Harris County Jury Awards $174,525 in UIM Insurance Dispute
One driver was injured in a car accident. The injured driver had insurance coverage for collisions caused by underinsured motorists. After the insurance company denied a claim and offered an insufficient settlement, a lawsuit was filed. The injured driver alleged the insurance company violated prompt payment and unfair settlement acts. The case proceeded to trial, and a jury found the other driver's negligence caused the collision. Damages were awarded, and after credits, a final judgment was entered against the insurance company.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $49,525
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This settlement of $49,525 is above the median of $11,429 for other cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $4,710 to $30,000, based on 82 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In Harris County, Texas, a plaintiff sustained personal injuries in a car accident on July 1, 2015, involving an underinsured driver. The plaintiff was insured by Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and sought coverage for underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits. After the insurer denied that the claim met the threshold for a UIM payout and offered a settlement the plaintiff deemed insufficient, a lawsuit was filed on September 27, 2016.
The plaintiff alleged that Allstate violated the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act, the Unfair Settlement Act, and breached its common law duty of good faith and fair dealing. The plaintiff sought actual damages, including medical expenses, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and mental anguish, along with UIM benefits, statutory penalties, and attorney's fees. Allstate responded by asserting defenses, including comparative responsibility of the plaintiff, entitlement to offsets for amounts recovered from other parties, and that the plaintiff's injuries resulted from pre-existing or subsequent conditions. The insurer also claimed the plaintiff had not complied with policy terms.
The court later severed the extra-contractual claims, such as the Texas Insurance Code violations and breach of duty of good faith, from the underlying contract claim. The case proceeded to trial. On September 14, 2021, a jury found that the underinsured driver's negligence proximately caused the collision. The following day, the jury returned a ten-to-two verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $204,525.00 in total damages, which included past and future medical expenses, pain, impairment, mental anguish, and lost wages.
After applying a $30,000.00 offset for the underinsured driver's policy limits, the plaintiff was awarded a final judgment of $174,525.00 against Allstate. The outcome indicated the jury determined the plaintiff's damages were significantly higher than initially offered by the insurer, leading to a substantial UIM benefits award.
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 Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2021, 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 Harris County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver rear-ended another vehicle stopped at a red light. The driver who was hit filed a lawsuit seeking damages for medical expenses and pain and suffering. The parties reached a settlement agreement.
One driver's pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. This happened shortly after the first pickup truck was struck by a third vehicle. The driver of the first pickup truck claimed an injury. The second pickup truck sustained significant damage.
One driver stopped their vehicle on a highway when the other driver struck them from behind at a high speed. The impact caused the driver to hit their head and briefly lose consciousness. The injured driver claimed the accident caused a brain injury, preventing them from completing college studies, and also affected their ability to care for their young son. The other driver admitted to the collision but disputed the extent and cause of the injuries.
One driver was traveling on Interstate 10 when his pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. That second pickup truck had been propelled forward after being struck by a tractor-trailer. The driver of the first pickup truck claimed injuries to his back and neck. The case involved multiple defendants and allegations of negligence in vehicle operation and employer liability.
One driver was proceeding through an intersection when their vehicle collided with another vehicle making a left turn. The injured driver claimed injuries to their back and neck. The case involved a claim against the injured driver's own insurer for underinsured motorist benefits after an initial settlement with the at-fault driver's insurer.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.