Eric Philpot Obtains Settlement in Tractor Trailer Accident

Apr 22, 2021

OUTCOME: His boss provided Philpot Law Firm with documentation that this man’s ability to do the same amount and quality of work decreased dramatically and ultimately resulted in loss of income. Eric Philpot was able to resolve this case for $485,000 at mediation.

Tractor trailer or 18 wheeler accidents occur more often than you may think. In fact, about every 15 minutes, someone is killed or injured in an accident involving one of these trucks. It’s a terrible ... reality that we have seen firsthand with some of our clients. The Case Recently, Eric Philpot was able to resolve one of these cases in litigation. His client was stopped at a traffic light on Highway 25 in Travelers Rest. He was a contractor that built prefabricated steel offices and had lots of tools and equipment in his truck. Out of nowhere, a tractor trailer, with a distracted driver, rammed into the client’s truck knocking him clear through the intersection. One of his tools became dislodged upon impact and struck him in the back of the head resulting in a gash that required stitches. A CT scan of his head came back negative; however, the scan of the C-spine showed some right-sided foraminal stenosis. He went back to the ER days later with headaches and other musculoskeletal complaints and was treated and released a second time. Later, while on vacation at the beach, he went back to the hospital with more excruciating headaches. A second CT of his head came back negative and he was given post-concussion instructions and told to follow up with a neurologist. This client went on to treat his neck, back, and head injury on and off for three years. Eric’s client never had surgery and had no brain injury showing on his scans. However, the neurologist did some additional testing that showed he definitely had some issues. The Results With brain injuries, there is a lot of unknown. You can have an MRI or CT showing no intracranial abnormality but that does not mean there hasn’t been trauma to the brain. In this situation, the client’s diagnosis would be a minor traumatic brain injury because there was nothing positive on traditional imaging. However, one could argue that nothing is minor when it comes to a brain injury. Since this client continued to work during this time period, it stunted his recovery and made it harder to convey the damages.