A motorist in our client’s neighborhood habitually sped through the streets. Our client became increasingly concerned for the safety of the children who play in the area. He walked over to the speeder’s apartment to discuss these concerns and a man answered the door with a gun in his hand. This man shot our client in the abdomen.
Our client was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery. His life-saving medical bills exceeded $150,000 and he was uninsured and unsure what to do. He hired Dwyer Williams Cherkoss Attorneys, PC to represent him. We learned that, despite the shooter claiming that this event was an unintended accident, the District Attorney charged the shooter. Because the shooting was considered a crime, our client was able to tap into the State of Oregon’s Victim’s Assistance Program. Victim’s Assistance paid $20,000 of our client’s medical expenses and most of the remaining balance was waived.
Our investigation next revealed that the shooter had renter’s insurance. We contacted the shooter’s insurance carrier, submitted our client’s medical records and bills, and were immediately offered the $100,000 policy limits. There was no other insurance money available to compensate our client for his injuries. Nevertheless, due to the numerous write-offs, our client was pleased to be able to walk away with a substantial amount of money.