Personal Injury Law

State Farm's End Run Around Subrogation Waiver

In Maryland, if an uninsured motorist insurer waives subrogation against the at-fault driver in an underinsured motorist case, it also waives its liability defenses. Depending upon who you ask, this has either always been the law in Maryland (as Maryland high court tells us in Maurer v. Penn National), or is a completely new law (as every Maryland accident lawyer or insurance company seems to think).

State Farm has seemingly responded to this new law by refusing to waive subrogation in just about every case where the at-fault driver tenders the policy limits. It is a fair tactic. But what State Farm is doing is cutting side deals with the at-fault driver's insurance company to waive subrogation to the extent of the UM coverage which allows the defendants to work together in preparing for and trying accident claims.

Two take home messages for the Maryland car and truck accident lawyer. First, add in a discovery question to uncover these side deals so you know the score in advance. Second, make sure you argue at trial that the defendants' interests are aligned and they should not both get jury strikes.

The latter issue is a big deal. Giving both insurance companies strikes - particularly if they are working together - is going to give you a very different jury.

Full post as published by Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog on October 20, 2010 (boomark / email).