On Nov. 11, 2007, Daniel Heimbrodt was driving eastbound on Highway C in Burlington, Wis., when his car collided with the vehicle operated by Robert Jones, which was traveling northbound on Highway U. Jones had a stop sign at the intersection while Heimbrodt did not.
Jones erroneously believed that Heimbrodt had a stop sign. Heimbrodt, 20, was injured in the crash. He suffered a herniated disc at L4-5 with immediate pain and developing radiculopathy, which required physical therapy, pain injections and acupuncture as well as pain medication. Future surgery was recommended. Heimbrodt lost four months of work as a heavy equipment operator. His lost time from work totaled $41,088.
Heimbrodt did return to work full time after the four months off, but he has not missed any time since then; however, he claims he may need to change careers to a less physically demanding position.
The defendant admitted negligence, but disputed the radiculopathy, contended any career change was speculative and argued that the plaintiff’s employer was making accommodations that would continue into the future. The defendant Jones also pointed to the fact that Heimbrodt remained very physically fit and that his testimony regarding whether he wanted to have surgery was uncertain.
The jury’s verdict of $430,745 was made up of the following damages: $361,500 was awarded by the jury and then the court directed verdict for $28,157 for past medical expenses and another $41,088 for past lost wages.
The demand to settle the case before trial was $650,000. The offer to settle before trial was $150,000. The attorney representing Daniel Heimbrodt was Sara M. Davis.
Daniel Heimbrodt v. Robert Jones, No. 12 L 286 (Lake County, Ill.).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling intersection crash cases, automobile accident cases, truck accident cases and bicycle accident cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Chicago (Lakeview, Andersonville, Greek Town, Bronzeville, Bucktown, Austin, Back of the Yards, Belmont Gardens, Beverly, Morgan Park, New Town, Chinatown, Sauganash, Roseland, Rogers Park, Roscoe Village), Hinsdale, Des Plaines, Evergreen Park, Fox River Grove Joliet, Aurora, St. Charles, Western Springs and Oak Park, Ill.
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