Will County Jury Awards $3.6M After 2020 Joliet Rear-End Crash

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Will County, IL – A Will County jury has awarded more than $3.6 million to two people who were injured in a January 2020 rear-end collision in Joliet, resolving a case in which the insurer's final pretrial offers totaled $50,000, according to McCreadyLaw Injury Attorneys.

The case stemmed from a low-speed collision in which the plaintiffs were traveling in a vehicle that was struck from behind. Although there was little to no visible damage to the at fault driver’s vehicle, both occupants later underwent surgery for injuries they attributed to the crash. One reported lower back pain, while the other reported shoulder pain.

During the trial, the defense disputed whether the impact could have caused the claimed injuries, trying to rely in part on the limited visible damage to the vehicle. The Will County jury ultimately found for the plaintiffs, awarding $925,523 to one and $2,685,957 to the other.

According to McCreadyLaw, State Farm's final offers before trial were $5,000 for one plaintiff and $45,000 for the other, for a combined $50,000. The verdict exceeded those offers by more than $3.55 million. The firm expects the plaintiffs' combined recovery to reach approximately $4.6 million after prejudgment interest.

"The difference between the insurance company's $50,000 combined offer and the jury's $3.6 million verdict shows why injured parties need attorneys who are willing to fight for them," said Jess Jordan, an equity partner at McCreadyLaw. "We trusted the evidence, prepared the case, and gave our clients the opportunity to have their injuries and losses heard by a jury."

Jordan tried the case alongside John D. Risvold, a partner at Collins Law Group, P.C. Jordan represents plaintiffs in injury and negligence cases and is licensed to practice in Illinois, Iowa and Arizona. Through trial, arbitration, mediation and settlement, Jordan has secured more than $85 million for clients.

For Will County residents, the verdict also illustrates how disputes following seemingly minor-looking collisions can ultimately become significant civil cases. The amount of visible vehicle damage was one of the issues contested at trial, while the jury ultimately considered the evidence presented regarding the plaintiffs' injuries and losses.

McCreadyLaw was founded in 1999 and handles personal injury matters including car accidents, slip and fall incidents, wrongful death, premises liability, product liability and medical malpractice cases. The firm has 14 offices serving the greater Midwest.

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