Liberty Mutual Injury and Car Accident Settlements (and Claims)

When it comes to Florida insurer reputations for paying injury claims, Liberty Mutual is slightly below average. Liberty Mutual used to pay better.

That means that if you are injured in a car accident caused by someone who is insured with Liberty Mutual, then expect a below average payout.

The same is true if you have an uninsured motorist insurance claim with Liberty Mutual.  Likewise, expect a smaller offer in a slip and fall, dog bite or other premises case with Liberty Mutual.

If you don’t want to settle, your option is to sue and head towards trial.

Liberty Mutual also owns Helmsman Management Services, which is a third party administrator (TPA).  In other words, Helmsman handles claims for big companies that are self-insured.   

In my opinion, Liberty Mutual Insurance has made a business decision to offer less than the fair value of an injury claim.  There are many insurers that pay much better than Liberty Mutual in an injury case.  They include Scottsdale, Crum and Forster and others.

However, there are also many insurers who pay worse than Liberty Mutual.  Those who pay worse include Progressive, State Farm, Allstate and United Auto.

Liberty Mutual is one of the largest auto and business liability insurers in the United States.  However, I do not think that their presence is as big in Florida as some other states.

$100,000 Settlement With Liberty Mutual for Back Surgery (Car Accident)

A woman was driving her car in Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida.  She was rear ended by a driver.

After the crash, she told her doctor that she had lower back pain. She treated with a chiropractor for a few months but the pain did not go away.

She had a bulging disc.  She had epidural steroid injections to her lower back.  She had lower back surgery (a percutaneous discectomy).

Liberty Mutual insured the truck driver with $100,000 in bodily injury liability (BIL) insurance.

They claimed that the woman hit the car in front of her before the truck driver hit her car.  Liberty Mutual put 50% blame – for causing the accident – on the woman.

MGA Insurance Company insured the claimant’s car.

Dog Bite Victim Gets $100,000 from Liberty Mutual

Mike was a seasonal UPS driver in Tallahassee, Florida, making deliveries just like any other day. But when he reached John and Dona’s home, their dog suddenly ran out the front door and attacked him. The dog bit Mike twice on his left calf, leaving him injured and in pain.

Mike went to the emergency room, where he got stitches, a tetanus shot, and pain medication.

Warning: Graphic Injury Photo Below.

(This is what Liberty Mutual initially valued at just $36,700!) Later, he noticed nerve pain running down his leg.

He reported the attack to both the police and animal control, but at first, he wasn’t sure if the case number he had was from law enforcement or animal control.

Mike’s injuries required stitches, a tetanus shot, and pain medication, and he reported lingering nerve pain radiating down his leg.

Liberty Mutual’s First Offer Was Only $36,700

Before fighting for Mike’s settlement, I needed to make sure John’s homeowners’ insurance covered the dog bite. Many Florida homeowners’ policies exclude or limit dog bite claims, and if that was the case, Mike could have been left with little to nothing.

We sent a letter to Liberty Mutual, the homeowners’ insurance company, and were relieved to find out there were no coverage defenses. That meant we could negotiate for a full payout.

But Liberty Mutual started low—very low. Their first offer? Only $36,700. They claimed Mike’s injuries weren’t worth much because:

✔ He didn’t miss work
✔ Workers’ comp only paid $2,123 in medical bills
✔ They hadn’t received full medical records yet

Mike had to temporarily use crutches due to the pain and difficulty walking.

This is a common Liberty Mutual insurance tactic—they try to make you believe your case isn’t worth much so you’ll take a low offer and move on.

We Fought Back—and Liberty Mutual Settled for $100,000

At the start, Mike was still considering future treatment, so I made a high demand of $435,000 to leave room for negotiation. It’s normal for initial demands to be much higher than the final settlement—insurance companies always start low, so we start high.

Here’s how the back-and-forth played out:

• First Offer: $36,700
• Counter Demand: $435,000
• Next Offer: $46,700
• Final Settlement: $100,000

But that wasn’t the end of it. Liberty Mutual didn’t jump from $46,700 to $100,000 overnight. We went through multiple rounds of counteroffers, gradually pushing them higher. Like most insurers, they hoped we’d give up and take a lower amount—but we kept fighting until they finally agreed to a six-figure settlement.

In the end, persistence paid off, and Liberty Mutual finally agreed to settle for $100,000—nearly three times their initial offer.

How Hiring a Lawyer Put More Money in Mike’s Pocket

Since Mike was working at the time of the attack, workers’ comp paid for some of his medical bills. That meant they had a lien on his settlement—they wanted to be paid back out of his final payout.

But because Mike had a lawyer (me), workers’ comp had to reduce their lien by my pro-rata attorney fees. This meant more money stayed in Mike’s pocket than if he had handled the case alone.

In the end, the workers’ comp lien was reduced by $4,048.53 (from $12,142.39 to $8,093.86), allowing Mike to keep significantly more of his settlement. After all reductions, Mike walked away with $58,564 in his pocket.

And since he only needed treatment for a few months, this was a great result.

What This Liberty Mutual Case Teaches Dog Bite Victims

Mike’s case is a perfect example of how Liberty Mutual tries to pay as little as possible. If Mike hadn’t pushed back, he could have walked away with less than half of what he got.

If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Florida, don’t wait to take action. Liberty Mutual often tries to pay as little as possible. Getting a free consultation early can make a huge difference.

Here’s what Mike said about the claims process and my law firm:

Prospective clients may not obtain the same or similar results.

Y’all were real great, man. Y’all were like family. You’d call to make sure I’m okay. And I love that. You keep me in the loop with everything going on. Jenny [my paralegal] was just so nice.

$72,000 Settlement with Liberty Mutual for Truck Accident

Janice was a passenger in a pickup truck in Miami, Florida. While the pickup truck had the right of way, a big, commercial truck cut it off.

As a result, the pickup truck struck the big truck. Police came to the scene.

There was a lot of damage to the pickup truck.

Janice went to urgent care complaining of pain in her forearm and wrist. After the accident, Janice got a free consultation with me to see if I could be her lawyer.

We requested and received the police officer’s body camera footage.

Ultimately, Janice had carpal tunnel surgery.

Liberty Mutual fought this claim hard. They argued that the charges at the surgery center were unreasonably high.

Eventually, Liberty Mutual made a settlement offer for Janice personal injury claim. They only offered $44,981!

However, I knew that Janice’s claim was worth much more. So we fought back.

We continued to negotiate and exchange offers and demands. Then, Liberty Mutual told me that it’s final personal injury settlement offer was $70,000.

I drafted a sample lawsuit and sent it to Liberty Mutual. I told the adjuster that we were going to sue in court if they didn’t increase their offer.

The adjuster told me that he spoke with his claims manager. Liberty Mutual increased its offer to $72,000, and we settled the case in December 2022 for this amount.

My client was thrilled.

Janice gave us a 5 star review saying:

Atty Justin is so confident in his practice that he not only took me on as a client but got me the help I needed and also a full settlement on my case.

I couldn’t say enough good things about this law firm and his fantastic Paralegal assistant (Jenny). I felt confident and they assured me.

They get 5 stars.

Janice’s review

$31,500 Settlement With Liberty Mutual After Shower Door Shatters and Cuts Man’s Leg

A man from another country was staying at the W hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  (W hotels are part of Starwood Hotels).  He was taking a shower in his hotel room’s bathroom.

When he opened the shower door, it shattered.  It sliced his lower leg, slightly above his ankle.

The pictures of his injury were graphic.  It looked like someone hit him in the leg with a small ax.

However, he healed well.  The scar was hardly visible.  He did not take pictures of the shattered glass.

We argued that the hotel should’ve used tempered glass.

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company insured the hotel.

Liberty Mutual paid $31,500 to settle.  Their first offer was $14,500.

At the time, Liberty Mutual had an above average reputation for paying Florida injury claims.  They have since become worse.

Ace Insurance Company (now Chubb) insured the shower door installation company.They offered an additional $10,000.  We didn’t settle with Ace because their settlement release required him to hold them harmless from any claims brought by any parties.

Can You Predicting the Amount of Settlement by the Job Title of the Liberty Mutual Adjuster?

Like all insurance companies, Liberty Mutual uses different job titles for its adjusters who handle personal injury claims.  Not all insurance companies use the same job titles.

Adjusters with “better” titles usually have more authority to settle injury cases.

For more serious injuries, Liberty Mutual uses “Senior claims representatives II” or higher level adjusters.   Bigger injuries include broken bones with surgery and much more.

Sometimes cases increase in value from the time when the first Liberty Mutual adjuster was assigned to the case.

Let’s say, for example, that someone breaks a leg in an accident on a business’ premises.  Perhaps she slipped and fell, or tripped and fell on a dangerous condition.

Assume that the injured person has a fracture and surgery.  In this instance, Liberty Mutual may assign a Senior claims representative II to the claim.   (The level below a Senior claims representative II is a Senior claims representative I.)

All things equal, a case has a higher settlement value if a Senior Claims Representative II is handling it as opposed to a Senior Claims Representative I.

Let’s go back to the example above.

If the injured person’s doctor says that she will need another surgery,  Liberty Mutual may escalate her claim up to the next level adjuster.

Why?

Because the full value of the case has increased.    What is the next level adjuster above a Senior Claims representative II at Liberty Mutual?

I believe it’s a Technical Specialist I.  What size cases does a technical specialist I handle?

For Liberty Mutual’s car insurance unit, a Technical Claims Specialist I  handles cases of moderate to high full value and complexity.

A Technical Claims Specialist I has a certain level of settlement authority.  Basically, a Technical Claims Specialist can settle cases up to a certain amount without asking his/her supervisor for approval.

How Taking Photos Can Help Your Case Against Liberty Mutual

The injured person should always take pictures and/or video of:

• The shattered glass
• Any blood on the floor, your body and anywhere else
• A full body photo of yourself
• The entire accident scene
• Any witnesses including, but not limited to, before and after witnesses
• Any other important evidence

Driver Sues LM General Insurance for Bulging and Herniated Discs

This isn’t my case.  In Bellezza v. LM General Insurance Company, Dist. Court, MD Florida 2018, Nicholas Bellezza, a 28 year-old man, was injured when he was driving in the parking garage of Whole Foods grocery store in Sarasota, Florida.

Bellezza claimed that Joshua Barbour accelerated quickly from a parking space and struck the rear passenger door of Mr. Bellezza’s car.  At the time of the accident, Bellezza was covered by an insurance policy issued by LM General Insurance Company.

LM General Insurance Company is Liberty Mutual.   Nicholas had uninsured motorist limits of $250,000.  I assume that the Joshua had no bodily injury liability (BIL) insurance or was underinsured.

About 9 days after the accident, Bellezza was seen by Dr. Eric Larson for an evaluation and treatment of the injuries — specifically neck and back pain.

A cervical (neck) spine x-ray performed on February 18, 2016, showed mild disc space narrowing at C5 . . . Prominent left sided transverse process at C7 . . .and moderate restricted range of motion with no anterior vertebral offset.”

The x-ray indicted that Bellezza may be suffering from “muscle spasm.” An MRI of the spine on May 19, 2016, demonstrated bulging and herniated discs as well as spurring and encroachment.

On September 14, 2016, Bellezza presented himself to Dr. Larry Fishman at Florida Surgery Consultants for complaints of “neck pain as well as upper extremity tingling.”

Dr. Fishman recommended a “decompression” but Bellezza has not undergone any of the procedures recommended. Thereafter, on October 3, 2016, Bellezza presented himself to Larson Natural Health Center and “chiropractic, physical therapy, and manual therapy techniques” were recommended.

On December 19, 2016, Bellezza’s attorney sent a letter to Defendant LM General Insurance Company demanding a settlement in the amount of the policy limits — $250,000.00.   Belleza’s attorney explained that Bellezza’s medical bills then totaled $8,368.66. The demand letter also described projected future damages and loss of the enjoyment of life, among other topics.

LM General Insurance did not tender the policy limits and on December 29, 2017.  Thus, Belleza sued LM.  LM removed the case to federal court.

I assume that Liberty Mutual thought it had better odds of owing less money in federal court.  However, the judge sent the case back to state court.

I will update this part of the article when this case is resolved.

Making a PIP (No fault) Claim with Liberty Mutual

If you are insured with Liberty Mutual and you want to make a Personal Injury Protection claim, you can send a letter to address found on Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website.

The current address is:

Attn: PIP Claims
Dan Kosten
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Corporation Service Company, 1201 Hays St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301-2699

If Liberty Mutual insures someone who caused your injury, your letters to Liberty Mutual can be sent to:

Liability Claims
Liberty Mutual
175 Berkeley Street
Boston MA 02116

Motorcycle Accident Claims with Liberty Mutual

The most common Florida motorcycle accident claim for injuries is if a vehicle driver’s negligence causes a motorcyclist’s injury.

The motorcyclist may own a car with uninsured motorist (UM) liability coverage.

UM liability insurance may cover the motorcyclist while operating a motorcycle.

Liberty Mutual also offers UM liability coverage on motorcycles.

ATV and Off-Road Accidents with Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual insures ATVs in Florida.

Recreational Vehicle (RV) Accident Claims with Liberty Mutual in Florida

Liberty Mutual insures motorhomes and travel trailers on the road or wherever they are parked.  However, they require an underlying Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance policy.

Motorhome and travel trailers may have BI liability coverage.  If a motor home or travel trailer causes a person’s injury, he or she can make a claim against the BI coverage.

Home Insurance Claims against Liberty Mutual in Florida

Liberty Mutual insures many different types of Florida home injury claims.  They include accidents caused by:

• Homeowner
• Renter
• Condominium Owner
• Landlord
• Mobile Homes

Homeowners claims against Liberty Mutual in Florida

Liberty Mutual provides homeowners insurance to protect the homeowner from personal injury claims.

On premises claims

A homeowner’s negligence may cause someone to get injured on the premises.  The injured person can make a claim against Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance for his or her damages.

Example – Trip and Fall

A grandmother is babysitting her grandchildren at her daughter’s house.  The daughter’s home is insured with Liberty Mutual.

The grandmother trips on an improperly placed cable.  The grandmother can make a claim with Liberty Mutual for her damages.

Example – Dog Bite

You are bitten by a homeowner’s dog.  You may make a claim with Liberty Mutual for damages.  These include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.

Off property claims as well

Liberty Mutual home insurance covers the homeowner in certain situations while off the property as well.

Example – Shopping Cart Accident at the Store

Liberty Mutual insures a Florida homeowner.  The homeowner pushes a shopping cart into another shopper.

The other shopper suffers a hip fracture.  The injured shopper can make a claim against the homeowner’s Liberty Mutual insurance.

Injury Claims Against Condo Owners Covered by Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual condo insurance gives the owner personal liability coverage.  This covers accidental bodily injury caused by the owner, an immediate family member living in the home and pets.

It also covers the owner for lawsuits.

It comes with medical payments coverage.  It covers the owner for medical bills for someone other than the owner or his or her family, who has been in an accident on the property.

Some injury claims against Liberty Mutual condo insurance may be:

• Slip, trip and falls
• Drownings
• Dog bites

The injured victim may also have a case against the condo association if the accident occurred in a common area.

Workers compensation.

Liberty Mutual also offers workers compensation insurance. If you are injured while you are working, and your employer has Liberty Mutual workers compensation insurance, then Liberty Mutual may give you benefits.

I represent (along with a different law firm) people who are injured while working (on the job).

I have settled (as co-counsel) many workers compensation claims. If you were injured while on the job, you may be entitled to money in addition to the money paid for your lost wages and medical bills.

Do not expect the workers compensation claims adjuster to tell you this. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to have an attorney to handle your workers compensation claim.

If you are making a workers compensation claim against Liberty Mutual, don’t expect Liberty Mutual to pay you for your pain and suffering. This is because workers compensation laws in Florida do not allow for pain and suffering.

Sometimes workers compensation settlements are much smaller than personal injury settlements where someone else was at fault.  There are rare times where a Florida worker can sue for personal injury though.

General Liability (Claims against a business, hotel, store, shopping mall, etc.)

Liberty Mutual also provides general liability insurance. That means that if you are injured at a hotel, store, shopping mall or other business, then you may end up dealing with Liberty Mutual.

Similar to homeowners insurance, a general liability insurance policy may have “medical payments” coverage, which would pay for your medical bills regardless of fault.

Truck Accidents

If a truck insured with Liberty Mutual hits you, then in order to get pain and suffering you have to prove that the truck driver was at fault and this caused your injuries.

There is a time limit to sue for a claim based on negligence in Florida.  You therefore have a limited time to sue the truck driver, company or dispatcher.

If an uninsured motorist’s negligence causes your injury in Florida, then you have five (5) years to make a claim under the uninsured (UM) coverage of an auto insurance policy with Liberty Mutual.

If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance or uninsured motorist insurance with Liberty Mutual, you should report the claim in writing to Liberty Mutual as soon as possible following the accident.

Boat and Watercraft Accident Claims

Liberty Mutual insures boats or watercrafts with liability insurance.  It protects the boat or watercraft owner and passengers from personal injury.

The boat is insured while on water and on land.  The boat and trailer are covered.  BI liability coverage and medical payments coverage is optional.

Aircraft Accidents

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company is the 14th largest Florida aircraft accident insurer.  The 2014 Annual Report states that its written premiums were $3,124,032.  Its market share was 3.3%

Products Liability Claims

The 2014 Annual Report states that Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company was the 13th largest Florida product liability insurer.

Products liability deals with the recourse for personal injury or property damage resulting from the use of a product.

An example of a products liability claim is if part of a baby crib breaks and a child’s arm gets fractured.

Liberty Mutual’s products liability written premiums in Florida were $3,785,767.  Its market share was 1.8%.

Filing a Complaint Against Liberty Mutual in Florida

You can find Liberty Mutual entity with whom you are dealing with by looking at the declarations page for the insurance policy.

You may need to know the proper name if you ultimately need to file a civil remedy notice of insurer violation if they do not act in good faith.

Which Companies are part of Liberty Mutual?

Safeco Insurance is part of the Liberty Mutual Group.  Safeco is the 13th largest private passenger auto liability insurer in Florida.

Did someone’s carelessness cause your injury in an accident in Florida, or on a cruise or boat? 

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2013 and has been revamped and updated.