Rear-end crash case ends with pretrial settlement

A $775,000 settlement was reached in a motor vehicle collision that left the plaintiff with alleged hip and spine injuries requiring surgery.

The defendant was found 100 percent at fault for rear-end collision. The defendant hit the plaintiff while she was waiting to turn right onto a street. She had started to proceed but stopped due to on-coming traffic when the defendant rolled into her.

The plaintiff was represented by Tarun B. Rana of The Rana Law Group in St. Louis. The defendant was represented by Jeff Suess of Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion in St. Louis.

Per Rana, the parties mediated early in litigation prior to discovery to see if the case could be resolved. The defendant’s insurance carrier, State Farm, initially offered a law settlement number since they did not believe the plaintiff’s surgeries were related to the accident, or necessary. The insurance carrier cited gaps in treatment and lack of visual property damage to both parties’ vehicles; the defendant’s pick-up truck had limited visible property damage. The plaintiff did not report injuries at the collision scene but later went to urgent care for treatment.

According to Rana, it was a “clear” liability case for the plaintiff since it was a rear-end collision, however the defendant said it was a “tap” when the plaintiff had been stopped and waiting to turn right when she proceeded and stopped again.

The plaintiff underwent two separate surgeries, one for her back and one for her hip; however the defendant questioned if the surgeries were related to the accident since the plaintiff was in-shape and did CrossFit. There was also some hesitation about proceeding to trial with the current climate since the plaintiff is from Mexico, per Rana. The plaintiff’s medical obligation was ultimately $45,000 out of pocket (There was $187,000 in total billed medical; however, she had health insurance) and Rana said she “netted a high enough” settlement number that she was content settling out rather than risking more litigation.

“If we did not settle at mediation, we would have pushed this one to trial because the upside was certainly there, however, the settlement was a good settlement for our client and she wanted to move on with her life,” said Rana.

Suess could not be reached for comment.

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Motor vehicle Collision

Amount of settlement: $775,000

Allocation of fault: 100 percent defendant

Type of action: Motor vehicle collision

Venue: Missouri

Case Number/Date: 25SL-CC06971, 10/8/2025

Caption: Joanna Davis v. David Skaggs

Injuries alleged: Back, spine, hip, pelvis

Injuries detail: left hip arthroscopic labral repair and L5 disc replacement

Special Damages: $$187,000

First pretrial demand: $2.25 million

First demand detail: The demand was for defendant’s policy limits, who was an individual

First pretrial offer: $60,000

First offer detail: Defendant was provided medical authorizations pre-suit and obtained all the relevant records and did not think the plaintiff’s surgeries were related.

Last offer: $775,000

Plaintiff’s Attorney: Tarun B. Rana of the Rana Law Group in St. Louis

Defendant’s Attorney: Jeffrey Suess of Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion in St. Louis

Insurance carrier(s): State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company for the defendant