Verdicts & Settlements
Below is a sampling of some of our results over the past few years. In a great many of these cases we obtained the total insurance policy/monies available to compensate our clients.
$25,000,000.00
Paraplegia - In this construction accident, our office co-counseled on a tragic
case that settled for in excess of $25,000,000.00 (present value).
$4,100,000.00
Multiple Semi trucks and trailers colliding after sliding on black ice.
Ed handled this case in association with a top-rated Montana attorney. Many thought this case impossible to win because there were several semi truck and trailers involved that collided over black ice and all the defendants claimed an "act of God" defense.
Our client was asleep in the cab of his semi truck when another semi truck slid on black ice colliding with our client’s semi. The collision caused many serious, life threatening injuries to our client, including:
Left Tl and T2 spinal fractures (in the facets); and,
Atlanto-occipital dissociation (head separated from neck, but soft tissue connecting the two, including the spinal cord).
Our client spent several weeks undergoing and recovering from many surgeries in Montana, Seattle and Sacramento hospitals.
This case settled at mediation for what is believed to be one of the largest personal injury settlements in Montana state history.
$1,900,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client was rear-ended at high speed by a van which was rear-ended by a school bus at 50 mph. Client suffered five level disc bulges in the cervical spine and two level disc bulges in the lumbar spine impinging upon the spinal cord.
$1,697,273.26
Multi-motor vehicle collision - Client was rear ended and pushed into oncoming traffic, and as a result, suffered T9-12 disc protrusions with cord compression at T11-12.
$1,650,000.00
Motorcycle versus cow accident resulting in personal injury.
This was a difficult liability case involving highly contested issues of whether or not a pasture was properly fenced. The plaintiff, a 55 year old male field maintenance manager for a water company, was injured in a motorcycle accident involving a cow. This resulted in a compartment syndrome of his right leg, a comminuted right tibial plateau fracture, and right popliteal artery disruption. He was hospitalized for 3 months and underwent numerous surgeries. After 7 months, he returned to a part-time clerical job with is previous employer. Even in the alternate position, he could only work 2-3 hours a day, earning 35% of his former salary, representing a substantial loss of future earnings.
$1,450,000.00
Motorcycle incident - Client suffered a fracture of the right tibial plateau, four-compartment syndrome.
$1,000,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a central and right-sided disc herniation at C4-C5 touching the spinal cord and disc protrusions at C3-4, C5-6 with radiculopathy into extremities.
$800,000.00
Semi-truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered a cerebral concussion, proximal left femur fracture, proximal and distal comminuted right humerus fracture, proximal comminuted left humerus fracture, bilateral scapula fracture, fight clavicle fracture, abdominal Injuries, pneumonia requiring tracheostomy, exploratory laparotomy, epicranial laceration, and a left thigh abrasion.
$750,000.00
Motor vehicle collision involving a drunk driver - Client suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in post-concussive syndrome with cognitive impairment, speech and vision changes and difficulties; damage to tissues and structures of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar Spine including disc herniation/tearing at C5-6 and C6-7 requiring multi-level fusion and plating procedure.
$575,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered significant central and right-sided disc herniation at C4-C5 and disc protrusions at C3-4, C5-6 with radiculopathy into extremities; intervertebral disc derangement and internal disc disruption at multiple levels; bilateral brachial plexus stretch injuries; exacerbation of pre-existing lumbosacral sprain and sciatic nerve stretch with resultant annular tear and progression to internal disc disruption in the lumbar spine.
$500,000.00
Wrongful Death Case - In this tragic case, a man lost his wife and two children in an horrific head on accident off of I5 near Stockton. The defense alleged that the driver of Plaintiff's car, a relative of decedents, had had a heart-attack and crossed the center line of the freeway. They alleged an "Act of God" was responsible and they had no liability.
After extensive consultation with the coroner, he testified he could not say whether the decedent had suffered a heart attack before the accident or after the crash. As a result, the highly contested case resolved for $500,000 (Policy Limits).
$500,000.00
Vehicle vs. motorcycle collision - Client suffered disc protrusion at L4-5; disc protrusion at L5-S1; radiculopathy from disc protrusions requiring surgical intervention; displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc without myelopathy; fracture of the superior end plate of L4.
$500,000.00
Tow truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), left temporal contusion, right parietal and left parietal involvement, with loss of consciousness and combativeness and brain swelling requiring medically induced coma for numerous days and resulting in ongoing significant cognitive, speech, language and memory deficits.
$460,000.00
Semi-truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered a cerebral contusion with associated loss of consciousness along with severe headaches and amnesia.
$450,000.00
Semi-truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered a herniation to cervical level C5-6 with associated loss of nerve input.
$446,418.00
Semi-truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered neck and back injuries with disc herniation at L5-S1.
$438,333.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered acute cervical acceleration/deceleration injury with sprain/strain of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions.
$427,000.00
Slip and fall incident - Client suffered mild traumatic brain injury/concussion (including loss and/or alteration of consciousness) and injuries to the tissues and structures of the head, right eyebrow, back, neck, legs, groin area (including testicular fracture and severe scrotal swelling), heart (including but not limited to two severe myocardial infarctions requiring ICU intervention and ultimate five-way heart bypass surgery).
$400,000.00
Bus vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered injuries to the tissues and structures of the spine including post-traumatic lumbar disc damage at L5-S1 (left neural foraminal disc protrusion measuring 2-3 mm causing neural foraminal narrowing on the left); disc desiccation with disc bulge at L4-5; and post-traumatic C5-6 kyphosis division disc collapse.
$355,000.00
Boat vs. Boat collision in the Sacramento Delta - In a highly disputed matter involving the clear negligent operation of a speeding boat, at night, by a highly intoxicated operator under the legal drinking age, our office, after working with top experts in the field, was successful in obtaining the full $300,000 insurance policy limits for the operator of the stationery boat hit by the drunk driver. In addition, we obtained $10,000.00 from the DUI driver’s boat owner, and, despite the lack of insurance coverage for the DUI driver, we obtained $45,000.00 in settlement from that individual personally. Our client sustained tragic and severe injuries when flung from the DUI driver’s boat on impact in the Tracy Slough, where he hit the rocky banks and nearly died. We were further successful in essentially eliminating the need for the client to repay his medical insurers.
$350,000.00
Vehicle vs. Bicyclist collision: A mother, dropping off her cheerleader daughter in front of a high school, double-parked and allowed the teenager to open her car door without ensuring the roadway was clear to do so. Our client hit the car door and was flung to the ground, sustaining serious and painful hip injuries, resulting in fractures requiring surgical correction. Despite contentions by defense that our client was drunk and was a DUI bicyclist, we were successful in resolving this claim prior to trial for payment of the underlying coverage, with excess contribution from the defendant's
umbrella coverage.
$350,000.00
Vehicle vs. pedestrian incident - Client suffered a left foot injury with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
$300,000.00
Motor vehicle collision.
$274,800.00
Disputed liability vehicle vs. motorcycle collision - Client suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with sequela; right orbital floor blow-out fracture; and right zygomatic complex fracture.
$259,008.50
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered injuries to neck tissues and structures including herniated disc at C5-6
$250,000.00
Motor vehicle vs. Pedestrian collision - Our client, a high school student, was crossing a street near his school in a crosswalk following a football game. As he was proceeding through the crosswalk, an individual driving at an excessive speed struck our client, throwing his body in the air and ultimately landing over twenty feet from the point of impact.
Our client, unconscious at the scene, was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. As a result of the collision he suffered a closed head injury and bruised abdomen. Doctors initially believed he might have ruptured his pancreas.
Our client was evaluated by a neuropsychologist who found mild cognitive deficits possibly as a result of right temporal and frontal lobe damage
The case was complicated by allegations that our client had been drinking
alcohol before the accident and unsafely ran into the street preventing the motor vehicle a reasonable opportunity to stop.
$250,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered multiple herniated cervical discs and bony hypertrophic changes with spinal cord impingement.
$240,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered torn and herniated symptomatic discs at four levels in cervical spine; and anterior tear with disruption along the anterior aspect of the superior C4 endplate at C3-4.
$230,000.00
Slip and fall incident - Client suffered injuries to the tissues and structures of the left lower extremity including but not limited to a quadriceps tendon rupture and torn medial and lateral retinacula.
$212,500.00
We obtained a pre-trial settlement in this matter arising from a car vs. motorcycle collision (Mercury Insurance) in which our client sustained neck and back injuries when ejected from a motorcycle, incurring approximately $55,000.00 in initial hospitalization care. Subsequent to the initial treatment client had little additional care
other than ongoing medication usage in the two years that followed.
The client received no injections, did not have disc injuries directly related to the incident and, in fact, had pre-accident medical conditions that mirrored the symptoms he had after the incident.
Settled three days prior to trial despite defendant's contentions that the client suffered only soft tissue injuries in the accident.
$200,000 Settlement
Pedestrian stepped put from a median lane and was struck by two cars. Our office obtained a settlement arguing that defendant driver did not keep a proper lookout and should have been able to slow down and either avoid entirely or strike the injured party with less force if they had been paying attention to the roadway.
$200,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a disc herniation causing spinal cord compression at C4-5 and multi-level spinal canal and cord compromise with clinical evidence of cervical myelopathy.
$200,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered exacerbation of a pre-existing lumbar disc herniation, traumatic brain injury with cognitive disturbance, episodic headaches, and post-concussion syndrome.
$200,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered an intervertebral disc derangement with posterior disc protrusion and annular tearing at C3-4, C4-5, and C6-7.
$200,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered concussion; cognitive impairment; cognitive deficits; C6-7 disc protrusion with foraminal narrowing; and a L4-L5 disc bulge with facet hypertrophy.
$183,500.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a foot lisfranc fracture/dislocation and traumatic hernia.
$180,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a L5-S1 herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar strain, and aggravation of non-symptomatic spondolythesis with L5-S1 instability.
$180,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a fractured L1 vertebra.
$170,000.00
Dog bite incident - Client suffered loss of leg tissue requiring a debridement of necrotic tissue.
$160,000.00
Boat vs. Boat collision on the Sacramento River - This case involved complicated injuries to our client’s right knee which ultimately required surgery and which resulted in her facing a lifetime problem of a higher chance of developing “deep venous thrombosis” as the result of the crush injury which occurred when our client was attempting to stop a boat, traveling in reverse, from hitting another boat. At the moment of impact, the boat’s operator started the motor, in reverse, causing the two vessels to collide and partially crush our client’s leg. Through the use of noted experts in the Maritime Law field, and through diligent discovery efforts by our office, we were able to resolve this case for $160,000.00 and entirely eliminate our client’s need to repay her medical providers – despite contentions by the defense that our client, had assumed the risk of injury by stepping out onto the swim platform and trying to stop the two vessels from hitting.
$153,000.00
Motor vehicle collision.
$150,000.00
Vehicle vs. Vehicle collision: Our client was rear-ended at considerable speeds when she was forced to stop her vehicle on the freeway as the result of lost cargo in a vehicle ahead of her. She was then rear-ended by another vehicle. We were successful in obtaining policy limits from Allstate (despite an initial denial of liability) who insured the vehicle who lost the cargo, and another $100,000.00 from the carrier for the vehicle that rear-ended our client who sustained shoulder and neck injuries requiring surgery to her shoulder on two occasions.
$150,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a severe laceration to left elbow; initiation/aggravation of stress reaction to trauma resulting in and/or contributing to increase in anxiety and blood pressure levels and requiring medical care; anxiety disorder; and fractures of several ribs.
$150,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a closed head/traumatic brain injury and forehead laceration.
$150,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered injuries and damage to tissues and structures of the spine including disc bulging and herniation at two levels in the cervical spine.
$140,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a C5-6 disc protrusion with decreased heights, desiccation, and 2-3 mm of broad-based posterior protrusion/spur effacing the thecal sac and abutting the spinal cord.
$130,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a punctured lung with surgery, fractured ribs, right shoulder impingement/"frozen shoulder", TMJ, sternum contusions, and severe headaches.
$122,500,00
Slip and fall incident - Right ankle fracture.
$105,000.00
Slip and fall incident - Client suffered a trimalleolar fracture of the right ankle.
$102,655.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered retrolisthesis of approximately 4 mm at C4 relative to C5.
$101,957.42
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a temporomandibular joint disorder, and an activation of pre-existing but asymptomatic spinal degenerative disease.
$100,000.00
Auto vs. Auto accident in Sacramento - We obtained the policy limits from Allstate Insurance Company in this matter following Arbitration in which the arbitrator determined our client's eye condition had been changed, for the worse, and determined that she was likely to lose her sight earlier, and suffer other ill effects of strong steroid usage, than had the accident not happened. This case involved Behcet's disease made worse by an automobile accident.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a mild brain injury with loss of consciousness and chondromalacia of the right patella.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered multilevel herniations at L2-3, L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered injuries to fingers on the left hand requiring plastic surgery.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a right tibial plateau fracture and post traumatic degenerative arthritis lateral aspect of the left knee directly related to the depressed lateral tibial plateau fracture.
$100,000.00
Slip and fall incident - Client suffered a displaced fracture of right humeral head and torn right rotator cuff.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered multiple disc protrusions throughout the cervical spine, shoulder strains, fibromyalgia, and patella femoral syndrome in both knees.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered numerous broken ribs and a cardiac contusion.
$100,000.00
Vehicle vs. pedestrian incident - Client suffered leg fractures.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered soft tissue neck and back injuries, as well as internal bleeding.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered aggravation of an osteoarthritic condition in left shoulder.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered low back injuries involving a left L5-S1 disc protrusion.
$100,000.00
Hit and Run motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a three part proximal right humeral head (shoulder) fracture; distal right comminuted radius (wrist) fracture; and a split depressed lateral tibial plateau (left knee) fracture.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a complex laceration to the top of the left foot.
$100,000.00
Sport utility vehicle vs. motorcycle collision - Client suffered a closed compression fracture to the mid-shaft of the right femur.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a disc bulge with impingement at L4-5 and L5-S1 resulting in radicular symptoms into left hip and left lower extremity.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a right arm and shoulder injury.
$100,000.00
Multi-vehicle collision - Client suffered a left femur fracture and intra-articular left distal tibia/fibular fracture.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a first degree acromioclavicular separation, probable supraspinatus tear, impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, and ulnar nerve entrapment.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a left lateral protrusion at L4-5 abutting the left L4 root; right-sided lateral protrusion with annular disruption at L5-S1; and bilateral facet hypertrophy at L4/5 and L5/S1.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a disc posterior protrusion at L5-S1 with associated annular tear.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered initiation/aggravation of previously asymptomatic neck pain also resulting in post-accident pain/numbness/tingling into both upper extremities/hands.
$100,000.00
Vehicle vs. motorcycle collision - Client suffered T12 and L1 compression fractures and an acute incarceration of the right testicle in the inguinal canal.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a L4-5 left extruded disc herniated nucleus pulposus with foot drop weakness.
Please keep in mind the value of cases varies dramatically depending on various and numerous factors and not simply a specific injury.
The above is meant to be illustrative only of settlements and victories obtained. They are not to be construed as a guarantee or a likelihood that we will obtain these or similar amounts for your case.
Question: Does The Law Offices of Edward A. Smith handle cases with a value less than $100,000?
Answer: Not intentionally. Unless there are special circumstances, we only represent clients who have a legal and moral right to recover at least $100,000. The actual minimum amount depends upon the circumstances. The minimum for a clear liability auto accident case would be much lower than for an auto products liability case where car-to-car crash testing is necessary.
$25,000,000.00
Paraplegia - In this construction accident, our office co-counseled on a tragic
case that settled for in excess of $25,000,000.00 (present value).
$4,100,000.00
Multiple Semi trucks and trailers colliding after sliding on black ice.
Ed handled this case in association with a top-rated Montana attorney. Many thought this case impossible to win because there were several semi truck and trailers involved that collided over black ice and all the defendants claimed an "act of God" defense.
Our client was asleep in the cab of his semi truck when another semi truck slid on black ice colliding with our client’s semi. The collision caused many serious, life threatening injuries to our client, including:
Left Tl and T2 spinal fractures (in the facets); and,
Atlanto-occipital dissociation (head separated from neck, but soft tissue connecting the two, including the spinal cord).
Our client spent several weeks undergoing and recovering from many surgeries in Montana, Seattle and Sacramento hospitals.
This case settled at mediation for what is believed to be one of the largest personal injury settlements in Montana state history.
$1,900,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client was rear-ended at high speed by a van which was rear-ended by a school bus at 50 mph. Client suffered five level disc bulges in the cervical spine and two level disc bulges in the lumbar spine impinging upon the spinal cord.
$1,697,273.26
Multi-motor vehicle collision - Client was rear ended and pushed into oncoming traffic, and as a result, suffered T9-12 disc protrusions with cord compression at T11-12.
$1,650,000.00
Motorcycle versus cow accident resulting in personal injury.
This was a difficult liability case involving highly contested issues of whether or not a pasture was properly fenced. The plaintiff, a 55 year old male field maintenance manager for a water company, was injured in a motorcycle accident involving a cow. This resulted in a compartment syndrome of his right leg, a comminuted right tibial plateau fracture, and right popliteal artery disruption. He was hospitalized for 3 months and underwent numerous surgeries. After 7 months, he returned to a part-time clerical job with is previous employer. Even in the alternate position, he could only work 2-3 hours a day, earning 35% of his former salary, representing a substantial loss of future earnings.
$1,450,000.00
Motorcycle incident - Client suffered a fracture of the right tibial plateau, four-compartment syndrome.
$1,000,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a central and right-sided disc herniation at C4-C5 touching the spinal cord and disc protrusions at C3-4, C5-6 with radiculopathy into extremities.
$800,000.00
Semi-truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered a cerebral concussion, proximal left femur fracture, proximal and distal comminuted right humerus fracture, proximal comminuted left humerus fracture, bilateral scapula fracture, fight clavicle fracture, abdominal Injuries, pneumonia requiring tracheostomy, exploratory laparotomy, epicranial laceration, and a left thigh abrasion.
$750,000.00
Motor vehicle collision involving a drunk driver - Client suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in post-concussive syndrome with cognitive impairment, speech and vision changes and difficulties; damage to tissues and structures of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar Spine including disc herniation/tearing at C5-6 and C6-7 requiring multi-level fusion and plating procedure.
$575,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered significant central and right-sided disc herniation at C4-C5 and disc protrusions at C3-4, C5-6 with radiculopathy into extremities; intervertebral disc derangement and internal disc disruption at multiple levels; bilateral brachial plexus stretch injuries; exacerbation of pre-existing lumbosacral sprain and sciatic nerve stretch with resultant annular tear and progression to internal disc disruption in the lumbar spine.
$500,000.00
Wrongful Death Case - In this tragic case, a man lost his wife and two children in an horrific head on accident off of I5 near Stockton. The defense alleged that the driver of Plaintiff's car, a relative of decedents, had had a heart-attack and crossed the center line of the freeway. They alleged an "Act of God" was responsible and they had no liability.
After extensive consultation with the coroner, he testified he could not say whether the decedent had suffered a heart attack before the accident or after the crash. As a result, the highly contested case resolved for $500,000 (Policy Limits).
$500,000.00
Vehicle vs. motorcycle collision - Client suffered disc protrusion at L4-5; disc protrusion at L5-S1; radiculopathy from disc protrusions requiring surgical intervention; displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc without myelopathy; fracture of the superior end plate of L4.
$500,000.00
Tow truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), left temporal contusion, right parietal and left parietal involvement, with loss of consciousness and combativeness and brain swelling requiring medically induced coma for numerous days and resulting in ongoing significant cognitive, speech, language and memory deficits.
$460,000.00
Semi-truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered a cerebral contusion with associated loss of consciousness along with severe headaches and amnesia.
$450,000.00
Semi-truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered a herniation to cervical level C5-6 with associated loss of nerve input.
$446,418.00
Semi-truck vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered neck and back injuries with disc herniation at L5-S1.
$438,333.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered acute cervical acceleration/deceleration injury with sprain/strain of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions.
$427,000.00
Slip and fall incident - Client suffered mild traumatic brain injury/concussion (including loss and/or alteration of consciousness) and injuries to the tissues and structures of the head, right eyebrow, back, neck, legs, groin area (including testicular fracture and severe scrotal swelling), heart (including but not limited to two severe myocardial infarctions requiring ICU intervention and ultimate five-way heart bypass surgery).
$400,000.00
Bus vs. vehicle collision - Client suffered injuries to the tissues and structures of the spine including post-traumatic lumbar disc damage at L5-S1 (left neural foraminal disc protrusion measuring 2-3 mm causing neural foraminal narrowing on the left); disc desiccation with disc bulge at L4-5; and post-traumatic C5-6 kyphosis division disc collapse.
$355,000.00
Boat vs. Boat collision in the Sacramento Delta - In a highly disputed matter involving the clear negligent operation of a speeding boat, at night, by a highly intoxicated operator under the legal drinking age, our office, after working with top experts in the field, was successful in obtaining the full $300,000 insurance policy limits for the operator of the stationery boat hit by the drunk driver. In addition, we obtained $10,000.00 from the DUI driver’s boat owner, and, despite the lack of insurance coverage for the DUI driver, we obtained $45,000.00 in settlement from that individual personally. Our client sustained tragic and severe injuries when flung from the DUI driver’s boat on impact in the Tracy Slough, where he hit the rocky banks and nearly died. We were further successful in essentially eliminating the need for the client to repay his medical insurers.
$350,000.00
Vehicle vs. Bicyclist collision: A mother, dropping off her cheerleader daughter in front of a high school, double-parked and allowed the teenager to open her car door without ensuring the roadway was clear to do so. Our client hit the car door and was flung to the ground, sustaining serious and painful hip injuries, resulting in fractures requiring surgical correction. Despite contentions by defense that our client was drunk and was a DUI bicyclist, we were successful in resolving this claim prior to trial for payment of the underlying coverage, with excess contribution from the defendant's
umbrella coverage.
$350,000.00
Vehicle vs. pedestrian incident - Client suffered a left foot injury with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
$300,000.00
Motor vehicle collision.
$274,800.00
Disputed liability vehicle vs. motorcycle collision - Client suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with sequela; right orbital floor blow-out fracture; and right zygomatic complex fracture.
$259,008.50
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered injuries to neck tissues and structures including herniated disc at C5-6
$250,000.00
Motor vehicle vs. Pedestrian collision - Our client, a high school student, was crossing a street near his school in a crosswalk following a football game. As he was proceeding through the crosswalk, an individual driving at an excessive speed struck our client, throwing his body in the air and ultimately landing over twenty feet from the point of impact.
Our client, unconscious at the scene, was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. As a result of the collision he suffered a closed head injury and bruised abdomen. Doctors initially believed he might have ruptured his pancreas.
Our client was evaluated by a neuropsychologist who found mild cognitive deficits possibly as a result of right temporal and frontal lobe damage
The case was complicated by allegations that our client had been drinking
alcohol before the accident and unsafely ran into the street preventing the motor vehicle a reasonable opportunity to stop.
$250,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered multiple herniated cervical discs and bony hypertrophic changes with spinal cord impingement.
$240,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered torn and herniated symptomatic discs at four levels in cervical spine; and anterior tear with disruption along the anterior aspect of the superior C4 endplate at C3-4.
$230,000.00
Slip and fall incident - Client suffered injuries to the tissues and structures of the left lower extremity including but not limited to a quadriceps tendon rupture and torn medial and lateral retinacula.
$212,500.00
We obtained a pre-trial settlement in this matter arising from a car vs. motorcycle collision (Mercury Insurance) in which our client sustained neck and back injuries when ejected from a motorcycle, incurring approximately $55,000.00 in initial hospitalization care. Subsequent to the initial treatment client had little additional care
other than ongoing medication usage in the two years that followed.
The client received no injections, did not have disc injuries directly related to the incident and, in fact, had pre-accident medical conditions that mirrored the symptoms he had after the incident.
Settled three days prior to trial despite defendant's contentions that the client suffered only soft tissue injuries in the accident.
$200,000 Settlement
Pedestrian stepped put from a median lane and was struck by two cars. Our office obtained a settlement arguing that defendant driver did not keep a proper lookout and should have been able to slow down and either avoid entirely or strike the injured party with less force if they had been paying attention to the roadway.
$200,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a disc herniation causing spinal cord compression at C4-5 and multi-level spinal canal and cord compromise with clinical evidence of cervical myelopathy.
$200,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered exacerbation of a pre-existing lumbar disc herniation, traumatic brain injury with cognitive disturbance, episodic headaches, and post-concussion syndrome.
$200,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered an intervertebral disc derangement with posterior disc protrusion and annular tearing at C3-4, C4-5, and C6-7.
$200,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered concussion; cognitive impairment; cognitive deficits; C6-7 disc protrusion with foraminal narrowing; and a L4-L5 disc bulge with facet hypertrophy.
$183,500.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a foot lisfranc fracture/dislocation and traumatic hernia.
$180,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a L5-S1 herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar strain, and aggravation of non-symptomatic spondolythesis with L5-S1 instability.
$180,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a fractured L1 vertebra.
$170,000.00
Dog bite incident - Client suffered loss of leg tissue requiring a debridement of necrotic tissue.
$160,000.00
Boat vs. Boat collision on the Sacramento River - This case involved complicated injuries to our client’s right knee which ultimately required surgery and which resulted in her facing a lifetime problem of a higher chance of developing “deep venous thrombosis” as the result of the crush injury which occurred when our client was attempting to stop a boat, traveling in reverse, from hitting another boat. At the moment of impact, the boat’s operator started the motor, in reverse, causing the two vessels to collide and partially crush our client’s leg. Through the use of noted experts in the Maritime Law field, and through diligent discovery efforts by our office, we were able to resolve this case for $160,000.00 and entirely eliminate our client’s need to repay her medical providers – despite contentions by the defense that our client, had assumed the risk of injury by stepping out onto the swim platform and trying to stop the two vessels from hitting.
$153,000.00
Motor vehicle collision.
$150,000.00
Vehicle vs. Vehicle collision: Our client was rear-ended at considerable speeds when she was forced to stop her vehicle on the freeway as the result of lost cargo in a vehicle ahead of her. She was then rear-ended by another vehicle. We were successful in obtaining policy limits from Allstate (despite an initial denial of liability) who insured the vehicle who lost the cargo, and another $100,000.00 from the carrier for the vehicle that rear-ended our client who sustained shoulder and neck injuries requiring surgery to her shoulder on two occasions.
$150,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a severe laceration to left elbow; initiation/aggravation of stress reaction to trauma resulting in and/or contributing to increase in anxiety and blood pressure levels and requiring medical care; anxiety disorder; and fractures of several ribs.
$150,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a closed head/traumatic brain injury and forehead laceration.
$150,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered injuries and damage to tissues and structures of the spine including disc bulging and herniation at two levels in the cervical spine.
$140,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a C5-6 disc protrusion with decreased heights, desiccation, and 2-3 mm of broad-based posterior protrusion/spur effacing the thecal sac and abutting the spinal cord.
$130,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a punctured lung with surgery, fractured ribs, right shoulder impingement/"frozen shoulder", TMJ, sternum contusions, and severe headaches.
$122,500,00
Slip and fall incident - Right ankle fracture.
$105,000.00
Slip and fall incident - Client suffered a trimalleolar fracture of the right ankle.
$102,655.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered retrolisthesis of approximately 4 mm at C4 relative to C5.
$101,957.42
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a temporomandibular joint disorder, and an activation of pre-existing but asymptomatic spinal degenerative disease.
$100,000.00
Auto vs. Auto accident in Sacramento - We obtained the policy limits from Allstate Insurance Company in this matter following Arbitration in which the arbitrator determined our client's eye condition had been changed, for the worse, and determined that she was likely to lose her sight earlier, and suffer other ill effects of strong steroid usage, than had the accident not happened. This case involved Behcet's disease made worse by an automobile accident.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a mild brain injury with loss of consciousness and chondromalacia of the right patella.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered multilevel herniations at L2-3, L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered injuries to fingers on the left hand requiring plastic surgery.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a right tibial plateau fracture and post traumatic degenerative arthritis lateral aspect of the left knee directly related to the depressed lateral tibial plateau fracture.
$100,000.00
Slip and fall incident - Client suffered a displaced fracture of right humeral head and torn right rotator cuff.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered multiple disc protrusions throughout the cervical spine, shoulder strains, fibromyalgia, and patella femoral syndrome in both knees.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered numerous broken ribs and a cardiac contusion.
$100,000.00
Vehicle vs. pedestrian incident - Client suffered leg fractures.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered soft tissue neck and back injuries, as well as internal bleeding.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered aggravation of an osteoarthritic condition in left shoulder.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered low back injuries involving a left L5-S1 disc protrusion.
$100,000.00
Hit and Run motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a three part proximal right humeral head (shoulder) fracture; distal right comminuted radius (wrist) fracture; and a split depressed lateral tibial plateau (left knee) fracture.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a complex laceration to the top of the left foot.
$100,000.00
Sport utility vehicle vs. motorcycle collision - Client suffered a closed compression fracture to the mid-shaft of the right femur.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a disc bulge with impingement at L4-5 and L5-S1 resulting in radicular symptoms into left hip and left lower extremity.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a right arm and shoulder injury.
$100,000.00
Multi-vehicle collision - Client suffered a left femur fracture and intra-articular left distal tibia/fibular fracture.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a first degree acromioclavicular separation, probable supraspinatus tear, impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, and ulnar nerve entrapment.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a left lateral protrusion at L4-5 abutting the left L4 root; right-sided lateral protrusion with annular disruption at L5-S1; and bilateral facet hypertrophy at L4/5 and L5/S1.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a disc posterior protrusion at L5-S1 with associated annular tear.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered initiation/aggravation of previously asymptomatic neck pain also resulting in post-accident pain/numbness/tingling into both upper extremities/hands.
$100,000.00
Vehicle vs. motorcycle collision - Client suffered T12 and L1 compression fractures and an acute incarceration of the right testicle in the inguinal canal.
$100,000.00
Motor vehicle collision - Client suffered a L4-5 left extruded disc herniated nucleus pulposus with foot drop weakness.
Please keep in mind the value of cases varies dramatically depending on various and numerous factors and not simply a specific injury.
The above is meant to be illustrative only of settlements and victories obtained. They are not to be construed as a guarantee or a likelihood that we will obtain these or similar amounts for your case.
Question: Does The Law Offices of Edward A. Smith handle cases with a value less than $100,000?
Answer: Not intentionally. Unless there are special circumstances, we only represent clients who have a legal and moral right to recover at least $100,000. The actual minimum amount depends upon the circumstances. The minimum for a clear liability auto accident case would be much lower than for an auto products liability case where car-to-car crash testing is necessary.