On Aug. 29, 2010, Rachel Deglman was driving eastbound on Wellington Avenue when southbound defendant Brittney Gurrola, 18, did not stop at the stop sign at Natchez Avenue in Chicago. Gurrola’s car entered the intersection and crashed into Deglman’s vehicle.
There was no stop sign for oncoming traffic on Wellington Avenue. Deglman, 23, who was a student, maintained that the impact caused her to suffer herniated discs at C5-6 and C6-7 with associated cervical radiculopathy.
Gurrola claimed that Deglman was speeding and was contributory negligent for her own injuries. Gurrola also argued at the trial that Deglman was not injured to the extent that she claimed, and some of her medical treatment was not necessary. The jury’s verdict of $34,752 was reduced by 5 percent for the contributory negligence that it found to be attributable to Deglman. The verdict of $33,014 was made up of the following damage
- $23,514 for medical expenses;
- $7,125 for pain and suffering; and
- $2,375 for loss of normal life.
Before trial, the demand to settle was $75,000 with an offer from the defendant of $26,830. Counsel for the plaintiff, Daniel Flaherty, reportedly asked the jury to return a verdict of $180,508.
Rachel Deglman v. Brittney L. Gurrola, No. 10 L 8225 (Cook County, Illinois).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling automobile crashes, truck accidents and bicycle 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 37 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Rolling Meadows, Round Lake Beach, Grayslake, Crystal Lake, Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Chicago (Austin, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Rogers Park) and Blue Island, Ill.
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