Settlement Amount: $215,000
Broken Bones
Drunk/Drugged Driving Accident

Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner attorney David Brown represented a client who was a professional baseball player in the early stages of his career. He was traveling with the team in Washington State, and several teammates went to a local pub after a game. After having a few drinks, the teammates began walking back to their hotel.

During the walk, the group saw an unoccupied golf cart with the keys in the ignition. Poor judgment compelled them to take the golf cart. Our client was the passenger and one of his teammates drove the cart. The cart left the sidewalk and crashed into a fire hydrant, severely fracturing our client’s right ankle. Two surgeries and extensive physical therapy were required for him to heal. His future as a professional baseball player was over.

Attorney David Brown had a real challenge in front of him, since the driver’s insurance company denied Liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage of the golf cart. The at fault driver’s insurance company argued that the policy did not cover injuries sustained in accidents involving golf carts. The fact that those involved had been drinking, and had essentially stolen the golf cart, didn’t help.

Through extensive research and negotiation, David Brown was able to convince the insurance company that the golf cart was indeed eligible for coverage under Kansas State insurance law, and the case was resolved for $215,000.