Several recent court decisions have had an impact on people injured in accidents who are seeking compensation through a lawsuit. While these decisions were not groundbreaking, they are still quite helpful in analyzing and arguing issues related to auto insurance coverage and negligence, with the ultimate goal of getting clients the damages they deserve.
Case 1: Getting Around Insurance Exclusions
A positive ruling for car accident victims came from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in the case of CEC v. Crum & Foster, which was decided in April of 2025. It involved an accident and whether the vehicle involved was excluded from coverage due to the wording of a specific exclusion.
Often, insurance companies will try to avoid paying a claim by pointing to fine-print exclusions in a policy that, in their interpretation, states that the accident would not qualify for coverage. In the CEC case, the court looked at a clause that allegedly excluded coverage for accidents involving an “auto” that the insured driver did not own and that was not listed on the auto insurance policy. The court found the language was confusing because it didn’t clearly state:
- If the car had to be the cause of the accident.
- If the person claiming coverage had to own the car.
The Ruling
Because the language was confusing, the court interpreted the clause against the insurer, meaning the exclusion did not apply, and the policy had to provide coverage for the plaintiff’s injuries.
This case confirmed that, when there is any confusion or ambiguity in the wording of an insurance policy, the court must interpret that language in favor of the individual who purchased the insurance and not the insurance company.
Bottom Line for Plaintiffs
This decision gives you the ammunition to fight insurance companies trying to deny a claim based on confusing exclusions in a policy. If the exclusion isn’t crystal clear, the law says the insurance company may have to pay.
Let Us Help
We have had a great deal of experience getting around insurance company denials well before this case was decided. If you believe you have an injury case, why not call us? Consultations are free, and we’ll share examples of how we have prevailed for others just like you.
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