April 2017 Verdicts, Settlements, Case Conclusions, and Awards

Byron Warnken on May 18, 2017
Posted in Personal Injury, Successes for Our Clients, Workers' Comp.

As you can see from the below list of more than 30 cases brought to some kind of permanent or temporary conclusion last month at Warnken, LLC, no two personal injury cases are the same.  Every case has different variables – every person is different, every injury different, employers/work situations are different, etc.  Past results are not always indicative of future cases and the only way to truly figure out exactly how much your case is worth is to go through it.

Warnken, LLC’s April 2017 Cases

• Body parts:   Face, hands, legs
• Amount:   $27,500
• Claimant was burned on the face and hands by molten plastic.  Treatment included a skin graft from his leg and several months of physical therapy.  A hearing was held, and the injured worker was awarded $64,312.50.  Subsequently, a settlement was reached, whereby the Claimant shall receive another $27,500, in addition to the Award from the Commission.

 

• Injury: Traumatic brain injury, PTSD and lumbar strain
• Body Part: Psych and back
• Amount: $348,140 ($317,000.00 plus MSA of $31,140.00)
• Claimant was involved in car accident and sustained a serious traumatic brain injury that caused cognitive impairment as well as emotional impairment. Claimant was not able to return to work following this incident.

 

• Injury: L4-5 disc herniation
• Body Part: Back
• Amount: $366,953.10 ($110,000 plus MSA of $256,953.19)
• Claimant sustained injury after lifting heavy objects at work. Claimant underwent fusion surgery to the lumbar spine, followed by revision surgery for partial hardware removal.

 

• Injury: Lumbar strain
• Body Part: Back
• Amount: $4,200.00
• Claimant sustained injury after helping a patient up from the floor who had fallen. Claimant was treated conservatively with therapy and did not miss time from work.

 

• Injury: Cervical disc herniation C3-4
• Body Part: Neck
• Amount: $10,050.00
• Claimant sustained injury while performing mandatory training for work. Claimant underwent injections to the neck and was able to continue working.

 

• Injury: Left shoulder contusion with a low-grade acromioclavicular separation and back strain
• Body Part: Left shoulder and back
• Amount: $10,080.00
• Claimant was involved in single vehicle motor vehicle collision at work. Claimant received therapy and one injection to the shoulder.

 

• Injury: Knee strain and ankle strain
• Body Part: Knee and Ankle
• Amount: $15,000.00
• Claimant was injured after tripping and falling at a store. Claimant had conservative treatment for the injuries and physical therapy.

 

• Injury: Crush injury to foot
• Body Part: Foot
• Amount: $5,000.00
• Claimant was injured at work after his foot became lodged between a truck and the dock. Claimant had conservative treatment.

 

• Injury: Compression fractures from T12-L2
• Body Part: Back
• Amount: $25,000.00
• Claimant was injured when involved in a single vehicle accident while driving a tractor trailer. Claimant sustained compression fractures in the thoracic and lumbar spines. No surgery was needed and claimant received conservative care.

 

• Injury: Distal glenhumeral joint tear, rotator cuff tear, biceps tendon injury, lumbar strain
• Body Part: Shoulder and back
• Amount: $46,900.00
• Claimant was injured after lifting heavy boxes at work. Claimant underwent surgical repair to the shoulder for a rotator cuff tear and received conservative care for the back injury.

 

• Injury: Multi-level degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine, disc protrusions                          of the cervical and lumbar spines.
• Body Part: Neck and back
• Amount: $20,000.00
• Claimant was injured after lifting heavy boxes at work. Claimant underwent cervical and lumbar injections, as well as physical therapy.

 

• Injury: Disfigurement
• Body Part: Face
• Amount: $8,600.00
• Claimant was injured after being burned with hot coffee. As a result, there was a permanent large scar on the Claimant’s face. The Commission awarded benefits for disfigurement due to the scarring.

 

• Injury: Knee strain
• Body Part: Knee
• Amount: $10,000.00
• Claimant was injured after tripping and causing the knee to twist. Claimant was treated with therapy and was able to return to pre-injury employment.

 

• Injury: Torn rotator cuff, cervical disc bulges
• Body Part: Left shoulder and neck
• Amount: $12,280.00 for worsening. Prior award of $38,375.00
• Claimant was injured after tripping and falling at work. Since the last award, Claimant received multiple injections to the neck.

 

 

• Injury: CRPS, Patellofemoral Injuries
• Body Part: Knee and leg (as a result of CRPS)
• Amount: $49,500.00
• Claimant was injured after carrying a heavy object down a flight of stairs causing the knee to twist. Claimant underwent two surgeries and developed CRPS. Claimant was unable to return to pre-injury employment.

 

• Injury: Lumbosacral spine strain, L5-S1 disc herniation
• Body Part: Back
• Amount: $2,870.00 (prior award of $8,610.00)
• Claimant was injured after lifting heavy boxes at work. Claimant was treated conservatively with therapy and medications. Claimant elected not to undergo surgery.

 

• Issue:  lost wages
• Amount:  $17,649
• Claimant has been out of work since July, 2016.  The employer/insurer refused to pay lost wages.  A hearing was held and the injured worker was awarded back pay in the amount of $17,649, as well as ongoing and continuing disability benefits.

 

• Body parts:   Nose, nasal impairment
• Amount: $4,300
• Worker was struck in the face by a shoe.  Diagnosis was a high septal fracture.

 

• Body part:   Ankle
• Amount:   $8,900
• Claimant’s ankle was injured by a heavy load which had shifted and fallen onto his leg.  Diagnosis included a contusion and a sprain of the ankle.  Treatment consisted of physical therapy.

 

• Body part:   Neck
• Amount:   Between $45,000 and $50,000
• Claimant was injured in an automobile collision while on duty.  Diagnosis included a cervical disc bulge and annular tear.

 

• Body part:   Wrist
• Amount:   $20,550
• Worker’s wrist was injured during a fall onto a concrete floor.  Diagnosis included an edema over the wrist and mild thumb arthritis.  Treatment consisted of occupational therapy, a splint, and medication.

 

• Body part:   Knee
• Amount:   $25,725
• Claimant’s knee was hurt while she was stocking shelves.  An MRI was done which revealed left medial and left later meniscus tears.  Treatment included a cortisone injection, surgery, and physical therapy.

 

• Body parts:   Hand, wrist
• Amount:   $12,000
• Worker was injured while using a power tool to assemble furniture.  Diagnosis was a stretch injury of a nerve located in the arm.  Treatment included an injection, physical therapy, and pain medication.

 

• Injury: Torn medial meniscus
• Body Part: Knee
• Amount: $36,600
• Claimant twisted knee while shoveling snow on icy steps. Claimant returned to work approximately six weeks after surgery.

 

• Injury: Torn medial meniscus
• Body Part: Knee
• Amount: $25,725
• Claimant injured his knee while doing landscaping in the course of his employment. Claimant underwent a surgical repair of the meniscus that was followed by a course of physical therapy.

 

• Injury: Cervical sprain; concussion
• Body Part: Head and neck
• Amount: $6,020
• Claimant sustained injury to the head and neck and underwent a course of physical therapy for the cervical spine.

 

• Injury: Crush and laceration
• Body Part: Index finger and thumb
• Amount: $6,500
• Claimant was working as a welder when a heavy object fell and injured his hand. Xrays were negative for any fractures, and Claimant was diagnosed with a lacerated index finger and swollen thumb.  The index finger required stiches.  Claimant also underwent approximately two months of hand therapy.

 

• Injury: L4-L5 disc herniation
• Body Part: Lumbar spine
• Amount: $50,000
• Claimant injured his back while moving heavy barrels at work. His injury did not require surgery.  Claimant underwent a course of physical therapy as well as 3 epidural steroid injections.

 

• Injury: Strain
• Body Part: Back
• Amount: $6,720
• Claimant was involved in an auto accident during the course of his employment. After an unremarkable MRI which was unremarkable, treatment included a course of physical therapy.  Claimant subsequently returned to work without restriction.

 

• Injury: Torn Achillies tendon
• Body Part: Ankle
• Amount: $40,086.66
• Claimant sustained a torn Achillies tendon during the course of her employment. She was able to avoid surgery and treated conservatively. She was initially placed into a walking boot. Claimant subsequently underwent a two month course of physical therapy, which was then followed by two weeks of aqua therapy.  Claimant missed one month of work before returning on light duty.  Claimant settled her case for $25,000 indemnity plus an MSA of $15,086.66.

 

• Injury: Strain/Contusion
• Body Part: neck, back, shoulder, elbow & hip
• Amount: $11,000
• Claimant sustained injury to her entire right side as the result of a slip and fall on a wet floor while bathing a resident in a nursing home. Treatment included physical therapy and a shoulder injection.

 

• Injury: Olecranon bursitis; Strain
• Body Part: Elbow; Back
• Amount: $13,000
• Claimant slipped and fell while carrying dishes during the course of her employment. She underwent an MRI of the elbow which was negative for any fracture or tear, but did reveal olecranon bursitis.  She was placed in an arm sleeve.  Claimant also sustained a strain of the lumbar spine during the fall.  She underwent a course of physical therapy for both her back and elbow.  Claimant missed approximately 2.5 months of work as a result of this injury.