Policy Limits Victory: Leveraging Missouri’s Revised Statutes for a $100,000 Personal Injury Settlement
Here we received a policy limits offer after utilizing a three tiered bad faith letter schedule per Mo. Rev. Stat. 537.065. The statute had been recently modified at the beginning of our campaign, and the pre-litigation adjuster assigned to the file made the costly mistake of underestimating our vigor. When we filed suit, we sent requests for admissions that verified our compliance with the statute as well as the clear nature of the claim and received a prompt offer.
Challenges
- Navigating a recently modified Missouri Revised Statute 537.065, requiring precise compliance and innovative legal strategy.
- Dealing with an insurance adjuster who initially underestimated the seriousness and potential value of the claim.
- Establishing clear liability and statutory compliance to prompt a policy limits offer without extensive litigation.
Solution
- Implemented a three-tiered bad faith letter schedule, leveraging the revised statute to build pressure and establish the insurer’s potential liability for bad faith.
- Prepared the case meticulously by documenting every step to demonstrate full compliance with statutory requirements.
- Upon filing suit, sent targeted requests for admissions to the insurer, reinforcing the validity of the claim and ensuring no room for dispute regarding compliance.
- Presented the case in a manner that highlighted the insurer’s potential exposure if the matter proceeded further, prompting swift resolution.
The Result
- Achieved a $100,000 policy limits offer, ensuring the client received the maximum available compensation under the policy.
- Demonstrated the firm’s expertise in applying statutory changes and utilizing strategic pre-litigation measures to secure favorable outcomes.
- Resolved the matter efficiently, sparing the client the need for prolonged litigation while holding the insurer accountable for their initial undervaluation of the claim.
