McDonald v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., No. Cv 00 0595517 S (Mar. 4, 2002)

**McDonald v. National Union Fire Insurance: Workers' Compensation and Car Insurance Coverage** This case involved an employee who was injured in a car accident and sought additional insurance coverage beyond what was already provided. The employee worked for Cumberland Farms and had been hurt by another driver. The worker tried to get extra money from National Union Fire Insurance Company, claiming the company's uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage should pay out. The court ruled in favor of the insurance company. The judge found that Cumberland Farms had properly chosen the minimum required uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of $20,000 per person and $40,000 total per accident. Since the at-fault driver had enough liability insurance to meet these limits, no additional coverage was triggered. Furthermore, the court determined that workers' compensation benefits the employee received reduced any potential insurance payout even further. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling shows that employees injured in car accidents may have limited options for getting extra insurance money beyond workers' compensation. If your employer chooses minimum insurance coverage and the other driver has adequate insurance, you may not be able to collect additional funds from your employer's uninsured motorist policy, even if your medical bills and damages are substantial.