Underinsured Motorist Coverage a Critical Component to Settlement in North Carolina Wrongful Death Case | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

What Happened

A North Carolina (NC) woman secured a $100,000 settlement from a wrongful death lawsuit related to the untimely death of her husband.

The woman’s husband was killed in a terrible wreck caused by a former deputy with the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office who dosed off while driving. It was revealed that the at-fault driver had been awake for more than 24 hours.

It is important to note that, of the $100,000 received, only $25,000 came from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. The remaining $75,000 of the settlement came from the underinsured motorist coverage of two other insurance policies –  According to court documents, $25,000 came from the victim’s insurance policy and the insurance policy of the victim’s grandfather.

You may be thinking, “How does the grandfather’s policy apply? He wasn’t involved in the wreck.” Here’s the answer – the grandfather lived with the victim at the time of the tragic accident and the policy contained a provision which extended coverage to anyone living in his house, according to Hamptonroads.com.

The North Carolina Injury Lawyers’ Perspective

This $100,000 settlement is a prime example of just how important it is for you and your loved ones to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) in your insurance policy. Without this critical coverage, the widow in this tragic accident may have been left with a much lower amount of restitution. Our North Carolina personal injury law firm recommends getting as much UM/UIM coverage as you can afford. It is highly recommended NOT to just get the bare bones, minimum coverage. As the accident described above illustrates, carrying only minimal coverage can result in very little protection if you or a loved one is involved in a serious accident.

Potentially Helpful Legal Articles and/or In-Depth Legal Guides

For more information about UM/UIM coverage, take a moment read the in-depth legal guide published by our team of North Carolina personal injury lawyers. The guide explains the critical components of UM/UIM coverage and how to utilize the coverage in the event of a major accident.

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Take a moment to review our library of FAQs related to car accident injuries and the types of insurance coverage available through a personal injury claim.