why is attorney asking for liability limits

by Bret Lehner 3 min read

It is not unusual for a plaintiff''s attorney to request that information for the purpose of determining whether a policy limits demand would be appropriate. That is, if you have minimal limits, the attorney may offer to settle for that if the value of the damages exceeds your policy limits.

A demand for policy limits information often occurs shortly after an accident or "occurrence" in which someone suffers harm, blames another, and seeks compensation. Usually, an attorney or public adjuster contacts the insurance company asking for policy limits.

Full Answer

Can the insured make the insurance company pay more than the policy limit?

Sep 30, 2014 · California allows discovery of insurance policy limits once litigation starts. Basically, the lawyer for the injured party send questions to the at-fault party requiring him or her to answer under oath,the sum of liability insurance they had in effect at the time of the accident, as well as any umbrella or excess insurance they had in effect.

Do you have enough liability insurance?

In North Carolina, auto insurance minimum liability limits are 30/60/25, meaning: $30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 for injuries to two or more persons, and $25,000 for property damage. Learn more here: Personal Injury Attorney Fees . The above is general information. Laws change frequently, and across jurisdictions.

What should I do if my damages exceed my insurance policy limits?

Oct 01, 2014 · Woodland Hills personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg is asked this question all the time—why won’t the insurer for the driver that hit me disclose the available policy limits information? The insurers’ continued refusal to cooperate and disclose is often viewed as “shady” by auto accident victims.

When must an insurer accept a policy limit settlement offer?

Jun 07, 2013 · That means no one can get the policy limits without your express permission. So, your insurance company is asking for that permission so it can comply with the law. But, there is an exception. In litigation, in other words, when you are sued, your insurance limits are no longer privileged. The other side, the Plaintiff, is entitled to those limits. The mere filing of the lawsuit …

image

What are limits of liability insurance?

Liability limits are the maximum dollar amount of damages (“indemnity”) an insurance carrier will pay on your behalf. ... For each claim, the carrier will pay for all damages up to a maximum of the amount listed as your “per claim” limit.

Should I disclose my policy limits California?

Yes. C.R.S. § 10-3-1117(2). Effective January 1, 2020, insurers writing commercial or personal auto policies must disclose insurance policies to their insureds and reveal the liability policy limits to third-party claimants.

What do policy limits mean?

These policy limits are the maximum amount an insurance company will pay per event. That means, if your homeowners' insurance policy has a limit listed of $300,000, then that is the maximum amount your insurer will pay towards any claims you may file up to that amount, for the term outlined in your policy.

What is higher liability limits?

An umbrella policy is an extra layer of liability insurance that kicks in after your regular policies, such as your homeowners or auto insurance, have reached their limits. While the highest available liability limits are typically 250/500/250, an umbrella policy has a maximum limit of $5,000, 000.

What is a Stowers demand?

A Stowers demand is a time-sensitive demand sent to a third-party insurance carrier that offers to settle the claim against their insured for an amount that is within the insured's insurance policy limits when liability is certain and the value of the claim exceeds the limits of the insured's policy.

Are insurance policies confidential?

A typical directors' and officers' liability confidentiality clause will read: The existence and terms of this policy will be confidential as between the insured and [insurer] and will not be published, disclosed or otherwise communicated except where: ... the insured is compelled by order of a court to do so.Feb 4, 2021

What are the 3 limits of insurance policies?

Auto liability coverage limits are typically written out as three numbers like 25/50/25. That means you have a $25,000 limit per person for Bodily Injury in an accident, a $50,000 total limit per accident for Bodily Injury, and a $25,000 limit per accident for Property Damage.May 3, 2019

How is policy limit determined?

If your business has a covered loss, your insurer will cap how much it will pay to settle your claim. These caps are known as policy limits (or limit of liability). Their size depends on how much insurance you decided to purchase.

What do policy limits of 25 50 25 mean?

“The numbers 25/50/25 refer to the limits of coverage for liability insurance if you hit another vehicle. ... $25,000 per person for bodily injury liability. $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability (regardless of how many people are injured) $25,000 for property damage liability.

Why do I need higher liability limits?

High liability limits protect you if you're at fault and won't leave you needing to sell your house to pay for the cost of an accident, say totaling another driver's car, or for legal fees should you face a lawsuit. With extra liability protection coming at super affordable prices, it is simply a wise investment.Sep 9, 2020

Is 300k liability enough?

Most states require you have at least a minimum amount of liability insurance, but that's usually not enough. Industry experts suggest you have at least $100,000 of bodily injury liability protection per person/$300,000 for bodily injury per accident/$100,000 for property damage (100/300/100).Aug 3, 2021

How does liability coverage work?

Liability coverage helps cover damages you're responsible for to another party because of an accident. That means it doesn't cover damages to your property or your injuries. Your damages are injuries are protected under other coverages such as: Collision.

Why Insurers Need to Be Careful Responding to Policy Limits Requests

Image
A demand for policy limits information often occurs shortly after anaccident or "occurrence" in which someone suffers harm, blamesanother, and seeks compensation. Usually, an attorney or public adjustercontacts the insurance company asking for policy limits. Persons experienced atthe process ask for all p…
See more on irmi.com

Policy Limits Demands and Settlement Demands

  • A demand for policy limits is not a settlement demand; rather, it is whatthe plaintiff asserts she must have to settle a case. If the settlement demandis within policy limits, the insurer rejects the demand, litigates the case,experiences a judgment in excess of policy limits but refuses to indemnify itsown insured for the full judgment, the insurer invites a lawsuit for bad faithrefusal t…
See more on irmi.com

Powell v. Prudential

  • First, in Powell, an auto insured by Prudential and driven byPowell's daughter struck two pedestrians, one of whom was seriouslyinjured. Shortly after the accident, the victim's attorney sent a letter toPrudential asking for policy limits. Getting no response, he sent a secondletter, certified this time, and informing Prudential: Prudential did not respond, so the attorney sent a th…
See more on irmi.com

Boicourt v. Amex

  • In Boicourt, decided 9 years later, following an accident, aninjured passenger in a vehicle sought policy limits information from theinsurer, Amex. Despite a California law requiring an insurer to contact theinsured and get permission to disclose policy limits when demanded by aclaimant, Amex never consulted its insured during three attempts over a 5-monthperiod by the injured part…
See more on irmi.com

Lessons Learned

  • Insurers deal with policy demands and other aspects of claim administrationdaily. This day-to-day experience teaches that many claimants cannot affordattorneys to litigate on their behalf to force disclosure of the information;consequently, their claims may settle for substantially less than their truevalue, thereby benefiting the insurer. On the other hand, some claimants whocan afford it m…
See more on irmi.com

Conclusion

  • An insurer's failure to reveal policy limits at the pre-litigation stagecan serve as a basis for bad faith actions. Moreover, while insurers maygenerally anticipate such actions from third parties, and since failure todisclose policy limits may be construed as resolving a conflict of interestfavoring the insurance company's economic interests over those of itspolicyholders, an i…
See more on irmi.com