Opinion ID: 1433963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: physical contact requirement

Text: Dairyland also contends that summary judgment on the contract claim was not proper because the district court did not require Vaught to prove that her injuries were the result of contact with the phantom semi. Dairyland bases its contention on the following language in the policy. We promise to pay the damages you're legally entitled to receive from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle because of bodily injury. We'll pay those damages for bodily injury you suffer in a car accident while occupying a motor vehicle or, as a pedestrian, as a result of having been struck by an uninsured motor vehicle. Dairyland argues that the phrase as a result of having been struck by an uninsured motor vehicle unambiguously modifies the phrase damages you're legally entitle to receive in the first sentence of the policy language quoted above. Under Dairyland's interpretation, Vaught can only collect benefits for bodily injuries directly resulting from contact with the phantom semi. Since Vaught's injuries were due to her collision with the Air Force vehicle, Dairyland argues she is not entitled to uninsured motorist benefits. The Vaughts argue that the as a result of language modifies the immediately preceding phrase, bodily injury you suffer in a car accident. Under the Vaughts' interpretation, all that is required is some contact between the Vaughts' van and the phantom semi. This is the interpretation adopted by the district court and we agree with that interpretation. At best, the language of the policy is ambiguous on this point. When confronted with ambiguous language in an insurance contract, we must determine what a reasonable person would have understood the language to mean. Mutual of Enumclaw Ins. Co. v. Roberts, 128 Idaho 232, 235, 912 P.2d 119, 122 (1996) (citation omitted). Any ambiguity must be construed most strongly against the insurer. Id. We there fore hold that the district court did not err in ruling that Vaught need only prove that some contact which contributed to the accident took place between her van and the phantom semi and not that her injuries were the result of that contact.