LAKELAND, Fla. (March 12, 2009)--David Kleinberg, a partner with Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkiert P.A., announced a significant victory today in an auto accident case representing a woman who was severely injured in June 2005. The client, Alicia Pettett was awarded $1,136,080.05 in damages. The case was tried in Bartow in Polk County.

The plaintiff, Pettett is a 35-year old woman who suffered a broken leg and arm when the car she was driving was hit by a vehicle that lost control due to driver distraction. The driver was not intoxicated at the time of the accident. The victim underwent surgery and rehabilitation and, as a result, missed four months of work. The defendant was Teresa Alisi, owner of the at-fault car; her attorneys were Hank Campbell and J.P. James of Valenti, Campbell, Trohn, Tamayo, & Aranda in Lakeland.

Ms. Pettett filed a lawsuit because Alisi’s auto insurance company, Auto-Owners Insurance, failed to settle her claim. By law, auto insurance companies are obligated to launch investigations and resolve claims within a reasonable amount of time. Since Ms. Pettett did not receive any settlement offer, she was forced to sue the owner of the vehicle and was subsequently awarded the stated amount, a figure grossly higher than Alisi’s insurance coverage limit of $25,000. NK&P will look to Auto-Owners Insurance to pay the entire award.

“Ms. Alisi’s insurance company failed to act in good faith to resolve the claim in a timely manner,” said Kleinberg, who has litigated hundreds of cases involving personal injury. “As a result, Ms. Alisi was left exposed to lawsuits, liens and liabilities.”

The amount awarded was determined by the jury based on fair compensation for her past and anticipated future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. As part of the verdict, her husband, Shawn Pettett was awarded derivative damages.

“My family is very pleased with the verdict that was read,” said Shawn Pettett. “David did an outstanding job. He is a wonderful communicator, and he had us well informed throughout the entire process. As I commend NK&P, I would also like to express our condolences to the Alisi family on their tragic loss.”

The man driving the at-fault vehicle was named in the suit however he died as a result of his injuries. Under Florida law, the owner of the vehicle is legally responsible. Hence, his mother, Ms. Alisi was named in the suit as well.

Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkiert P.A. is a preeminent law firm with offices in South and Central Florida. The firm’s attorneys have a track record of winning cases involving personal injury, including record-breaking verdicts in high-profile automobile negligence and defective design cases. NK&P’s practice area include automobile and motorcycle accidents; medical malpractice; premises liability; defective products; brain injury; and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). For more information, visit www.nkplaw.com.