The Piscitelli Law Firm secured a $300,000 total recovery for a 78-year-old individual who sustained injuries in a 50 mph T-bone collision. After the at-fault driver provided Ohio's minimum coverage of $25,000, the firm pursued the client's $300,000 underinsured motorist coverage. The client's injuries included resolved soft-tissue trauma and radial tunnel syndrome, a painful condition caused by compression of the radial nerve in the upper forearm that leads to discomfort, weakened grip, and pain during rotation.
The underinsured motorist insurance provider initially offered $70,000. In response, the firm filed a lawsuit for $275,000, representing the UIM limit minus the $25,000 setoff. After several months of legal proceedings, the insurer disbursed the full $275,000, resulting in the total $300,000 recovery. Frank Piscitelli, Jr. stated that UIM coverage is designed to provide compensation when the at-fault driver is underinsured, and when the insurance company undervalued the client's claim, litigation successfully obtained the full policy benefits.
This case demonstrates the critical importance of adequate underinsured motorist coverage for drivers. With many states maintaining minimum liability limits that haven't kept pace with medical costs, accidents involving underinsured drivers can leave victims with insufficient compensation for serious injuries. The $25,000 Ohio minimum coverage would have been inadequate to address the client's radial tunnel syndrome and related medical expenses, potentially creating significant financial hardship for the 78-year-old victim.
The successful recovery highlights how underinsured motorist claims often require legal action to obtain fair compensation. Insurance companies may initially offer settlements significantly below policy limits, necessitating litigation to secure the full benefits policyholders have paid for through their premiums. This case serves as a reminder for consumers to review their auto insurance policies and consider increasing UIM coverage limits to protect against the growing number of underinsured drivers on the road.
More information about this case is available at https://getfrankgetjustice.com/result/300000-dollar-recovery-in-underinsured-motorist-case/. The outcome illustrates how proper legal representation can help accident victims navigate complex insurance claims and obtain compensation that reflects their actual damages, particularly when dealing with injuries that may have long-term implications like radial tunnel syndrome.
