My name is Susan. I live in New Hampshire. Several years ago I was in Connecticut visiting my sister when my car was hit from behind in a bad collision and I hurt my neck. At first I didn't think it was a serious injury. I was back at work after a few days. My own doctor thought it was just a muscle strain and that with time and physical therapy I would be fine.
But I wasn't fine. I hired a lawyer in Connecticut to represent me. After a year or so, though I was still working, my neck pain had gotten worse. I would come home from work every day and have to lie down because of the pain. I was having a hard time doing what I usually did with my husband and children.
One day the lawyer called and told me the insurance company had offered $20,000 to settle my case. He recommended that I accept the offer because at that point my hospital bills weren't that high and my doctor had no explanation for my pain.
Instead, I consulted Charles Douthat, a much more experienced injury lawyer at your firm. Charles told me not to settle the case until I was sure what was wrong with my neck. He recommended that I see a neurosurgeon and get a more complete work up, which is what I did. The MRI my surgeon ordered showed I had a nerve injury in my spine that was causing my pain. She told me that if the condition wasn't corrected it could cause me to lose strength and sensation in my hand and arm. I eventually had the surgery, and it stabilized my neck, though the pain didn't really go away.
Charles filed the law suit against the driver that crashed into me. His insurance company initially didn't believe my neck surgery was caused by this accident. Finally the insurance company agreed to a mini-trial in front of a mediator, who awarded me almost $350,000.
Charles gave me great advice and helped me through a very difficult period in my life. He really took the time to understand how the injury affected me and my whole family. At his presentation before the mediator there were tears in the room.
I feel so lucky to have found your firm, after my experience with that first lawyer.
