Longmont Jury Awards $1.86M in UIM Bad Faith Insurance Dispute
One driver rear-ended another on a Colorado highway. The injured driver treated for a disc injury that required surgery but continued to experience pain and developed other complications. The injured driver pursued claims against the at-fault driver's insurer and their own underinsured motorist coverage. A jury awarded damages for economic and non-economic losses, physical impairment, and bad faith by the insurer.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Lumbar Disc Injury Injuries
Lumbar disc injuries affect the lower back (L1-L5 and S1), which bears significant body weight and is particularly vulnerable to trauma. These injuries can cause debilitating pain and functional limitations.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $1,864,328
- County
- Denver County, CO
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Lumbar Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Civil Procedure, Insurance Law, Torts
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $1,864,328 is above the median of $52,582 for lumbar disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $20,000 to $225,000, based on 219 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On January 25, 2011, a rear-end collision in Longmont, Colorado, caused the plaintiff to suffer a surgically-repaired L5-S1 disc injury, chronic pain, and urinary incontinence. After an initial $30,000 settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurer, the plaintiff sought $500,000 in Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage from her own insurer. Despite an initial $185,000 payment, the plaintiff sued, alleging a UIM contract breach and bad faith due to unreasonable delay and ignored evidence. The defendant insurer argued its claim handling was reasonable.
A jury determined the plaintiff's total damages exceeded $30,000. For the UIM claim, the jury awarded $500,000, comprising $167,000 each for economic and non-economic damages, and $166,000 for physical impairment. The jury also found for the plaintiff on the bad faith claim, awarding $3.5 million in compensatory damages, but denied punitive damages.
The initial verdict totaled $5,000,000, but the final judgment for the plaintiff was $1,864,328. This amount accounted for Colorado's non-economic damage limits, prepayments by the defendant insurer, and prejudgment interest.
Understanding This Case
- About 90% of lumbar disc herniations improve with conservative treatment. However, those requiring surgery may face permanent work restrictions and ongoing pain management needs.
- 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 Denver County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, 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
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