Cassandra R. Shashaty
GWC attorney Cassandra R. Shashaty has obtained a workers’ compensation settlement worth $561,007.00 for an injured truck driver.
Injury Prevents Trucker from Returning to Work
GWC’s client was a 48-year-old truck driver working for a heavy equipment rental company. In April 2018, he was delivering a load of metal pipes to a job site in Mendota, IL, when a pipe fell off of the trailer and landed on his left foot, resulting in a fracture of a long bone called the third metatarsal.
GWC’s client required surgery to repair the broken bone, the use of a stimulator, and physical therapy. Despite his treatment, he developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome as a result of his work injuries and claimed that this condition prevented him from physically returning to work as a truck driver.
Insurer Tries to Minimize Value of Claim
The client retained GWC Injury Lawyers LLC as his workers’ compensation attorneys. As in most workers’ compensation claim cases, the insurance carrier tried to “Deny, Delay, and Not Pay” the value of this claim.
GWC attorney Cassandra “Cassey” Shashaty faced the usual battles with the carrier, particularly the argument that this trucker could return to work in some other capacity and make close to the same money. Under workers’ compensation law, this would significantly minimize the value of the settlement.
“The insurance carrier retained a consultant to provide a labor market survey that claimed to identify numerous job opportunities available to our client,” Cassey explained. “The company argued that the claimant would not be losing any earnings, even though his permanent medical restriction limited him to sedentary work only.”
GWC Demands Trial for Fair, Meaningful Award
Despite the efforts of the workers’ compensation carrier to minimize value and offer only $170,000.00 to settle, Ms. Shashaty was committed to getting a fair, meaningful award for her client and demanded that the case proceed to trial.
In a pre-trial conference with the Arbitrator, Cassey produced evidence demonstrating that the insurance company’s labor market survey was unreliable and persuaded the Arbitrator that the case had far more value than the carrier was offering.
As a result of these proofs, her preparation for an immediate trial, and her known reputation for maximizing values for her injury clients, Cassey was able to work out a very significant settlement, with Arbitrator approval, worth $561,007.00. The settlement included a $236,007.00 Medicare Set-Aside for her client’s future medical expenses as well.
“I’m proud that I was able to successfully resolve this case for another well-deserving GWC client,” said Cassey. “It is very rewarding to know that the Arbitrator was receptive to our arguments and was helpful in persuading the defense counsel to get the authority to treat this man with the respect and dignity that he deserves.”
Helping Injured Employees Start Over
A loss of trade can be a devastating blow, forcing injured employees to start over sometimes decades into their working lives. This professional upheaval can be even worse when employers and insurance companies use questionable data and other tactics to downplay the economic cost of a career change in order to minimize the value of a worker’s claim.
Calling competent, respected legal counsel as soon as possible following an injury on or off the job is a definite benefit when fighting the insurance industry and its legal counsel. To maximize your claim value, whether by settlement or trial, contact the dedicated personal injury and workers’ compensation attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers LLC.
With more than $2 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, GWC is one of the premier personal injury and workers’ compensation law firms in Illinois. At GWC, our trial lawyers have the experience, determination, resources, and reputation you need to help get you and your family the justice you deserve.
Schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of GWC’s trial lawyers today. You may call our office at (312) 999-9999 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.