Facts

On June 4, 2012, at 6:05 p.m., plaintiff Paula Hendershott, age 43 exited the parking lot of Oasis Liquor and was making a left turn to proceed southbound on Whitsett, at which time, the 2012 Audi 6 driven by defendant Christopher Choy made a right turn from westbound Riverside to northbound on Whitsett and struck the plaintiff's 2006 Nissan Sentra.

The impact was so severe that the Los Angeles Fire Department had to utilize the "jaws of life" to excise the plaintiff from the vehicle. The plaintiff was transported from the accident scene in Studio City to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Defendant Choy testified that he was driving westbound on Riverside within the posted speed limit; that he came to a complete stop at the red light controlling westbound Riverside to northbound Whitsett; that he turned northbound from the curb lane and that the accident occurred because of the plaintiff pulling out from the parking lot of Oasis Liquor.

The plaintiff was able to obtain a surveillance video from Oasis Liquor, which captured the entire incident, and showed that defendant Choy ran a red light, made a right turn from westbound Riverside to northbound Whitsett from the improper position as opposed to the curb lane pursuant to his testimony.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff served a CCP 998 offer to settle the sum of $1.5 million.

Injuries

The plaintiff suffered a crushed left pelvis, four broken left ribs, broken left clavicle and a chipped vertebrae and was hospitalized for approximately two weeks. She was transferred to a rehabilitation facility where she remained for approximately two weeks. As a result of the accident, she was essentially bedridden and when able to leave her house, used either a wheelchair or a walker, in addition to needing assistance from someone else. She has been in constant discomfort and is in such severe pain that she could not perform simple household chores. She also sustained stress, nervousness, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic amnesia in that she has no memory of the accident as well as the four days following the accident.

Result

The insurance carrier, AAA, paid the sum of $1.5 million in settlement of the action.

Other Information

FILING DATE: July 12, 2012.