Call Now! Call Now!
(717) 888-8888

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules Against Household Vehicle Exclusions Limiting Insurance Stacking

household exclusions and stacked coverageOn Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that household vehicle exclusions cannot prevent injured victims from recovering stacked coverage. Stacking coverage allows insurance purchasers to increase the amount of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage by the number of vehicles in their insurance policy.

In a 5-2 decision, the court determined that a household exclusion in a policy issued by Geico directly violated the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law. The statute states that unless insurance purchasers choose to waive stacking, the coverage should be made available to any injured victim.

Geico denied additional coverage for an injured motorist after being involved in a motorcycle accident in 2012. The victim had previously purchased stacked coverage for his motorcycle and two other vehicles and was entitled up to $250,000 in damages.

Scott Cooper, a partner at Schmidt Kramer who represented the victim with other attorneys, says this ruling overturned about 30 years of case law and sided with legal arguments he and other lawyers have made for many years. Past case law was allowing courts to avoid addressing arguments about the language of the statute in question.

Contact a Harrisburg Attorney to Review Your Case

If your claim has been denied or devalued after an accident, you need a dedicated attorney on your side who can help you obtain the benefits you deserve. Our Harrisburg personal injury attorneys know how to manage an insurance claim while helping you pursue a lawsuit if necessary.

We can review your case and answer any questions you may have during a free consultation. All of our services are provided on a contingency basis, so there is no need to worry about any upfront legal fees unless we help you recover favorable compensation.

Complete our online form now or call (717) 888-8888.