- Location: Summit County, Ohio
- Type of Case: Motor Vehicle Accident / Drunk Driving
- Settlement Amount: $1,500,000
Case Overview & Firm Perspective
Skolnick Weiser Law Firm secured a $1.5 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered a catastrophic, life-threatening injury after being struck by an intoxicated driver in Summit County. The collision resulted in a transected aorta—an injury that is frequently fatal and requires immediate surgical intervention to survive. From the firm’s perspective, this case exemplifies the devastating consequences of drunk driving and the importance of aggressive legal advocacy to ensure that victims of reckless conduct receive compensation that truly reflects the severity of their injuries.
Geography & Venue Considerations
Summit County, Ohio, sees a significant number of motor-vehicle injury claims each year, but only a small fraction involve injuries as severe as a transected aorta. While Ohio juries and insurers do recognize serious bodily harm, many drunk-driving cases—even those involving hospitalization—resolve for mid-six-figure amounts or less, particularly when insurers attempt to minimize long-term risk. Against this backdrop, a $1.5 million settlement represents an outcome well above typical Summit County and statewide averages for motor-vehicle injury cases, reflecting both the extraordinary severity of the injury and the strength of the liability evidence.
Injuries Sustained
As a direct result of the crash, the plaintiff sustained a transected aorta, one of the most critical vascular injuries a person can survive. This injury involves a tear in the body’s main artery and poses an immediate threat to life due to rapid internal bleeding. Survivors often face prolonged hospitalization, permanent physical limitations, and ongoing health risks. In this case, the injury dramatically altered the plaintiff’s physical condition and required extensive medical intervention simply to survive the initial trauma.
Treatment, Medical Response, and Expenses
The plaintiff required emergency transport and immediate surgical repair to address the aortic injury, followed by intensive care hospitalization and a prolonged recovery period. Treatment included emergency vascular surgery, close cardiovascular monitoring, and follow-up care to manage complications and long-term risks associated with the injury. In addition to acute medical costs, the plaintiff faced ongoing medical needs, lost income during recovery, and the physical and emotional toll associated with surviving a near-fatal event. Skolnick Weiser Law Firm worked to ensure that both present and future medical and financial impacts were fully accounted for in the settlement.
Cause of Injury & Fault
The investigation established that the defendant driver was intoxicated at the time of the collision. Alcohol impairment was the direct and proximate cause of the crash and the resulting catastrophic injuries. Drunk driving represents a clear violation of legal and societal standards of care, and the evidence left little room for dispute as to liability. By thoroughly documenting impairment and causation, Skolnick Weiser Law Firm positioned the case to hold the at-fault driver fully accountable for the harm caused.
Legal Process & Timeline
Following a comprehensive investigation, Skolnick Weiser Law Firm filed suit to protect the client’s rights and pursue full compensation. The litigation process involved evidence gathering, medical record analysis, and negotiation with insurers facing substantial exposure due to the severity of the injury and clear fault. While many serious injury cases are undervalued early, sustained litigation pressure ultimately led to a resolution that appropriately reflected the magnitude of the damages. The case resolved through settlement after suit was filed, avoiding trial while still achieving a result far exceeding typical outcomes.
Settlement Amount & Comparative Value
The case resolved for $1,500,000, a result that significantly exceeds average motor-vehicle injury settlements in both Summit County and Ohio. Many drunk-driving injury cases, even those involving surgery, resolve for amounts that fail to capture the long-term consequences of catastrophic trauma.
The hidden value in this outcome lies in recognizing the true gravity of the injury. Transected aorta cases are rare, medically complex, and often underestimated by insurers due to survival variability. Skolnick Weiser Law Firm ensured the settlement reflected not just survival, but the lasting medical risks, physical limitations, and life disruption caused by the defendant’s intoxicated driving. The result underscores the firm’s commitment to achieving outcomes that exceed regional norms by refusing to undervalue severe, life-altering injuries.