Auto Crash – Spine Injury

Ms. Nzari suffered a cervical facet injury with chronic pain after being involved in a rear-end crash in Los Angeles, California. The defendant’s insurer, State Farm, offered only $50,000 to resolve the case. Feher Law rejected that figure and took the case to trial.

The defense argued that because Ms. Nzari had not undergone traditional open surgery, the damages were limited. Thomas Feher countered by demonstrating that a cervical facet injury is permanent in nature – because the symptomatic nerve regenerates over time, meaning the pain and dysfunction return even after a successful rhizotomy treatment. Ms. Nzari underwent a facet block and rhizotomy procedure, in which the symptomatic nerve in the facet joints of the cervical spine is cauterized to manage chronic pain. Mr. Feher argued compellingly that this was not a minor injury deserving a minor settlement. Ms. Nzari testified clearly that she was prepared to live with her pain and did not seek future medical treatment – she simply wanted fair compensation for the permanent injury already inflicted on her.

In February 2020, the court awarded $600,000 in general damages plus all past medical specials – totaling $697,000, more than thirteen times State Farm’s best pre-trial offer. If you suffered a cervical spine injury, facet injury, or chronic neck pain in a rear-end car accident in Los Angeles or anywhere in California, Feher Law has the trial experience to take your case as far as necessary to achieve maximum compensation.