Travelers UIM Insurance Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Aguilar-Tafoya and Brewton v. Travelers, No. 1:23-0247 JB/JMR

There’s money waiting for you if you had Travelers underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage in New Mexico between 2015 and 2022. Travelers agreed to pay eligible policyholders either 29% of their premiums back or a full claim reevaluation with no offset applied. You have until September 27, 2026 to file — and unlike some settlements, you must submit a claim form to get paid.

Travelers UIM Insurance Settlement — Key Facts

Settlement Amount	No fixed total fund — individual formula-based payments (29% premium refund, or claim reevaluation without the offset applied)
Claim Deadline	September 27, 2026
Who Qualifies	New Mexico policyholders (and certain passengers or authorized drivers) insured by Travelers with UIM coverage, January 1, 2015 – August 16, 2022
Estimated Payout	Depends on the option you choose — 29% of UIM premiums paid, or a reevaluated claim amount; wrongful death claims are auto-paid the full offset
Proof Required	No for the premium-refund option; possibly, for the claim-reevaluation option
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved — awaiting final court approval
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico, Case No. 1:23-0247 JB/JMR
Law Alleged	Breach of contract; violations of the New Mexico Unfair Trade Practices Act and Unfair Insurance Practices Act
Administrator	Epiq (Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 5413, Portland, OR)
Official Claim Site	AguilarUIMClassSettlement.com
Last Updated	July 20, 2026

Who Is Travelers and Why Is Its UIM Coverage Being Challenged?

Travelers sold underinsured motorist coverage across 14 of its New Mexico-licensed entities, promising to step in when the at-fault driver’s insurance wasn’t enough to cover a policyholder’s losses. Under a 1985 New Mexico Supreme Court ruling, Schmick v. State Farm, insurers can reduce — sometimes to zero — a UIM payout by whatever the at-fault driver’s insurer already paid. Plaintiffs Carlos Aguilar-Tafoya and Bradley Brewton say Travelers collected full UIM premiums without clearly explaining that this offset could wipe out the very benefit customers were paying for.

What Did Travelers Do to New Mexico Policyholders Between 2015 and 2022?

The lawsuit accuses Travelers of selling what plaintiffs call “illusory” UIM coverage — insurance that looked like real protection on paper but that the Schmick offset could quietly cancel out. If your car has $25,000 in minimum liability coverage and you buy $25,000 in UIM coverage, the offset can leave you with nothing extra when a minimally insured driver hits you. Plaintiffs argue Travelers never made that math clear at the point of sale.

This isn’t an isolated fight. Court filings show New Mexico judges are currently handling more than a dozen similar “Schmick offset” class actions against nearly every major auto insurer — Allstate, Geico, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Progressive, and others are all facing versions of this claim. Travelers is one of at least 15 companies caught up in it. AllAboutLawyer.com has separately covered the related Progressive $1.76 million stacked UM/UIM coverage settlement in New Mexico, which stems from the same underlying coverage dispute.

Travelers denies all of it — the company says it followed the law and the terms of its own policies. Both sides agreed to settle rather than take the fight through trial and appeals.

Related article: Refresco Beverages $4.27 Million Job Applicant Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Remington v. Refresco Beverages US Inc., No. 25-2-19588-1 SEA

Who Qualifies for the Travelers UIM Insurance Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• New Mexico policyholders who carried Travelers UIM coverage any time between January 1, 2015, and August 16, 2022
• Passengers or authorized drivers covered under a Travelers policy during that period, even if you weren’t the named insured
• Anyone who previously filed a UIM claim with Travelers and had it reduced or denied — and anyone who never filed a claim at all
• People no longer insured with Travelers today still qualify, as long as they were covered during the Class Period

Excluded from the class: current or former Travelers officers and directors, Class Counsel and their resident relatives, the presiding judge and resident relatives, and Defendants’ counsel of record and their resident relatives.

Travelers UIM Policyholders Outside New Mexico — Are You Still Covered?

No. This settlement is limited to New Mexico auto insurance policies. It resolves claims specific to New Mexico’s Schmick offset rule and the state’s Unfair Trade Practices Act — it doesn’t extend to Travelers UIM policyholders in other states.

Not sure if you qualify for the Travelers UIM settlement? A free consultation with an insurance bad faith attorney can help before the June 29, 2026 opt-out and objection deadline.

How Much Can Travelers UIM Settlement Class Members Get?

Unlike a lump-sum settlement fund, this one pays per policyholder based on which option you pick — you can only choose one:

• Premium formula: Get back 29% of every UIM premium dollar you paid to Travelers during the Class Period. No supporting documentation required beyond your Claim Form.
• Claim formula: Have your UIM claim reevaluated with the Schmick offset removed. Depending on your damages, this could mean more money than the premium refund — or less than the full offset amount, or nothing at all, if a Neutral Evaluator determines your claim doesn’t support it.
• Wrongful death claims are handled differently — Travelers auto-pays the full offset amount without a Claim Form, unless you choose to opt out.

Attorneys’ fees don’t come out of your payment. Class Counsel is asking the court for up to $2,100,000, paid separately by Travelers — that money has no effect on what you receive. It’s worth knowing the two options aren’t interchangeable: if you request a claim reevaluation and the Neutral Evaluator’s decision doesn’t go your way, you can’t switch back to the 29% premium refund.

How to File Your Travelers UIM Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to AguilarUIMClassSettlement.com and click “Submit a Claim.”
2. Enter your Unique ID Number and PIN from your settlement notice, or complete the mailed paper Claim Form.
3. Choose one option: the 29% premium refund, or a claim reevaluation with the offset removed.
4. If you’re requesting reevaluation, be ready to provide supporting documentation if the Claims Administrator asks for it.
5. Submit your Claim Form online, or mail it to Aguilar-Tafoya and Brewton v. Travelers, c/o Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 5413, Portland, OR 97228-5413.
6. Watch for a decision — premium refund payments go out within 60 days of the claim deadline; reevaluation payments within 90 days, once the court grants final approval.

Takes about 10 minutes online if you have your Unique ID and PIN handy.

⚠️ 69 days left — file at AguilarUIMClassSettlement.com before September 27, 2026.

Should Travelers UIM Class Members Opt Out or Object Before June 29, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Travelers Settlement Actually Means

If you exclude yourself, you get no payment from this settlement, but you keep your right to sue Travelers separately over these same claims. Most people should not opt out without talking to a lawyer first. Your written exclusion request must be postmarked by June 29, 2026, and mailed to the Claims Administrator with your name, address, a clear statement that you want out, and your signature.

How to Object to the Travelers UIM Settlement

If you’d rather stay in the class but disagree with the terms — or with the $2,100,000 attorneys’ fee request — you can object. Written objections must be filed with the Clerk of the Court for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, 333 Lomas Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, and served on Class Counsel and Defense Counsel, no later than June 29, 2026.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before June 29, 2026 if you’re considering either option.

Travelers UIM Insurance Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Class Period Begins	January 1, 2015
Class Period Ends	August 16, 2022
Opt-Out Deadline	June 29, 2026
Objection Deadline	June 29, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	July 29, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	September 27, 2026
Expected Payment Date	Premium-refund claims: within 60 days of the claim deadline; reevaluation claims: within 90 days — both after final court approval

For a broader look at how UM/UIM coverage works and when to use it, see AllAboutLawyer’s guide on filing a claim against an at-fault driver.

Travelers UIM Insurance — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 1:23-0247 JB/JMR

Do I need a lawyer to file a Travelers UIM settlement claim? 

No. You can submit your Claim Form yourself online or by mail. Class Counsel is available at no cost if you have questions about your options.

Is the Travelers UIM settlement legitimate? 

Yes. It’s authorized by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico under Case No. 1:23-0247 JB/JMR, with a final approval hearing scheduled for July 29, 2026.

When will Travelers settlement payments be sent?

 Premium-refund payments go out no later than 60 days after the September 27, 2026 claim deadline. Claim-reevaluation payments go out no later than 90 days after that deadline. Both depend on the court granting final approval and any appeals being resolved.

What if I missed the Travelers UIM claim deadline?

 UNVERIFIED — the settlement notice doesn’t describe a late-claim process. Contact the Claims Administrator at 1-877-367-8719 to ask about your options.

Will my Travelers settlement payment go on a 1099? 

UNVERIFIED — the notice doesn’t address 1099 reporting for this settlement. Check with a tax professional about how a lawsuit settlement check like this affects your taxes.

What is a Schmick offset and how does it affect my Travelers UIM claim? 

Under a 1985 New Mexico Supreme Court ruling, insurers can reduce or eliminate UIM benefits by the amount the at-fault driver’s insurer already paid. Plaintiffs say Travelers didn’t clearly explain this before selling the coverage.

Can I choose both the premium refund and the claim reevaluation?

 No. You must pick one option on your Claim Form. If you choose reevaluation and the Neutral Evaluator’s decision doesn’t favor you, you can’t switch to the premium refund afterward.

What happens if I opt out of the Travelers UIM settlement?

 You keep your right to sue Travelers separately over these claims, but you give up any settlement payment. Your written exclusion request must be postmarked by June 29, 2026.

Sources Used in This Travelers UIM Article

• Official Long Form Settlement Notice — Aguilar-Tafoya and Brewton v. The Travelers Indemnity Company, et al., Case No. 1:23-0247 JB/JMR: https://aguilaruimclasssettlement.com/Content/Documents/Long%20Form%20Notice_EN.pdf
• Official Settlement FAQ Page — AguilarUIMClassSettlement.com: https://aguilaruimclasssettlement.com/Home/FAQ
• Official Claim Form — AguilarUIMClassSettlement.com: https://aguilaruimclasssettlement.com/Content/Documents/Claim%20Form_EN.pdf
• Official Settlement Agreement — AguilarUIMClassSettlement.com: https://aguilaruimclasssettlement.com/Content/Documents/Settlement%20Agreement.pdf
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Amicus Brief, New Mexico Supreme Court, Smith v. Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club: https://www.uschamber.com/assets/documents/U.S.20Chamber20Amicus20Brief20-20Smith20v.20Interinsurance20Exchange20of20the20Automobile20Club202028N.M.29.pdf

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official settlement notice, FAQ page, and related court filings on July 20, 2026. Last Updated: July 20, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.