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ALTHOUGH THE UNINSURED DRIVER ACTED INTENTIONALLY, THE INJURY TO THE MAN WHO WAS TRYING TO STOP THE DRIVER FROM DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED WAS THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE UNINSURED MOTORIST POLICY (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined respondent, Widdecombe, was injured in an accident within the meaning of the applicable uninsured motorist policy. Widdecombe was concerned because the driver, Germain, who had been drinking, should not drive. When Widdecombe attempted to take the keys, Germain drove off, dragging and injuring Widdecombe:

… [F]or purposes of an uninsured motorist endorsement, when an occurrence is — from the insured's perspective — “unexpected, unusual and unforeseen,” it qualifies as an “accident”… .  … “[T]he intentional assault of an innocent insured is an accident within the meaning of his or her own policy” … .

… [W]hatever Germain's intent and criminal liability, this incident was an accident from Widdecombe's perspective. Contrary to petitioner's contention, Widdecombe's uncontroverted testimony established that the incident “happened so fast” and, after he attempted to grab the keys, Germain said that “he was going to cut [Widdecombe's] leg off” and, as Widdecombe tried to get his leg out of the car, Germain “threw the car in drive” and “screeched” away, dragging Widdecombe. … [T]his event “was clearly an accident from the insured's point of view,” since having his leg trapped and being dragged was sudden and “unexpected, unusual and unforeseen” … . Matter of Progressive Advanced Ins. Co. (Widdecombe), 2018 NY Slip Op 00061, Third Dept 1-4-18

INSURANCE LAW (ALTHOUGH THE UNINSURED DRIVER ACTED INTENTIONALLY, THE INJURY TO THE MAN WHO WAS TRYING TO STOP THE DRIVER FROM DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED WAS THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE UNINSURED MOTORIST POLICY (THIRD DEPT))/ACCIDENT (INSURANCE LAW, ALTHOUGH THE UNINSURED DRIVER ACTED INTENTIONALLY, THE INJURY TO THE MAN WHO WAS TRYING TO STOP THE DRIVER FROM DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED WAS THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE UNINSURED MOTORIST POLICY (THIRD DEPT))/UNINSURED MOTORIST (INSURANCE LAW, ALTHOUGH THE UNINSURED DRIVER ACTED INTENTIONALLY, THE INJURY TO THE MAN WHO WAS TRYING TO STOP THE DRIVER FROM DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED WAS THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE UNINSURED MOTORIST POLICY (THIRD DEPT))

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