Jury Awards $900K to Veronica Delandro in Safeco Case
Table of Contents
Case Background
This civil action arose from a night-time traffic collision in New Britain, Connecticut. The Plaintiff, Veronica Delandro, was driving westbound on Broad Street around 10:13 p.m. on August 8, 2022, when another vehicle, later identified as stolen, sped through a stop sign at Silver Street and struck her car. The driver fled the scene, leaving Delandro injured and without a responsible at-fault party.
At the time of the accident, Delandro was insured under an automobile policy issued by Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois. Her policy included uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage limits of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident. After learning that the driver was never identified and that no liability coverage applied, Delandro filed a claim under her policy for uninsured motorist benefits. When the insurer failed to pay, she brought this lawsuit.
Cause
Delandro’s complaint claimed that the collision was caused by the negligence and carelessness of the unidentified driver. She alleged that the driver had operated the stolen vehicle recklessly, ignored a stop sign, and drove at an excessive speed. The complaint listed multiple statutory and common law violations ranging from distracted driving and failure to keep a proper lookout to using a handheld mobile device while operating the vehicle.
Because the at-fault driver remained unknown and uninsured, Delandro sought to recover damages directly from Safeco under Connecticut’s uninsured motorist statute, Conn. Gen. Stat. §38a-336, which allows policyholders to recover compensation when injured by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers.
Injury
The crash caused Delandro significant physical and emotional harm. She suffered injuries to her face, neck, back, abdomen, left hand, and right leg. Her doctors found several injuries to be serious and potentially permanent. She described ongoing pain, limited movement, and emotional distress following the crash.
The injuries prevented her from engaging in her usual daily and recreational activities. She reported that her mobility and strength had decreased, and that she continued to live with discomfort and anxiety long after the collision.
Damages Sought
Delandro sought monetary damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. Her complaint also requested compensation for future medical treatment and permanent impairment.
The statement of amount in demand confirmed that the claim exceeded $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs, though the uninsured motorist policy limit of $250,000 per person set the upper boundary for potential recovery.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Veronica Delandro
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Bertram W. McDowell Jr
· Experts for Plaintiff: Roy Kellerman | Eric Grahling | Paul Pezzino
Defendant: Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois
· Counsel for Defendant: Vincent Di Palma
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Delandro’s attorney, Bert McDowell, argued that Safeco had a contractual and statutory duty to honor its uninsured motorist coverage. He emphasized that the collision was clearly caused by the negligence of an unidentified, reckless driver who fled the scene, leaving no avenue for recovery except the policy benefits. The Plaintiff maintained that she complied with all terms of the policy and deserved full compensation for her injuries and related losses.
Safeco’s attorney, Vincent Di Palma, countered that the insurer’s obligations were subject to strict policy limitations and legal offsets. The defense stressed that any recovery must reflect prior payments, including potential workers’ compensation, liability coverage, or collateral sources, if any existed. Safeco also reserved the right to limit recovery to the $250,000 per-person policy limit and asserted that the Plaintiff must first exhaust any applicable tortfeasor coverage before pursuing the uninsured motorist claim.
Claims
Uninsured Motorist Benefits
The central claim sought compensation under the uninsured motorist provision of Delandro’s policy. She argued that Safeco’s refusal to pay those benefits amounted to a breach of contract and a violation of her statutory rights.
The Plaintiff contended that her injuries and losses including medical bills, lost income, and ongoing pain fell squarely within the scope of the policy’s uninsured motorist protection.
Defense
Safeco filed an Answer and Special Defenses denying liability beyond policy limits and asserting several legal offsets:
Setoff for Tortfeasor Coverage: Safeco claimed a right to reduce any payment by amounts recoverable under the liability policy of the unidentified driver, if such policy existed.
Workers’ Compensation or Liability Benefits: The insurer argued that any prior benefits paid to Delandro should be deducted from her uninsured motorist recovery.
Collateral Source Payments: Safeco sought to subtract any payments received from other sources, such as medical or disability insurance.
Policy Limits: The company stated that even if coverage applied, damages could not exceed $250,000.
Exhaustion Requirement: The insurer maintained that Delandro must first exhaust any applicable liability coverage before pursuing payment from Safeco.
These defenses reflected standard industry arguments aimed at minimizing potential payouts under uninsured motorist policies.
Jury Verdict
The jury on August 20th, 2025, passed the verdict in favor of the Plaintiff Veronica Delandro and against the Defendant Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois. The jury awarded Delandro a total of $900,000 in damages:
· Past Economic Damages: $21,596.53
· Future Economic Damages: $500,000
· Non-Economic Damages: $378,403
The verdict reflected the jury’s finding that the crash caused both lasting physical injuries and emotional suffering. The award went far beyond the minimum statutory demand, showing the jury’s belief in the depth of Delandro’s pain and the financial burden the accident created.