The day before Thanksgiving in 2021, a 61-year-old man was driving down a road near his home in Huntington, New York when the reckless behavior of another driver drastically altered his life.
This man, who retained the NY car accident attorneys at Leav & Steinberg shortly after this incident, was so severely injured that he and his family endured months of procedures and surgeries during what’s supposed to be the happiest time of year.
Just before the holidays two years later, we are proud to announce that Leav & Steinberg has secured a settlement of $2.15 million for our client and his family.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you would be well advised to consult an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to ensure your chance at a full recovery.
The Consequences of Running a Red Light – What Happened to Our Client?
Just around 11:00 am on November 24th, 2021, our client was driving within the speed limit down Broad Hollow Road in Huntington and approaching a 4-way intersection. He was traveling south in a white Dodge Grand Caravan and following other cars as they crossed through the intersection with a solid-green light.
As our client proceeded through the intersection — with the right of way — a black SUV sped down the cross street, blew the red light, and collided with our client’s vehicle. Another driver who witnessed this incident described the following: 
“… I then observed a black SUV, which did not appear to stop or slow down, collide into the white Dodge Grand Caravan.”
“Prior to and at the point of impact, the white Dodge Caravan had a steady green light traffic signal.”
The driver’s portion of our client’s vehicle was directly impacted by the black SUV, ultimately increasing the seriousness of our client’s injuries.
Immediately after the collision, the witness pulled over and called emergency services.
What Were the Injuries?
Our client’s life changed because of this injury, and he was rushed in an ambulance to the hospital with head trauma and many fractures throughout his body. From the time of the accident on November 24th through the end of that year, our client was being treated in the trauma unit of a local hospital.
Our client suffered serious head trauma, fractures throughout his legs and arms, head and neck injuries, cervical misalignment and fractures, and lower back injuries, among many others.
In all, our client underwent numerous surgeries, with the final being in June of 2022. Treatments included a left hip reconstruction, left forearm reconstruction, neurological monitoring, cervical fusion surgery, lower back surgery, and full hip replacement — which all contributed to the mental, physical, and emotional agony of our client.
How Our Car Accident Attorneys in NY Recovered $2.15 Million
As soon as our client retained Leav & Steinberg for their representation, our team of auto accident attorneys completed a full and detailed review of the negligent driver as well as our client’s insurance policies. As you might recognize from reading our other blogs, these policies can be quite nuanced and require an experienced attorney’s review.
Our team recognized that the responsible driver had about $500,000 worth of liability insurance at the time of the incident. Considering the previously mentioned injuries, this would not be nearly enough for our client. Upon further inspection, our personal injury attorneys discovered an umbrella insurance policy worth an additional $2 million.
According to Investopedia, ” An umbrella insurance policy is extra liability insurance that goes beyond the limits of insured homeowner’s auto policy.” (1)
Since the responsible driver’s auto insurance did not cover the full extent of the driver’s liability, their umbrella policy became available as an avenue to help us recover on behalf of our client.
After several months of mediation, our partner Daniel Leav and paralegal Alison Fumo finally settled the case for the full tender of the responsible driver’s insurance, to the tune of $2.15 million — just in time for this year’s Thanksgiving.
What to Do After a Car Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a car accident in the New York area, including Manhattan, the Bronx, and Long Island, you should contact an experienced car accident attorney. The attorneys at Leav & Steinberg have been representing victims of car accidents in New York for over 20 years and are familiar with the laws that allow victims of these incidents to recover.
Contact us for a free and comprehensive review of your case by experienced auto accident attorneys who can help you exercise your right to recover.
Resources:
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/umbrella-insurance-policy.asp
