August 6, 2009, written by John R. Badal, injury lawyer , Reading , PA , Liever, Hyman & Potter, Accident Lawyers, Reading, PA.
The Honorable Jeffrey K. Sprecher of the Berks County Court , Reading , PA issued an opinion which was published in the Berks County Law Journal on July 9, 2009. The opinion was in support of his order that ruled that a victim of a car accident who suffered damages of $225,000 could collect $25,000 from the victim’s own underinsured motorist coverage with Liberty Mutual since he already collected $200,000 from the negligent driver’s liability insurance policies. The careless driver’s insurance included $100,000 from a primary auto insurance policy and another $100,000 from an excess motor vehicle policy. The amount of the deduction to be used in determining the payment for underinsured motorist was based on language in the Liberty Mutual policy.
It is important that an injury lawyer, Reading, PA and accident lawyers, Reading , PA as well as lawyers who practice in Pottsville, PA or anywhere else in the State of Pennsylvania understand the “Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law” that governs the type and amount of automobile and motor vehicle insurance including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Underinsured Motorist Coverage protects an automobile accident victim when the negligent driver of another car does not have enough liability insurance to pay for all the damages which occurred. Policy holders are paying a premium for underinsured motorist coverage and should make sure that they have enough coverage. When there is a dispute about what the policy means it is sometimes up to a judge to decide what must be paid under the policy and the law. Judge Sprecher was called on to resolve such a dispute in Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance v. Jeffers.