St. Petersburg, Florida, Jury Awards $0 in Rear-End Collision
One driver rear-ended another vehicle while traveling on a street. The injured driver's damages were claimed to be greater than the at-fault driver's insurance policy. A bad faith claim was also filed against the injured driver's own insurance company.
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-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $1,000,000
- County
- Pinellas County, FL
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $1,000,000 is above the median of $13,021 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,408 to $31,445, based on 800 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A motor vehicle collision occurred on December 27, 2010, in St. Petersburg, Florida, when an underinsured motorist rear-ended a vehicle operated by the plaintiff.
The plaintiffs, the injured driver and a spouse, filed a complaint in June 2012 against their uninsured/underinsured motorist carrier, 21st Century Indemnity Insurance. They alleged the driver's damages from the collision exceeded the $50,000 liability policy held by the at-fault driver. An amended complaint filed in September 2014 added a claim of bad faith against the defendant insurer.
During the proceedings, the defendant presented expert testimony from professionals in accident reconstruction, neurosurgery, biomechanics, and radiology. The jury ultimately awarded $0 to the injured driver for damages and $0 to the spouse for loss of consortium.
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 Pinellas 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 significantly deviates from 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.
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