Weekly Case Review: 29-Year-Old Driver with Jaw and Head Pain After Left-Turn Crash
In this week’s case review, attorney Ashley Clason discusses how our team helped a 29-year-old client, VR, after a serious side-impact collision.
How the crash happened
- VR was driving westbound
- An oncoming vehicle attempted a late left turn
- VR had no time to react
- He was struck hard on the driver’s side
EMS transported him to the hospital.
Initial symptoms and concerns
From the beginning, VR reported:
- Head pain and ongoing headaches
- Significant ear pain
- Chest pain
- Back pain
- Persistent discomfort that did not resolve after the ER visit
Because of the head and ear complaints, our team treated this as a potentially serious injury case from the start.
Identifying the real source of the problem
Although head injury was initially a concern, something different emerged.
Key clues included:
- Jaw pain combined with ear pain
- Hospital notes referencing an issue with his jaw
- Ongoing symptoms that did not match a typical concussion pattern
After further evaluation, the true injury was identified as TMJ dysfunction, involving the joint that connects the jaw to the skull.
Medical treatment
VR first began conservative care, including chiropractic treatment for his neck and back.
Because of the jaw and head symptoms, he was referred for further medical evaluation.
Ultimately, his treatment required:
- 14 separate injections
- to his back
- and to the jaw joint
After several months of treatment, he finally reached a point where he was pain-free.
Long-term impact of the injury
Although VR is currently doing well, TMJ injuries can be long-term.
Ashley explained that:
- TMJ can flare up again over time
- It can change how a person chews and how the jaw aligns
- A simple bite or movement can trigger symptoms to return
This makes it a potentially lifelong condition, even after successful treatment.
How the insurance company responded
The insurance carrier responded quickly and reasonably in this case because:
- VR consistently complained of jaw and ear pain from the very beginning
- The TMJ symptoms were documented early in the medical records
- Conservative treatment failed before more invasive care was performed
That documentation made it difficult for the carrier to dispute the need for treatment.
Settlement result
- The carrier paid the full policy limits of $50,000
- The policy limits were tendered within three weeks
Because medical bills were substantial, our firm is still investigating whether any additional insurance coverage may apply.
Key takeaway from this case
TMJ injuries are easy to miss after a car crash.
This case highlights how important it is to:
- pay attention to jaw and ear complaints
- separate possible head injury symptoms from jaw-related symptoms
- make sure the right specialists are involved early
Correct diagnosis and consistent treatment made the recovery — and the settlement — possible.
In pain? Call Shane.
980-999-9999
