Attorney Leda Elhassan Secures $300,000 Full Policy Limits in Erath County DUI Rear-End Crash

Angel Reyes & Associates Recovers Maximum Available Coverage After Drunk Driver Strikes Stopped Client

Attorney Leda Elhassan of Angel Reyes & Associates has secured $300,000 in full policy limits for a client rear-ended by an intoxicated driver in Erath County. The result more than doubled the insurer’s highest pre-litigation offer of $132,900.

Our client was stopped at a red light on S Graham Avenue when the defendant, traveling in the same direction, lost control of their vehicle and slammed into the back of our client’s car. The defendant was charged with DWI. Despite that, getting our client the full compensation they deserved was not a straightforward road.

A Complication That Could Have Derailed the Case

Liability in this case was clear. The defendant was intoxicated, rear-ended a stopped vehicle, and was charged accordingly. But clarity on fault does not always translate into a fair offer from the insurance company.

There was an added wrinkle: our client was noted to have smelled of alcohol during their emergency room visit. Even though the defendant was the one charged with DWI, that detail gave the insurer a reason to push back and undervalue the claim.

After we submitted an initial demand, the highest offer we received before filing suit was $132,900, less than half of the available policy limits. That number did not reflect what our client went through.

How We Built the Pressure That Changed Everything

Our client’s treatment included pain management injections, and their physician recommended surgery. Attorney Elhassan used that medical picture as the foundation for the next phase of our strategy.

She filed suit and issued two Stowers demands, a legal tool that puts the insurer on notice that failing to tender policy limits could expose them to liability beyond the policy. The adjuster declined both and continued pressuring our client to accept the lower offer.

Leda’s response was to escalate. Rather than continuing to negotiate with an adjuster who was not moving, she took the matter directly to opposing counsel. That direct line of communication is what ultimately broke the impasse. The defendant’s insurer tendered the full $300,000 policy limits.

What This Result Means

For our client, $300,000 was a welcome relief, secured after an insurer spent months trying to pressure them to settle for far less. At Angel Reyes & Associates, we do not measure success by what the other side is willing to offer. We measure it by what the case is actually worth, and we fight to close that gap.

We are proud of the persistence and legal acumen Leda Elhassan and her team brought to this case, and we are grateful our client trusted us to see it through.

Were You Injured by a Drunk Driver?

This settlement is a timely one with April being Alcohol Awareness Month, placing extra focus on Texas being one of the nation’s most dangerous states when it comes to intoxicated driving accidents.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash caused by an intoxicated driver, do not let an insurer decide what your case is worth. Contact Angel Reyes & Associates today for a free consultation. We will review the facts of your situation, explain your options, and fight to recover every dollar you are owed.Past results do not guarantee future success. Every case is unique and must be evaluated on its own facts and circumstances.