Inadequate Insurance Sparks Legal Clash After Truck Wreck

Case Overview

This case revolves around a dispute between the owner of a trucking company and an insurance agent. The owner of the trucking company, identified as the plaintiff, had a "Mac" dump truck valued at approximately $180,000. During a recorded phone conversation, the plaintiff allegedly expressed a desire for "full coverage" to the insurance agent, who assured them that they would receive such coverage. However, the insurance agent subsequently insured the truck against physical damage for only $45,000. Following this, the truck was involved in an accident and suffered nearly a total loss, raising questions about the adequacy of the coverage provided and whether the insurance agent met the standard of care in this particular situation.

Questions to the Insurance expert and their responses

Please describe your experience in auto insurance, specifically as an agent.

I've been advising clients about limits in liability and explaining coverages for over 25 years.

Briefly, what are the standards in place for advising a client on how much insurance they should obtain?

When advising a client on the type of insurance they should get, one should advise that it should exceed their assets.

About the expert

This expert has over 35 years of experience in the insurance industry, with a focus on life and auto insurance. She earned her BA from Miami University and began her career as an insurance agent at various small agencies. She later transitioned into a role managing insurance policies and discounted workers’ compensation programs for a regional business organization. She continued her career with positions at both national and regional insurance providers, including a role where she operated her own independent insurance agency specializing in auto, home, life, and business coverage.

E-1005572

Specialties:

Insurance

Zach Barreto is a distinguished professional in the legal industry, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Research at the Expert Institute. With a deep understanding of a broad range of legal practice areas, Zach's expertise encompasses personal injury, medical malpractice, mass torts, defective products, and many other sectors. His skills are particularly evident in handling complex litigation matters, including high-profile cases like the Opioids litigation, NFL Concussion Litigation, California Wildfires, 3M earplugs, Elmiron, Transvaginal Mesh, NFL Concussion Litigation, Roundup, Camp Lejeune, Hernia Mesh, IVC filters, Paraquat, Paragard, Talcum Powder, Zantac, and many others.

Under his leadership, the Expert Institute’s research team has expanded impressively from a single member to a robust team of 100 professionals over the last decade. This growth reflects his ability to navigate the intricate and demanding landscape of legal research and expert recruitment effectively. Zach has been instrumental in working on nationally significant litigation matters, including cases involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, toxic chemical exposure, and wrongful death, among others.

At the Expert Institute, Zach is responsible for managing all aspects of the research department and developing strategic institutional relationships. He plays a key role in equipping attorneys for success through expert consulting, case management, strategic research, and expert due diligence provided by the Institute’s cloud-based legal services platform, Expert iQ.

Educationally, Zach holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and European History from Vanderbilt University.