Nationwide is on your side -- Not!

In 1999, Richard Gibbons smashed into the Greg Tanner family's car. The impact left the Tanner's 7-year-old son, Roney, in a coma for a week. When he came out of the coma, he rquired hospitalization for a month and physical therapy for the next 5 years.

Mr. Gibbons, surprisingly, was insured. But his Nationwide insurance is refusing to pay the Tanner's bills. Why? Because Gibbons was fleeing the police when he threw their family into chaos. He should have known that running from red lights and sirens at 100 mph and disregarding traffic lights and signs was dangerous Nationwide says.

While I agree with Nationwide's contention that Mr. Gibbons is completely at fault here, the Tanners are completely innocent. Texas requires liability insurance not to protect the purchaser, but to protect those he may harm. Nationwide should pay the Tanners' claim, then cancel Gibbons' insurance. But that's a moot point. Gibbons was released on bail, and he is nowhere to be found.

The Tanners' case is now before the Texas Supreme Court. Let's hope there are enough common sense judges there to overturn the previous rulings in favor of Nationwide, and the Tanner family will get the judgment they are entitled to. In the meantime, don't buy insurance from Nationwide -- they're not on your side!

"Insurer's refusal to pay before high court." The Dallas Morning News; November 29, 2008; p. 4A.