Guy Runs Stop Light and T-Bones Client Causing Need For Surgery & Injections
Hello and welcome to this week’s client victory from Shane Smith Law.
My name is Shane Smith. Today, I’m joined by Thomas Ozbolt, and we’re talking about one of his recently resolved cases involving our client, LB. This case is also a powerful reminder of why underinsured motorist coverage matters.
How the Accident Happened
LB was driving down the highway, doing exactly what she did every other day, when another driver failed to yield at a stop sign and T-boned her vehicle. The impact forced her off the road and immediately sent her to the hospital.
In an instant, her normal day turned into months of medical treatment and ongoing pain.
Injuries Caused by the Crash
As a result of the collision, LB suffered serious and lasting injuries, including:
- Three disc bulges in the cervical spine
- Two disc bulges in the lumbar spine
- A cervical disc herniation
- Shoulder injuries
- Ongoing neck, back, and shoulder pain
Her treating physicians ultimately recommended a cervical discectomy to address the damage in her neck.
Medical Treatment and Ongoing Recovery
LB underwent extensive conservative treatment in an effort to pinpoint the source of her pain, including:
- Injections in her shoulder
- Injections in her back
- Injections in her neck
Through this process, her doctors determined that her neck injury was the primary pain generator and recommended surgery. Unfortunately, the cost of that surgery exceeded the available insurance coverage from the at-fault driver.
Thomas helped her obtain quality medical care, maximize available treatment, and plan for future care through her health insurance once liability coverage was exhausted.
Insurance Limits and Case Outcome
In this case, the driver and vehicle owner were the same, meaning there was only one liability policy available. Thomas was able to:
- Exhaust the at-fault driver’s policy
- Recover the full $50,000 policy limits for LB
Every dollar available under the liability coverage was secured for the client.
The Critical Lesson: Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This case highlights a hard truth. LB’s injuries were far more serious than the insurance coverage available. If she had carried underinsured motorist coverage, Thomas would have been able to pursue additional compensation to help cover her surgery and future care.
Underinsured motorist coverage often costs only a few extra dollars per month but can make a life-changing difference when a severely injured person is hit by someone with minimal insurance.
Final Thoughts
This was a strong recovery given the limitations of the available insurance, but it also serves as a reminder to review your own auto policy and protect yourself and your family.
If you would like our team to review your insurance policy and explain your coverage, we are happy to do that for you.
You can also request our free Victim’s Survival Guide to Car Accidents here:
👉 https://www.shanesmithlaw.com/car-accident-victim-survival-guide/
And remember, in pain, call Shane at 980-999-9999 or visit https://www.shanesmithlaw.com/ for help after an accident.
