Monday, March 4, 2002
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. v. Angela Steck

no. 01-464

Hillsborough County


In June 1997 Steck walked in front of an automobile, suffering serious injuries. Her blood alcohol at the time of the accident was determined to be very high. She later sued her insurer Blue Cross for failing to cover costs of her medical care, but it argued that injuries due to drunkenness were excluded by the policy. The trial court eventually agreed in part with Steck. On appeal, the Second District affirmed on grounds that drunkenness exclusions only apply to the direct effects of alcohol on biological systems of the body, not indirect injuries caused by accidents.