PHILADELPHIA – A State Farm Insurance policyholder says she was improperly denied underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits from the insurance company, subsequent to an automobile accident which took place in Philadelphia nearly two years ago.
Sharon Price of Philadelphia filed suit in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on June 1 against State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, of Concordville.
Price, a State Farm policyholder, says she was the victim of an automobile accident on Belmont Avenue in Philadelphia on Nov. 24, 2015, caused by the other driver involved, Paul Harmon. Price claims she suffered internal derangement of the left shoulder, thoracic disc bulge, multiple cervical disc bulges and other injuries in the accident.
Both motorists were State Farm policyholders, with Harmon’s policy covering him for $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. State Farm tendered the $30,000 policy limits to resolve multiple claims, of which Price received $7,500.
In the case of Price’s coverage, the State Farm policy she possessed included UIM coverage up to $60,000 – and since Harmon did not possess liability coverage of a great enough amount to compensate Price, she says she filed such a claim with the company to pay for her medical care, and was denied.
“Furthermore, in addition to all the injuries and losses suffered by the plaintiff, plaintiff has also incurred or will incur medical, rehabilitative and other related expenses in an amount equal to and/or in excess of the basic personal injury protection benefits required by the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law, 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1701, et.seq., as amended, and/or Worker’s Compensation benefits pursuant to Act 57, and for which plaintiff makes a claim for payment in the present action,” the suit says.
For a single count of breach of contract, the plaintiff is seeking judgment against the defendant for damages, interest and costs in excess of $50,000 in this matter.
The plaintiff is represented by Marc F. Greenfield of Spear Greenfield Richman & Weitz, in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 170504419
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com