Coral Gables Jury Finds Negligence in Rear-End Collision, No Permanent Injury
One driver was operating a leased vehicle when another driver allegedly rear-ended their vehicle. The injured driver claimed their insurance company refused to pay underinsured motorist and bodily injury policy limits. The jury found the second driver's negligence caused the injury but also found the injured driver did not suffer a permanent injury.
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
- $7,709
- County
- Miami-Dade County, FL
- Resolved
- 2008
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $7,709 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 September 19, 2003, at approximately 1:35 p.m., a vehicle operated by the plaintiff, leased from Thrifty Car Rental, was rear-ended at an intersection in Coral Gables, Florida. The other vehicle was owned by one defendant and operated by a second defendant. The plaintiff subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging negligence against the owner and operator of the at-fault vehicle.
The plaintiff also brought a claim against their own insurer, GEICO, alleging the company refused to pay underinsured motorist and bodily injury policy limits. Medical experts in physical medicine/rehabilitation and radiology offered testimony regarding the plaintiff's injuries, with the plaintiff claiming to have sustained a permanent injury from the collision.
A jury found that the negligence of the defendant driver was the legal cause of injury to the plaintiff. However, the jury also concluded that the plaintiff did not suffer a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability as a result of the accident. Post-verdict, motions for a PIP set-off and for fees and costs were pending.
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 Miami-Dade County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2008, 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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