A recent article in the Daily Report outlined how Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Tony Kalka was instrumental in securing a $1 million settlement for a man who was injured in a truck accident in Paulding County, Georgia. According to the July 2, 2013 article, our The Kalka Law Group lawyer made a number of strategic moves that helped solidify for his client’s claim. The article was titled “$1M Settlement Reached After Paulding Driver Breaks Ankle.”
The Daily Report article gave a summary of the details included in the client’s demand package, which was drafted by Attorney Kalka and the client’s other attorney. The accident occurred on Aug. 22, 2011 when the client was driving to work in the early hours of the morning when it was still dark. Heading eastbound on Merchants Drive in Paulding County, the man went over a hill and then crashed at full speed into a truck that was stopped in the road with no flashing lights or warning markers. As a result of the collision, the victim’s ankle was crushed, mangled and bruised, and the victim also suffered from cuts on his arms and head. His total medical expenses came out to $328,392, which included the costs of five surgeries, as well internal and external stabilizer used for his recovery, according to the article. The demand package asked for $3 million with an additional $500,000 for a loss of consortium of the client’s wife. The $1 million settlement was reached as a compromise following a full day of mediation.
While the client and his attorneys did not reach the full amount they were asking for, the settlement was still a victory considering that a previous attempt to negotiate with the other party through mediation had fallen flat. Attorney Brian Caron of Stein & Ward had previously been handling the case on his own and was having difficulty reaching a settlement. This is when he decided to join forces with Attorney Kalka, who is highly experienced in handling truck accident cases.
Attorneys and Kalka and Caron created a DVD that showed a “day in the life” of the client and his wife, particularly focusing on how the couple was impacted by the accident. They also created a very detailed demand package that fully broke down the client’s medical visits and medical needs after his accident. The demand package even brought exposure to the fact that the truck driver in the accident had been listed on the Mississippi Sex Offender Registry for an offense of sexual battery.
Another factor that made a major difference in the case was the lawyers’ ability to track down the Paulding Sheriff’s deputy who had spotted the truck parked in the road without the proper warning signals shortly before the accident occurred. The official incident report had not included the deputy’s name. Attorney Kalka made a 5.5-hour drive in order to get to the deputy, who had moved away. The lawyer had a laptop, printer and power pack in his truck so he could get a statement and affidavit.
This is just one of the many cases in which Attorney Kalka has helped injury victims obtain much-needed financial recovery after their accidents. In addition to truck accident cases, our law firm, The Kalka Law Group, also handles many different types of personal injury cases. Contact us today to learn more about our services!