Coral Gables Jury Awards $70,000 in Uninsured Motorist Claim

A motor vehicle collision occurred on June 23, 1991, at an intersection in Coral Gables, resulting in injuries to a passenger. The plaintiff, who was a passenger in one of the vehicles, subsequently filed a lawsuit against their uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage provider, the defendant insurer, to seek additional compensation for the injuries sustained.

During the proceedings, the plaintiff presented expert testimony from specialists in orthopedic surgery, vocational rehabilitation, and podiatry. The defendant, in turn, offered expert testimony from professionals in vocational rehabilitation, orthopedic surgery, and radiology. An attorney for the defendant characterized the original incident as a high-speed intersectional accident. Prior to the UIM claim, the plaintiff had received $50,000 from the at-fault driver's bodily injury coverage, and the defendant insurer had offered an additional $50,000.

A jury ultimately awarded the plaintiff $70,000. The record indicated that the individual components of the verdict totaled this amount. The plaintiff's subsequent motion for a new trial was denied.