Smart Negotiating Means Win-Win

A drunk driver smashed into Jenna T.’s car. Jenna was banged up but wasn’t in serious pain – yet. Because it can take time for serious injuries to develop, Jenna didn’t get medical treatment for nearly three months. Almost a year later, she contacted Dianne Sawaya, and by now she was in constant pain. One of the specialist doctors in Dianne’s network diagnosed a herniated disk in Jenna’s neck, and said she would need expensive neurosurgery. The insurance company didn’t want to pay, and said Jenna could have been hurt some other way in the year since the accident. Dianne Sawaya arranged for surgery, gathered statements from witness testifying to Jenna’s pain and disability, and prepared the surgeon to testify about the cause of Jenna’s problems and the need for surgery. Dianne then convinced the insurance company it would be better to agree to a settlement than be sued and face a jury trial.

Settlement: $100,000