A young Northshore man suffered devastating neck and back injuries after an 18-wheeler slammed into stopped traffic on Highway 190 in Covington. Through years of litigation, extensive discovery, complex insurance negotiations, and layered excess insurance settlements, Flattmann Law helped recover a total of $3 million on his behalf.
Joseph was a hardworking young man in his early twenties driving home from work on Highway
190 in Covington when traffic ahead came to a stop. Joseph safely stopped his pickup truck
behind another vehicle and waited for traffic to move.
Moments later, an 18-wheeler hauling appliances approached from behind.
The commercial truck driver failed to stop in time and violently rear-ended Joseph’s pickup
truck, crushing it forward into another vehicle and sending Joseph’s truck spinning into
additional lanes of traffic.
The force of the impact was catastrophic.
The collision was so severe that Joseph’s hat and sunglasses were launched into the back seat of
his truck. Witnesses immediately recognized that Joseph had absorbed the brunt of the crash.
Following the wreck, the truck driver was cited for careless operation. Evidence later revealed
additional troubling issues surrounding the driver and trucking company, including concerns
regarding the driver’s unfamiliarity with the area, communication difficulties, and failures to
comply with post-accident safety procedures and testing requirements.
Joseph initially attempted to avoid surgery and aggressively pursued conservative treatment for
years. Over the course of his recovery, he underwent invasive spinal procedures, including
injections, pain management procedures, and extensive medical care in an effort to manage his
worsening symptoms.
Despite those efforts, Joseph ultimately required major cervical and lumbar spine surgery,
including a cervical fusion and lumbar decompression surgery. Even after surgery, physicians
concluded that Joseph would likely require additional spinal surgeries in the future due to
adjacent level degeneration and ongoing spinal damage.
The injuries permanently changed Joseph’s life.
Before the collision, Joseph was an active young outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing,
gardening, and spending time outdoors. Following the wreck and surgeries, many of those
activities became painful and increasingly difficult. Although he continued trying to maintain an
active lifestyle, the physical toll of the injuries remained constant.
Flattmann Law pursued claims against the truck driver, trucking company, and multiple layers of
commercial insurance coverage. The case involved extensive litigation, depositions, expert
analysis, medical discovery, and highly complex insurance negotiations involving several excess
insurance carriers.
The settlement process required delicate handling of layered insurance issues, excess carrier
exposure, judicial interest considerations, and sophisticated Gasquet settlement agreements
designed to preserve claims against remaining excess insurers while protecting Joseph’s
recovery.
Throughout the litigation, defense attorneys and insurance representatives aggressively attempted
to limit exposure and strategically position the various insurance layers against one another.
Flattmann Law carefully navigated those negotiations while continuing to prepare the case for
trial.
After extensive litigation and mediation efforts, Flattmann Law successfully resolved the case
for a total of $3,000,000 across three separate layers of insurance coverage.
Disclaimer:
Results vary by case and situation, and that while the stories are all 100% true, the names have been changed out of respect for our clients.
When you ask for Grady, you get Grady. At Flattmann Law, we make sure that your consultations and cases are not assigned to a junior associate. Grady will personally be on the phone with you or meet you in person to discuss your individual situation. We will represent you not only as your attorney, but also as your neighbor.
Our legal library is full of articles on a variety of topics related to personal injury claims in Louisiana. Learn about how accidents happen, what to do when you are a victim, and how an attorney can help you fight for the compensation you may deserve.
