May 28, 2025 | admin
For Tom Teodori, achieving the best possible results for CHASENBOSCOLO clients is not just a goal, but a responsibility. “They’re trusting us with their lives and their cases; that’s a responsibility you can’t take lightly,” Tom explained. As a trial law firm, CHASENBOSCOLO not only supports their clients, but also commits to going the distance. “When we take a case, we expect that it is likely to go to court, and we must approach it with that mindset from the very beginning.”
The best outcome for CHASENBOSCOLO’s clients is often different from what insurance companies propose. Instead, CHASENBOSCOLO focuses on acknowledging the intangible struggles clients face due to their injuries. “We know that if we actually take the case to court—rather than allowing an insurance company to determine its worth—we ask a jury to value these life-changing injuries, the jury will make a much more informed decision.”
In December 2023, Tom demonstrated the effectiveness of his resolute attitude when he and his team went to trial on behalf of a client denied fair compensation following a vehicle collision.
The client, a Navy veteran with 20 years of service, was rear-ended by a dump truck stopped in traffic on a highway. The crash resulted in multiple injuries, including neck, back, and shoulder injuries. Despite physical therapy, her neck and back injuries lingered and her shoulder injury ultimately required arthroscopic surgery.
This presented a challenge in the case, as the defending insurance company argued that the shoulder injury was not related to the collision—a common tactic used by defenses to minimize payouts. The client had previously injured the shoulder during her military service but the truck collision worsened her shoulder symptoms.
Tom and his team have considerable experience in representing victims of collisions and knew how to overcome this obstacle. They demonstrated that the forces their client experienced during the accident were more than enough to cause an aggravation and worsening of her shoulder symptoms. “When you’re struck from behind while wearing a seatbelt, your body accelerates forward until the seatbelt restrains you. Your head moves forward until it reaches its limit, and then it snaps back,” Tom explained. This intense forward motion followed by a sudden reversal can result in significant injury to the shoulder restrained by the seatbelt.
When the insurance company made an settlement, both he and his client agreed that the offer was unacceptable. “Often, insurance companies evaluate a case based solely on the medical bills, determining that this amount reflects the case’s worth. They fail to consider how a crash can affect a person’s life, particularly in terms of their ability to interact with friends and family. For instance, they may no longer feel comfortable driving and may even develop a fear of driving.”
The defense filed motions to delay the trial and later increased their offer the morning of trial. However, even their updated offer was unacceptable. After Tom stated his client’s position and made it clear that she would not settle, the trial commenced. Over two days, Tom and his team presented their evidence, concluding with a closing argument. When the jurors began deliberating, they quickly reached a decision. “They awarded our client an amount that almost doubled the defense’s offer, which brought tears to her eyes,” Tom commented. “We are thrilled that she had the confidence to let us take the case to trial and achieve this result. It was a great team victory, and we’re so happy for her.”
Tom praised his client’s tenacity and moral principles: “She was never motivated by money; she just wanted her voice to be heard. She wanted the insurance company to take responsibility for the crash and to make things right. When they refused, she was unwilling to compromise her ideals and values just to accept what the insurance company was offering her.”
When asked what he finds special about trial law, Tom smiled and said, “This gives me the opportunity to make a profound impact on many people’s lives—not just the person I’m representing, but also their families.” He added, “I genuinely enjoy helping people. I’m a competitive person; I don’t like to lose at anything.”
Tom is a shareholder at CHASENBOSCOLO and has been dedicated to the firm’s client-first culture for 37 years. For those considering starting a case but unsure where to begin, Tom offers the following advice: “If you have been injured through no fault of your own due to someone else’s actions or violation of the rules, you have the right and opportunity to fight for what is right and to stand up for your beliefs. We appreciate clients who are willing to fight and have the integrity to ensure that the insurance company does not take advantage of them. [The insurance companies] hope that one day we will go away. Well, we’re not going anywhere. We will continue our efforts to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.”
