Verdictly
Settlement
Dallas County • 2024

Dallas County Jury Awards $250,000 in Insurance Bad Faith

One driver changed lanes, struck another vehicle, and then hit a third driver's car. The first driver was found at fault. The injured driver claimed neck, back, and shoulder injuries. The case involved claims against the at-fault driver's insurance, the injured driver's underinsured motorist coverage, and allegations of bad faith and unfair practices by the insurer and its adjuster.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

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Neck Injury (Whiplash)
Multi-vehicle
Insurance Code violations

About Neck Injury (Whiplash) Injuries

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by rapid back-and-forth movement of the head, commonly occurring in rear-end collisions. Despite being frequently dismissed, whiplash can cause significant pain and disability.

Case Outcome

Outcome
Settlement
Amount
$250,000
County
Dallas County, TX
Resolved
2024

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type
Neck Injury (Whiplash)
Accident Type
Multi-vehicle
Case Type
Insurance Code violations, Underinsured Motorist

Settlement Context

This settlement of $250,000 is above the median of $19,000 for neck injury (whiplash) cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $6,287 to $115,000, based on 63 cases in our database.

Case Overview

In April 2016, a traffic collision occurred in Dallas County when an at-fault driver changed lanes, struck another vehicle, and then collided with the plaintiff’s vehicle. Police determined the at-fault driver was responsible. The plaintiff claimed neck, back, and shoulder injuries. The at-fault driver had a $30,000 liability policy, which settled before trial. The plaintiff also had a $100,000 underinsured motorist (UIM) policy with the insurer.

The plaintiff filed a lawsuit alleging the at-fault driver's negligence, the insurer's liability for UIM benefits, and that the insurer and its adjuster violated the Texas Insurance Code, including claims of bad faith. The extracontractual claims against the insurer and adjuster were severed from the UIM claim. In the UIM claim, the insurer stipulated that the at-fault driver's negligence caused the collision, and the case proceeded to trial solely on damages in October 2022. A jury determined the plaintiff's damages totaled $80,000, for future medical expenses only. After applying all credits, the insurer owed the plaintiff $40,000 under the UIM policy. The judgment, which included an award of attorney fees and costs totaling over $272,000, was subsequently appealed.

The extracontractual claims went to trial in August 2024. The jury was instructed that, based on the UIM verdict, the insurer owed the plaintiff $40,000. The plaintiff argued that a 2019 settlement demand, which included documentation supporting over $438,000 in past and future medical expenses, received no offer from the insurer or adjuster. The defense asserted that the prior liability settlement fully compensated the plaintiff and that adjusters reasonably exercise their own judgment regarding medical charges without requiring expert input.

The jury found that the insurer and the adjuster engaged in an unfair or deceptive act or practice, and that the insurer's conduct was committed knowingly. The jury awarded the plaintiff $10,000 in damages attributed to the adjuster and $20,000 attributed to the insurer for wrongfully withheld policy benefits. An additional $20,000 was awarded because the insurer's conduct was committed knowingly. The jury also awarded $200,000 for attorney fees through trial, bringing the plaintiff's total award for the extracontractual claims to $250,000.

Understanding This Case

  • Most whiplash injuries improve within 2-3 months. However, about 25% of patients experience chronic symptoms lasting over a year, significantly impacting quality of life.
  • This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
  • This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
  • Resolved in 2024, 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

67
/100
Reasonably Fair

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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