How Underinsured Motorist Coverage Protects You and Your Family in an Accident with an Underinsured Driver
Our office recently obtained a Jury Verdict in the amount of $1.25 million dollars in Washtenaw County Circuit Court in a claim for underinsured motorist benefits with Home-Owners Insurance Company. The Plaintiff was injured in an accident with an inattentive driver who rear-ended his pickup truck while he was waiting to make a left-hand turn. The at-fault driver had bodily injury coverage in the amount of $100,000.00 which the Plaintiff claimed was not sufficient to fully compensate him for his injuries and damages.
Fortunately, his family had purchased underinsured motorist coverage which provided additional coverage to compensate the injured party for his injuries.
Underinsured applies where the at-fault driver’s liability insurance coverage is not adequate to cover an injured person’s damages for an accident.
In order for this coverage to apply, the Plaintiff would need to prove the following:
• The other driver was at-fault in causing a car accident that injured someone else;
• The injured driver sustained a serious injury or long term economic loss beyond three years of the accident date; and,
• The other driver’s liability insurance coverage is not adequate to cover his or her pain and suffering compensation, excess medical expenses and other economic loss damages.
Michigan underinsured motorist coverage provides a valuable source of legal recovery for pain and suffering compensation and other economic loss for people injured in a car accident caused by a driver with inadequate insurance coverage. This coverage helps pay money damages to car accident victims when the driver who caused the accident had inadequate liability insurance coverage.
In this case, Home-Owners Insurance refused to pay the claim arguing that the Plaintiff’s injuries were not serious. As a result, our office filed a lawsuit against Home-Owners Insurance Company seeking the full amount of underinsured motorist coverage. After a three day trial, the Jury agreed with the Plaintiff and found the total damages to be $1.25 million dollars. The Plaintiff is entitled to additional damages for 12% Uniform Trade Practice Interest and Judgment Interest from the date the lawsuit was filed.
Click here to download a summary of the case from reporter Melissa Siegel from Verdict Search which provides details concerning the nature of the case.
If you were injured in an accident, it is important to get a legal review of the case as soon as possible. Our Ann Arbor personal injury law firm serves clients throughout Michigan. Contact our firm at any time for a Free Consultation or help with your accident injury claim.