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$1,009,137.10 verdict - January 2004, Orange County, Florida
Our client was severely injured when she was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler while exiting Florida's Turnpike. She sustained permanent physical injuries, and severe depression. During the two years before trial, she could not return to work. Shockingly, the insurance company's "top offer" to settle this case before trial was only $30,000, an amount that did not even consider all of the medical bills she incurred in the past! After a hard fought five-day trial, the jury returned a just and proper verdict. The Defendant's insurance company tried to avoid payment of this verdict by appealing the jury's decision, but Jeffrey Byrd fought this case through the appellate courts to ensure the jury's decision was upheld. After a confidential settlement, our client was finally compensated for this devastating event in her life.
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$780,000 verdict- August 2002, Orange County, Florida
Young man was severely injured in a motor vehicle accident when his leg was broken. State Farm insured the at-fault person, and failed to timely accept our client's settlement terms. After a hotly contested six-day trial, the jury returned a favorable verdict for our client. Although terms of the significant settlement are confidential, our client finally received justice after State Farm lost its appeal.
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$675,000 settlement-September
2002, Orange County, Florida
After dropping her children at school, our client was injured on her way home when a garbage truck negligently turned left in front of her family van. Her injuries were extensive and required numerous surgeries. The insurance company initially offered $150,000 in settlement. After extensive litigation and aggressive representation, a satisfactory settlement was achieved shortly before trial.
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$623,826.18 verdict-February 2005, Seminole County, Florida
Our elderly client was severely injured when another car ran a red light and struck our client's car in the intersection. Our client had been denied justice for nearly 3 1/2 years by the insurance company for the at-fault party. The insurance company blamed our client's advanced age for many of his health problems despite clear medical evidence to the contrary! A prior attorney for our client was not able to conclude this case; therefore, our client sought out an attorney with aggressive trial skills. The Law Offices of Jeffrey M. Byrd, P.A. were pleased to provide representation to our client, who was a distinguished and decorated war veteran. Because the insurance company's final offer before trial was a paltry $75,000 in settlement, a medically complicated and expensive trial was necessary. Fortunately, a satisfactory verdict was awarded by the jury after they heard all of the medical evidence. Our client is forever grateful that the jury was able to do provide him justice when the opposing Insurance company was unwilling to treat him fairly.
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$465,650.29
verdict-August 2006, Polk County, Florida
Our client was injured in an intersection collision when another, uninsured vehicle pulled out in front of her. As a result of the collision, our client sustained numerous injuries. Also, she lost her job and the career that she loved. She was smart enough to purchase Uninsured Motorist coverage with Nationwide. Prior to filing suit, her company was only willing to offer her $500 to settle her UM claim! At one point, she was willing to settle for the maximum coverage limits of $50,000, but her own insurance company still said "no" to her. Her injuries ultimately required surgery. Finally a jury decided our client was not the one who was being unreasonable. Now her insurance company will have to pay dearly for its delays and efforts to deny our client justice, as the jury's verdict was substantially more than the amount of her insurance policy.
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$453,000 verdict-April 2005, Orange County, Florida
This case involved a sweet 6-year-old girl who was attacked by a mixed breed dog at her own apartment complex. The apartment complex knowingly allowed this dangerous animal to live on the premises. As a result of the attack, she was left with ugly scars on her face and arm. The insurance company unreasonably fought this case for many years. The litigation was nasty at times. The insurance company felt it was being "very generous" by offering $135,000 to settle the case just prior to trial. Fortunately the jury returned a more realistic verdict and allowed the little girl to have the resources to receive further plastic surgery, and attend college.
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$450,000 settlement-December
2005, Orange County, Florida
Three
years earlier, a nice, elderly woman was walking across the road
to get to her bus stop. She was struck and killed by a company
vehicle. The police did a terrible investigation of the cause
of the crash. Prior to filing a lawsuit on behalf of the surviving
family, the insurance company offered an insulting $25,000 as
compensation for the loss of her life. The insurance company did
not feel her life was worth much because of her advanced age,
and because the cause of the crash was unclear to them. It took
three years to fight this case. Investigators hired by Jeffrey
M. Byrd, P.A., tracked down some critical witnesses. Just
before trial, a much more favorable settlement was reached for
the three surviving sons. While no amount of money can ever replace
the loss of a mother, at least some degree of justice was served
after all the incredible delays by the insurance company.
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$425,000 settlement-March
2002, Orange County, Florida
This
case involved a young man who was rear-ended by a drunk driver
insured by State Farm Insurance. State Farm would not pay the
maximum $50,000 in coverage, instead offering our client a $5,000
settlement. After a jury trial resulted in a $325,000 verdict,
State Farm agreed to settle for $425,000 in consideration of additional
attorney's fees and costs owed to our client. This case illustrates
yet another example of how insurance companies will play games
until impressive results are achieved through aggressive litigation.
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$300,000 settlement-July
2003, Hillsborough County, Florida
Recently
our firm resolved a case of a gentlemen who was rear-ended by
a State Farm insured. State Farm initially refused to pay the
maximum $25,000 in coverage on behalf of the lady who rear-ended
our client. Because of State Farm's failure to settle, litigation
became necessary. Shortly before trial, this case settled for
$300,000, 12 times more than the available insurance benefits.
This case proves that aggressive litigation often results in favorable
outcomes.
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$240,000 settlement-December
2002, Orange County, Florida
This
case involved an elderly gentlemen who tripped and fell due to
a defective elevator. Our client was originally represented by
another law firm for 3 ½ years, but when State Farm Insurance
denied all responsibility, the prior lawyers "fired" our client.
Our client came to our firm seeking help, and litigation followed.
Through our aggressive litigation efforts, we uncovered documentation
showing the elevator was indeed defective prior to the accident
in question, resulting in a significant settlement. This case
demonstrates how aggressive litigation skills and tactics uncover
evidence leading to impressive results often overlooked by other,
less assertive lawyers or law firms.
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$230,000 settlement-Orange
County, Florida
This
case involved a complete denial by Nationwide Insurance of any
responsibility for injuries sustained due to a fire. To escape
certain death from fire, our client had to jump from a second
story window of his burning apartment. He injured his back and
wrist in the process. Although Nationwide denied any responsibility
through out the entire case, shortly before trial a $230,000 settlement
was obtained for our client.
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$200,000 verdict-Orange
County, Florida
This
case involved a young man whose S.U.V. was struck in the side
by a large commercial vehicle. The insurance carrier offered a
final settlement of "$25,000" prior to trial. An Orange County
jury verdict returned a verdict in the sum of $200,000 for our
client, finding the commercial driver entirely at-fault and responsible
for all of the damages he caused. After a successful appeal, our
client was properly compensated.
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$157,000 verdict-November
2001, Orange County, Florida
This
case illustrates the lengths to which an insurance company will
go to deny justice. Our middle aged female client was involved
in a motor vehicle accident with someone insured by Allstate.
Allstate offered our client only $101.00 to resolve her spinal
injury claim!! Allstate forced our client to go to trial by their
insultingly low offer. After a jury verdict of $157,000, Allstate
was required to pay an additional $75,000 in attorney's fees and
costs for failing to settle. At one point, our client was willing
to settle her case for a mere $4,000, but the corporate greed
of Allstate forced this case to a trial, yielding an impressive
result for our client as a result of our aggressive litigation
skills.
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$71,000 verdict-November
1999, Seminole County, Florida
This
rear-end collision was caused by an Allstate insured. When Allstate
offered a mere $3,500 to settle this case, trial became necessary.
Years later, a Seminole County jury awarded our client $71,000.
As a penalty for failing to settle, Allstate was also required
to pay an additional $62,500 for payment of attorney's fees and
costs they unnecessarily caused our client to incur as a result
of their failure to reasonably resolve this case.
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$20,000 settlement-Orange
County, Florida
Although
this settlement may not appear significant, this case illustrates
the brazen attitude of certain insurance companies. Earlier, State
Farm's representative told our client to accept $2,000 and "take
it and go away". This attitude is exactly what is wrong with insurance
companies these days who place corporate greed over fairness and
justice. After extensive efforts by the aggressive attorneys at
Jeffrey M. Byrd, P.A., a $20,000
settlement was obtained shortly before trial for our client.
