On-ramp car accident leads to settlement for St. Louis man

A St. Louis man injured in a 2012 rear-end collision with an employee of a washing machine repair company settled a claim with the other driver and the company for $327,500.

Robert Davenport filed suit against Hoppy’s Self Service Inc. and employee Philip White of Belleville, Illinois, in May 2013 following a March 2012 accident on the Interstate 44 entrance ramp at Southwest Avenue in the city of St. Louis.

According to the petition, White hit Davenport from behind after failing to notice a stalled truck that had forced Davenport to stop. White later said he was distracted when he reached down to pick up a set of keys that had fallen to the floor, according to plaintiff’s attorney Gary Burger Jr. of Cantor & Burger in St. Louis.

Burger said his client, who was without health insurance, suffered injuries to his neck and right shoulder that required surgery.

Defense attorney Scott Harper of Brinker & Doyen in St. Louis confirmed the settlement details but otherwise declined comment.

$327,500 settlement

Motor vehicle collision

Venue: St. Louis Circuit Court

Case number/date: 1322-CC1078/April 4, 2014

Judge: Philip Heagney

Plaintiff’s expert: Dr. Peter Mirkin, Tesson Ferry Spine & Orthopedic Center, Sappington (surgical specialties)

Caption: Robert Davenport v. Hoppy’s Self Service Inc.

Plaintiff’s attorney: Gary Burger Jr., Cantor & Burger,
St. Louis

Defendant’s attorneys: Scott Harper and John Andrew Mazzei, Brinker & Doyen, St. Louis