Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Complaint

UNINSURED / UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COMPLAINT

Table of Contents

1. Caption
2. Parties
3. Jurisdiction and Venue
4. General Allegations
5. Policy Identification and Coverage
6. UM vs. UIM Status
7. First Claim — Breach of Contract (UM/UIM Benefits)
8. Second Claim — Unfair Claims Settlement Practices (24-A M.R.S. § 2436-A)
9. Damages
10. Jury Demand
11. Prayer for Relief

Caption

STATE OF MAINE — [COUNTY NAME] COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT

Parties

1. Plaintiff, [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME] ("Plaintiff"), is an individual residing at [PLAINTIFF ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Maine [ZIP CODE], and is an insured under the automobile insurance policy described herein.

2. Defendant, [INSURANCE COMPANY NAME] ("Defendant Insurer"), is an insurance company authorized to transact business in the State of Maine, with its principal place of business at [INSURER ADDRESS].

3. [JOHN/JANE DOE] ("Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist") is an individual who, at all relevant times, operated a motor vehicle [☐ without liability insurance / ☐ with liability insurance inadequate to compensate Plaintiff's damages].

Jurisdiction and Venue

4. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 4 M.R.S. § 105 and 14 M.R.S. § 501.

5. Venue is proper in [COUNTY] County pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 501 because [☐ the accident occurred in this county / ☐ Defendant transacts business in this county / ☐ Plaintiff resides in this county].

6. The amount in controversy exceeds $[AMOUNT].

General Allegations

7. On or about [DATE OF ACCIDENT], at approximately [TIME], Plaintiff was [☐ operating / ☐ a passenger in] a motor vehicle on [STREET/HIGHWAY/ROUTE], in or near [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Maine.

8. At said time and place, the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist negligently operated a motor vehicle, proximately causing a collision with Plaintiff's vehicle.

9. The Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist was negligent in one or more of the following respects:

☐ Operating at an excessive or unreasonable speed (29-A M.R.S. § 2074)
☐ Failure to yield the right of way (29-A M.R.S. § 2057)
☐ Following too closely (29-A M.R.S. § 2066)
☐ Operating under the influence (29-A M.R.S. § 2411)
☐ Failure to obey a traffic control device (29-A M.R.S. § 2057)
☐ Improper lane change (29-A M.R.S. § 2070)
☐ Distracted driving / handheld device use (29-A M.R.S. § 2119)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

10. As a direct and proximate result of the above-described negligence, Plaintiff sustained serious bodily injuries and damages.

Policy Identification and Coverage

11. At the time of the accident, Plaintiff was insured under an automobile insurance policy issued by Defendant Insurer, Policy No. [POLICY NUMBER], effective from [POLICY START DATE] to [POLICY END DATE] (the "Policy").

12. The Policy includes uninsured motorist ("UM") bodily injury coverage with limits of $[UM LIMIT PER PERSON] per person / $[UM LIMIT PER ACCIDENT] per accident.

13. The Policy includes underinsured motorist ("UIM") bodily injury coverage with limits of $[UIM LIMIT PER PERSON] per person / $[UIM LIMIT PER ACCIDENT] per accident.

14. Plaintiff has paid all premiums due under the Policy and has complied with all conditions precedent.

15. Plaintiff [☐ accepted UM/UIM coverage at BI liability limits / ☐ rejected equal coverage but retains coverage at statutory minimums / ☐ did not execute a valid written rejection].

UM vs. UIM Status

Select one:

☐ Uninsured Motorist (UM) Claim:

16. The at-fault motorist was uninsured at the time of the accident in that [☐ no bodily injury liability policy was in effect / ☐ the at-fault motorist is unknown (hit-and-run) / ☐ the at-fault motorist's insurer denied coverage or is insolvent].

☐ Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Claim:

17. The at-fault motorist maintained bodily injury liability coverage with limits of $[TORTFEASOR POLICY LIMIT], which is less than the minimum limits for BI liability insurance.

18. Plaintiff has exhausted the at-fault motorist's bodily injury liability limits and received $[AMOUNT RECOVERED FROM TORTFEASOR] in [☐ settlement / ☐ judgment].

19. Defendant Insurer was provided with timely written notice and the opportunity to consent to the settlement with the tortfeasor's insurer.

First Claim

Breach of Contract (UM/UIM Benefits)

20. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 19.

21. The Policy constitutes a valid and enforceable contract between Plaintiff and Defendant Insurer.

22. Plaintiff has performed all obligations and satisfied all conditions precedent required under the Policy.

23. Defendant Insurer has breached the Policy by failing and refusing to pay UM/UIM benefits owed to Plaintiff despite proper and timely demand.

24. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant Insurer's breach, Plaintiff has been damaged in an amount to be proven at trial.

Second Claim

Unfair Claims Settlement Practices (24-A M.R.S. § 2436-A)

25. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 24.

26. Pursuant to 24-A M.R.S. § 2436-A, Maine provides a private cause of action for violations of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act.

27. Defendant Insurer violated the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act by engaging in one or more of the following acts:

☐ Misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions relating to coverages at issue
☐ Failing to acknowledge and act reasonably promptly upon communications with respect to claims
☐ Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of claims
☐ Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation
☐ Failing to affirm or deny coverage within a reasonable time after proof of loss
☐ Threatening to appeal an arbitration award to compel acceptance of a lesser settlement
☐ Other: [________________________________]

28. Plaintiff has been damaged by Defendant Insurer's unfair claims practices and is entitled to actual damages, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees as provided by law.

Damages

29. As a result of the accident and Defendant Insurer's breaches, Plaintiff has suffered the following damages:

☐ Past medical expenses: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Future medical expenses: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Past lost wages/earnings: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Future lost wages/earning capacity: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Pain and suffering (past and future): $[AMOUNT]
☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Physical disability and disfigurement: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Loss of consortium (if applicable): $[AMOUNT]
☐ Actual damages for unfair claims practices (§ 2436-A)
☐ Prejudgment interest (14 M.R.S. § 1602-B)
☐ Attorney's fees (if authorized under § 2436-A)
☐ Costs of suit

Jury Demand

Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

Prayer for Relief

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant Insurer as follows:

1. Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial;
2. UM/UIM benefits in the full amount owed under the Policy;
3. Actual damages for unfair claims settlement practices pursuant to 24-A M.R.S. § 2436-A;
4. Reasonable attorney's fees and costs pursuant to 24-A M.R.S. § 2436-A;
5. Prejudgment interest pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 1602-B;
6. Costs of this action; and
7. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and equitable.

Respectfully submitted,

[ATTORNEY NAME], Maine Bar No. [BAR NUMBER]
[FIRM NAME]
[FIRM ADDRESS]
[CITY], Maine [ZIP CODE]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
Attorney for Plaintiff

State-Specific Notes — Maine

Sources and References

• 24-A M.R.S. § 2902 — Maine Legislature
• Maine UM/UIM Overview — Romanow Law Group
• Maine UIM Offset — Berman & Simmons
• Maine UM/UIM Explained — Rudman Winchell