Miami Jury Finds Permanent Injury in Uninsured Motorist Claim
One driver rear-ended another vehicle that had stopped. After the collision, the first vehicle would not start, and the injured person agreed to help with the mechanical problem. The vehicle moved, and the hood came down, crushing the tips of the injured person's fingers.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $303,000
- County
- Miami-Dade County, FL
- Resolved
- 2002
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Burns / Lacerations
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $303,000 is below the median of $36,240,000 for burns / lacerations cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $400,000 to $42,000,000, based on 8 cases in our database.
Case Overview
An incident occurred in Miami on June 15, 1995, when a plaintiff's vehicle struck the rear of another vehicle traveling southbound on Old Cutler Road. After the initial collision, the plaintiff attempted to assist the other vehicle's driver with a mechanical problem. During this assistance, the vehicle's hood closed on the plaintiff's ring and pinkie fingers, causing injury.
The driver of the other vehicle was uninsured. The plaintiff subsequently filed a claim against their own insurer, the defendant, under a policy for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The defendant contended the plaintiff was comparatively negligent. Both sides presented medical expert testimony regarding the plaintiff's injuries, with the plaintiff offering experts in plastic and reconstructive surgery and neurology, and the defendant presenting an orthopedic surgery expert.
A jury ultimately found that the plaintiff sustained a permanent injury as a result of the accident. Following the verdict, several post-trial motions, including requests for a new trial, mistrial, and sanctions, were pending.
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 Miami-Dade County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2002, 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
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Want to check your case value?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Miami-Dade County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.