Practice Area Category: Car Accident

March, 2023 -This was a third-party auto-negligence case involving our client, an accomplished college student who was a passenger in a vehicle where the Defendant driver ran a stop sign at 50 mph, t-boning another car.    Seven years of litigation resulted in a substantial award for non-economic damages of $4,197,000. The award will ensure she receives the support, care, and security to continue healing and fight to reclaim her independence.

As a result of this crash and brain injury, the young woman struggles with ongoing mental and physical fatigue, anxiety, depression, memory changes, problems with executive function,  chronic headaches, blurred vision, balance deficits, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Trial attorney Tom Economy mounted an impressive case, securing critical testimony of expert medical witnesses in the fields of Behavioral Neurology, Neuropsychology, and Endocrinology to support her claim for injury.  (Saraphina Sefcik (Johnson) v Auto Owners Insurance Co.)

Brain injury and no-fault insurance law experts David Christensen and Sarah Stempky Kime of Christensen Law recently received the largest ever personal injury verdict in Michigan when a Wayne County jury awarded their client $17.8 million in damages after a serious car accident left her unable to live independently. After eight days of trial, the jury compensated the injured driver by awarding her damages on June 11, 2014 for lost wages, pain and suffering.

“The jury’s verdict made it possible for me to have closure, have a new outlook on my life, start the real healing process, let go of the anger and ultimately, allowed me to see the silver lining,” said Vaylma Dorado, the 36-year-old plaintiff in the trial.

On September 17, 2010, Dorado was rear ended by a cement truck on Telegraph Road. The driver of the truck was distracted, reading paperwork while driving 50 miles per hour. He ran into the back of Dorado’s vehicle while she was waiting to turn, driving her Volkswagen Jetta into a utility pole.

Because of the accident, Christensen’s client had to have three spinal fusion back surgeries, a hip fusion and shoulder surgery. Dorado now has a collection of screws and plates in her spine that causes her constant pain. She also suffered a significant traumatic brain injury (TBI). As a result, she is no longer able to work or live independently.

“Nothing that happened since the accident will restore our client’s health, but the money the jury awarded will ensure that she has the medical and professional care she needs so that financial concerns will no longer stand in the way of her continuing rehabilitation,” said David Christensen, founder of the firm.

Co-counsel Sarah Stempky Kime commented, “Thanks to the jury’s decision, our client can now focus on healing and adjusting to her new life-changing circumstances without the added anxiety of wondering how she would pay for the additional assistance she needs as a result of the accident.”

Christensen and Stempky Kime explained that the firm’s trial record is among the top 1 percent of trial attorneys nationwide. They believe that every case – large or small – must be carefully prepared for trial from day one and that their tenacious approach to personal injury case facts is responsible for their success in this and many other cases.

About Christensen Law

Christensen Law is a personal injury law firm that specializes in helping victims of automobile and truck accidents. For more info visit: https://davidchristensenlaw.com/

Founder David Christensen earned his law degree, with honors, as well as a Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan. Currently, he is Chairman of the Michigan Association for Justice’s no-fault committee. He testifies before the Michigan legislature and his expertise has led to appointment to key positions that affect the development of Michigan’s no-fault law. In 2012, Christensen was chosen as a “Leader in the Law” by Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly.

Attorney Sarah Stempky Kime graduated from Alma College and Michigan State University’s College of Law with a certificate in Trial Practice from the Trial Practice Institute. Stempky Kime has worked with David Christensen since 2010. Based on her success in a relatively young career, she was awarded the “Up and Coming Lawyers” award by Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly that is given to the top 25 attorneys in Michigan in their first 10 years of practice. She has also been named a “Super Lawyers Rising Star,” an award based upon the votes of other attorneys in her field.

A 56-year-old Grand Rapids sales executive sustained a traumatic brain injury in a rear-end car accident. The case against the negligent driver ultimately proceeded to arbitration, where the panel awarded her substantial damages. (Wilusz v. Bauer)

A Grand Rapids couple were in their vehicle together when they were hit head-on by another driver. The wife died as a result of the crash and her husband suffered a collapsed lung, a severely broken leg, broken bones in his spine and multiple broken ribs. With trial looming, the defendant’s insurance company agreed to settle the case for $3.2 million.

A doctor was stopped in his truck and waiting to make a left turn when he was rear-ended at a high rate of speed by another driver. He was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and required treatment with numerous specialists. After a very hard-fought case and trial, a Tuscola County jury awarded him +$1,933,000 in damages. (Adams v. Stolicker)

A woman was vacuuming her car at a car wash when another driver crashed into her car, crushing her leg. We took the offending driver to court along with the victim’s insurance company because she wisely had purchased under-insured motorist insurance coverage. The jury found that she was entitled to a full recovery of $1 million. (Venegas v Jones)

A healthy mother suffered a relatively minor fracture in a car accident. The fracture led to Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (a/k/a reflex sympathetic dystrophy). CRPS can develop after relatively minor injuries and causes intense debilitating pain. It is a neurologic condition, and challenging to prove. Her case settled confidentially for a seven figure amount. (Confidential)

A 35-year-old part-time substitute teacher suffered a mild brain injury in a rear-end car accident. We took the case to trial, and the jury awarded damages of $1.5 million. (Nelson v Orion Air Express)

A 30-year-old construction laborer was rear ended at about 10 mph. He suffered a whiplash and an acceleration/deceleration brain injury. The defense argued that this was a very mild accident and could not have injured this victim. The jury disagreed and awarded the man $2 million. (Soto v Smurfit-Stone)