Connecticut Trial Firm logo. Courtesy photo

The attorney for a 43-year-old Massachusetts man—who suffered head, knee and hip injuries after another motorist rear-ended the car he was driving in West Hartford in 2016—has secured $250,000 for his client.

Attorney Andrew Garza first got $20,000 for his client James Meade from defendant Michael Bailey's automobile insurance, and then $230,000 from the plaintiff's underinsured motorist policy.

Garza, co-founder of Glastonbury-based Connecticut Trial Firm, said his biggest obstacle was overcoming the defense's claim that some of Meade's injuries were preexisting. Garza served the insurer with a complaint in the case, but the case was resolved before a lawsuit was filed in court.

"The case was complicated medically because my client was hit at a high rate of speed," Garza said. "My client had his foot on the break and he jammed his right leg. He also had overlapping injuries to his right knee and right hip, some of which became worse over time. The defense tried to argue that his injuries were because of preexisting degeneration, and not caused by the collision."

Garza said he fought back against these claims from the insurance adjuster.

"My client's injuries were significant and from this incident," he said.

Garza said Meade, who is a pharmaceutical representative and missed several months of work due to the accident, suffered post-concussion syndrome to the head, as well as injuries to his right knee and right hip. Meade, Garza said, had one surgery on his right knee and one surgery to his right hip, which has a cartilage tear. No future surgeries are planned, he said. In total, Meade incurred about $60,000 in medical expenses, Garza said.

According to the police report, Bailey admitted to being distracted due to a family member's health condition, and not being able to brake in time for the stopped traffic ahead of him.

Representing Bailey was Garrett O'Keefe, an attorney with Glastonbury-based Law Offices of Christopher Connelly. O'Keefe did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

While the defense's initial offer to settle was for $30,000, Garza said he continued to hold out for the $230,000 policy limit, which both sides finally signed off on for Meade.

Today, Garza said, Meade "still has some ongoing pain in his right leg, but he is an avid golfer and is attempting to return to his golf game."

Related stories:

Arbitrators Award $760,364 to Norwalk Man Injured in Car Crash

Waterbury Attorney Gets $96,183 Jury Verdict for Woman Injured in Car Crash

Litchfield County Attorneys Secure $250,000 for Client Injured in Car Crash