In March 2016, Feldman, Kleidman, Coffey & Sappe LLP’s (FKC&S) 66-year-old client, a barber from Valatie, NY, was driving to church on Route 32 with his wife when they were rear-ended. FKC&S’s client suffered facial fractures necessitating nasal surgery, right wrist injuries requiring two surgical procedures and lower back pain treated with a series of facet blocks. Following depositions, Steven H. Cohen obtained a $100,000 settlement for the client, which was all the defendant’s available insurance.
Oftentimes the negligent driver in a crash has low policy limits – too low to fully compensate the injured victim. Supplementary underinsured motorists (SUM) coverage provides additional insurance to ensure full compensation, based upon the policy holder’s mortgage and financial needs, if they are ever the victim of another’s careless conduct. Armed with extensive knowledge and experience in this area, Cohen also pursued the SUM coverage on FKC&S’s client’s own car. The client’s carrier argued that his facial fractures were pre-existing and that his wrist problems were due to years of barbering. The carrier made a nominal offer to settle his case, which was rejected. Ultimately, at a virtual hearing, the arbitrator awarded FKC&S’s client another $250,000.
An excerpt from a previous post regarding SUM coverage:
If you are injured in a crash and the other driver is at fault, an experienced lawyer can help you receive compensation from the responsible driver’s car insurance company. In some cases, the losses are significant, and the other driver may not have enough insurance to cover the damages you have suffered. Your lawyer should review your auto insurance policy to obtain the maximum recovery.
By reviewing your personal auto insurance policy, we may discover that you have additional personal injury protection (PIP) for wage loss and medical bills. Furthermore, you may have SUM insurance coverage, which provides money for pain and suffering beyond the limits of the other driver’s insurance coverage. A personal injury lawyer can review everything and file the necessary forms in a timely manner to protect your rights to full compensation.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, time is limited to file a claim. Our experienced attorneys at Feldman, Kleidman, Coffey & Sappe LLP can help guide you through the process. Please visit www.fkcs.law or call us for a free consultation, (845) 897-5199.