Louisville Jury Awards $119,478 in Red-Light Crash UIM Dispute

A passenger was rendered quadriplegic following a vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 25 in Colorado on July 5, 2013. The plaintiff, a front-seat passenger, alleged that a defendant driver operating a Jeep Cherokee negligently made a sudden left turn from the highway shoulder without a signal, striking the plaintiff's Honda Accord. The collision caused the plaintiff's vehicle to hit the median and roll over multiple times, resulting in a spinal cord injury and a spinal fracture. The plaintiff filed suit against the defendant driver for negligence. Product liability claims were also brought against the vehicle manufacturer, windshield manufacturer, and seatbelt manufacturer, alleging dangerous and defective designs. Specifically, the plaintiff contended the windshield failed to provide sufficient roof support during the rollover, leading to roof collapse, and that the seatbelt was defective, allowing slack that contributed to the injuries. The defendants denied liability and disputed the plaintiff's allegations of damages. The seatbelt manufacturer, Takata, specifically argued the alleged slack was due to the plaintiff's body position, not a product defect. The case proceeded to a ten-day trial against only the defendant driver and the seatbelt manufacturer. Following approximately 8.5 hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $52,000,000. This amount included $5,000,000 for non-economic losses, $15,000,000 for economic damages, $30,000,000 for physical impairment or disfigurement, and $2,000,000 for the plaintiff spouse's loss of consortium claim. The jury apportioned 50% liability to the defendant driver, 40% to the nonparty vehicle manufacturer (Honda), and 10% to the nonparty windshield manufacturer (AGC Flat Glass North America). The jury found no liability on the part of the defendant seatbelt manufacturer, Takata.

A lawsuit stemmed from a rear-end vehicle collision in Lexington, Kentucky, alleging negligent operation of a vehicle. Few additional details regarding the incident or the specific allegations made by the plaintiff were available from the record. The defendant in the case retained an orthopedic surgery expert. The resolution of the litigation was not specified.

A plaintiff filed a personal injury lawsuit after a rear-end collision. The plaintiff sought damages, making a demand of $40,305. The defendant challenged the plaintiff's claims, presenting expert testimony from a neurological surgeon. Further details regarding the case's resolution were not available.

A plaintiff alleged she was injured when her vehicle was rear-ended in traffic, subsequently pushing it into a third car. After settling with the at-fault driver for $25,000, which represented the policy limit, she sought underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage from her insurer, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, claiming her damages exceeded that amount. State Farm denied the UIM benefits. The plaintiff, joined by her husband for a loss of consortium claim, filed suit in the Colorado First Judicial District for the County of Jefferson. The complaint alleged breach of contract, bad faith breach of insurance contract, and violations of Colorado statutes. State Farm asserted affirmative defenses, including failure to mitigate damages. Following a jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict for State Farm. It found the plaintiff failed to cooperate with State Farm's investigation, that these actions were material, substantial, and disadvantaged the insurer, and that she intentionally misrepresented material facts. The court entered judgment for State Farm. The parties later stipulated to dismiss the case with prejudice, with State Farm waiving costs in exchange for the plaintiff's waiver of appellate rights. The court granted the dismissal.

On March 31, 2015, a head-on collision occurred on Dixie Highway near Pages Lane, Kentucky, when an at-fault driver ran a red light. The plaintiff, not wearing a seat belt, sustained soft-tissue injuries and sought emergency care the next day; her minor daughter also sustained a laceration. The plaintiff first settled with the at-fault driver for $25,000. The plaintiff then filed an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim against her insurer, seeking medical expenses and pain and suffering for chronic neck and back pain. The insurer disputed the injury extent, asserting they were minor and degenerative. The insurer also argued the plaintiff's non-use of a seat belt contributed to her damages. Expert medical testimony addressed the severity and origin of the plaintiff's reported symptoms. The at-fault driver's liability was not contested at the UIM trial. A Kentucky jury found the at-fault driver 90% at fault and the plaintiff 10% at fault for not wearing a seat belt. The jury awarded $17,985 for medical expenses and $133,750 for pain and suffering, totaling $151,735. During deliberations, the jury questioned the court about agreeing on a damage number. A final judgment was anticipated to reflect deductions for comparative fault and prior payments.