A $1.6 million settlement has been reached in St. Louis County on behalf of a client injured in a motor vehicle collision in Des Peres, Missouri, according to an announcement from Brown & Crouppen. Attorney Rich Zalasky led the case, which resolved on August 31, 2026. The outcome highlights the critical role of medical causation evidence when a defendant attempts to attribute a plaintiff's injuries to a pre-existing condition.
The crash occurred on Manchester Road east of Interstate 270, where the defendant turned left out of the center turn lane and directly into the client's path, leaving her no opportunity to avoid the impact. The collision resulted in severe lower-back injuries that required a three-level spine surgery, encompassing two disc replacements and a spinal fusion.
Because the client had a documented history of lower-back problems prior to the crash, the defense centered its strategy on that history, contending the collision was not responsible for the surgical intervention she ultimately required. Insurance companies frequently cite a plaintiff's prior medical history to reduce the perceived value of a claim. A documented medical connection between the collision and the resulting injury is what counters that position.
Zalasky and his team focused their argument on medical causation. The central question was not whether the client had experienced back trouble before the collision, but whether the collision transformed a manageable condition into a disabling one. The medical evidence supported the latter conclusion. As the case moved toward trial, the parties entered mediation, and a settlement was reached the following week.
"Insurance companies look for a reason to pay less, and a prior injury is one of the easiest ones to reach for," said Andy Crouppen, Managing Partner of Brown & Crouppen. "Someone who has had back trouble before still deserves to be made whole when a crash makes it worse. Rich and his team proved that connection with medical evidence, and they were ready to take it to trial. That is what moved this one."
The settlement contributes to the more than $2 billion Brown & Crouppen has recovered for clients since the firm was founded in 1979. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
For readers, the case underscores that a pre-existing condition does not automatically bar recovery in a personal injury claim. The outcome may encourage injured individuals with prior medical issues to seek legal advice and to document the connection between an accident and any worsening of their condition. For the legal industry, the settlement reinforces the value of thorough medical evidence and trial readiness in negotiations with insurers.
Brown & Crouppen is a personal injury law firm founded in St. Louis in 1979 by Ron Brown and Terry Crouppen. Following Ron Brown's passing in 2022, the firm continues to carry forward the commitment to advocacy and client service established by its founders. Today, Brown & Crouppen's 40 attorneys and 220 legal professionals serve injured individuals and families across Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois from nine offices, handling cases involving motor vehicle collisions, workplace injuries, slip and fall claims, premises liability, nursing home neglect, and wrongful death. Beyond its legal work, Brown & Crouppen actively supports organizations focused on housing, food security, youth services, and access to justice throughout the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.brownandcrouppen.com.
