a strong outcome in this case when measured against likely apportionment arguments.