STANDARD MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION, APPELLANT,
v.
WILLIAM E. ALLYN, APPELLEE
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The court held that a motorcycle is a 'motor vehicle' under the uninsured motorist provision of an insurance policy, even if a separate policy definition for 'Personal Injury Protection' excludes two-wheeled vehicles.
[1] An insurance policy's definition of "motor vehicle" for uninsured motorist coverage must be construed in light of the public policy of the state, which favors broad cover…
[2] A two-wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle, qualifies as an "uninsured motor vehicle" under an insurance policy's uninsured motorist provision when the policy has been a…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAn insured pedestrian was struck by an uninsured motorcycle and filed a claim under his policy's uninsured motorist provision. The insurer denied the …
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RAWLS, Judge.
Appellee Allyn, a pedestrian, was struck and severely injured by an uninsured Ho-daka motorcycle. A claim was timely filed by Allyn with his insurer, appellant Standard, for damages pursuant to the uninsured motorist provision of his policy. Standard denied the claim. The trial judge, in the instant suit filed by Allyn, instructed the jury:
“ . . . as a matter of law that the defendant [appellant], the Standard Marine Insurance Company, a corporation, is liable for all sums which Mr. Allyn [appellee], the insured, it’s [sic] insured, shall be legally entitled to recover as damages from the owner-operator of the uninsured motorcycle because of bodily injury or damage sustained by the plaintiff [appellee], or caused by the acci dent. However, this is only up to $10,-000, for the limits of the defendant’s liability under the terms of its insurance policy is $10,000 and, therefore, plaintiff can recover no more than that amount, regardless of his damages.”
Judgment was entered upon a jury verdict of $10,000; hence this appeal.
The sole issue is whether or not a motorcycle is an uninsured motor vehicle within the terms of an insurance policy issued by appellant Standard to appellee Allyn.
Part IV entitled “Protection Against Uninsured Motorists” of the subject insurance policy as initially issued provided:
“COVERAGE J — UNINSURED MOTORISTS (DAMAGES FOR BODILY INJURY). To pay all sums which the insured or his legal representative shall be legally entitled to recover as damages from the owner or operator of an uninsured automobile . . . caused by accident and arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of such uninsured automobile . . . . ”
After the Florida Automobile Reparations Reform Act was passed by the Florida legislature, Standard amended the subject insurance policy as follows :
“UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE AMENDMENT
“It is agreed that the term ‘uninsured automobile’ is changed to ‘uninsured motor vehicle’.”1
Standard urges that, as its policy now reads, only one definition of the term “motor vehicle” appears in same which is found in Section I under the caption of “Personal Injury Protection”, viz:
“ . . . ‘motor vehicle’ means a 4 wheel self-propelled vehicle of a type required to be registered and licensed under Florida law, which is not used as a public or livery conveyance, and which is one of the following types:
“(a) a private passenger vehicle, such as a sedan, station wagon or jeep-type vehicle,
“(b) a pick-up or panel truck not used primarily in the occupation, business or profession of the owner
“(c) a utility automobile designed for personal use, as a camper or motor home or for family recreational purposes but a utility automobile does not include any such automobile used primarily (1) in the occupation, profession or business of the owner or (2) for the transportation of passengers.”2
The rationale of Standard is that its “PIP” definition of “motor vehicle” clearly excludes two-wheeled vehicles such as the uninsured motorcycle in the instant case. To apply such definition to the separate coverage of uninsured motorist, as Standard urges, would exclude the following defined vehicles from uninsured motorist coverage:
1. A 4 wheel vehicle which is used as a public or livery conveyance.
2. A pickup or panel truck used primarily in the occupation, business or profession of the owner. 3. Any truck other than a pickup or panel truck.
4. A utility automobile (as a camper or motor home) which is used primarily (1) in the occupation, profession or business of the owner or (2) for the transportation of passengers.
5. A vehicle owned by the State of Florida, any political subdivision or municipality thereof, or the federal goverment. 6. Other motor vehicles which have not been categorized.
To accept the foregoing exclusions as defined by Standard would be to emasculate the public policy of this state.
We do not perceive that the legislature, by enacting the Florida Automobile Reparations Reform Act,3 intended to exclude those motor vehicles enumerated above from the umbrella of uninsured motorists. The statutory definition of a “motor vehicle’’ found in the Financial Responsibility Act4 is far more consonant with the public policy of this state as to uninsured motorist than the “PIP” definition in the instant policy, viz:
"(1) Motor vehicle. — Every self-propelled vehicle which is designed and required to be licensed for use upon a highway, including trailers and semi-trailers designed for use with such vehicles (except traction engines, road rollers, farm tractors, power shovels, and well drillers) and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead wires but not operated upon rails.”
This state’s public policy has historically required financial responsibility of those operating motor vehicles upon its public streets and highways. In Davis v. United States Fidel. & G. Co. of Baltimore, Md.,
this court held that the uninsured motorist statute establishes a public policy that every insured is entitled to recover under their policy for the damages he or she would have been able to recover against the offending motorist if that motorist had maintained a policy of liability insurance. Standard, citing Dorrell v. State Fire and Casualty Company,6 argues that it is well settled “in interpreting an automobile insurance policy the courts have followed the definitions given in the policy itself.” Such contention is well settled where the definition given is applicable to the coverage assumed and if not contrary to statutory limitations and requirements. However, as stated in Standard Accident Insurance Company v. Gavin, supra:
". . . ‘It is well settled in this State that where a contract of insurance is entered into on a matter surrounded by statutory limitations and requirements, the parties are presumed to have entered into such agreement with reference to the statute, and the statutory provisions become a part of the contract. . . .’” (quoting from the trial judge’s opinion)
Finally, Standard cites Valdes v. Prudence Mutual Casualty Company7 as being dispositive of the issue. There, the Third District Court of Appeal, in construing that particular insurance policy, held that a motorcycle was not an owned automobile within the exclusionary provision of the policy. Here, we are concerned with a policyholder that has paid a premium for uninsured motorist coverage. As we construe the term “uninsured motorist”, such includes a motor vehicle being operated upon the public streets and highways of this state. Allyn, the insured, was struck down by such a motor vehicle. If our construction is in conflict with Valdes, supra, then so be it.
The judgment appealed is AFFIRMED.
BOYER, C. J., and McCORD, J., concur. . It is noted at the outset that the uninsured motorist statute, F.S. 627.727, is not a part of the Florida Automobile Reparations Reform Act, F.S. 627.730-627.741.
. This definition is markedly similar to the definition of “motor vehicle” in the Florida Automobile Reparations Reform Act, F.S. 627.732.
. Florida Statutes 627.730-627.741.
. Florida Statute 324.021(1).
. Davis v. United Fidel. & G. Co. of Baltimore, Md., 172 So. 2d 485 (Fla.App. 1st 1965). See also Standard Accident Insurance Company v. Gavin, 184 So. 2d 229, 24 A.L.R.3d 1359, (Fla.App. 1st 1966).
. Dorrell v. State Fire and Casualty Company, 221 So. 2d 5 (Fla.App. 3rd 1969).
. Valdes v. Prudence Mutual Casualty Company, 207 So. 2d 312 (Fla.App. 3rd 1968).
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State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Kuhn, 374 So. 2d 1079 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979)…olicy under the plain terms of the statute. In an attempt to circumvent Section 627.4132, Kuhn argues that his motorcycle is not a “vehicle.” However, we must reject this argument for the reasons cited in Standard Marine Insurance Company v. Allyn, 333 So. 2d 497 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976). Accordingly, the judgment for Kuhn is reversed and the cause is remanded to the trial court to enter judgment for State Farm. Reversed and remanded.…
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Weldon v. All Am. Life Ins. Co., 605 So. 2d 911 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992)…atter surrounded by statutory limitations and requirements, the parties are presumed to have entered into such agreement with the reference to the statute and the statutory provisions become a part of the contract. Standard Marine Ins. Co. v. Allyn, 333 So. 2d 497 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976). All American’s policy provides that any provision of the policy which, on its effective date, is in conflict with the statutes of the state in which the policyholder is located on such date is hereby amended to conform to the mi…
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Grant v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 638 So. 2d 936 (Fla. 1994)…tant case, the definition of motor vehicle that is included under the No-Fault section of the policy is not relevant to the exclusions [*938] discussed in the Uninsured Motor Vehicle section of the policy. In Standard Marine Insurance Co. v. Allyn, 333 So. 2d 497 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976), the insured party was injured by an uninsured motorist operating a motorcycle. Based on the public policy interest in requiring motorists to have their vehicles insured, Standard Marine held that a motorcycle is a motor vehicle.…
Previewing 3 of 11 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Standard Accident Ins. Co. v. Gavin, 184 So. 2d 229 (Fla. 1st DCA 1966)
- Davis v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co. of Baltimore, 172 So. 2d 485 (Fla. 1st DCA 1965)
- Green v. State, 172 So. 2d 485 (Fla. 1st DCA 1965)
- Frewer v. City OF Miami Beach, 207 So. 2d 312 (Fla. 3d DCA 1968)
- Jullan Valdes v. Prudence Mut. Cas. Co., 207 So. 2d 312 (Fla. 3d DCA 1968)
- Jackson v. State, 221 So. 2d 5 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969)
- Dorrell v. State Fire & Cas. Co., 221 So. 2d 5 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969)