RAM Law Partner Craig Aronow Gets $1.23 Million Settlement for Client

Craig Aronow obtained this settlement for a RAM Law client that underwent multiple surgeries as a result of a box truck striking her disabled car on the side of a New York highway.  The defendants in the case were the company that employed the truck driver, who caused the accident, and a sister company that hired the truck driver.  RAM Law obtained the policy limits for the company that employed the driver, which ceased operations during the pendency of the lawsuit.  We then proceeded against the sister company, who arguably, was responsible for hiring the unqualified truck driver.  That company did not have direct insurance coverage for the negligent hiring of the driver, but we were able to use the Motor Carrier Act of 1980’s requirement of a MCS-90 endorsement to trigger that company’s insurer to get involved in the case and contribute to the settlement.  Generally, that act triggers a commercial motor vehicle insurer’s responsibility for a judgment against an insured interstate motor carrier if the judgment is the result of a claim arising out of the motor carrier’s operation, maintenance or use of motor vehicles.  The threat of a judgment resulted in the significant contribution to the settlement.