Colorado Court Awards $75,000 in Rear-End Insurance Dispute
One driver was traveling on Interstate 70 when the driver behind them failed to stop and collided with the rear of their vehicle. The driver who was rear-ended made a demand to their insurance company for underinsured motorist coverage, which was refused. A lawsuit was filed for breach of contract and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. A jury awarded damages for economic and non-economic losses.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $124,684
- County
- Dallas County, CO
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Physical Injury, Emotional Or Mental Injury
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $124,684 is above the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On January 25, 2013, a driver was involved in a rear-end collision on Interstate 70 in Colorado. The at-fault driver, who was under-insured, struck the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff then sought underinsured motorist benefits from their own insurer, the defendant, but the defendant refused payment.
The plaintiff filed a complaint against the insurer in Colorado District Court, Second Judicial District, on February 3, 2014. The complaint alleged breach of contract, a statutory violation (C.R.S. § 10-3-1116), and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, seeking various damages. The defendant responded with affirmative defenses, including failure to state a claim.
A jury trial was held in January 2015. On January 16, the jury awarded the plaintiff $44,684.61 for economic damages and $80,000 for non-economic damages.
In July 2015, the court entered judgment for the plaintiff for $75,000 on the underinsured motorist benefits claim. The court found in favor of the defendant on the good faith and statutory claims.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- 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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, 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 significantly deviates from similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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