Florida trucking accident leaves driver paralyzed

This Florida bad faith insurance lawsuit involves Derry Brown, Jr., a 64-year old truck driver from Pahokee, Florida. According to news reports, Brown was hauling a load of sugar in his 18 wheel truck when a car ran a stop sign on Route 80 in Palm Beach County. Although he swerved out of the way in order to avoid an accident with the car that would have likely killed the other driver, his truck overturned and left him paralyzed – unable to use both his arms and legs.

Bad faith insurance lawsuit

The other driver did not have insurance, so Brown filed an uninsured motorist claim with his insurance company, National Casualty. National denied his claim and he filed a bad faith insurance lawsuit against it. Although Brown had to be air-lifted from the Florida Institute for Neurological Rehabilitation in Wachula where he was undergoing rehabilitation to testify at the trial, his bad faith insurance attorney was able to prove that National Casualty acted in bad faith. A Broward County jury awarded him $14.6 million.

Bad faith practices in a downturned economy

Insurance companies routinely deny or delay claims in order to increase their bottom lines. This is especially true in the current economic downturn. However, policyholders do not have to accept denials or unreasonable delays to collect valid benefits as insurance contracts are just that – contracts. As long as policyholders pay their premiums, they are generally eligible to collect the benefits for a valid claim. If you've been denied valid benefits from your insurance carrier, contact an experienced bad faith insurance lawyer to discuss your situation and evaluate your options.