Denton County Jury Awards $91,200 in Underinsured Motorist Claim
A passenger in a car was broadsided at an intersection when the other driver ran a red light. The injured person claimed a shoulder injury and sought damages for medical bills, lost earning capacity, and pain. The defense argued the injury was a sprain and not necessarily related to the accident. The case went to a jury for a determination of damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $91,200
- County
- Denton County, TX
- Resolved
- 2016
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Shoulder Injury
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This settlement of $91,200 is above the median of $5,258 for shoulder injury cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is Undisclosed to $91,200, based on 3 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In October 2012, a plaintiff, a jailer, was a passenger in a vehicle in Denton County, Texas, when it was broadsided at an intersection by a driver who ran a red light. The plaintiff sustained a left-shoulder injury and other pain. After settling with the at-fault driver's insurer for $100,000, she filed an underinsured motorist claim with her own insurer. When a settlement was not reached, she sued the insurer for benefits. Extra-contractual claims were severed before trial, which then focused solely on damages, as the defendant insurer conceded the other driver's negligence.
The plaintiff claimed the accident caused a torn labrum, necessitating extensive treatment, including surgery a year later, and sought over $120,000 for medical bills, lost earnings, and pain. Her treating surgeon testified the procedure was medically necessary and accident-related. A defense expert, however, opined the injury was a sprain, the surgery unnecessary, and suggested prior injury or job duties as alternative causes for the shoulder condition. The defense proposed a lower award of approximately $58,000. After a two-day trial, the jury awarded the plaintiff $91,200.
Following the verdict, the plaintiff's recovery was adjusted by offsets totaling $102,503 from previous liability coverage and personal injury protection benefits. With the addition of prejudgment interest and taxable costs, the plaintiff's net recovery totaled $4,374.98. The severed claims were dismissed.
Understanding This Case
- 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 Denton County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2016, 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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