Client Stories

Jessica
Auto Accident - Confidential Settlement from Insurance Company

Auto Accident Leaves College Student with Unexpected Back Injury

Jessica's case was a rare one for Bisnar Chase. Of course, it was an auto accident case, which is nothing out of the ordinary. But her case was special because she was referred to us by another client - her father. Nearly 10 years ago, her father was in a serious auto accident that caused him to have back surgery and stay out of work for a year.

Jessica, 20, who is pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology in Orange County, was fortunate in the sense that she was not as seriously injured as her father. The incident occurred in August 2006. She was crossing an intersection in her vehicle when a driver made a left turn in front of her. Jessica had the right of way, but the driver did not stop.

"My car wasn't damaged all that much, but the other driver's car was completely totaled," she said. "She had another passenger in her vehicle and appeared to be distraught after the accident."

They exchanged insurance information and that was the end of it. It was a bad day for Jessica and it didn't seem like much more. But the next day, she started feeling the effects of the crash.

"My back really started bothering me," Jessica said.

She went to the doctor who suggested physiotherapy for a rotated pelvic bone. It was a persistent lower back pain. She had to undergo eight sessions of physiotherapy to get it under control. What is a rotated pelvis? It's a condition where the pelvic bone gets stuck in an abnormal position. A rotated pelvis could be caused by an awkward movement, which is probably what happened in Jessica's case. According to experts, this causes the hip to go into a spasm that prevents the hip joint from functioning normally. These spasms can be quite painful. Like anything, early detection is the key to quick recovery.

A lot of accident victims tend to feel the effects of a crash days later. Another classic example of this phenomenon is when whiplash occurs. It usually occurs when the soft tissue in the spine is stretched and strained after the body is thrown in a sudden, forceful jerk. It usually occurs in auto accidents that involve sudden deceleration. Much like whiplash, a rotated pelvis may also go unnoticed for days or even weeks.

Thankfully, in Jessica's case it was detected right away since she felt the sharp spasms the day after the accident and decided to check it out. When Jessica consulted with her father, he had no doubt that she should call Bisnar Chase.

"He was very happy with what they did for him," she said. "He was pleased with the results Bisnar Chase was able to get for him, which was very important in his case because it was a serious accident and he couldn't work for a while. It was a tough time for our family. But Bisnar Chase got him good results and he was a satisfied client."

Her father's testimonial was more than enough to send Jessica to Bisnar Chase's Newport Beach office. Jessica said the staff at Bisnar Chase was "extremely helpful."

"They took it over from there," she said. "They dealt with the other driver's insurance completely so I could focus on attending my physiotherapy sessions and getting better."

Within a few months, Bisnar Chase settled her case with the other driver's insurance.

"It's true that the accident wasn't my fault," she said. "But I realize that it could have been quite a pain to deal with the insurance company myself. With Bisnar Chase dealing with everything, I felt comfortable, confident and relieved. It wasn't the unpleasant experience that it could have been."

The staff at Bisnar Chase was very easy to work with and "was always nice and polite," she said.

"They made everything easy for me," she said.

The money also helped pay for physiotherapy sessions and most of it has now gone into her college fund, Jessica says. She hopes to graduate in two to three years. Her back can still cause trouble some days, she says.

"There will be some days when my back still hurts," she says. "The doctor has also told me that it might come back."

Her accident taught her an important lesson, Jessica said.

"I learned that even a small accident, something that may not seem too significant or serious, could leave you injured," she said.

Jessica's injury was not catastrophic like a traumatic brain injury or a major spinal injury, but it could end up being painful intermittently or worse, constantly, for life. It will likely require her to find a way to manage her pain from the sudden spasms that come and go.

But the accident could have ended up a lot worse, Jessica said.

"I had to think about my dad," she said. "He went through a lot and I just feel fortunate that my accident wasn't as bad as his."

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Bisnar | Chase 2006-2008 - Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Bisnar | Chase has received this award for three consecutive years.