When careless drivers ignore Florida’s traffic laws, the consequences can be devastating. Datny Law recently achieved a significant settlement for an innocent driver injured in a high-impact car crash in Boca Raton, Florida.
The Crash: Failure to Yield on Glades Road
Our client was traveling eastbound on Glades Road at the intersection of 2nd Avenue with a solid green light. At the same time, the at-fault driver (“V1”) approached from 2nd Avenue southbound and attempted a sudden left turn—without slowing, signaling, or yielding the right-of-way.
V1 accelerated blindly into the intersection, colliding directly with our client’s vehicle. The impact caused massive property damage, disabled the vehicle, and deployed the airbags. Ultimately, the car was declared a total loss with damages exceeding $23,000.
While V1 attempted to argue they had a green turn arrow, an independent eyewitness corroborated our client’s version of events. The investigating officer further confirmed the traffic signal was functioning properly, making it impossible for V1 to have had a turn arrow. As a result, V1 was deemed at fault and cited for “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way” in violation of Florida law.
Serious Injuries & Painful Recovery
This was not a minor fender-bender. It was a violent, high-impact car crash that left our client with serious and lasting injuries requiring months of medical treatment.
- Spinal Injuries: Herniated Discs and Chronic Pain
Following the collision, our client suffered neck and back injuries, including multiple disc herniations confirmed by MRI scans. Herniated discs occur when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through its tougher outer layer, often compressing nerves. This can cause radiating pain, numbness, weakness, and limited mobility.
Because the pain did not resolve with conservative therapy alone, our client underwent extensive interventional pain management, including:
- Cervical facet steroid injections (C5-6, C6-7, C7-T1): Targeted injections into the small joints of the neck to reduce inflammation and improve mobility.
- Lumbar medial branch nerve block injections (L2-L5): Diagnostic and therapeutic injections designed to block pain signals from irritated spinal nerves.
- Lumbar epidural steroid injection with epidurogram: A procedure in which contrast dye and medication are injected into the spinal canal under fluoroscopy to relieve lower back and leg pain caused by nerve compression.
- Hand Injury: Trigger Finger from Airbag Trauma
In addition to spinal injuries, our client sustained a serious right-hand injury known as “trigger finger.” This condition occurs when the tendons in the finger become inflamed and cannot smoothly glide through their protective sheath. As a result, the finger may catch, lock, or “trigger” in a bent position before snapping straight again.
In our client’s case, the injury developed in his dominant hand from tightly gripping the steering wheel at the moment of airbag deployment. This seemingly small injury had major consequences, impacting his ability to perform daily tasks and work activities.
Treatment involved:
- Two rounds of corticosteroid injections into the tendon sheath, which offered only temporary relief.
- Trigger-finger release procedure, a surgery intended to free the tendon, which unfortunately did not fully resolve the condition.
- Ongoing medical recommendations for further surgical intervention given the persistence of pain and dysfunction.
Despite months of conservative care, interventional procedures, and surgery, our client continues to suffer chronic pain, physical limitations, and interference with daily life. His injuries affect not only his ability to work and earn income but also his independence, quality of sleep, and overall well-being.
Leveraging UIM Coverage to Maximize Compensation
At Datny Law, we know that insurance companies often undervalue serious injury claims, hoping victims will accept less than they deserve. That was exactly the case here.
After carefully documenting our client’s medical records, treatments, and the long-term impact of his injuries, we submitted a comprehensive settlement demand to Progressive, the at-fault driver’s insurer. Despite overwhelming evidence, Progressive responded with a nominal offer that ignored the seriousness of our client’s injuries, the permanent nature of his conditions, and the total loss of his vehicle. In fact, Progressive doubled down, continuing to undervalue the claim even as the medical and factual evidence mounted.
Rather than accept an unfair outcome, our firm was preparing to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. At the same time, we made a strategic decision to pursue underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits from our client’s own insurer, GEICO. By presenting the full scope of our client’s injuries, medical treatments, and permanent limitations, we demonstrated that the true value of the claim far exceeded Progressive’s nominal valuation.
GEICO agreed and paid its $10,000 in UIM benefits—notably, out of turn and even though Progressive had not tendered its full liability limits. This independent valuation by GEICO confirmed that Progressive was woefully undervaluing the claim.
GEICO’s tender served as powerful corroboration of our valuation and gave us significant leverage in our continued negotiations with Progressive. Armed with this validation and prepared for litigation, we compelled Progressive to increase its offer and ultimately secured a $125,000 settlement. Combined with GEICO’s payment, our client’s total recovery reached $135,000.
Case Outcome: $135K for Trigger Finger & Spinal Injuries After Boca Car Accident
Total Recovery: $135,000.00
- Progressive (BI): $125,000
- GEICO (UIM): $10,000
This case highlights how Datny Law maximized recovery for a Boca Raton car accident victim who sustained serious spinal injuries, including multiple herniated discs, and a debilitating trigger finger injury in his dominant hand caused by airbag deployment. Treatment involved months of physical therapy, a series of pain management injections to the cervical and lumbar spine, and ultimately a trigger-finger release procedure.
Through strategic pursuit of UIM benefits from GEICO and relentless negotiation with Progressive, we overcame the insurer’s initial lowball offers and secured a $135,000 total recovery for our Client. This result underscores the importance of experienced advocacy, thorough medical documentation, and leveraging every available source of compensation in a Boca Raton car accident claim.
Why This Case Matters
Too often, innocent drivers in Florida car accidents are left fighting uphill battles against careless motorists and powerful insurance companies like Progressive that try to minimize claims and delay fair compensation. These tactics can leave victims frustrated, overwhelmed, and unsure of where to turn.
At Datny Law, we make sure our clients’ voices are heard, their injuries are fully documented, and their rights are protected every step of the way. We fight back against lowball offers, leverage all available coverage (including underinsured motorist benefits), and relentlessly pursue the maximum recovery our clients deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, or anywhere in Palm Beach County Florida, don’t take on the insurance companies alone. Contact Datny Law today for a FREE consultation. With proven results (including a $135,000 recovery in this case) we have the experience, strategy, and persistence to help you obtain the compensation you need to move forward.
Other Notable Wins Against Progressive & GEICO
This $135,000 recovery is not the first time Datny Law has gone toe-to-toe with major insurance companies like Progressive and GEICO. Our firm has a proven track record of holding these insurers accountable and maximizing compensation for injured car accident victims from Key West to Miami to Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton to Orlando and throughout Florida.
- $566,000 Settlement – Neck Surgery (GEICO): The at-fault driver rear ended our Client who subsequently sustained serious spinal injuries that required a one level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
- $100,000 Recovery – Brain Injury (GEICO): Client sustained serious injuries in the crash in which he was knocked unconscious after blunt force trauma to the head, face, and chest resulting in a confirmed Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) diagnosis.
- $250,000 Policy Limits Tender – Shoulder Surgery (Progressive): Client sustained a shoulder tear that required surgery as well as spinal disc injuries that resulted in radio frequency ablation.
- $200,000 Settlement – Bike Accident with Internal Injuries (Progressive): Client was struck as a bicyclist on a sidewalk by a driver that made a blind left turn without yield the right of way.
- $200,000 Settlement – Rollover with TBI (GEICO): Client was t-boned by a negligent driver insured with GEICO. As a result of the impact, Client’s vehicle rolled over. Client sustained among other things a serious neck injury that was recommended for surgery, aggravation of a prior unrelated lumbar surgery and a confirmed Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
These results highlight the importance of hiring a law firm with experience battling insurance companies that routinely undervalue claims. At Datny Law, we don’t let insurers dictate the outcome — we build strong cases and fight for every dollar our clients deserve.
To speak directly with our Boca Raton Car Accident Lawyer David B. Datny, call 561-221-7474, or to find out how much your case is worth click here. We proudly help injured car accident victims in Boca Raton and throughout the entire state of Florida.