Houston Jury Awards $212,255 in Motor Vehicle UIM Dispute
One driver failed to stop for a stop sign and hit another vehicle, pushing it into a telephone pole. The injured driver claimed injuries to their neck and back, requiring treatment and rehabilitation. The insurance company argued the settlement with the at-fault driver was sufficient and the injuries were degenerative. A jury awarded future medical expenses and past pain and suffering.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $212,255
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Insurance Obligation, Insurance law, Broadside collision
Case Overview
On March 12, 2015, in Houston, Texas, a plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident. A tortfeasor, traveling eastbound, failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Shepherd Drive and 15th Street, striking the plaintiff's northbound vehicle and pushing it into a telephone pole. The plaintiff alleged that the tortfeasor's negligence was a proximate cause of the accident and resulting injuries, which included damage to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine requiring orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation.
The plaintiff filed a claim for underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits with the defendant insurance company after settling with the tortfeasor for the $100,000 policy limit. The defendant denied the UIM claim, prompting the plaintiff to file an insurance obligation action. The plaintiff asserted that the injuries were permanent, requiring future surgery, and that the tortfeasor's settlement was insufficient. The defendant argued that the plaintiff had been adequately compensated by the initial $100,000 settlement and that the plaintiff's claimed injuries were degenerative in nature, not caused by the accident.
A jury in Houston, Texas, found in favor of the plaintiff. The jury determined that the plaintiff was entitled to recover $202,255.12 for future medical expenses and $10,000 for past pain and suffering, for a total award of $212,255.12. The verdict indicated the jury concluded that the plaintiff's damages exceeded the compensation received from the tortfeasor and that the injuries were not solely degenerative.
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