Case Study Part II: The Husband

As you recall, we were following a husband and wife involved in a motor vehicle accident. The husband had immediate pain in his neck at the scene of the accident. The pain was not severe so he decided to go home, take some Advil, and see how he felt the next morning. When he woke up, he had severely stiffened and was in significantly more pain than the day before. This is very common with sprains and strains. Since it was a Sunday, and he was in pain, the husband went to the emergency room, where he was examined and x-rays were taken. He was released with medication and told to follow up with his doctor.

As it turns out, the husband had a prior sports injury to his lower body and was already under the care of chiropractor. On Monday, he contacted his chiropractor and went to see him. Because the husband already had a pre-existing injury, unrelated to a motor vehicle accident, it was important for the chiropractor to define exactly what the husband’s condition was prior to the accident so he could give an opinion as to the worsening of the husband and the changes that he underwent.

The chiropractor’s examination showed spasm and trigger points (essentially knots). The chiropractor prescribed conservative chiropractic care including chiropractic manipulation, massage, and electrical stimulation. After about three to four months, he was back to his pre-accident condition. Several months after that, a demand was sent to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The demand described the accident and how the husband was thrown forward and backward and into the driver’s side door. It included property damage photographs showing the totaled vehicle. It included a summary of the medical records and bills and further described the inconvenience and pain the husband endured during after the accident. The insurance company made an offer, I negotiated with them over a week or so, and eventually, the insurance company made a reasonable offer to which the husband agreed and the case settled. All in all, the husband was happy with the result.

The husband’s case was a typical soft tissue case. He followed the doctor’s instructions, he got better, and the case settled. The wife’s case was another story.

By Craig I. Meyers, Esq.