The Dangers of Underinsured Motorist Accidents

 Posted on December 27,2017 in Hartford personal injury lawyer

The state of Connecticut—like every other state—requires motorists to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. Liability insurance is designed to help you cover any damages or injuries that may result from accidents for which you are at fault. Specifically, a driver must have at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $10,000 per accident for property damage liability.

Connecticut also requires drivers to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage with the same minimums. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is intended to protect the driver and his or her passengers in the event of an accident in which the at-fault driver is either uninsured or does not have sufficient insurance to cover all of the injuries sustained.

Sometimes, however, an injured driver’s own insurance carrier may stall or delay when it comes time to pay up. Such was the case for a Niantic woman who recently reached a settlement with her insurance company after being involved in a crash caused by an underinsured driver.

Rear-End Accident on I-95

The accident occurred in 2014 on Interstate 95 when traffic began to slow in the left lane. A 36-year-old woman was rear-ended, and her BMW was pushed into the car in front of her. That car was then pushed into the vehicle in front of it. According to court documents, the woman suffered a herniated disc, which affected the nerves down her left leg. The male driver of the car who hit her was issued a citation for following too closely.

The at-fault driver—a resident of Oregon—carried $100,000 in coverage with State Farm and an excess policy covering $20,000 with Geico. Earlier this year, the woman received the full amount of both policies, but the settlement was not sufficient to cover her injuries, her attorneys maintained. She sought an additional $120,000 from her own carrier Liberty Mutual.

The case was scheduled to go to trial this month, but the two sides were able to reach an agreement before the trial began. Liberty Mutual agreed to pay the woman the $120,000 she was seeking after the company’s doctors reviewed her medical history and spoke with her orthopedic specialist. The victim’s attorney indicated that he believed the settlement “was very fair and accurately represented the fair market value for this type of case.”

Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries

In the wake of an auto accident, you may be prepared for a fight with the other party’s insurance company, but most people do not expect to encounter problems with their own carriers. Unfortunately, such disputes are all too common, as insurance carriers often try to minimize payouts—even at the expense of their customers.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney can help you deal with stubborn insurance carriers. Contact Woolf Law Firm, LLC to discuss your options at a free consultation today. Call 860-290-8690 to get the quality representation you deserve.

Sources:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-R-0493.htm

https://www.law.com/ctlawtribune/sites/ctlawtribune/2017/12/13/niantic-woman-rear-ended-on-i-95-gets-240000-settlement/