EDWARDSVILLE — A man injured in a car crash is suing his insurer for allegedly denying his underinsured motorist claim.
James Eric Manion filed a complaint July 23 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Westfield Insurance Company, alleging breach of contract and other claims.
According to his complaint, Manion suffered injuries in a car crash on Sept. 4, 2019. Specifically, Manion alleges that he was a passenger in a car that was driving on Illinois 57 MP 75 that had stopped due to construction lane closure. He claims the vehicle behind him was rear-ended and crashed into the vehicle he was riding in. Manion then settled the claim against the underinsured motorist who caused the crash. The settlement was split between all the injured parties. He alleges the settlement did not cover the full extent of his injuries, so he filed a claim with his insurer, Westfield, on Jan. 8. He claims Westfield refuses to pay the claim.
Manion claims Westfield failed to conduct a reasonable investigation or evaluation of his claim, failed to "act promptly" to settle the claim and breached its duty not to reject "a reasonable and fair offer of settlement."
Manion seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Gary Burger of Burger Law LLC in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000871