Case Results

The investigation of this car-semi-truck collision took us from Iowa, to Missouri, to Nebraska and then to Texas. We settled the case for $6.1 million. Our clients were troubled by what to do and how to protect their rights as they we lying in a hospital bed. We immediately investigated the accident, contacted the Missouri Highway Patrol, the local police in Independence, Missouri to collect and to preserve the necessary evidence. Medical billings needed attention with the hospital, doctors and other providers. Medicare got involved. Iowa and Texas Medicaid were also involved. The health insurer went bankrupt in the middle of the case. Settling the case required discussions with defense counsel for the insurance company. A Life Care Plan was arranged along with a Medicare Set-Aside evaluation. Annuities for long-term planning were necessary and we made arrangements for all of this. These are complicated cases with many moving parts. We are skilled at all the moving parts including negotiating with Medicare and Medicaid.

An oncoming car driven by an elderly driver turns left of the center line to enter a strip mall. With the sun in his eyes he doesn’t see our client in the oncoming truck. To avoid the collision our client turns sharply to the right, goes off the road where he collides with a utility pole. The impact of the collision causes his head to strike the steering wheel. The trauma to his spine causes a degenerating condition to the myelin sheath that surrounds the spinal cord resulting in a condition of incomplete paraplegia. This case points out the essential function of the nervous system. It also demonstrates why when you can’t see what’s coming, you stop first and turn only after you can see what’s coming. Here is one explanation on Wikipedia.

Myelin is a dielectric (electrically insulating) material that forms a layer, the myelin sheath, usually around only the axon of a neuron. It is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. It is an outgrowth of a type of glial cell. The production of the myelin sheath is called myelination. In humans, the production of myelin begins in the 14th week of fetal development, although little myelin exists in the brain at the time of birth. During infancy, myelination occurs quickly and continues through the adolescent stages of life.

Case settled for $1,100,000 which is the insurance limits. The workers’ compensation award was a permanent-total award, meaning the injured worker/driver will receive benefits for his entire life.

Symptoms

Demyelination results in diverse symptoms determined by the functions of the affected neurons. It disrupts signals between the brain and other parts of the body; symptoms differ from patient to patient, and have different presentations upon clinical observation and in laboratory studies.

Typical symptoms of demyelination include:blurriness in the central

• visual field that affects only one eye, may be accompanied by pain upon eye movement
• double vision
• loss of vision/hearing
• odd sensation in legs, arms, chest, or face, such as tingling or numbness (neuropathy)
• weakness of arms or legs
• cognitive disruption, including speech impairment and memory loss
• heat sensitivity (symptoms worsen or reappear upon exposure to heat, such as a hot shower)
• loss of dexterity
• difficulty coordinating movement or balance disorder
• difficulty controlling bowel movements or urination
• fatigue

$1,100,000.00 – No-Contact Car Accident Leads to Myelopathy and Incomplete Quadriplegia

Iowa Interstate Highway Accident Lawyer – I-80, I-35, I-235, I-380, I-29 – Handling personal injury accidents on Interstate highways in Iowa. Because these accidents often involve drivers and trucking companies from different locations in the United States, they require a prompt investigation. You should hire a lawyer quickly to preserve your claims. I have personally handled over 2,000 personal injury insurance claims in Iowa and the Midwest, recovering over $20 million for seriously injured people.