When you’re injured in a car crash, you expect the insurance company to treat you fairly. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. Cook, Barkett, Ponder and Wolz fought tirelessly for a client after the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier refused to pay the Missouri policy limits, and the result was a nearly $2,000,000 settlement, almost 80 times higher than the original $25,000 available under the driver’s auto policy.
The Crash and the Initial Policy Limits Offer
Our client was injured in a motor vehicle collision caused by a negligent driver who carried only Missouri’s minimum auto liability coverage: $25,000. After thoroughly documenting the injuries and damages, CBPW demanded the full policy limits, a reasonable request given the circumstances.
However, the insurance company did not evaluate the claim fairly and failed to pay the $25,000 policy limits in a timely manner. That’s when the situation escalated.
When Insurance Companies Refuse to Act in Good Faith
Insurance carriers have a legal duty to negotiate in good faith. When they refuse to pay a valid policy limits claim, they expose themselves to bad faith litigation, a type of lawsuit that can result in the insurer being held responsible for the full amount of damages, even far beyond the policy limits. That is exactly what happened here.
Filing Suit and Pushing Toward Trial
After the insurance company refused to do the right thing, CBPW filed a lawsuit and prepared for trial. As the case moved deeper into litigation, the strength of the evidence and the insurer’s failure to negotiate responsibly became undeniable. Just before trial, the insurance company requested mediation.
Mediation Results: Nearly $2,000,000 Recovered
At mediation, CBPW fought aggressively for our client and secured a settlement of nearly $2 million, a result that was almost 80x higher than the $25,000 policy limits the insurer initially refused to pay.
This outcome underscores an important truth: When insurers act in bad faith, we hold them accountable.
Why This Case Matters
This case highlights a critical point for all injury victims: You don’t have to accept unfair treatment from an insurance company. When an insurer:
- delays payment without justification
- refuses to evaluate a claim properly
- ignores evidence
- or fails to negotiate in good faith
…it may open the door to a bad faith claim that forces them to pay far more than their policyholder’s limits. At Cook, Barkett, Ponder and Wolz, we know how to identify bad faith behavior, and we know how to fight it.
CBPW: Fighting for Fairness, Accountability, and Full Compensation
Insurance companies have legal obligations. When they try to avoid them, we step in. Our attorneys are trial-ready, relentless, and dedicated to securing every dollar our clients deserve. If you believe an insurance carrier isn’t treating you fairly or negotiating in good faith, you don’t have to face it alone.
Contact Cook, Barkett, Ponder and Wolz today.
We’re here to stand with you, fight for you, and make sure the insurance companies meet their obligations.