Despite Slugfest, Newlin Wins The Day For Florida Victim

Accident Victim Gets $950,000 Settlement

Being slammed head on with severe injuries on Interstate 4 was hard. Achieving a $950,000 settlement more than one year later was even harder, after the legal hand-to-hand combat and maneuverings of a local insurance company.

The settlement, achieved by well-known personal injury attorney Dan Newlin, of The Law Offices of Dan Newlin & Partners, was obtained on behalf of a client who sustained severe injuries when a vehicle ran a red light and slammed head on into the vehicle his client was driving on an Interstate 4 ramp in Seminole County.

The accident occurred when Edward Krutsinger and his wife, Tisha, were returning home from dinner on the evening of November 10, 2013. Mr. Krutsinger, traveling on the westbound exit ramp from Interstate 4, had stopped at a red light and was preparing to make a left turn onto eastbound Lake Mary Boulevard. As he entered the intersection, that’s when the driver of a F 250 pick-up on Lake Mary Boulevard, approaching the Interstate 4 westbound exit ramp, ran a red stop light crashing head on into the 2008 Chevy Avalanche the couple was in. The police report made clear that the pick-up driver’s negligence caused the collision and he received two citations – failing to stop at a red light and driving without a seat belt. Three independent witnesses also believed the driver of the pick-up was at fault. The accident caused Mr. Krutsinger to sustain a brain injury, facial scaring, several fractures, including pelvic and collarbone, and disc herniations in his back and neck. He underwent two facial surgeries which involved the fixation of hardware (screws and plate) to his scull, and up to the present time has difficulty ambulating. Doctors believe it is likely that Mr. Krutsinger will walk with a cane for the rest of his life. Both vehicles were totalled as a result of the crash.

In March 2014, a personal injury lawsuit was filed against the vehicle owner’s auto insurance carrier, Mainstreet America Group. Despite policy coverage of $1 million, the Jacksonville-based insurance company contested liability and questioned the severity of Mr. Krutsinger’s injuries.

“There was never a single offer made by the insurance carrier throughout the 15-month period,” says Jason Herman, attorney, Law Offices of Dan Newlin. One year later, in March 2015, Newlin ultimately negotiated a settlement for $950,000 with Mainstreet America Group, which never admitted fault.

“I believe it is absolutely wrong that insurance companies continue to deny injured people their rightful monetary benefits when they clearly know they are liable and the injured party has mounting medical and therapy bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages and the pain and suffering victims endure and may endure into the future,” said Newlin.

He added: “Thankfully, we have a system that allows accident victims the right to pursue their benefits through legal action and I am grateful that we are very successful on behalf of so many people.”

Of this particular case, Newlin, with offices in Orlando and Chicago, said, while he was pleased to obtain a sizable cash settlement, it was unfortunate that Mr. Krutsinger, who suffered a number of painful injuries that will likely remain with him for years to come, had to wait 15 long months.