Our client was an over-the-road truck driver who was injured when his truck was rear-ended by another truck at a toll booth in Rockford, Illinois. He sustained lower back injuries that necessitated surgery. However, his employer’s workers’ compensation carrier disputed the need for surgery and the driver’s ongoing disability.
Initially, the workers’ compensation claim was denied, but we took the case to arbitration and won there and on appeal. By arbitrating the case, our client preserved his right to future medical treatment, in addition to lost time and additional permanent disability benefits.
We then prosecuted the personal injury claim against the other truck driver. That defendant raised the same defense, contending that our client only sprained his back. Yet we persisted and settled the case before it went to trial.
