On October 22, 2023, a husband and wife were traveling back from a trip to Palm Springs, California. While traveling on the Interstate-210 in their Tesla, driving through Pasadena, the couple came to a complete stop in traffic. While fully stopped, the driver of an old pick-up truck rear-ended the couple.
California Highway Patrol showed up to the scene of the collision but did not draft a Traffic Collision Report. Mr. and Mrs. Doe began treating with a chiropractic office in Glendale, California, on October 23, 2023. Mrs. Doe was eventually evaluated by a neurologist, but her care was limited by her pregnancy. Mr. Doe was evaluated by a pain management specialist and also tried physical therapy and PENS treatment for his orthopedic injuries. Mr. Doe did not undergo any injections for his injuries.
The underinsured motorist responsible for the collision was insured with Mercury Insurance. His bodily injury limits were $15,000.00 per person and $30,000.00 per accident. On April 18, 2024, Mercury Insurance accepted a time-limited policy limit demand and tendered their global policy of $30,000.00.
John and Jane Doe were insured with State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. State Farm afforded uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in the amount of $250,000.00 per person and $500,000.00 per accident. State Farm also afforded $5,000.00, each person, in medical payments. The medical payment limits were recovered for each person.
Jane Doe, driver, settled her claims with State Farm in the amount of $175,000.00. John Doe, the passenger, settled his claims with State Farm in the amount of $235,000.00. Ultimately, $450,000.00 was recovered for the couple.
State Farm retained experts from MLXperts to examine Jane and Joe Doe. Mrs. Doe was examined on February 6, 2025. That defense medical examiner opined that Jane Doe did not suffer from any “clear traumatic brain injury, and as such, there is no need for neurocognitive or neuropsychological evaluation and treatment. There is no loss of consciousness. There is no imaging of the brain suggesting any acute traumatic injuries. The clinical notes from the date of injury onward do not point to specific signs and symptoms that would suggest a specific region of the brain that would have been injured or affected.” Mr. Doe was examined on February 10, 2025 by a defense medical examiner who specialized in orthopedics. That examiner opined that Mr. Doe only suffered from “minor soft tissue sprain/strain injuries to his neck, low back and right shoulder.” Claimants’ counsel deposed Mr. Doe’s defense medical examiner on May 27, 2025, prior to the resolution of Mr. Doe’s claims. Mr. Doe’s claims resolved for limits only after the defense medical examiner, who opined that he would not require care beyond four months of the October 22, 2023, motor vehicle accident, was deposed.
This settlement was only possible by way of Mr. Chichyan taking an expert deposition. Make sure the attorney, or law firm, you retain and hire knows how to not only defend you in your deposition, but knows how to take any expert witness’s deposition. Contact Chichyan Law APC today at 818-488-9448 for a courtesy evaluation of your personal injury claims. We litigate to win!