Settling With The Defendant for Policy Requires Notice to the Underinsured Carrier.

Maryland law has already addressed the issue of settling with the defendant insurance carrier for policy limits when there is excess of coverage available under the plaintiff's underinsured motorist coverage. The court recently addressed this issue in an auto accident case wherein a suit for underinsured motorist benefits was filed. The policyholder was not entitled to summary judgment based on her insurer's failure to show prejudice from her failure to obtain its consent before settling with the tortfeasor's insurer for its policy limits; the policyholder had a statutory and contractual duty to obtain such consent, and her failure did not trigger the prejudice rules under statute or common law. Morse v. Erie Insurance Exchange, No. 0511, Sept. Term, 2013. Conversely, the insurer was entitled to summary judgment on an underinsured motorist claim where it was undisputed that insured failed to obtain her insurer's consent to settle for tortfeasor's policy limits, in violation of her own policy and applicable law; insurer was not required to show prejudice resulting from the lack of consent, and there was no genuine dispute of material fact as to whether insurer waived its rights. Woznicki v. Geico General Insurance Co., No. 532, Sept. Term, 2013. When you have been in an accident you want to be sure that you select an accident attorney who is familiar with the procedures. If you have questions regarding settling your accident case. Please feel free to call the accident attorney at 1-888-760-7339.