Case Studies
Premises Claims - Trip and Fall at a Furniture Retail Company Settles for $400,000
Our client was in her early 70s and a customer shopping when she tripped and fell over a pallet sticking out into the aisleway. She hit her head on the ground and had horrible bruising covering her face. She suffered a mild traumatic brain injury with a brain bleed which resulted in ongoing headaches, dizziness, nausea and balance issues.
The retailer denied liability and refused to make an offer for 3 years. They argued our client should have been paying attention to where she was going. Premises cases are notoriously challenging claims to bring because they must overcome the defense that a reasonable person must use ordinary care and keep a proper look out. Many of these claims must be litigated in order to discover all the facts including safety procedures that may have been inadequate or may not have been properly followed. Due to the complexity of premises cases, many personal injury lawyers steer clear of them. At Murphy Trial Law, we pride ourselves in our ability to litigate complex cases to bring our clients the justice they deserve.
The retailer denied liability and refused to make an offer for 3 years. they argued our client should have been paying attention to where she was going. premises cases are notoriously challenging claims to bring because they must overcome the defense that a reasonable person must use ordinary care and keep a proper look out. Many of these claims must be litigated in order to discover all the facts including safety procedures that may have been inadequate or may not have been properly followed. Due to the complexity of premises cases, many personal injury lawyers steer clear of them. but we decided to take charge of her case because we want justice for everyone no matter how complicated the case is.
It took years of litigating before finally resolving our clients claim just prior to trial for $400,000. Our client had never been a part of a lawsuit and was hesitant to pursue her claim. At the same time, she was fearful that would not be able to pay for her past medical bills, let alone cover her future medical expenses. We negotiated her medical liens to maximize our client’s in pocket amount.
It took years of litigating before finally resolving her claim just before trial for $400,000. She had never been a part of a lawsuit and was hesitant to pursue the claim. She was also worried about being unable to pay her past medical bills, let alone cover her future medical expenses. The fear of being unable to settle those debts and the uncertainty of covering upcoming medical expenses added an extra layer of stress to an already challenging situation.
MVAs - Rear-end Collision on I-5 Settles for $1.1 million
Our client was driving on I-5 in Everett when she was rear-ended by a box truck. She immediately felt tingling and numbness in her hands. After a few months of conservative care, she was forced to undergo spinal surgery.
Even after surgery, our client had ongoing hand numbness. This prevented her from going back to work, and she was ultimately placed on SSDI. Our client was in her 60’s and the defense pointed to prior neck pain as the cause of her surgery. The insurance company’s unwillingness to fairly negotiate forced us to file a lawsuit.
Often times plaintiffs are characterized as litigious, however, more often than not we are forced to file lawsuits because the insurance companies are unwilling to share information with us or negotiate in good faith. When we file a lawsuit, we are able to conduct discovery which allows us to find out all of the facts.
In this case, we discovered that the driver of the box truck was employed by a local business, and that good Samaritans had previously called this business to make complaints about his driving. Unfortunately, this business ignored these complaints and did not take steps to properly train their driver. Had they done so, our client’s collision may have never happened.
In addition to our client’s neck and back pain and numbness in her hands, she suffered anxiety and PTSD from the collision. The insurance company suggested that every prior event in her life was the cause of her injuries. Everything but this collision. We retained some of Washington’s best experts and prevented the defense from making these arguments through robust motion practice. Moreover, the expert treatment plans we obtained for our client made sure our client was guided and cared for into the future.
On the eve of trial, the defense offered $1,100,000. While we were ready for trial, our client’s health took a turn for the worse, and she could not sit through a trial. Our clients always make the call when it comes to their case.
At Murphy Trial Law, being prepared to take our client’s case all the way is what makes insurance companies take us seriously. Our expertise through discovery and motion practice provides our clients with the protection they deserve. For us, partial justice is justice. Insurance companies do not get discounts when they are against us.
Take the First Step Towards Justice
Protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve. Contact Murphy Trial Law today.
MVAs - T-Bone Collision in Downtown Seattle Settles for $1 million
Our client was driving in downtown Seattle when a vehicle failed to yield to a stop sign and drove in front of his vehicle.
About 8 months prior to this collision, he had surgery on his lower back. Following the collision, he experienced severe lower back pain and feared his lower back surgery had been destroyed. In addition to the major setback from his previous injury and recovery, he began to suffer from severe anxiety and PTSD from the collision. Ultimately, he had to have a more extensive surgery to re-do his previous one.
The emotional and financial burden he carried was huge, and we understood how crucial it was to provide steadfast support. As we navigated the legal proceedings, we kept the lines of communication open, acknowledging and addressing his fears and worries. His choice to wait for a just settlement spoke volumes about the trust built in our attorney-client bond.
The insurance company offered $75,000 before we filed the lawsuit. This was not enough to cover his medical expenses, let alone his damages and losses. After a year of litigating, the defense offered $600,000 at mediation and claimed they would never offer more. They said to take it or leave it. Our courageous client opted to leave it. After a few more weeks of motion practice and trial preparation, the insurance company met our client’s demand of $1,000,000 just before trial.
MVAs - Veteran Receives $1.6 million Settlement for Rear-End Collision
Here’s a legal case of a veteran who suffered severe injuries in a rear-end collision between two large trucks. Though the client discovered the damage only a few months after the crash, we recovered $1.6 million for his case.
Read more to learn about how he received full justice.
Background
Our client is a seasoned veteran and was an avid motorcycle rider.
He faced life-altering consequences when rear-ended by another large truck while driving. Given his military background, our client did not seek doctor’s help or complain about the accident, downplaying his injuries. He relied on muscle relaxants and other conservative treatment. However, a year after the accident he began to experience continuous back pain and weakness, which led him to consult a medical professional. A neurosurgeon’s diagnosis found that his spinal cord was damaged. He immediately underwent an extensive spinal surgery where rods were inserted into the spine to prevent further damage.
Following the medical treatment he sought full compensation. However, the at-fault party’s insurance resisted every step of the way. They argued that the collision’s impact was not significant enough to cause such severe injury. Furthermore, they said our client’s age and gap in the treatment showed that the collision did not cause his injuries.
The physical pain, emotional state and financial issues were taking a toll on our client’s life. Despite this, he kept trust in us. Throughout the journey, we ensured he could talk to us anytime about any confusion, fear, or other concerns.
How did we get full compensation?
We began his journey by determining the value of the case. For this, we delved into his personal history, evaluated his medical reports, and conducted a full investigation to analyze the profound impact of the injury.
Medical Evaluation
The diagnosis from the client’s neurosurgeon, which required extensive spinal surgery, proved the intensity of the injury. This medical report was essential to fight for full compensation.
Talking with friends and family members
According to his near and dear ones, post-accident, he preferred to stay isolated, avoiding any gatherings. His family members and friends also explained his financial struggles after the accident.
These statements from his loved ones allowed us to present a compelling narrative about the accident’s full impact.
Thorough investigation
Our legal team gathered reports from accident reconstruction experts, witness testimony, and a review of the at-fault driver’s actions leading up to the collision.
Result
We consistently demonstrated the strength of our case through depositions and court proceedings. Jason Murphy negotiated vigorously to ensure maximum compensation for our client’s loss.
After fighting the case for over three years, our team successfully recovered $1,600,000 for his injuries. The settlement compensated him for his medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and the impact of the damage on the quality of his life.
Get In Touch With Expert Lawyers From Murphy Trial Law
MVAs - Low Speed Impact with Disputed Liability Settled for $1 million
Our client was a 30-year-old social worker stuck in traffic in Kirkland, Washington. She was stopped and waiting to turn left in a turn only lane, when a driver pulled out and crashed into the front of her vehicle. The insurance company denied liability, arguing our client was at fault and that the low-speed collision could not have caused injury. They made no offers prior to litigation.
A few days after the collision, our client had emergent spine surgery—had she not had the surgery right away, she may have been rendered paraplegic. In discovery, we obtained the Event Data Recorder (EDR) data from both vehicles and hired an expert engineer to reconstruct the collision showing that our client was not at fault. This expert explained the biomechanics of how the collision, while at a low speed, was sufficient to cause our client’s injuries. After expert discovery, and a final demand for $1,000,000, the defense caved and settled.
Disputed liability cases can be tough, but finding all facts is vital. We are proud to have gotten full justice for our young client.
Trials - Rear End Collision in New York City Results in $800,000 verdict and $1.4 million judgment after appeals
Our 60-year-old client was sitting at a red light in Manhattan, when he was rear ended by a limousine. He felt immediate pain in his neck but decided to try physical therapy and home rest, hoping it would get better. Unfortunately, his pain got worse and he was forced to undergo a cervical fusion a year later, where a metal plate was drilled onto his spine. He only missed about a month of work and did his best to get on with his life, but his neck still bothered him for years afterwards. His injuries also put a strain on his marriage and forced his wife to take on more responsibilities.
The insurance company dragged out the case for years, making a final offer of $60,000. They forced a trial in Queens, NY. Jason Murphy tried the case for two weeks, hiring the best experts available and preparing his client’s doctors, family, and friends to testify in Court. The defendants’ insurance company was relentless, hiring their own experts and coming to a final offer of $90,000 before the case went to the jury.
The jury deliberated for 7 hours and came back with a verdict of $700,000 for Jason’s client, and $100,000 for the client’s wife for what she went through.
Unfortunately, the insurance company wasn’t done delaying the case and filed multiple appeals of the jury verdict. The appeals lasted two more years, with the verdict accruing interest every month. Finally, the appellate court in New York City rejected the final appeal and entered a judgment against the defendant and the insurance company for over $1,400,000. The policy limits that the insurance fought so hard and dirty for were only $1,000,000. They were forced to pay that plus another $400,000 out of their own deep pockets.
Trials - Passenger on Bus in New York City Recovers $950,000 Jury Verdict
Jason’s client was a young woman taking a bus in Brooklyn, NY to work. The bus driver lost control and hit a telephone pole. Our client suffered severe injuries to her spine. After conservative care failed, she had a pain pump implanted into her lower spine, which released medication into her spinal canal to relieve her constant pain.
Instead of taking full responsibility for what happened, the bus company claimed their driver was choking on a piece of candy and wasn’t responsible for what happened. They had no evidence of that except the driver’s word. Unfortunately, another passenger’s case went to trial first and the jury dismissed the case. The bus company attempted to dismiss our clients’ case based on that verdict. Jason joined an appeal and had the other case reversed, and convinced the Court to find the bus driver had no evidence, and was fully responsible.
You would think the bus company would then pay a fair settlement. That’s not how corporations and insurance companies work. They count on people giving up. Jason’s client didn’t. At Murphy Trial Law we prepare every case for trial and support our clients so they can hang in and insist on full justice. After a final offer of $200,000, the jury awarded $950,000. The bus company paid it in full.
