In June 2025, attorney Jenifer Snow secured a $487,000.00 (remaining policy limits) settlement for a passenger who was rear-ended by an inattentive driver, resulting in a retinal detachment and partial, permanent vision loss.
On October 18, 2021, the client was the restrained passenger of a vehicle stopped at a red light in Effingham County, Illinois, when the vehicle behind them failed to stop and struck the back of the vehicle the client and her husband were in. Effingham County is a conservative venue and one where jury trials are sparse.
Following the crash, our client felt immediate pain in her neck and back and presented to Urgent Care to get evaluated. 2 days after the crash, the client began to see floaters and shadows and, for the first time, realized something was wrong with her vision. It was not until 7 days after the crash that the retinal detachment was diagnosed, and it was not until 10 days after the crash that the re-attachment procedure occurred.
The defendant disputed the gravity of the injury and highlighted the 7-day and 10-day delays. The defendant also used the venue to her advantage, expecting Jenifer and her team to take less than the limits.
Jenifer and her team refused. They worked diligently with a retained ophthalmology expert from the onset of the case and then also talked with the client’s treating ophthalmologist to obtain testimony from both that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the retinal tear was caused by the auto accident and that the client’s vision loss was permanent in nature. After both physicians were deposed, Jenifer again asked for the policy limits, which was ultimately offered. The client could not have been more grateful to put this chapter of her life behind her and to get money to help her move forward.
