West Virginia Adjusters Practice Exam

Jerry accidentally hit Bob with his car as Bob was running away from a bank he had just robbed. Bob's resulting medical expenses totaled $10,000. Bob sued Jerry for the damages after he was convicted of robbing the bank. Which of the following is true?

1. Bob can only recover half of his expenses from Jerry.

2. Jerry is not liable for any of Bob's medical expenses.

3. Jerry must pay for Bob's legal fees.

4. Bob can claim a maximum of $5,000 from Jerry.

The correct answer is: Bob can only recover half of his expenses from Jerry.

Jerry can only be held liable for half of Bob's expenses because of the legal principle of contributory negligence. Contributory negligence means that if the injured person played any role in causing their own injuries, their compensation may be reduced or barred entirely. In this case, Bob's decision to rob a bank contributed to his injuries, so he can only recover half of his expenses from Jerry. Option C and D are incorrect because there is no mention of Jerry being responsible for Bob's legal fees or having a cap on the maximum amount Bob can claim. Option B is incorrect because Jerry is still liable for the damages even though Bob was convicted of robbing the bank.