In a rare moment of generosity, A.I.G. offers passengers on US Airways Flight 1549 compensation before liability is established

New York personal injury lawyers are hardly the first people to compliment A.I.G. for anything it does, but a recent report in The New York Times describes some of the insurance giant's actions that are clearly worthy of praise.

Shortly after Capt. Chelsey B. Sullenberger III piloted U.S. Airways Flight 1549 to a successful ditch in the Hudson River, saving everyone aboard, U.S. Airways issued each passenger a $5,000 check "to cover their immediate needs." It was an act of goodwill on the part of the airline, one it had no legal obligation to perform.

Now, several months after the accident, A.I.G., the lead underwriter in this case, is paying passengers with more than $5,000 in documented damages additional money to cover their losses - money the insurance carrier is not obligated to pay.

This is the sort of generosity New York personal injury lawyers would love to see from insurance carriers more often. It is a refreshing break from the standard practice of making claimants fight for every nickel and dime, even when there is a legal obligation to pay.

A.I.G. has further offered at least some of the passengers $10,000 in exchange for releasing it from any further claims. For those passengers who did not lose a large amount of property or suffer great physical or mental distress from the crash, this is a good, generous offer from A.I.G. to settle this business quickly and easily.

However, some passengers who feel they have suffered greatly are balking at the offer. That is fine. If these people believe their damages exceed what they are offered they have every right to secure the services of a New York personal injury lawyer to try to prove liability in this case and get everything they need to fully compensate them for the accident. They just have to keep in mind that the outcome of this process is never certain and can take many months or even years to complete.

Though this is surely an isolated incident, we would like to take this opportunity to once more commend A.I.G. for doing the right thing.

[The New York Times]