$107,000 Jury Verdict in Rear-End Admitted Negligence Lawsuit

On Dec. 4, 2013, the plaintiff, Keenan Lane, 21, was stopped at a red light southbound on North Greenmount Road about 600 feet north of Lebanon Avenue in Shiloh, Ill. At that point, a car driven by 63-year-old Anne Flahiv rear-ended Lane’s vehicle. As a result of the crash, Lane’s car was totaled, and he suffered injuries to his neck and lower back.

Lane’s treatment included emergency room care, visits with his primary care physician and physical therapist, as well as orthopedic treatment.

His orthopedist diagnosed peripheral tears in his lumbar spine and an annular tear in his cervical spine. He reported medical expenses that totaled more than $48,000.

The defendant, Flahiv, admitted liability for the collision but denied that Lane was injured to the extent that he claimed. Instead, the defendant attributed the injuries to Lane to a snow shoveling incident several weeks after the crash. Before the trial, the parties attempted mediation but were unsuccessful. The jury deliberated about 1.5 hours before it returned its verdict for $107,707 made up of the following damages:

$48,207 for past medical expenses;
$14,000 for future medical expenses;
$17,500 for past pain and suffering;
$7,500 for future pain and suffering;
$12,500 for past loss of normal life; and
$8,000 for future loss of normal life.

The attorneys successfully handling this lawsuit for Lane were Michelle M. Rich and Kristina D. Cooksey. The demand to settle the case before trial by counsel for Lane was $80,000. The jury was asked to return a verdict of $150,000. The only settlement offer made before trial was $45,000 on behalf of Flahiv.

At trial, Lane’s counsel presented a medical expert practicing in orthopedics.

Keenan Lane v. Anne Flahiv, No. 15 L 588 (St. Clair County, Ill.).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling automobile accident lawsuits, rear-end crash cases, catastrophic injury lawsuits, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pharmaceutical defect cases and product liability lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Naperville, Northlake, Lake Zurich, Hillside, Hickory Hills, Park Forest, Summit, Thornton, Tinley Park, Willow Springs, Schiller Park, Palos Park, LaGrange, Lemont, Lynwood, Melrose Park, Chicago (South Chicago, Southport, UIC, Hyde Park, Wrigleyville, Korea Town, Kelvyn Park, Jefferson Park, Humboldt Park, Greek Town, Princeton Park, Printer’s Row, Lithuanian Plaza, Brighton Park, Bronzeville, Canaryville), Brookfield, Oakbrook and Wheaton, Ill.