When eight-year-old Libby agreed to a ride on a four-wheel UTV, she was expecting a fun, exciting time. Unfortunately, the person driving the UTV, Jay, had been drinking.
Libby, her grandmother, Mary, and Jay were visiting a friend who lived on rental property and who owned the UTV. Jay was driving recklessly when he flipped the vehicle over, injuring Libby.
Libby’s family contacted us about filing a personal injury claim. When her case was presented to our team, the circumstances were complicated. The owner of the UTV did not have either renter’s insurance or insurance on the UTV and the driver, Jay, did not carry any insurance that could be held liable. Fortunately, Libby’s grandmother, Mary, had $300,000 in homeowner’s liability insurance, and since she had brought Libby to the event there was enough of a connection to place a claim with that insurer. The company, however, did not want to pay.
The goal of the PI attorney was to get Mary’s insurer to settle for the full amount of the policy. It took several months of negotiations, but finally Mary’s carrier agreed to pay the full $300,000. Given the circumstances Libby, her family and our firm feel this was a very successful end to a really unfortunate situation.
