The whole point of having insurance is to protect your finances when something bad happens, but unfortunately, insurance companies sometimes fail to remember why they exist. When that happens, the legal team at Presley & Presley can step in and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. They did just that for one client back in 2006.
The Car Accident
Wayne Davis Jr. made a mistake on a Friday night in March of 2000. He’d been out drinking with some friends after work, and then he got behind the wheel of his full-sized pick-up truck — his blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.
He crossed the center line of the highway on his way home and crashed head on into a car carrying Virginia and Edward Johnson. Their resulting injuries required multiple surgeries; lengthy hospitalizations; $317,000 in medical bills; and rendered them both permanently disabled.
The Insurance Policy
Davis’ policy with Allstate included minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per occurrence. He contacted his insurance agent three days after the accident and reported himself as at-fault and that there were other motorists with severe injuries.
The Insurance Company’s Bad Faith
Allstate let the demand for the $50,000 policy limits lapse, and they didn’t advise Davis of his excess financial exposure until six weeks before his trial, which resulted in a $5 million judgment against Davis. Davis in turn sued Allstate for bad faith, and thanks to his attorneys, won a judgment of $16.3 million, which included $10.5 million in punitive damages. They were able to show that Allstate had lost sight of their responsibility to protect their insured customers at all times, rather than just the $50,000 limit.
Complex Cases Handled with Care by Presley & Presley
There were many nuances to Davis’ case, like the fact that the attorneys for the plaintiffs had to prove that the corporation’s policies are at fault, rather than a single employee. The legal team at Presley & Presley has exactly that kind of extensive experience and attention to detail.
We work hard to ensure our clients are fairly compensated — and that also means we don’t take a single penny from our clients until we win their case. If you’re facing a tough legal case and want an attorney who can help, give us a call at 816-931-4611 (or toll free at 855-931-4611), or use our contact form.
