A Broken Neck and a $150K Settlement
A DUI PASSENGER’S LEGAL VICTORY
If you’re injured while riding with a drunk driver, you can still recover a settlement, but it’s rarely simple. That was the challenge we faced helping Lee, a 23-year-old who broke his neck in a crash caused by an intoxicated driver. Lee came to me through his father, a former client, after a late-night wreck left him seriously hurt. On Sept. 9, 2017, around 9:45 p.m., Lee accepted a short ride from a friend after a party. The driver, speeding about 10 mph over the limit, lost control near Lyman and slammed into a ditch. Both airbags deployed. At first, Lee declined an ambulance, not realizing the extent of his injuries. Pain set in within minutes. A hospital visit failed to catch the problem, but a neurosurgeon later diagnosed a broken C7 vertebra, a neck fracture that would take months to heal. Surgery wasn’t required, but the injury caused relentless pain, limited mobility, and forced Lee to wear an uncomfortable neck brace for three months. The legal hurdles were obvious: Lee had willingly entered a car with a drunk driver, and reports suggested he might have been drinking himself. I argued that none of that changed who caused the crash: The driver had complete control of the vehicle, and evidence clearly showed he was impaired. His blood alcohol tests and behavior
toward the investigating trooper, including failing sobriety tests and mocking the officer, confirmed it. Even though Lee’s medical bills totaled less than $10,000, his injury was life-altering. He couldn’t run, work normally, or sleep comfortably for months. His physical and emotional suffering became a central part of the case. We also pursued punitive damages to hold the driver accountable for his reckless behavior, something insurance companies rarely agree to discuss. By compiling the police evidence, medical documentation, and visual proof of Lee’s daily struggles, we persuaded the insurer to take the case seriously. Ultimately, we secured a $150,000 settlement, covering all medical costs and fairly compensating Lee for his pain and disruption. When it was over, Lee told me, “If I could go back, I’d do things differently, except hiring you.” That moment made every step of the battle worth it.
*Past outcomes don’t guarantee future results. Every case is different, and all cases depend on unique facts and laws.
Good News
BAKED FETA, TOMATO, AND WHITE BEAN SKILLET
Ingredients
“I remain confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” –Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV) “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” –Proverbs 3:3-6 (NIV)
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes • 2 (15-oz) cans no-salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed • 4 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped • 2 tsp Italian seasoning • 1/4 tsp salt • 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 6 oz feta cheese, packed in brine, cut into 4 pieces • 1 tbsp hot honey • Basil leaves, for garnish • 4 slices toasted whole-wheat country bread, optional, for serving
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. 2. In a large, oven-safe skillet, combine tomatoes, beans, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt. 3. Drizzle with 5 tbsp of olive oil and stir gently. 4. Add feta pieces 2 inches apart in the mixture and drizzle with remaining olive oil. 5. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst. 6. Remove from oven and drizzle with hot honey. Garnish with basil leaves, and serve with toast if desired.
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