Meghan Grove v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.
Case Number: 02-CV-2020-900911
Mobile County, Alabama, Circuit Court
On October 6, 2022, a Mobile County jury awarded $6,500,000 to Meghan Grove, who was seriously injured in an automobile crash on Highway 45 when another driver negligently crossed the center lane. After the crash, Meghan was extricated from her vehicle by emergency personnel and flown by Life Flight to the Trauma Center at USA Health University Hospital. She suffered multiple pelvic fractures, a broken elbow, and a broken wrist, and underwent emergency surgery. She spent 18 days in the hospital and 40 days in inpatient rehabilitation. She then participated in over 100 physical therapy sessions.
The person who crossed the center line did not have adequate insurance to cover Meghan’s damages. However, Meghan and her family had purchased underinsured motorist coverage from their own insurance company, State Farm. The purpose of underinsured motorist coverage is to cover a person for injuries and damages caused by someone who doesn’t have enough insurance. Meghan had to file a lawsuit against State Farm to force it to pay the underinsured motorist benefits – even though Meghan’s family had paid their premiums for years.
Throughout the litigation and up until the first morning of trial, State Farm denied that the other driver was at fault. Meghan’s treating orthopedic trauma surgeon testified about the nature, extent, and permanency of Meghan’s injuries. A Doctor of Physical Therapy conducted a Functional Capacity Evaluation to objectively test the permanent physical limitations that Meghan suffered as a result of her injuries.
“Meghan suffered life-altering injuries that will permanently affect the way she lives her life,” said Cunningham Bounds attorney Robert Mitchell. “The jury’s verdict was a just result and one that Meghan certainly deserved. Hopefully, the verdict will remind State Farm of its responsibility to always put its policyholders first rather than its profit motives.”
Cunningham Bounds attorneys Robert Mitchell and Lucy Tufts tried the case with the assistance of paralegals Jennifer Miles and Erin Stanford.
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