Our Maryland car accident lawyers regularly handle personal injury accident cases against Liberty Mutual. This page discusses what to expect in dealing with Liberty Mutual and discusses settlement amounts in claims against this insurer.
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States. Founded in 1912, Liberty has 50,000 employees and is ranked 72nd in the Fortune 500. In 2023, Liberty had just over $50 billion in annual consolidated revenue. It is Maryland’s 8th largest auto insurance company, holding 3.29% of the market share.
Our accident lawyers see many Liberty Mutual insurance claims. This insurer offers many types of policies, including car, home, workers’ compensation, and others.
Below, our car accident lawyers discuss their experiences with Liberty Mutual and help you better understand expected settlement compensation payouts in cases similar to yours.
Commonly Asked Questions
We have handled many car accidents and other serious injury claims against this insurance company. If you have a potential claim with this insurer, call us now at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
What is it like to settle a car accident claim with Liberty Mutual?
Liberty Mutual’s sales pitch is responsibility, as in “we take responsibility.” Historically, this was true. Liberty Mutual was more reasonable than most insurance companies in attorney-represented cases. But in recent years, possibly after it purchased Safeco Insurance, the company appears to have changed.
It sometimes tries to require that the crash victim give up rights that have nothing to do with the claim against the company’s insured. Additionally, this car insurance company is slower in responding to claims and makes less reasonable offers in Maryland accident cases, necessitating more lawsuits against Liberty Mutual insureds.
Who are Liberty Mutual’s Lawyers?
The Law Offices of Jonathan P. Stebenne are Liberty Mutual’s in-house lawyers in Baltimore, and they cover the majority of Liberty Mutual car accident claims in Maryland. The Law Offices of Chris Costabile cover in-house accident claims in Washington, D.C.
Jon Stebenne is a good, well-respected lawyer, as are most of the attorneys in his office. However, insurance adjusters decide how to handle claims, and their goal is to minimize or eliminate your right to money damages for your injuries.
In cases where Liberty Mutual may have a potential conflict of interest with its insured or where Liberty is named as a defendant in a claim for UIM benefits, it has recently been using the firm of Schulman, Hershfield & Gilden, P.A. in Baltimore to represent it.
You can contact a Liberty Mutual claims representative by calling 1-800-225-2467.
Sample Liberty Mutual Verdicts and Settlements
This is a sampling of jury verdicts and settlements with Liberty Mutual. Most of these are Maryland claims, but we have added others nationwide.
Liberty Mutual does not try many cases, particularly in the Baltimore area. You will not see a lot of verdicts like you do for State Farm or GEICO.
Some of the cases listed below are ours. Other cases are claims brought by our colleagues or pulled from verdict and settlement reports. Please remember that this is not a scientific sampling and might not represent the value of your claim, even if the facts seem similar. Still, we think these reports shed some light on the value of these claims.
Maryland Settlements and Verdicts
- 2023, Maryland: $27,691 Verdict: A motorist insured by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company was involved in a hit-and-run accident while standing near her vehicle. She reported that an unidentified vehicle struck her and then fled the scene. The motorist sustained unspecified personal injuries from the incident, including a lumbar spinal injury. She hired a car accident lawyer and sued her insurance company for breach of contract, alleging that the insurance company wrongfully denied her claim for uninsured motorist benefits. She documented $8,706 in medical expenses and sought additional compensation for lost wages and future medical needs. Liberty Mutual disputed both the cause and the severity of the injuries claimed.
- 2022, Maryland: $1,500 Verdict: The plaintiff, insured by defendant Liberty Mutual, claimed she was struck by an unidentified vehicle that fled the scene. The impact occurred while she was standing near her vehicle. The plaintiff claimed unspecified personal injuries from the impact, including a lumbar spinal injury. In a complaint, the plaintiff alleged breach of contract, contending the defendant refused her claim for uninsured motorist benefits. The plaintiff claimed $8,706 in medical expenses and sought unspecified damages for her lost time from work and necessary future medical treatment. Obviously, that claim did not fly.
- 2020, Maryland: $100,000 Settlement: Early one morning, our client was traveling northbound on Ardwick-Ardmore Blvd. in Prince George’s County. The defendant failed to stop at a red light and t-boned her car on the driver’s side at about 35 miles per hour. Plaintiff’s injuries included laceration to the head, concussion, ligament sprain of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, left thigh, and shoulder. Liberty Mutual offered $31,000. Two months before trial, they tendered their entire $100,000 insurance policy.
- 2019, Maryland: $360,984 Verdict: Plaintiff was driving on Route 50 in the off-ramp lane of the Annapolis Mall exit when she came to a complete stop for traffic and was rear-ended. The plaintiff claimed that she suffered extensive injuries in the accident that were not fully covered by the limits of the at-fault driver’s insurance, so she brought a claim against her own insurer, Liberty Mutual, for UIM benefits. Liberty disputed the plaintiff’s damages and took the plaintiff’s UIM claim to trial. The jury in Anne Arundel County awarded the plaintiff $360,984 in total damages against Liberty Mutual.
- 2017, Maryland $500,000 Verdict: Plaintiff, a 46-year-old male, was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk past the entrance to a parking lot when he was struck by a vehicle making a left turn into the lot. The plaintiff was thrown from his bike and suffered significant facial trauma, which left him permanently disfigured. Plaintiff settled his claim against the at-fault driver for insurance policy limits of $50,000 and then brought a claim against his own insurance carrier, Liberty Mutual, for UIM benefits. Liberty contested the UIM claim, and the case went to trial in Baltimore City. The jury returned a $500,000 payout for the plaintiff.
- 2016, Maryland: $175,000 Settlement: Our client is driving at the intersection of Urbana Pike and Sugarloaf Parkway. The defendant ran the red light on Urbana Pike, broadsiding our client and causing airbag deployment. Conservative treatment for his C6-C7 neck injury failed, and he had a discectomy and fusion. Thankfully, he had a remarkable recovery. Liberty Mutual agreed to settle the claim in negotiations shortly after the insurer received our demand letter.
- 2016, Maryland: $164,000 Verdict: plaintiff is a middle-aged woman who works as a bartender and waitress. She is driving her Ford Explorer on Indian Head Highway in Fort Washington. She was rear-ended at a red light at the intersection of Old Fort Road and State Route 210. She goes to the ER two days later with back and neck pain. An MRI shows a disc herniation at the L4-5 level. Physical therapy advanced to epidural injections. Ultimately, she had $17,000 in medical bills. At trial, the plaintiff argues that the woman’s injuries are degenerative and that she took three years off physical therapy only to resume the PT before trial. The Prince George’s County jury awarded $164,000, which included $100,000 in pain and suffering.
- 2013, Maryland: $20,537 Verdict: A forty-year-old woman is rear-ended at a stop light. The plaintiff alleges a significant lower back and neck injury and has received treatment for more than a year. A chronic condition develops in her back, giving her a 25% impairment rating and significantly impacting her daily life. The Liberty Mutual insured defendant concedes that there were injuries and that the first few months of treatment were reasonable, but claims the plaintiff should have recovered before the later treatment. A Montgomery County jury awards the injured plaintiff $20,537.
- 2012, Maryland: $85,992 Settlement: A car accident results in significant injury to the plaintiff and the death of the defendant’s child. The defendant fails to yield to oncoming vehicles and the two parties crash in the middle of an intersection. The plaintiff and his passenger sustained several injuries, resulting in back surgeries, lumbar dislocations, and a cardiac event over the death of the child. The defendant does not admit liability but questions the causation of the cardiac problems and the extent of the back injuries. The defendant’s insurance carrier, Liberty Mutual, pays $85,992 in an arbitration agreement in Prince George’s County.
- 2012, Maryland: $15,714 Verdict: Liberty Mutual refuses to pay the plaintiff injured in an automobile accident. The plaintiff claims to be entitled to UM/UIM benefits after her car is struck by the defendant’s insured. The plaintiff offers evidence that she was blameless in the accident, and the defendant simply denies liability. A Baltimore City jury decides that Liberty Mutual is indeed liable and awards a $15,714 verdict to cover the plaintiff’s remaining medical bills.
- 2011, Maryland: $1,000,000 Settlement: A man is killed when a truck driver pulls from a loading dock while the man is loading pallets of sugar into the box trailer with his forklift. The man either fell or jumped off the forklift while it was suspended in the air and landed underneath the forklift just seconds before it came down. There were five plaintiffs. Miller & Zois represented two plaintiffs and settled their claims for $1 million in an out-of-court mediation before trial.
- 2010, Maryland: $62,564 Verdict: Plaintiff is on her way from work, stuck in heavy traffic on I-695. The defendant driver runs into the back of a non-party vehicle, which, in turn, runs into the plaintiff. The defendant admits liability and settles with the plaintiff for his policy limits. Because the plaintiff’s medical bills exceeded the settlement, she filed a suit against her carrier, Liberty Mutual, for underinsured coverage. The plaintiff claims several soft tissue cervical and lumbar injuries requiring emergency room treatment. Neck surgery is recommended but not performed, and she is given a 40% permanent partial spinal disability rating (30% from the accident, 10% from prior injuries). Liberty Mutual argues that the plaintiff was not injured in the crash and that her complaints are the result of pre-existing degenerative arthritis. A Baltimore City jury believes the plaintiff and awards the victim $62,564.
Liberty Mutual Verdicts and Settlements Outside Maryland
- 2024, Morris County, New Jersey: $260,000 Verdict: A 39-year-old assembly line worker received a $260,000 jury award for injuries sustained in a rear-end collision while she was driving on Route 10 in Parsippany. The plaintiff’s SUV truck, whose Liberty Mutual-insured driver was found negligent,. The plaintiff sustained severe spinal injuries, requiring surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing pain management. Despite extensive treatment, she continues to suffer from back pain and may require additional surgery. The defense contended that the treatments were elective and not necessary due to the accident. However, the jury concluded that the injuries were permanent, meeting the serious injury threshold of the verbal tort law.
- 2024, New Jersey: $27,500 Verdict: The plaintiff, a 9-year-old minor, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by the defendant and insured by Liberty Mutual. While attempting to merge, the vehicle rear-ended a car in front of it in the merge lane. The plaintiff’s injuries include back pain and cervical and lumbar sprains.
- 2023, Washington: $1,005,000 Settlement: The plaintiff was riding a bicycle when the defendant driver (insured by Liberty Mutual) failed to yield and struck him. The plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury, closed rib fractures, and aggravation of a pre-existing lower back condition. He was given a 10% impairment rating and had to miss considerable time from work.
- 2022, Pennsylvania: $25,000 Settlement: The plaintiff was operating her motor vehicle southbound and was stopped at an intersection at a red light when allegedly the defendant, an uninsured motorist, struck a third vehicle with enough speed and force to cause the third vehicle to strike the rear of the plaintiff’s vehicle. The plaintiff’ asserted she incurred herniation of the cervical spine with radicular pain. She sought UIM benefits from her insurer, Liberty Mutual.
- 2021, Kentucky: $74,000,000 Verdict: In a tragic incident attributed to a road hazard known as an asphalt edge-drop, a truck lost control and collided with another vehicle, leading to the death of the driver, a retired school counselor who was taking her children to school at the time. This accident prompted the family to sue the paving contractor, citing their failure to address the road’s safety issues. The jury ruled in favor of the family, awarding them $74 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Among the insurance companies responsible for covering this payout, Liberty Mutual played a significant role, along with Chubb and Zurich, as they all held liability insurance policies with the contractor’s parent company.
- Idaho: $54,000 Settlement: Plaintiff was driving at a normal rate of speed on a road with 2-way traffic when the defendant failed to yield and turned his truck into the path of the plaintiff’s vehicle in a T-bone collision. The plaintiff suffered a laceration to his right knee and a severely strained quadricep with chronic pain. The defendant and his insurer, Liberty Mutual, initially contested liability but eventually agreed to settle for $54,000.
- 2018, Connecticut: $202,000 Verdict: The 59-year-old man was sideswiped when another vehicle driven by an uninsured motorist attempted to pass him on the left. The plaintiff claimed injuries to his neck, back, and hand. The plaintiff claimed that the accident exacerbated a pre-existing disc herniation, causing a disc protrusion in his lower spine and resulting in a 10% permanent impairment. The plaintiff sought UIM damages from his insurer, Liberty Mutual. Liberty denied the UIM claim, asserting that the plaintiff’s injuries were unrelated to the accident but rather a prior occupational injury. The case went to trial, and the jury awarded $202,000 in damages, which included $150,000 in pain and suffering.
- 2017, Washington: $133,484 Verdict: This is a rear-end accident case where the only issue at trial is the damages. The plaintiff went to her primary care doctor on the day of the crash. She has no objective signs of injury and receives chiropractic care and physical and massage therapy for her neck and lower back pain. She is also seen by a physiatrist and an osteopathic physician who performs osteopathic manipulations. The jury awarded her only $35,000 for pain and suffering but paid for all of her medical bills and lost wages ($67,000). This is one of those cases where the jury believes the plaintiff enough to give her all of her medical bills and lost wages but does not give her adequate compensation for her pain and suffering.
- 2013, Ohio: $8,523 Verdict: Liberty The mutually insured defendant is driving in snowy conditions. He loses control of his vehicle and runs into a wall on the right side of the highway. The plaintiff cannot stop his vehicle in time and runs into the defendant’s vehicle, sustaining contusions to his chest, aggravation of a lumbar injury, and a cervical strain. The defendant admits the accident occurred but claims the plaintiff had six to seven seconds to avoid the collision. A Cuyahoga County jury decides for the plaintiff and awards $8,523.
- 2012, Connecticut: $50,000 Verdict Liberty Mutual’s insured defendant attempts to make an illegal U-turn. Partway through the maneuver, the plaintiff runs into the side of the defendant’s vehicle. The plaintiff is a carpenter by trade and suffers an exacerbation of a pre-existing lumbar injury. The impact created an additional 8% impairment rating of 23%. The plaintiff’s vehicle has moderate property damage. The defendant argues that the plaintiff was speeding and accelerated right before impact. A Waterbury County jury finds a verdict against the defendant and his insurance company, awarding the injured $50,000 for pain, suffering, and medical bills.
- 2012, Georgia: $18,500 Settlement The Plaintiff was taken to the emergency room after the defendant rear-ended him. The plaintiff suffered minor injuries but required physical therapy for his lower back and neck. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant driver was distracted while driving and failed to maintain the appropriate distance. The defendant admits liability and reaches a $18,500 settlement through his insurance carrier, Liberty Mutual.
- 2012, Louisiana: $260,000 Verdict Plaintiff is a passenger in a friend’s vehicle when a Liberty Mutual insured defendant strikes him. The plaintiff received spinal injuries, including a herniated disc, spinal stenosis (which resulted in two surgeries), and permanent impairment. The defendants deny liability and contest the extent of the injuries. The plaintiff argues the collision occurred because of the negligent changing of lanes and the defendant’s driving. A Lafayette County jury awards the injured a $260,000 verdict.
- 2012, Oregon: $75,000 Settlement The Plaintiff is a professor and a competitive triathlon participant. She was a passenger in a vehicle struck from behind by the defendant. The plaintiff suffers neck and back injuries that significantly interfere with her work and her daily athletic activities. The defendant maintains that it was a low-impact collision and disputes the extent of the athlete’s injuries. Liberty Mutual, the defendant’s carrier, agrees to a $75,000 settlement.
- 2012, Connecticut: $408,000 Verdict plaintiff is a sixteen-year-old equestrian and horse trainer. One night, the plaintiff is involved in an auto accident where she is a front-seat passenger. The Liberty Mutual-insured defendant had missed her turn for the airport and cut across a three-lane highway. The girl suffers cervical and lumbar injuries that prevent her from riding horses and end her training career. Her parents sell her horses, one of which wins the new owner $20,000 in a later competition. defendants contend that the injuries were not severe enough to keep the plaintiff from riding horses. A Hartford County jury sides with the young plaintiff and awards $408,000.
Hiring a Lawyer to Fight Liberty Mutual
If you have suffered injuries from a car collision, call us at 800-553-8082 or request a free claim evaluation online.
More Information on Your Accident Claim
- value of your case by type of injury
- Settlement calculator
- Do I need a lawyer?
- Help for lawyers
- Property damage claims
- Motor vehicle accident claim FAQs