On Aug. 14, a woman injured in a rear-end collision recovered $177,914. In 2003, Von Marie Strieker was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by Lidia Olivares in Longview. Strieker sustained soft-tissue injuries to her neck and right shoulder, for which she underwent epidural and trigger point injections, chiropractic treatment and physical therapy. She said the injuries also led to migraine headaches. Strieker claimed Olivares was underinsured, so Strieker sued her own carrier, State Farm, for underinsured motorist coverage. State Farm refused to pay because it didn’t believe Olivares was at fault, arguing Strieker stopped too quickly for Olivares to avoid the collision. In a directed verdict, the judge found Olivares negligent. The jury then determined Strieker’s damages. Her total recovery included a $20,020 settlement from Olivares, which was the limit on her insurance policy.
Strieker v. State Farm Automotive Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., No. 2007-1505-B
