Facts

A two car rear-end automobile collision occurred on Nov. 5, 2006 at approximately 11:30 a.m. Plaintiff Shelley Small was driving her 2003 Volkswagen Jetta south on the 101 Freeway near Haskell Avenue. Defendant Richard Guelich was also driving his 1995 Jaguar southbound on the 101 Freeway. Traffic was moving at approximately 30-50 mph. Small began to slow due to traffic, and Guelich hit the back of Small's vehicle. Small had immediate complaints of pain to her neck, back and left leg at the scene and was transported by ambulance to the emergency room at Encino/Tarzana Medical Center.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Small alleged that Guelich was traveling too fast and was unaware of traffic conditions. Small contended that Guelich's vehicle slammed into hers, totaling her vehicle. She stated she was violently thrown back and forth inside the car, striking her head on the seat and rebounding into the seatbelt and her knee hit the steering wheel.

Specials in Evidence

$100,000 (estimated)

Injuries

Small had neck pain and stiffness as well as upper and lower back and buttock pain at the emergency room. The treating physician noted that she had right knee pain from hitting her knee on the steering wheel, and based on the MRI results, Small's treating physician Dr. Dominick Sisto recommended knee surgery. The surgery was performed at Sherman Oaks Hospital with a diagnosis of a torn medial meniscus of the left knee with grade 3 chondromalacia of the patella, torn lateral meniscus, reactive synovitis, and loose bodies of the right knee. The surgery performed on the left knee was a medial meniscectomy, a patelloplasty, a lateral meniscectomy, partial synovectomy and removal of loose bodies. Small had pain in her neck as well as lower back pain from the accident. The pain in her lower back radiated into her lower extremities. The pain in her neck radiated into her shoulders, arms and fingers. Her doctor prescribed an MRI, EMG and nerve conduction study. The MRI of the cervical spine showed a 3 mm disc herniation at C4-5, bulging at C5-6 and a 4 mm disc herniation at C6-C7 that was impinging the surface of the spinal cord. The nerve conduction study of the lower extremities revealed an L5 radidulopathy. Small had surgery on her neck on May 9, 2009.

Result

The parties reached a settlement.

Other Information

INSURER: USAA.