Clearwater Jury Awards Damages in Uninsured Motorist Dispute
One driver was rear-ended by another vehicle while driving in Clearwater. The injured driver filed a lawsuit against their insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits and breach of contract. The court ruled in favor of the injured driver on the issue of liability. The insurance company was ordered to pay the judgment and costs.
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
- $29,939
- County
- Pinellas County, FL
- Resolved
- 1997
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $29,939 is near 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 October 18, 1995, a plaintiff was operating a vehicle on Highland Avenue near Ridgelane Road in Clearwater, Florida, when an uninsured motorist rear-ended the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit against the defendant, an insurer, seeking uninsured motorist benefits and alleging breach of contract for the termination of personal injury protection (PIP) benefits.
The defendant had terminated the plaintiff's PIP benefits after its independent chiropractic physician advised that no further chiropractic treatment was necessary. The defendant also disputed the permanency of the plaintiff's neck and low back injuries. During the trial, the court granted the plaintiff's motion for a directed verdict regarding liability, but denied the defendant's motion for a directed verdict concerning the plaintiff's neck and low back injuries.
Ultimately, the defendant satisfied the judgment awarded to the plaintiff, which included a separate cost judgment of $5,040.28.
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 Pinellas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 1997, 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 is within expected ranges
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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