If you’re in a motorcycle accident and you’re dealing with GEICO, you want to know all that you can. Here are some settlements and facts that you need to know.
GEICO Pays Motorcycle Rider $100,000 for Herniated Disc and Other Injuries
See this settlement where GEICO paid a motorcycle rider $100,000 after a car hit him. He claimed a herniated disc, meniscus tear & erectile dysfunction (“ED”).
The crash happened in Miami-Dade County. The actual motorcycle from the accident is above.
I represented the injured biker.
GEICO and Other Insurer Settle Scooter Rider’s Broken Leg Case For $35,000
GEICO paid a scooter rider $25,000 after a driver failed to yield the right of way and hit him. United Auto Insurance Company paid $10,000.
The scooter that he was riding is below.
The crash happened in Miami Lakes, Florida. He broke his upper leg bone (femur).
I represented him.
If You Have GEICO Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Will It Cover You in a Motorcycle Accident?
Yes, if you have:
- Uninsured motorist (“UM”) insurance on the motorcycle;
- Stacking UM insurance on any vehicles that you own;
- A resident relative who has a stacking UM insurance.
Example of How GEICO UM Insurance Works for Motorcycle Accidents
In Brannon v. GEICO, 11TH Cir. Jun. 17, 2014, Brannan was injured in a motorcycle accident.
Brannon had $10,000 in UM insurance on his motorcycle. An at-fault driver of a car hit and injured Brannan.
The at-fault driver was uninsured. GEICO paid Brannon $10,000 in UM benefits under Brannon’s motorcycle insurance policy.
Brannan had 3 cars that have each had $100,000 in UM insurance. Brannon wasn’t entitled to this UM insurance because it wasn’t stacking. He had non-stacking UM.
Since the UM insurance on those vehicles is non-stacking, Brannon couldn’t use it. If each car had stacking UM insurance, Brannon would’ve been entitled to up to $300,000 (3 vehicles x $100,000 on each).
Brannon must prove that his case is worth the additional UM insurance.
GEICO Acts in Bad Faith in Motorcycle Crash Case; Over $900,000 Verdict
This isn’t my case. In Taylor v. GEICO Indemnity Company, Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit 2016, Taylor turned his automobile left across Donnerstag’s lane of traffic.
It caused Donnerstag to collide with Taylor’s vehicle and to be thrown from his motorcycle.
GEICO insured Taylor for $10,000 in bodily injury (“BI”) liability insurance. Donnerstag had a $500 deductible on his motorcycle.
He said his motorcycle was worth $7,000, but his insurer, Allstate, only paid him $5,063. Donnerstag asked GEICO to pay his $500 deductible and the other $1,436.
GEICO paid the $500 deductible but wouldn’t pay the $1,436. The Donnerstags sued Taylor, and a got a jury verdict of over $900,000 to compensate them for:
- past medical expenses, and future medical expenses
- past pain and suffering, and future pain and suffering
- property damage to his helmet and clothing
- the loss of consortium by Ms. Donnerstag
Bottom Line: GEICO adjusters aren’t always right. They may be dead wrong.
Has GEICO Been Sued Before for Acting in Bad Faith in a Motorcycle Accident Case?
Yes.
In GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. v. Harvey, 109 So. 3d 236, 240 (Fla. 4th DCA 2013), a motorcycle rider was killed when he collided with a vehicle driven by James Harvey.
This isn’t my case. This was an intersection accident.
Harvey had a $100,000 BI liability insurance policy with GEICO. GEICO paid the limits within 9 days after the accident.
The motorcycle rider’s estate sued James Harvey, the driver of the vehicle. The estate sued for negligence.
The estate won at trial and got a judgment of $8.47 Million. GEICO’s insured, Mr. Harvey, then sued GEICO for acting in bad faith.
A jury found that GEICO acted in bad faith by failing to settle the claim of The Estate of John Potts against GEICO’S insured, James Harvey.
However, the appeals court said that GEICO didn’t act in bad faith. Harvey (Jan. 20, 2017).
The Harvey case is now on appeal at the Florida Supreme Court. The attorneys have already done the oral argument.
Has a Court Ever Said That GEICO Can Improve Its Claims Process for Motorcycle Accident Claims?
Yes. In Harvey, the judge said that GEICO’s claim process was not without fault and could be improved.
Does GEICO Reward Its Adjusters for Paying You Less for Your Auto Accident?
See if GEICO rewards its adjusters for settling for less money in motorcycle accident claims.
Learn more about GEICO accident claims and GEICO accident settlements.
Hurt from a Motorcycle or Other Accident in Florida?
Call me now at (888) 594-3577 to find out for FREE if we can represent you. We answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
No Fees or Costs if I Do Not Get You Money
We speak Spanish. Learn more about us. Check out my law firm reviews.
Leave a Reply