Louisville, Kentucky Jury Awards $2,500 in UIM Claim with Shared Fault
A crash occurred at an intersection during a power outage with flashing red lights. One driver alleged the other ran the red light. The injured person sustained broken fingers and later developed symptoms of a condition. The case involved claims for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and impairment, as well as a separate claim against an insurer for underinsured motorist benefits. The jury found both drivers at fault for the collision.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $2,500
- County
- Dallas County, KY
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Wrist / Hand Injury
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Civil Procedure, Insurance Law, Torts
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $2,500 is below the median of $110,275 for wrist / hand injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,309 to $560,456, based on 6 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A vehicle collision occurred on August 24, 2014, at the intersection of Outer Loop and New Cut Road in Louisville, Kentucky. Traffic lights were flashing red due to a power outage at the time of the incident. The plaintiff, then 19 years old, alleged the other driver, the tortfeasor, ran a red light, causing her to suffer broken fingers requiring two surgeries. The plaintiff later reported symptoms consistent with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). The tortfeasor's insurer paid its $50,000 policy limits.
The plaintiff then sued her own insurer, the defendant, for Underinsured Motorist (UIM) benefits under a $250,000 policy. She sought damages for medical expenses, impairment, and pain and suffering. A separate derivative bad faith claim was bifurcated by the court. The defendant contested liability, asserting the plaintiff also ran the red light, citing the tortfeasor's testimony. The defendant also disputed the extent of injuries and damages, presenting an independent medical examination (IME) report that found the plaintiff's fingers well-healed and dismissed the claimed RSD symptoms. The defendant further questioned impairment claims, noting the plaintiff's limited work history.
The jury awarded the plaintiff $5,000 for medical expenses but nothing for pain and suffering or impairment. The jury then found both drivers equally at fault (50/50) for the collision. This apportionment resulted in a net verdict of $2,500 for the plaintiff, which fell below the UIM coverage threshold. A judgment consistent with the verdict was entered, and the bifurcated bad faith claim against the defendant was dismissed.
Understanding This Case
- 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 2018, 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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