Driver Receives $200K Settlement: Cooper County, Missouri

In November of 2013, Ms. Cook was at a stop sign on the exit ramp of Interstate 70 when she was rear-ended by Defendant Murphy.  The collision was significant in that it propelled her across the intersection.  Ms. Cook claimed neck, back and shoulder injuries. According to the petition, Murphy later pled guilty to driving while intoxicated during the accident.  Most of Plaintiff’s damages were neck related. Cook was represented by Andrew Mundwiller of The Cagle Law Firm.

According to Mundwiller from The Cagle Law Firm, “She did have a complicated medical history in that she had some prior complaints with the same area of the body”. He noted that the MRI did not provide evidence of disc injury and claimed Plaintiff’s compliant was primarily a muscle strain.  He stated that the defendants cited medical records noting that his client suffered from a work-related neck injury and fibromyalgia, both of which predated the accident.  Mundwiller said that her prior neck problems were minimal and seemingly resolved before the crash.  However, the Plaintiff may have to undergo future medical treatment such as “facet block injections”.

Initially, Mundwiller had offered to settle the case for the policy limit of $50,000.00 which was turned down.  However, later the defendants offered the policy limit which Mundwiller rejected.

“We felt the case had value in excess of 50 and I would do a disservice to my client by selling her short at that point,” said Mundwiller.  “I think they recognized that risk and did the right thing by taking care of it and not subjecting their own client to an uncovered judgment”.

Driver receives $200K settlement after Cooper County crash, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, May 1, 2017