Rear-end car crash draws two policy-limit settlements

A man rear-ended by another driver reached settlements totaling $150,000 through two insurance policies connected to the car that hit him, according to his attorney. 

Laurie Del Percio of The Horn Law Firm in Independence said that on Oct. 26, 2020, Randal Fields was traveling southbound on Missouri Highway 291 in Lee’s Summit when the defendant, Kayla Haynes, rear-ended his car.

Horn said Fields felt sudden and severe pain in his neck immediately following the collision. When rest and over-the-counter medications failed to lessen his pain, he went to the emergency room, where an MRI led to a diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy. 

Fields underwent cervical epidural steroid injections and initiated a physical therapy program, and later he underwent a C6 selective nerve root block. 

Horn said prior to the collision, Fields, 53, was in good health and enjoying a high quality of life. But by the following April, he had exhausted all forms of conservative therapy with only transient relief, and his qualify of life had been significantly compromised. 

At the recommendation of a neurosurgeon, Fields underwent removal of C6-C7 hardware with C4-C5, C5-C6 anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion due to cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy. Post-surgery, he had a second course of physical therapy.

Horn said that, prior to litigation, she was able to obtain a $50,000 policy limit settlement with Country Financial, which insured Haynes, as well as a $100,000 policy limit settlement with American Family, which insured the owner of the vehicle the defendant was driving. 

RELATED: Click to search for and submit your Verdicts & Settlements