The Accident
On the morning of August 26, 2021, our client—an active-duty United States Air Force serviceman—was on his way to work when he was stopped at a red light at 
the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 (SR 30) and State Road 87 in Santa Rosa County, Florida. At approximately 7:07 a.m., the defendant driver failed to use due care and rear-ended our client's 2019 Tesla Model 3 with her 2008 Toyota Matrix. The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene, investigated the crash, and issued a citation to the at-fault driver.
Injuries and Medical Treatment
Although the visible damage to our client's vehicle was limited, the forces of the collision caused serious and lasting harm. He was diagnosed with a concussion that progressed to a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with chronic migraines with auras, light and noise sensitivity, blurred vision, dizziness, balance problems, and difficulty with concentration. He also suffered ongoing cervical, thoracic, and lumbar pain, as well as significant mental-health sequelae, including depression and anxiety that began after the crash.
Treatment spanned more than two years at Eglin AFB Hospital / 96th Medical Group and Eglin Flight Medicine, and included emergency care, neurology, chiropractic care, physical therapy, mental health counseling, an eight-month course at the Intrepid Spirit Center for TBI rehabilitation, and Botox injections for chronic migraines. Despite extensive treatment, our client's migraines and TBI symptoms persisted to the point that he was medically retired from the Air Force, ending a 16-year military career.
The Settlement
Browning Law Firm, P.A. pursued the at-fault driver's bodily injury coverage through Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. On October 7, 2024, the firm secured a final bodily injury settlement of $250,000 — the full available policy limits — on behalf of our client. The firm also negotiated the TRICARE/Department of the Air Force medical lien to maximize the net recovery to the client, and funds were disbursed on October 24, 2024.
This result reflects the firm's commitment to standing up for service members and their families when a careless driver upends a military career and a family's future. Every case is unique, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
(Matter ID: 23-11476862)