Arizona Jury Issues Verdict in Insurance Agent Negligence Trial
One driver was involved in a fatal car crash. Following a wrongful death lawsuit, the case settled for $605,000. The plaintiffs' insurance limits were $500,000, leaving them to pay an additional $105,000 out of pocket. The plaintiffs then sued their insurance agent and carrier, claiming the agent failed to advise them about the availability of umbrella policies for excess insurance with a different carrier. The defendants argued their only obligation was to inform the plaintiffs that their current insurer did not offer an umbrella policy.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Wrongful Death Injuries
Wrongful death claims arise when a car accident fatality is caused by another party's negligence. These cases compensate surviving family members for their losses and the decedent's pain and suffering.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $605,000
- County
- Maricopa County, AZ
- Resolved
- 2001
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Wrongful Death
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $605,000 is below the median of $2,500,000 for wrongful death cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $640,000 to $10,900,000, based on 54 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A podiatrist was previously involved in a fatal automobile collision that resulted in a wrongful death action. That case settled for $605,000, exceeding the podiatrist's $500,000 insurance limits and requiring an additional $105,000 out-of-pocket payment. Subsequently, the podiatrist, as plaintiff, filed suit in Arizona against the automobile and homeowners' insurance agent and carrier.
The plaintiff claimed the insurance agent failed to advise them about the availability of umbrella policies for excess insurance through carriers other than their existing provider. The plaintiff sought to recover the $105,000 paid out of pocket. The defendants argued that their only obligation was to inform the plaintiff that their own company did not offer an umbrella policy. The case proceeded to a four-day trial, and a jury deliberated for three hours. The provided record did not specify the outcome of the trial or the final judgment in this matter.
Understanding This Case
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Maricopa County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2001, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome differs from typical similar cases
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