On April 19, 2010, Frances Villarreal was stopped at a red light on eastbound 67th Street at Cicero Avenue in Chicago. Villarreal was waiting to make a right turn when her car was rear-ended by the defendant, Cynthia Zaragoza. The crash occurred during the morning rush hour.
Villarreal claimed that she suffered an aggravation of bulging discs at L4-5 and L5-S1, as well as a sacroiliac joint dysfunction, right shoulder sprain, thoracic/lumbar sprains and a right knee contusion. Her medical bills totaled $12,163.
The defendant denied that she was negligent and claimed that Villarreal stopped suddenly and was holding a beverage. She also disputed the nature and extent of her claimed injuries and noted that photographs showed no damage to Zaragoza’s vehicle. There were only minimal scratches to Villarreal’s car.
State Farm, representing Zaragoza, reportedly offered $16,000 prior to the lawsuit to settle the claim and then reduced its offer to $8,000 after the lawsuit was filed. As the case progressed, State Farm then dropped its offer to $4,000 shortly before the beginning of the trial.
On the first day of trial, the presiding judge granted the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment on duty, breach of duty, proximate cause and partial damages in the amount of $3,503. The jury awarded $31,660 to Villarreal for a total judgment of $35,163 made up of the following damages:
- $12,163 for medical expenses;
- $15,000 for pain and suffering; and
- $8,000 for loss of normal life.
The attorney representing Frances Villarreal was Michael A. Carin.
Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully handling automobile accident cases, car crashes, bicycle accidents and motorcycle accidents 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 Crystal Lake, Villa Park, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich, Hawthorne Woods, Vernon Hills, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Elmhurst, Bloomingdale and Franklin Park, Ill.
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