Trial lawyers specializing in personal injury and civil litigation
Kid hurt unloading his uncle was not removing "property" from car; no PIP benefits awarded
Terry Olsen injured a knee while helping to unload his disabled uncle from his parked car. His parents sought to pay his medical expenses through the PIP coverage on the car. AutoOwners refused to pay, noting that in order to recover PIP expenses, Olsen's parents would need to prove, under the pertinent statute, that Olsen was "in contact with the vehicle" and "unloading property." The dictionary definition of "property" includes "everything which is the subject of ownership..." Since people can't own people, there was no property involved. And no PIP benefits were payable.