On December 10, 2024, our client was lawfully positioned in a right-turn-only lane in Miami-Dade County when a rideshare driver improperly changed lanes and struck her vehicle on the driver's side. The responding police officer cited the at-fault driver for careless driving under Florida Statute Section 316.1925(1). Police body camera footage captured our client telling the officer her left arm was beginning to hurt moments after the crash.MRI imaging revealed multilevel cervical disc herniations at C3-C4 through C6-C7, including cord flattening at C5-C6. Lumbar imaging showed disc herniations at L4-L5 and L5-S1. Left shoulder MRI revealed a 360-degree tear of the glenoid labrum. Physical therapy, lumbar medial branch block injections at six levels, and conservative cervical treatment all failed to provide lasting relief.On August 7, 2025, our client underwent anterior cervical decompression and fusion at C5-C6 with allograft and instrumentation. On October 14, 2025, she underwent a second procedure: left shoulder manipulation under anesthesia with platelet-rich plasma to address adhesive capsulitis, labral pathology, impingement, and bursitis. Past medical bills exceeded $290,000. Future medical expenses were projected at an additional $67,211.At deposition, the at-fault driver insisted our client was at fault and ultimately terminated the deposition by screaming expletives at our attorney before disconnecting. His counsel filed an admission of liability with the court shortly thereafter. The case settled for $465,000.
We locked in liability early and forced the admission. The police report, the careless driving citation, the body camera footage, and the deposition testimony all pointed in one direction. When the at-fault driver's behavior at deposition made the defense's position untenable, his counsel filed a formal admission of liability.We documented injury onset at the scene. Police body camera footage captured our client telling the responding officer her left arm was hurting moments after the crash.We obtained a second surgical opinion. Before proceeding with cervical fusion, our client consulted a second board-certified orthopedic surgeon who independently confirmed the recommendation.We quantified the long-term impact on a 59-year-old client. With approximately 21 years of life expectancy remaining and permanent injuries to the cervical spine and left shoulder, we presented a certified life care plan projecting future medical costs.
