Truck damage
Sep 01, 2015OUTCOME: $72,000+ for client
My client tried himself to settle his truck claim with his own insurance company and they tried to take advantage of him. He was operating his dump truck in the early morning hours in a rainstorm wh ... en the truck struck something in the road. My client was unaware of any damage and continued driving until about 20 minutes later when the oil gauge light came on and he pulled over. He called his insurance company from where he pulled over and they had the truck towed to a mechanic shop. The shop determined the engine needed to be replaced due to engine damage due to oil loss. The cost of replacing the engine was $25,000. The client had insurance coverage to pay for damage caused by striking an object (collision coverage). The insurance company then had their "expert" examine the truck, engine, and oil pan. The oil pan had a pinhole in it from striking something. The hole was no bigger than a q-tip. The insurance company then informed the client they would not be paying for the engine replacement because their investigation determined the engine damage was caused by a faulty oil pump and by wear and tear. The insurance company said there was no way the nine gallons of oil in that truck could have leaked out of the small hole in the oil pan in 20 minutes. They claimed it would have taken over a month for the oil to leak out of the small hole. The insurance company offered to settle for the cost of the oil pan---about $500. The client offered to accept $18,000. The insurance company refused to budge. The client had called two advertising law firms before calling me and both declined to meet with him. I was pleased to have the opportunity to help him. I began my investigation. The details and photos are on my website. From my review of the insurance policy I believed I could also recover my client's income loss while the truck was being repaired. The insurance company denied that the policy language would pay for income loss. The result of the litigation? My client received a check payable to him for over $72,000. In addition, the insurance company paid my attorney fees. When there is a dispute with your own insurnace company that you win, the insurance company owes the attorney fees. See more facts and photos about this case on my website.