Successful Illinois Accident Injury Verdicts, Awards, and Settlements
The Blumenshine Law Group has a proven track record of achieving favorable outcomes for our clients in a wide range of personal injury claims. We understand that being involved in a lawsuit can be daunting and overwhelming, which is why we strive to provide our clients with the highest level of legal representation and personalized attention.
With years of experience, our team of skilled attorneys has successfully negotiated and litigated numerous cases, resulting in significant settlements for our clients. We are proud to share some of our recent successful settlements with you, and we invite you to learn more about how our firm can help you achieve a positive outcome in your legal matter.
Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes.
$5,000,000 – Hand amputation sustained in a factory work incident. A 28-year-old father suffered crushed fingers and a hand in the pinch point rollers on a metal cutting machine. Our client was working as a machine operator. He was applying tape to the rollers when a coworker mistakenly pushed the roller start button. Allegations were that the defendant manufacturer failed to provide readily available safety guards and devices. Our client underwent 17 surgeries. Medical expenses exceeded $500,000. Recovery included a waiver of workers’ compensation liens, contribution by employer’s work liability coverage, and payment from manufacturer liability policy.
$3,950,000 – Mediation recovery for a man who suffered a quadriplegia injury as a result of a fall. Our client was an anesthesiologist reporting for duty at a hospital. In the hospital lobby, one of the elevators was under construction. The hospital placed a buckled floor mat that caused our client to stumble and fall. We got testimony from the former head of housekeeping that the mat was prone to folds and was not taped to the floor. Our client caught the heel of his shoe on a buckle in the mat and fell backward, striking the back of his neck on a couch adjacent to the elevator. He is paralyzed for the rest of his life.
$1,500,000 – Recovered for leg crush injuries sustained by a 31-year-old truck driver at a truck repair facility. Our client, a married father of 2 young boys, was seriously injured when a truck at a repair facility was accidentally placed into gear, lurched forward, and pinned our client between two trucks. The allegations against the shop owner included its failure to implement safe truck maintenance policies, as it allowed the striking truck to be in proximity to other vehicles and failed to place wheel chocks under the truck to prevent its inadvertent movement. The allegations against the other truck driver included the negligent operation of his truck near other people within the shop. As a result of the impact, our client was hospitalized for a week and over the next year had more than 24 drainage procedures to remove the accumulation of fluids in his legs. The diagnosis of his injuries was Morel-Lavelee lesions, which are internal degloving injuries that involve the shearing of the internal muscle and other tissues. He missed extensive time from his work and was unable to provide assistance and care at home for his family for an extended period.
$1,275,000 – Mediated recovery for a 58-year-old elevator mechanic who slipped and fell on the slippery coating on the roof of a high-rise. He and his co-workers were on the roof attempting to access the elevator housing. The client has had multiple back surgeries and now walks with a cane.
$1,250,000 – policy limits – motor vehicle collision – our client sustained neck and back injuries in a rear-end car crash. He underwent neck surgery (posterior cervical discectomy and fusion) and developed back pain and symptoms radiating into his legs (myelopathy).
$1,025,000 – for our client injured in a rear-end vehicle collision. She was a medical transport driver for special needs customers at the time of the crash. She suffered neck and back injuries that required surgery. The back condition was in part due to the myelomacia that began in the cervical spine. Recovery was from the other driver’s insurer, which was just $25.000, from workers’ compensation, and from underinsured motorist coverage.
$900,000 – Recovery for our client due to a stool collapse at a laundromat. A rotator cuff tear requires three surgeries, including total shoulder replacement. BLG’s client was playing with a video gaming machine while waiting for her laundry to finish its cycle when the provided stool unexpectedly collapsed. Upon inspection, the stool was found to be made in China and sold in Walmart, listed as “not for commercial use” with a weight limit. The defendant-laundromat and defendant-video-gaming company disputed ownership and placement of the stool, but were unable to locate the stool. BLG faced significant obstacles in the litigation of this matter, including a defendant’s bankruptcy, continuance of a jury trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a defense attorney.
$862,000 – Arbitration award for severe ankle fracture with surgery after falling in a hole at a farm in Iowa.
$850,000 – For our client who sustained a neck injury requiring cervical disc fusion surgery. Our 35-year-old client, a married father of 3 children who worked the night shift at a factory, was injured in a two-car collision. Two prior law firms represented our client, but could not locate the full insurance coverage available for the crash. After two years of litigation, we found a 1,000,000 dollar commercial vehicle insurance liability policy. The case was settled after litigation during several mediation sessions. The Judge recommended a settlement of $600,000 because of the conservative nature of the venue where the case was filed. Because he was suffering ongoing pain and other symptoms in his arms, he was evaluated by a neurosurgeon who opined that our client had the potential to develop adjacent disc syndrome and was at risk of needing additional treatment.
$750,000 – obtained for a bicyclist struck by a car at an intersection that had a parked delivery company truck blocking the driver’s vision. Our client was a healthy, active 65-year-old man. He had been a consultant and college instructor who specialized in organizational management. His injuries included traumatic brain trauma, fractured ribs, and a foot drop. His symptoms included difficulty with memory, mental processing, speaking, and writing. His vision was impaired. He had difficulty walking and using his dominant right hand for all tasks.
$650,000 – A 55-year-old client experienced a rear-end collision that led to lumbar fusion surgery, three years after the initial crash. The client had pre-existing lumbar spine degeneration. Three months after the first accident, there was a second collision. The recovery process involved claims against the first driver, the second driver’s liability insurance, and the client’s underinsured motorist coverage, resulting in a $450,000 arbitration award.
$650,000 – recovered for falls in a retail store. Our client was a lady in her 60s who was still working 2 jobs at the time of the injuries. One fall was caused by an unsecured, unlevel, and wet mat in the store exit vestibule. From that fall, she required lumbar spine surgery. The fall aggravated her pre-existing back condition. Another fall occurred because of an unguarded pallet placed at the end of a store aisle. That fall caused her to need shoulder surgery. The fall aggravated her pre-existing shoulder condition.
$650,000 – Arbitration Award. Our 52-year-old client, a heating and air conditioning mechanic, was injured in a rear collision by an underinsured motorist. Our client suffered shoulder and back injuries. His treatment included shoulder surgery and the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator. A three-arbitrator panel entered the Award on our client’s Underinsured Motorist coverage claim against his own insurer. His insurance company hired “an accident reconstructionist” to testify that the collision was low speed and thus not likely to result in an injury. They also hired an orthopedic surgeon to testify that our client had pre-existing shoulder and back conditions that would have eventually resulted in deterioration and treatment.
$600,000 – Settlement for woman with brain injury when knocked down by tractor-trailer in a low-speed collision.
$550,000 – Federal court mediation of life insurance policy proceeds dispute. Benefits recovered on behalf of the ex-wife of a deceased man who had a life insurance policy providing in excess of $1,000,000.00 in benefits. The claim was disputed by the life insurer and the decedent’s father.
$520,000 – Pre-trial conference conducted on a two-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer. The collision caused severe anoxic brain injury, rendering the client comatose.
$507,000 – Jury verdict for our client who sustained a right shoulder rotator cuff tear requiring surgery. The injury resulted from a left-turning Chicago Transit Authority Bus. The last offer before trial was $95,000.
$500,000 – Arbitration award, on an underinsured motorist claim, for a bicyclist struck by a car. Two back surgeries were required.
$475,000 – For wrongful death of truck driver injured due to defective vehicle and failed safety procedure at loading dock. The fatal crush injury was captured on videotape.
$410,000 – Settlement of construction site fall causing elbow injury requiring surgery.
$400,000 – Disability insurance policy claim resolved at a federal court-mandated mediation. Our client was a physician who developed a medical condition that impaired her ability to properly and fully perform her professional occupation tasks. The insurer denied the claim for 4 years until weeks before trial.
$400,000 – Mediated settlement for a young man who sustained a complex patella fracture in an auto collision and pulmonary embolism during surgery.
$400,000 – Mediation recovery for bicyclist struck by car. He sustained a traumatic brain injury, causing cognitive and functional impairments, including loss of memory and word-finding difficulty
$390,000 – Mediated settlement for a 10-year-old child who suffered near drowning in a hotel pool and suffered anoxic brain injury requiring special education due to disabilities. The child was underwater for 6 minutes and survived due to the mammalian response of the body, which shut off breathing and thus preserved her brain.
$370,000 – Plus waiver of $300,000 – workers’ compensation lien on product liability claim. The client was injured when the nuclear medicine shipping box handle broke. Uncovered evidence showed that the box handle regularly broke, and the manufacturer and distributor failed to alter the design or warn of the problem. Box was discontinued, and a new safe device was put in place.
$340,000 – Arbitration award on underinsured motorist claim. The client’s insurer offered $5,000 to settle. The claimant sustained a fractured sternum, lumbar spine injury, and aggravation of pre-existing cervical and thoracic spine conditions. She had received pain injections for the pre-existing conditions the month before the collision.
$310,000 – Premises liability case wherein our client sustained fractures and a ligament tear to her elbow. She fell due to the defective front steps of the home she and her family had leased for 20 years. The front steps of our client’s home were worn and pitted. The stairway failed to have a handrail as required by the local building code. However, the Defendant-landlord’s arguments that our client had continuous possession of the property for 20 years, was aware of the stairs being dangerous before the fall, and had access to multiple other means to exit the home were substantial obstacles to recovery. BLG overcame multiple motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment in this multi-party litigation in obtaining a significant recovery for our client.
$300,000 – Recovered for the family on an accidental death insurance policy in federal court litigation. An insured father and husband, a Vietnam War veteran with a history of emotional disturbance and substance abuse, was found dead in a body of water in a neighborhood pond. The insurer denied the claim based on the alcohol in the blood levels and recent suicidal ideations.
$300,000 – Recovered from employee life insurance policy benefits obtained on behalf of children whose father was killed in a work-related incident.
$285,000 – Settlement for a pedestrian struck in the ankle by a vehicle driving on the sidewalk.
$250,000 – Liability policy limits recovered for a 65-year-old female pedestrian who was struck while in a crosswalk by a driver (who was a physician). Our client was on her way to pick up her grandson from a Chicago elementary school. The at-fault driver was looking for a parking spot and was going to pick up her daughter at the same school. The at-fault driver apparently did not see our client in the crosswalk and struck her at a low speed.
The impact caused injuries to our client’s head, neck, and right knee. She was diagnosed with a concussion, cervical disc herniations, and a right knee lateral meniscus tear. She initially received injections, medication, and physical therapy. Due to unrelenting pain and disability, she ultimately received surgery on her knee. An underinsured motorist claim is pending.
$250,000 – Recovered for a 56-year-old female fitness and yoga instructor injured in a car crash. The client had significant pre-existing hip problems, including prior hip surgery. The car crash caused aggravation and worsening of the hip condition that required total hip replacement surgery. Recovered $100,000 auto liability insurance limits from at-fault driver. Recovered $150,000 in underinsured motorist insurance coverage from the client’s auto insurer.
$250,000– Uninsured motorist claim arbitration award for woman who suffered severe wrist fracture requiring surgical repair.
$250,000 – Mediation recovery for a 20-year-old college student due to a 30-foot fall through a rooftop skylight while at a party. The client sustained multiple injuries, including a wrist fracture requiring surgery, a hip fracture, and facial scarring. Evidence showed that the property owner knew the tenant had partied on the roof and that the rooftop skylights were in bad condition.
$231,000 – Pre-trial conference settlement for construction worker sustained severe elbow injury while working on Midway Airport project. A 25-year-old steel worker was in a man lift working under dangerous, slippery, windy, snowy conditions.
$225,000 – Judge mediated settlement for our client who slipped and fell on a jet bridge adapter. She sustained a torn meniscus while boarding an airplane. Our client was an active woman who enjoyed over five decades of hiking and downhill skiing prior to this injury. The Defendant-airline argued that BLG’s client had extensive osteoarthritis in her knee as a result of her active lifestyle, and BLG’s client’s own orthopedic surgeon could not rule out the injury that had pre-existed the fall.
$225,000 – Arbitration award to woman bitten in the hand by her sister’s dog while at her sister’s house for Christmas.
$215,000 – Truck driver was injured when he stepped on a cardboard box placed between the back of the truck bed and dock obscuring the gap where the driver fell.
$200,000 – Our client aggravated a pre-existing rotator cuff tear due to a defective spring on a garage door. BLG’s client was called to help his sister, who was late for work because her garage door would not open. Our client’s sister suggested he should manually lift the garage door high enough for her to pull her vehicle out. In an effort to help his sister, BLG’s client lifted the garage door long enough for the car to be removed, but it fell onto our client’s left shoulder. Defendant disputed the nature and extent of our client’s injuries, as our client was conservatively treating the partially torn rotator cuff injury for years before the incident.
$200,000 – Arbitration award, on uninsured motorist claim, for aggravation of pre-existing lumbar herniated disc for a 50-year-old male in an auto collision.
$175,000 – Auto collision claim for herniated lumbar discs.
$154,000 – Arbitration award in contested premises liability claim. Client 64-year-old female tripped on a crack in the walkway leading to an apartment building. She Fell and broke her arm. Landlord and insurance company denied liability.
$160,000 – For ankle fracture due to fall on snow and ice on apartment steps. Landlord provided in the lease that he would repair steps and provide lighting, which he failed to do.
$135,000– Underinsured motorist claim arbitration award for Chicago firefighter, struck while on a bicycle and sustained injury including rotator cuff tear requiring surgery.
$130,000 – Recovered for a 65-year-old woman, a wife and mother, employed as a professional benefits consultant. She slipped and fell on frozen coffee in the underground Pedway at the entrance of Block 37 mall. Our client fractured her forearm bone (ulna) and required an open reduction and internal fixation. The evidence established that the property management security service notified housekeeping about the frozen coffee; however, security did not secure, barricade, or warn of the hazardous condition before the slip and fall occurred.
$130,000 – Mediated recovery for a 75-year-old female client who suffered a hip fracture when the medical care driver failed to assist the client to the vehicle.
$115,000 – Our client suffered multiple bone fractures in her ankle due to broken pavement in a city parking lot; the defendant city repaired and repaved the defective pavement shortly after the fall, thus making the lot safe for pedestrians.
$100,000 – Recovered for slip and fall injury in currency exchange. Rotator cuff surgery was required. The defense contended natural water accumulation in premises for which it was not liable under Illinois law.
$100,000 – Recovery of life insurance policy proceeds for an unmarried life partner in dispute with the children of the deceased.
$100,000 – Arbitration award for a herniated cervical disc for a 35-year-old wife and mother.
$37,500 – Arbitration award for our client who suffered traumatic amputation of a fingertip when the moving truck lift closed on his finger; recovery received from the truck rental company; our case alleged failure of the company to instruct users on safety rules for using the lift gate.
$25,000 – Recovered burial life insurance policy benefits arising from the death of our client’s brother; the life insurance company initially denied the claim based on alleged application misrepresentation.
Policy Limits – Successful judgment for the plaintiff at the trial of an uninsured motorist coverage case. Our 25-year-old client was severely injured when she was walking in a crosswalk and was struck by an uninsured hit-and-run SUV. We filed an uninsured motorist claim with her mother’s auto insurance company. They denied the claim. We filed suit and proved our client’s entitlement to coverage at trial.
This is a sampling of our successes. Our firm’s past results do not guarantee a similar outcome will be negotiated in your case. It is important for an attorney to carefully review the unique facts and legal issues that are involved with your case.