Louisville Jury Issues Defense Verdict in Uninsured Motorist Claim
One driver rear-ended another in Louisville. The first driver looked away just before the collision. The injured driver sought treatment for soft-tissue symptoms, including chiropractic care and physical therapy. The at-fault driver was uninsured, so the injured driver sought uninsured motorist benefits from her own insurance company. The insurance company argued the accident was too minor to have caused an injury and that the medical bills were not reasonably necessary. The jury found that the injured driver had incurred medical bills but rejected any award for pain and suffering.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Defense
- Amount
- $8,060
- County
- Dallas County, KY
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-defense of $8,060 is above the median of Undisclosed for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-defense. The typical range is Undisclosed to Undisclosed, based on 187 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A rear-end collision occurred on November 17, 2016, at the intersection of 34th Street and Garland in Louisville, Kentucky. An at-fault driver struck the plaintiff's vehicle after momentarily looking away. Fault for the collision was not disputed.
The plaintiff subsequently sought treatment for soft-tissue injuries, including chiropractic care and physical therapy. Her medical expenses totaled $16,119. As the at-fault driver was uninsured, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit against her own insurer, seeking uninsured motorist (UM) benefits. The plaintiff claimed $125,000 for past pain and suffering and $125,000 for future pain and suffering.
The insurer-defendant argued that the collision was too minor to have caused the claimed injuries. A biomechanics expert testified for the defense, stating that the impact was unlikely to have caused an injury, or that any injury sustained would have been minor. The defense also asserted a threshold defense, contending that the plaintiff had not incurred $1,000 in reasonably necessary medical bills, a legal requirement for certain injury claims in Kentucky.
After a four-day trial, the jury found that the at-fault driver was uninsured and that the plaintiff had met the $1,000 medical bill threshold. The jury awarded the plaintiff $8,060 for medical expenses but did not award any damages for past or future pain and suffering. As the awarded medical bills had already been covered by Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, the court entered a judgment in favor of the insurer-defendant. No post-trial motions were filed.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- 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 Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2019, 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
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