Student paralyzed by shot from hunter sues insurer
EUGENE, Ore. -- A man paralyzed from the neck down by a hunter has sued his parents' auto insurance company.
Jesse McLaughlin was playing paintball with friends two years ago when a hunter rolled down a window in his SUV and fired at what he thought was a skunk southwest of Eugene.
The bullet struck McLaughlin in the neck.
Veneta resident Derek Madsen, 29, was convicted of third-degree assault in connection with the accident.
The hunter's auto insurance policy had a $250,000 limit for bodily injury. Because the shot was fired from a vehicle, the insurer paid that amount to McLaughlin.
As a college student, McLaughlin was covered under his parents' Travelers Insurance policy, which included up to $1 million in coverage for claims arising from accidents caused by underinsured drivers.
The suit says Travelers should pay McLaughlin the difference between that $1 million cap and what he received from the hunter's insurer.
Travelers disagrees, but says it does not discuss pending litigation.
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