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SMDA WINS UNDERINSURED MOTORIST VERDICT

Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associates

SMDA Partner, Patrick Derkacz, just finished a trial this week for a client who was injured in a 2004 crash. We sued his insurance company for underinsured motorist (UM) coverage. This is coverage which you buy for yourself which should pay if you get in a car crash and the at-fault driver does not have enough coverage.

Our client suffered a serious injury to his ankle called a sub-talar dislocation. He soon developed post-traumatic arthritis. He walks with a limp and has ankle pain every single day. His doctors have offered ankle fusion surgery but cannot promise him that it will relieve his pain.

The Insurance company took the position that the money paid by the at-fault driver’s insurer (Allstate-after years of litigation) $100,000 was “adequate compensation.” We strongly disagreed.

The case was complicated by the fact that my client is the owner of a small business with strong ties to the auto industry who experienced a significant decline in revenue the year before the crash. The Insurance company argued that his loss of income was solely due to the economic conditions of the industry, rather than his serious ankle injury.

We are glad to report that the jury completely rejected the insurance companies arguments and entered a verdict for more than $900,000.

Related Posts: SMDA Is A Proud Sponsor Of JennaThon, SMDA SETTLES AUTO ACCIDENT CLAIM FOR OVER $1 MILLION, One Step Closer to Justice for Grieving Family, SMDA Is Proud To Be Serving The Chaldean Community

Client Reviews

Thanks so much for all your help these past five years in helping me with all the legal aspects of my folks, L & E.M's, trust. Thanks for answering all my questions. It's been a difficult last 5 years on making decisions for my father, but I'm so grateful that god blessed me with them for so many...

D.C.

I want to thank you both for all your help and hard work on my case. This certainly was good news! You both did tremendous jobs dealing with Cigna and answering my questions. Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas season!

Marc

Thank you so much for all of your help getting me thru this mess. You have no idea how much you have helped. I couldn’t have done this without you! Only one more hurdle, yay!!

B.T.

I really wanted to thank you, the way you talked with me and worked with me, it was amazing. I was dreading the experience & the deposition & you really made it very easy for me. So, thank you very much for a job well done.

H.H.

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