Commercial Vehicle Accident Settlement Facts
I was driving home from work one day in my 2016 Honda Civic when another driver rear-ended me at the intersection of I-84 and I-91 in Hartford, Connecticut. The driver who hit me was driving a 2020 FedEx delivery truck and was texting on his phone. He did not see me stop at a red light and rear ended me at full speed. Immediately after I felt the impact, I blacked out. When I came to, I was told that people who witnessed the crash called 911, the truck driver tried to help me out of my vehicle, but I was unresponsive. I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The accident caused me to miss a lot of work as a self-employed contractor. As a result, I lost a lot of income and had to cancel several business trips, which cost me even more money.
Injuries Suffered in the Crash
I suffered a broken leg and arm, a sprained wrist, a fractured skull, and a traumatic brain injury in the crash. I also had a collapsed lung and a broken rib. I was in a coma for two weeks and had multiple surgeries to repair my injuries.
Breathing was difficult because of my bruised rib and my collapsed lung. I was in a coma for two weeks and was bedridden for a long time. 
Medical Treatment
For my broken femur, I had to undergo ORIF surgery to put my bone back in place and hold it together with pins so it could heal. I also underwent similar surgeries for the broken bones in my arms and ribs.
Before the surgeries, I had to undergo X-ray examinations of the body parts. In addition, I underwent CT scans of the brain, MRI scans, and a neurological exam to diagnose TBI, pulmonary function tests, and several blood tests.
Physical Recovery
I spent a total of six weeks in the hospital. During that time, I saw a neurosurgeon, a speech therapist, a physical therapist, and an occupational therapist.
The neurosurgeon and orthopedic doctor were responsible for repairing my fractured skull and my broken leg and arm.
The speech therapist helped me to recover from my concussion. I had some difficulty speaking and understanding speech after the accident. The speech therapist worked with me to improve my speech and language skills.
The physical therapist helped me to learn how to walk again. I had to use crutches for six weeks after my surgery. The physical therapist worked with me to strengthen my muscles and improve my balance.
The occupational therapist helped me to regain my independence. I had to learn to bathe, dress, and cook for myself again. In addition, the occupational therapist worked with me to develop coping strategies for my injuries.
I am still recovering from my injuries but grateful to be alive. I can walk and use my arms again and am slowly regaining my independence. I still have some pain and fatigue, but I hope to continue to improve.
I am also grateful for the care I received from the doctors, nurses, and therapists who helped me recover. They were all very compassionate and dedicated to helping me get better. I am so thankful for their help.
The driver who caused the accident was found to be at fault, and his insurance company paid for my medical bills and car repairs. I also received a settlement for my pain and suffering.
The accident has had a profound impact on my life. I can no longer work at my previous job and have had to make major adjustments to my lifestyle. However, I am determined not to let the accident define me. Instead, I am focused on my recovery and grateful for the second chance I have been given.
Negotiation/Settlement
I hired a lawyer to help me with my case because I read previously that sometimes, car accident settlements involving delivery companies may be tricky. The attorney investigated the accident and determined that the FedEx driver was negligent(distracted driving).
He then contacted Chubb, FedEx’s insurance company, to negotiate a commercial vehicle accident settlement. He did this on the premise that FedEx, the driver’s employer, is liable for the actions of their employees on the job.
Chubb then assigned a claims adjuster to my case to discuss my claim. They asked about my injuries, tests I had undergone, evidence of the damage to my vehicle, and the timeline of my injuries. I answered truthfully and presented bills and receipts. The claims adjuster offered $50 000 for my injuries. I knew this amount did not cover my expenses, so my lawyer continued negotiations. Chubb refused to increase its offer, so the case went to mediation.
At mediation, I told my story and explained the severity of my injuries, the amount of medical bills I had incurred, and the impact the accident had on my life. I also explained why I believed that $250,000 was a fair settlement. I explained that I was an independent contractor, and in the weeks I did not work; I lost about $30 000 in income. I also had to cancel several business trips because I was indisposed; these trips would have generated about $20 000 in revenue.
The mediator listened to both sides of the story and then made a recommendation. The recommendation was for a commercial vehicle accident settlement of $200,000. I was satisfied with the offer, so I agreed to the settlement.
I hired my attorney on a contingency basis, so after he deducted his fee, which was a fair 33% of the total settlement amount, I still had enough money to settle other bills and ensure I had a comfortable life.
I am grateful to my attorney for his help in getting me a fair commercial vehicle accident settlement. I am also thankful to the mediator for her help in resolving the case. I can now focus on my recovery and getting my life back to normal.