Location: Chesterfield, Virginia
Verdict: $200,000
Our client was a 61-year-old woman from Chesterfield County, who was involved in a multi-vehicle collision in April of 2022.
Her airbag did not deploy during the crash, and she testified at trial that she had hit her head on the roof of her car upon impact. She refused treatment at the scene of the collision and did not seek medical attention for her injuries until 14 days after the incident.
When she did seek treatment, she complained of injuries to her head, neck, and back, as well as an aching in her lower left jaw. An orthopedic specialist treated her injuries, which included two six-session rounds of physical therapy, an epidural steroid injection, and one session of micro-needling. Her treatment was spread across two years.
The injuries to the plaintiff’s jaw were treated by a dentist who specializes in temporomandibular joint disorders, popularly referred to as “TMJ”. Roughly two months after the collision, it was determined that she had suffered a fracture of her #19 tooth. She underwent an extraction of the tooth and implant placement to correct the damage. She was also diagnosed with TMJ.
Dr. Justin Dumont testified by video deposition in support of the plaintiff’s medical treatment for her neck and back. Dr. Sean Eccles testified by video deposition on the extraction of her #19 tooth and the implant process. Dr. Joseph Tregaskes testified by video deposition in support of the plaintiff’s treatment for TMJ. He further testified that our client would probably suffer from recurrences of TMJ for the rest of her life.
During the trial, the counsel for the defendant pointed out that though the plaintiff had not seen a doctor for her injuries until 14 days after the collision, she had seen another doctor for a routine visit within those 14 days and made no mention of the accident or being injured. The counsel for the defendant also pointed out and elicited testimony from the plaintiff and her treating physicians establishing that she had undergone several tooth extractions before the collision and suffered from a long history of clenching that was so severe, that it had previously caused her to crack a crown.
At trial, attorney Siegner focused on the impact on his client’s life and the non-economic damages of pain, mental anguish, and inconveniences that were caused by the collision. His client’s medical bills totaled $18,309.60, and there was no wage loss claim made. The defendant’s insurance company’s last offer was $45,000.
After a day of trial and deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for $200,000.
