Rear-End Accident Results in $260,000 UIM Evaluation

In this case, our client was struck from behind by a careless driver. Our client had been disabled by preexisting low back problems for a decade or more prior to the accident, but the accident nevertheless aggravated those problems. Worse, the accident resulted in a neck injury which required surgery. Our client underwent a cervical discectomy and fusion of C5-C6. Our client had about as good a recovery as could be expected following an injury and surgery of this nature, but he was still left with permanent impairment.

Prior to our involvement, our client’s insurance company had offered him nothing from his under-insured motorist benefits. We presented the claim for evaluation by our client’s insurance carrier for under-insured motorist benefits. The insurance company’s first evaluation was $125,000, which resulted in an offer of $25,000 (the negligent driver had $100,000 in underlying coverage). We rejected the offer and kept pushing the case. By the time we were done, the insurance company had increased their evaluation to $260,000 and an offer of $160,000, an increase of more than 600% above the initial offer.

We’re pleased with the outcome for our client. But it is depressingly predictable that insurance companies will routinely try to “low ball” injured people, even when those injured people are their own insureds. Cases like this one speak to why injured people need help from experienced personal injury lawyers when dealing with big insurance companies.

The case also speaks to the importance of insurance. We’re frequently critical of insurance companies, but we also recognize the value of the role that they play in protecting families from the consequences of injury. If our client had not had adequate coverage, we never could have obtained this result for him. So, if you don’t know what your insurance coverage is, or if you don’t know how much you should have, please order our free, no-obligation book, “The Ultimate Guide to Car Accident Cases in Pennsylvania: A Roadmap to Justice.” We include a whole chapter on auto insurance and the coverage we suggest.

Awarded: $260,000