Having automobile insurance can put your mind at ease while whipping in and out of lanes on San Antonio's highways, trying to get from Loop 1604 to I-10 in five o'clock traffic.
It's the law to carry insurance and it is supposed to protect you and others out on the road, but when a Floresville woman felt State Farm was doing everything but protecting her, she called Barry Davis and Eyewitness Wants To Know.
Angelina Gonzales lost her husband, Art, of 54 years in September due to complications from diabetes. Last July, Art was in a car accident. A man ran a stop sign and hit his car, sending him to the hospital with minor injuries. Seven months later, and State Farm still hasn't footed the bill.
"I said look she's not looking to get rich off you guys. She doesn't want anything from you. She just wants my father's name cleared and you pay his hospital bill, it's $1601," said Art Jr. He's one of nine siblings and has been trying to handle the problem, but says State Farm is flooding his mother with paperwork.
After they turned in copies of his father's will and death certificate, State Farm asked for something else.
Art Jr. said, "They wanted the names of all my brothers and sisters, social security numbers, date of birth, place of birth."
State Farm also asked for the same information on the 32 grandchildren in the family.
They were still willing to work with the insurance company, but when State Farm threatened collection, Art Jr. called us.
State Farm refused to discuss the issue, claiming confidentiality, but did issue this statement:
"[We] seek to resolve all claims as quickly and as equitably as possible."
In a case where the claimant dies, they said "If a widow or widower is the sole heir, we simply need the widow or widower to provide evidence of that. For example, a recently dated will or an affidavit that verifies there are no other heirs."
The Gonzales family says they've given State Farm the proof, twice, but will send it again.
If they ask for something else, Art Jr. says he will meet with them face-to-face, in court.
