Madeline’s Story: Finding Peace After a Catastrophic Crash

Until Her Crash, Madeline Lived as an Active and Independent Woman

Madeline loved to pack her days with activity. She had recently retired and was enjoying every minute of her post-career life: gardening, selling homemade jams and jellies at the farmers’ market, spending time with her friends, children, and grandchildren, and working 30 hours a week as a food demonstrator. She was fiercely independent and loved her life.

On a July afternoon, Madeline was driving home. While she headed north on I-85, the car in front of her slowed down while exiting. Madeline slowed down too and gave the driver plenty of room.

Unfortunately, the driver behind her wasn’t paying attention. He didn’t notice Madeline’s car slowing until it was too late. His company car smashed into the rear end of her vehicle, sending Madeline’s car spinning out of control. Madeline’s vehicle collided with the car in front of her, and she suffered life-altering injuries.

Madeline’s Spinal Cord Injury Changes Everything

Madeline needed immediate medical attention after the violent collision. An ambulance took her to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with a series of catastrophic injuries, including:

• Severed spinal cord due to a fractured T-10 vertebra
• Shattered right shoulder
• Three broken ribs
• Broken femur (leg)
• Head lacerations (cuts)

Madeline required immediate surgery to stabilize her spine and spinal cord, and she eventually underwent numerous surgeries to repair trauma to her back, leg, and shoulder.

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Unfortunately, despite advances in medicine, doctors still have no way to repair a severed spinal cord. Madeline’s injuries left her permanently paralyzed from the middle of her ribcage down.

After the wreck, Madeline spent almost a month in the intensive care unit. Doctors then transferred her to a specialty hospital for another month; after that, she stayed at an inpatient rehabilitation center for yet another month.

Even after doctors deemed her medically stable, Madeline faced a long and difficult healing process that included ongoing rehabilitation and daily nursing care. She needed to rebuild strength and relearn many activities, and she required help with some of her most basic needs.

Madeline could no longer live independently, and her doctors gave her a life expectancy of about one year. She worried that her legacy to her family would be huge medical bills rather than happy memories. To regain control, she called Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys.

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The Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys Team Demands Justice From the Driver and His Employer

Andy Citrin’s team knew that Madeline and her family needed quick results. They immediately began to investigate her claim and made several important discoveries:

• The negligent driver told the police he was distracted at the time of the crash.
• He was driving a company vehicle that was covered by multiple insurance policies.
• Black-box data from Madeline’s car showed that she was driving 12 mph at the time of the crash.
• The at-fault driver’s black-box data reported that he was traveling at 75 mph and did not brake until seconds before the crash. At the moment of the impact, he was still going 67 mph.
• The driver had a history of speeding, including two tickets in the three months before the wreck.

Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys used this evidence to Madeline’s advantage and eventually negotiated an $8.5 million settlement on her behalf. This settlement gave Madeline peace of mind and let her know that she could afford high-quality medical care without imposing on her children. While nothing could undo the wrongs Madeline suffered, the settlement helped her regain financial independence and look after her children.

“This was one of the most meaningful cases I’ve ever handled,” says Andy Citrin. “Madeline’s life was turned upside down by a distracted driver, and her injuries were catastrophic. Because our legal team worked quickly and efficiently, Madeline peacefully spent the last year of her life surrounded by her children and grandchildren, knowing that they would be taken care of after her passing.”

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Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys: Serious Injuries Demand Serious Lawyers

If you or a loved one suffered catastrophic injuries in an accident, you need an injury lawyer who will fight for fair compensation and give you the emotional support you deserve. Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys has earned a powerful reputation based on results and personalized service. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for our clients and helped them rebuild after the trauma of a car crash.

To schedule your free consultation, complete our online form or call us at 251-888-8888. Our staff will promptly connect you with the right personal injury lawyer for your case.

Note: Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys uses pseudonyms in our success stories to protect our clients’ privacy.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.