Kitay Law Offices Secures $272,500 Settlement for Car Accident Client

When Ms. A was rear-ended at a red light in May 2023, she never imagined the long road to recovery that lay ahead. The collision left her with severe facial trauma, including a displaced orbital floor fracture that would require surgery and months of rehabilitation. Through skilled legal advocacy, Kitay Law Offices helped Ms. A secure a total settlement of $272,500, providing crucial financial support for her recovery journey.

The car accident occurred at an intersection in South Whitehall Township. Ms. A was stopped at a red traffic light when a distracted driver struck her vehicle from behind, pushing her into the car ahead. The impact caused Ms. A’s face to strike the steering wheel, resulting in significant injuries that would fundamentally change her life.

The Extent of Ms. A’s Injuries

The collision left Ms. A with serious medical conditions that extended far beyond typical car accident injuries. Emergency room physicians diagnosed her with a displaced orbital wall fracture involving the infraorbital foramen. This complex injury affected multiple aspects of her daily functioning.

Ms. A experienced persistent vision problems, including blurry vision and double vision that interfered with basic activities like reading and driving. The facial trauma also caused chronic pain in her left eye, cheek, and upper lip, along with numbness that reduced sensation in these areas. These symptoms made routine tasks challenging and significantly impacted her quality of life.

The physical injuries extended beyond her face. Ms. A also suffered neck pain, lower back pain, left elbow pain, and chest discomfort from the collision. Medical evaluations revealed that she had sustained what Pennsylvania law defines as “serious injuries,” which became crucial for her legal case.

Comprehensive Medical Treatment

Ms. A’s recovery required extensive medical intervention. She underwent reconstructive surgery to repair her orbital floor fracture. Surgeons placed a synthetic mesh and secured it with four screws to restore the structural integrity of her eye socket.

The surgical procedure addressed the immediate medical needs, but Ms. A’s recovery journey continued for months afterward. She participated in physical therapy for over 8 months to address her ongoing pain and mobility limitations. Vision specialists also provided ongoing care for her persistent visual disturbances.

Despite the comprehensive medical treatment, Ms. A continued to experience long-term effects from her injuries. Medical documentation shows she had difficulty with daily activities including cooking, shopping, and personal care tasks. She also missed significant time from her job as a material handler, losing over two months of work initially and continuing to miss additional days throughout her recovery.

Legal Strategy and Settlement Negotiations

Kitay Law Offices developed a comprehensive legal strategy to secure fair compensation for Ms. A’s extensive injuries and losses. Attorney Ryan Merrill and Paralegal Rysha Rodriguez faced the challenge of overcoming Pennsylvania’s limited tort threshold, which restricts compensation for pain and suffering unless a plaintiff suffers “serious injury.”

The team meticulously documented Ms. A’s medical treatment, gathering records from multiple healthcare providers including emergency room physicians, plastic surgeons, physical therapists, and vision specialists. This documentation clearly established that Ms. A’s injuries met Pennsylvania’s serious injury standard, particularly given her permanent scarring and ongoing functional limitations.

Working with medical experts, the legal team substantiated the long-term impact of Ms. A’s injuries. The evidence showed that her orbital floor fracture and subsequent surgical repair resulted in permanent changes to her appearance and ongoing vision problems that would likely persist indefinitely.

Achieving Maximum Recovery

Through skilled negotiations, Kitay Law Offices secured the full $250,000 policy limit from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. Recognizing that this amount, while substantial, did not fully compensate Ms. A for her extensive injuries and losses, the Attorney Merrill pursued an additional claim.

He identified that Ms. A had underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage through her own insurance policy. After the initial settlement was secured, he pursued this additional avenue for compensation. The UIM claim resulted in an additional $22,500 settlement, bringing Ms. A’s total recovery to $272,500.

This comprehensive approach to settlement negotiations demonstrates the importance of exploring all available insurance coverage options. Many accident victims are unaware that they may have additional coverage through their own policies that can provide supplemental compensation when the at-fault driver’s insurance limits are insufficient.

Impact on Ms. A’s Recovery

The settlement funds provided Ms. A with crucial financial resources to address her ongoing medical needs and compensate for her losses. Her documented expenses included $7,205.45 in medical liens, $8,535.00 in outstanding medical balances, and $8,250.00 in lost wages from her missed work time.

Beyond covering these immediate financial obligations, the settlement provided Ms. A with resources to address her long-term medical needs. Her injuries resulted in permanent changes that require ongoing management, and the settlement ensures she has access to the care she needs.

The financial security also allowed Ms. A to focus on her physical and emotional recovery without the added stress of mounting medical bills and lost income. For accident victims dealing with serious injuries, this peace of mind can be invaluable to the healing process.

The Importance of Skilled Legal Representation

Ms. A’s case illustrates several key factors that contributed to a successful outcome. First, comprehensive documentation of all injuries and their impact on daily life was essential for establishing the serious injury threshold under Pennsylvania law. Second, pursuing all available insurance coverage options maximized the total recovery amount.

The legal team’s understanding of Pennsylvania’s limited tort system proved crucial. Many car accident victims are unaware that their ability to recover compensation for pain and suffering may be limited unless they can demonstrate serious injury. Skilled legal representation ensures that all necessary medical evidence is properly presented to meet this legal standard.

Additionally, the timing of legal action played an important role. Prompt investigation and documentation of the accident scene, witness statements, and medical treatment helped build a strong foundation for the case.

Moving Forward After Serious Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can have devastating consequences that extend far beyond property damage. When serious injuries occur, victims face not only physical pain and disability but also significant financial pressures from medical expenses and lost income. The emotional trauma of dealing with permanent changes to appearance or function adds another layer of difficulty to the recovery process.

Ms. A’s case demonstrates that with proper legal representation, accident victims can secure the compensation they need to address these challenges. The $272,500 settlement provides her with financial stability and access to ongoing medical care as she continues to adapt to the long-term effects of her injuries.

For other accident victims facing similar circumstances, Ms. A’s story offers hope that justice and fair compensation are achievable. However, it also underscores the importance of seeking experienced legal counsel promptly after an accident to protect one’s rights and interests.

Get the Legal Support You Deserve After a Car Accident

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, don’t wait to seek legal guidance. Contact Kitay Law Offices today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your options for pursuing compensation. Our experienced attorneys understand the complexities of Pennsylvania personal injury law and are committed to helping accident victims secure the resources they need for recovery.