Catastrophic Designation Varies Among Idaho Insurers Handling Winter Claims

Kristine Howe and her mother were stopped at the intersection of Ustick and Meridian roads on Monday when a driver slammed into the back of their minivan. The minivan’s brakes were no match for the icy road. The vehicle bumped into another car stopped at the light. On top of the auto claims the crash generated, Howe walked away with a neck injury — requiring an emergency room visit, medication and a health insurance claim. Insurance agents and companies have seen plenty of claims in the last month from situations like this. A record-breaking winter ruined buildings large and small — at least 100 damaged in Washington County alone — and caused hundreds of traffic accidents around Southwest Idaho.