Victims of severe accidents often don't realize the many avenues of compensation that could pay for their injuries. One of our clients recovered payment from multiple sources after being struck by a car, including the other driver's insurance, his own auto insurance, and his homeowner's policy.
A Drunk Driver Caused Our Client to Suffer Devastating Injuries
In one of our recent cases, our client stepped off a curb into the crosswalk when he was struck by a passing car. His injuries were substantial and required multiple hip, leg, and pelvic surgeries that would have lifelong consequences. The driver of the vehicle was not only clearly at fault, but was also under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
The driver's insurance company was worried about the potential value of the case, especially when it came to punitive damages. The jury in the case could assess high punitive damages to discourage drunk driving and punish the driver, but the insurance company would be the one paying for negligence. After unsuccessfully disputing whether our client was in the crosswalk or not, the insurer was found liable. However, the driver only had about $100,000 of insurance—far less than the total cost of our client's injuries.
We Got Our Client Injury Compensation From Multiple Insurers
In cases like these, an attorney should do a deep dive into all applicable forms of insurance to see if there is coverage available. Fortunately, our client had purchased underinsured motorist coverage under his own auto policy, giving him an additional source of recovery. Usually, this add-on isn't costly but can create a whole world of protection if you suffer catastrophic injuries like our client did. Since he wasn't at fault for the accident, making this claim on his insurance did not increase his rates or negatively affect his coverage.
Finally, we performed an in-depth analysis of our client's homeowner's insurance policy. We found another clause for underinsured coverage—and the coverage could be triggered even though the accident had nothing to do with the home. We were able to prove to the insurance company that these were multimillion-dollar injuries and that our client's underinsured coverage was responsible for bridging the gap between the driver's insurance limit and our client's actual losses. The combined insurance companies paid $1.5 million to our client to cover medical bills and lost income.
Speak to a California Injury Attorney as Soon as Possible
If you were injured by someone else's negligence, Case Barnett Law is here to help. Please call our office at (949) 409-0055 or contact us online to begin your free and confidential consultation.