Janelle Walker and her five-year-old son, Adonis, were injured when the van they were riding in was rear-ended by an at-fault driver at the intersection of North Scottsdale Road and East Stetson Drive on Feb. 28, 2025. It was the type of accident that occurs every day in the Phoenix area.
But for Janelle, what followed was anything but routine. Soon after taking her case, Kelly Law Team came to understand how focused she was on her son’s recovery. She was a fierce advocate for Adonis and did everything within her power to help him heal, regain a sense of security and get back to being a kid.
Janelle, who moved to Phoenix from Brooklyn, N.Y., four years ago after completing culinary training, said neither she nor Adonis had ever been in an automobile accident prior to this one. It was a jarring experience.
“The accident came out of the blue and caught me off-guard,” she said. “It was pure terror. Shock. I didn’t feel like I had a chance to protect myself or my son. I was numb. I thought ‘What in the world is happening?’”
She said she immediately turned around to check on Adonis.
“I knew I was hurt, but I didn’t know where. My main concern was for him,” Janelle said. “He could see that I was hurt, and he was crying.”
What Do You Do When You’re in an Accident?
She said she remembered feeling like she was in a fog but managed to call 911.
They were transported to HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center by ambulance where they were treated for their injuries. Bruising, some cuts, and a headache all were noted by the attending physicians, but none appeared life-threatening. After a few hours, they were sent home and instructed to seek follow-up care.
A couple of days later, still sore and shaken, Janelle went back to work as a line cook at a local restaurant. She said she had trouble concentrating on her job. She told her boss that she was worried about Adonis. She also told him that a representative from the at-fault driver’s insurance company had called, and she felt uncomfortable speaking with him. Her boss suggested she might need to get legal advice.
“The more I thought about it, I realized this wasn’t my fault and I shouldn’t have to pay for the damage,” Janelle said. “I felt like they (the insurance company) were going to try to use what I was telling them against me, and I didn’t trust them. That’s when I decided things wouldn’t go well for me if I didn’t get an attorney. I knew I had to find somebody who would stand up for me.”
After work that evening, Janelle started searching online for an attorney. The next day, she contacted three firms but came away disappointed.
“It just didn’t feel right. It felt like they were just looking for a transaction,” she said.
Then she found Kelly Law Team and called. From her first conversation, Janelle felt that someone was finally listening.
Do I Have a Case?
“I didn’t even know if I had a case, because I wasn’t driving,” she said. “But after telling them what happened, I felt a lot better about everything.”
What stood out to Janelle was the way the firm responded to her concerns, particularly those involving Adonis.
“They seemed genuinely compassionate and cared about my son,” she said. “They told me they would deal with the insurance company from that point on.”
For Janelle, that brought a sense of relief. She knew she had a strong legal team protecting her rights and guiding her through what would come next.
Knowing the legal aspects of the case were being handled allowed Janelle to focus more fully on Adonis and his recovery.
“I felt like they represented my son the way I wanted it done. They were aggressive and were protecting him all the way. That’s the way I am about him.”
As time passed, Janelle learned that Adonis’ injuries went beyond physical.
“A few weeks after the accident I started seeing things in him that made me realize he’s having problems I can’t control, but I definitely might be able to help him with,” she said. “He changed a little, and he was having nightmares.”
How Do You Find Doctors and Therapists?
The Kelly Law Team helped Janelle find doctors and therapists who could work with Adonis.
Meanwhile, she was dealing with significant pain from her own injuries and needed continued medical treatment. Yet, even as she managed her own recovery, Janelle made sure Adonis never missed an appointment and continued to receive the care he needed.
Kelly Law Team founder John Kelly said everyone at the firm who worked with Janelle was impressed with her focus on Adonis despite her personal struggles. In addition to pain from her injuries, Janelle suffered enormous emotional pain when she lost her pregnancy a few weeks later. Also, her mother passed away within months following the accident.
Despite carrying the weight of her own recovery and enduring unimaginable personal loss, she remained focused on her son’s well-being. She regularly expressed appreciation for the support she received throughout the legal process.
“Janelle’s emotional resilience left a lasting impression on everyone who worked with her throughout the case,” Kelly said. “She was deeply concerned about Adonis, and she was recovering from two herniated discs, a concussion, and injuries to her shoulder, neck and knee. Yet she consistently approached each conversation with grace, optimism, and gratitude.”
What Happens When the Case is Settled?
Janelle met with the Kelly Law Team to sign the final paperwork. She became emotional when she realized the financial security the settlement would provide and the opportunities it could create for her son’s future.
Because Adonis was a minor, the settlement required court approval, and his portion of the funds was placed into a restricted account.
Asked how she would rate her experience working with Kelly Law Team, Janelle gave the firm 11 out of 10.
“I really appreciate this firm,” she said. “I’m very grateful for them and what they did for us.”
Does Every Case Go to Trial?
“Not every case we handle has to involve litigation,” Kelly said. “If liability is clear and we have developed the evidence necessary to establish the client’s damages, the insurance company finds itself in a position where paying a fair settlement makes more sense than fighting the claim.”
“When a child is injured, we look at that claim separately from the parent’s claim,” Kelly said. “Our responsibility was to make sure Adonis was fairly compensated and that his settlement was handled in a way that protected him for the future.”
For Janelle, the resolution brought an end to a difficult period in which she had been managing her own recovery while making sure her son received the care he needed. For Adonis, it meant his injuries had been recognized and his interests protected.
With the case resolved, Janelle could turn her full attention back to their lives, while Adonis could get back to what mattered most — being a kid.
Injured while someone else was behind the wheel?
Kelly Law Team helps Arizona families understand their options after serious motor vehicle collisions. Contact the firm to discuss what happened and learn what steps may be available.
