Florida Jury Awards Zero Damages for Spouse After Rear-End Crash
One driver was operating a truck when their vehicle was rear-ended by another car. The impact caused the driver to strike their head on the rear window. The case involved uninsured motorist coverage and a prior settlement with the at-fault driver.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $15,000
- County
- Hillsborough County, FL
- Resolved
- 1995
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Facial Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $15,000 is below the median of $75,000 for facial injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $50,000 to $331,521, based on 8 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A plaintiff was involved in a rear-end collision on June 18, 1992, while operating a truck on State Road 60 near Valrico Road in Florida. The plaintiff's vehicle was struck by an underinsured motorist, causing the plaintiff to sustain a head injury.
Following an initial $15,000 settlement with the underinsured tortfeasor, the plaintiff and their spouse filed a claim against their own insurer, the defendant, for uninsured motorist coverage. At trial, the jury determined that the primary plaintiff sustained a permanent injury as a result of the accident. However, the jury awarded zero damages to the plaintiff's spouse for past and future loss of consortium.
The plaintiffs subsequently filed a motion for a new trial on the issue of damages, asserting that the zero award for loss of consortium was an error given the jury's finding of permanent injury. The defendant had previously made an offer of $17,001.
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 Hillsborough County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 1995, 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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