Jury Awards Damages in Uninsured Motorist Collision Claim
One driver was a passenger in a truck that was hit from behind by another driver. The passenger had insurance for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The case involved a dispute over permanent jaw dysfunction.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $53,986
- County
- St. Lucie County, FL
- Resolved
- 1998
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Facial Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $53,986 is near 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
In August 1996, the plaintiff was a passenger in a truck involved in a rear-end collision with an uninsured driver. The plaintiff subsequently sought coverage under an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy with the defendant insurer, State Farm.
During the proceedings, the plaintiff presented expert testimony from dentists specializing in TMJ disorders and general dentistry from Port St. Lucie. The defendant countered with expert testimony from a TMJ disorders specialist from Boca Raton, implying a dispute over the nature or extent of the alleged injuries. The defendant had filed an offer of judgment for $3,000, which the plaintiff did not accept, instead making a demand of $12,000.
The case concluded with the plaintiff becoming entitled to attorney's fees, indicating that the final resolution for the plaintiff exceeded the defendant's earlier offer of judgment.
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 St. Lucie County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 1998, 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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