The Interstate 310 off ramp and intersection with River Road in Destrehan is a prime area for collisions. The factors align – especially at rush hour – as drivers have a yield sign as they merge onto westbound LA-48 from the interstate. Inattentive drivers often get caught watching traffic on LA-48 instead of the vehicles in front of them and well, collisions sometimes result.
This was the case on a late May afternoon as our clients were exiting the Interstate heading towards Destrehan on River Road. As they approached the yield sign, the truck behind them did not stop and crashed into their vehicle. The truck’s driver admitted he was watching the traffic and not our clients’ vehicle. The crash caused only minimal damage to the truck but extensive rear-end damage to our clients’ vehicle.
Why the Insurance Company Tried to Rush a Low Settlement
The clients contacted us after they felt the at-fault driver’s insurance, Liberty Mutual, was not treating them fairly. It started with Liberty Mutual failing to pay for the full damages to the client’s car which upset them. Then after having to miss work for physical therapy and other treatment visits, the insurance company wanted them to settle while they were still treating and before any MRIs were obtained. The clients felt rushed, not listened to by the adjuster and knew they should contact a Destrehan car accident lawyer before agreeing to anything.
Once our team was involved, we were able to review the clients’ medical records and obtain MRIs for both clients. The MRIs were positive showing disc herniations commonly associated with rear-end collisions. While the insurance company argued these herniations can be degenerative in nature, we were able to establish these two clients – both in their 20s – had not had any prior neck or back complaints. They were now receiving pain management and will have to live with the herniated discs for the rest of their lives.
From $5,000 Offers to Over $100,000 Each
When the insurance adjuster continued to low-ball the damages, we filed suit. After minimal discovery, our team was able to resolve the claims of both clients for policy limits of both the at-fault driver and their own UM. Prior to our handling of the claim, the at-fault insurer offered each client less than $5,000 to settle their injury claim. Prior to filing suit, the offer had increased to around $20,000. After filing suit and doing discovery, each client obtained a total settlement of over $100,000.
Our team knows how to deal with low-ball insurance offers and will fight to get you the financial justice you deserve.
