Left-turn collision leads to $162K settlement

A $162,000 settlement was reached in a motor vehicle collision suit out of Pettis County Circuit Court.

Of the settlement, $100,000 went to Holly Friese and $62,000 to plaintiff Phillip Stonecipher. The settlement was reached Dec.1, 2025.

The plaintiffs were represented by Laurie Del Percio of The Horn Law Firm in Independence.

The accident occurred Dec. 10, 2024, when the defendant, Donald Bradley, attempted a lefthand turn from westbound Broadway Boulevard to Grand Avenue in Sedalia. Friese was a passenger in a vehicle that Stonecipher was driving on eastbound Broadway Boulevard. When he approached the intersection with Grand Avenue, he had a green light, so he proceeded as normal when he was struck by Bradley attempting to make the lefthand turn. Stonecipher’s vehicle was forced across the centerline as a result of the impact, colliding with a third vehicle. The airbags in Stonecipher’s vehicle were deployed.

An ambulance arrived on scene and Friese complained of neck pain, right shoulder pain and sharp chest pain. She was placed in a C-collar and transported via ambulance to the nearest emergency department. She was then transferred by a second ambulance to a hospital specializing in trauma. Diagnostic films came back within normal limits, and she was discharged with instructions to follow up with her primary care doctor, after being stabilized.

Stonecipher also reported head, neck and back pain following the collision, which he treated with rest and over-the-counter medication. When the pain did not improve a few days after the incident, he went to the emergency department. His main complaint was a headache, stating that his head was struck by the airbags when they were deployed. Based on this, other symptoms and precautionary CT scans, Stonecipher was diagnosed with a concussion and neck muscle strain. He was also discharged once stabilized with instructions to follow up with his primary physician.

Both Friese and Stonecipher followed up with their respective primary care physicians in mid-December. Friese complained of a concussion whiplash, internal bruising and multiple contusions to her doctor, reporting that she was experiencing confusion, persistent headache and other neurological symptoms. She also complained of upper body pain as well as sleep disturbance due to pain-related discomfort.

Stonecipher reported headaches, intermittent blurred vision in his left eye and other neurological symptoms to his doctor. He was advised to avoid activities that might put him at risk for another head injury, to limit screen time and music before bed, to sleep in a dark room and to stick to a consistent sleep schedule.

Stonecipher also sought chiropractic treatment around that time due to the pain. He was treated over the course of 28 sessions, undergoing a final evaluation in June 2025.

On Dec. 30, 2024, Friese underwent a brain MRI, which showed no evidence of a mass or hemorrhage. She also saw a chiropractor around the same time as Stonecipher to treat the continued pain from the accident. She also underwent 28 chiropractic sessions, ending in June 2025.

According to Del Percio, photographs and a video illustrating the severity of the impact were key in reaching a successful settlement.

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Motor Vehicle Collision

Amount of settlement: $162,000

Breakdown and distribution of total value: $100,000 to plaintiff Holly Friese, $62,000 to plaintiff Phillip Stonecipher

Type of action: Motor vehicle collision

Venue: Pettis County Circuit Court

Case Number/Date: Not filed, 12/01/2025

Injuries alleged: Head, brain, neck, back, spine

Plaintiff Attorney(s): Laurie Del Percio of The Horn Law Firm in Independence

Defendant Attorney(s): None