Understanding Insurance Defense: Protecting Your Business

As a business owner, you know that protecting your assets is crucial to keeping your company thriving. One way to safeguard your business is through insurance. But what happens when someone files a claim against your business, and your insurance carrier denies coverage? This is where insurance defense comes into play.

What is Insurance Defense?

Insurance defense refers to the legal representation provided by an attorney to an insurer or policyholder when a claim has been made against the policy. It involves defending the insurance carrier or policy holder against a legal action brought forth by a third party.

The purpose of insurance defense is to determine whether the claim made against the policy is covered under the policy’s terms and conditions. If it is not covered, then the insurance carrier has no obligation to pay for any damages sustained by the third party.

Insurance defense attorneys work to protect the interests of their clients, whether that’s the insurance carrier or the policyholder. They review all relevant documentation, including the policy agreement, and assess the validity of the claim made against the policy.

Types of Insurance Defense Cases

There are many types of insurance defense cases, including:

Type of Case
Description
Personal Injury
A claim filed by someone who has been injured due to the insured’s negligence or fault.
Property Damage
A claim filed by someone whose property has been damaged due to the insured’s negligence or fault.
Product Liability
A claim filed by someone who has been injured or suffered damages due to a product manufactured, sold, or distributed by the insured.
Professional Liability
A claim filed against a professional, such as a doctor or lawyer, for negligence or breach of contract.

How Insurance Defense Works

When a claim is made against an insurance policy, the insurance company is required to investigate the claim. If the claim is deemed valid and covered under the policy, the insurer will pay for the damages sustained by the third party.

If the claim is denied, the policyholder may be responsible for the damages sustained by the third party. However, if the policyholder believes that the claim should have been covered under the policy, they can hire an insurance defense attorney to represent them in court.

The insurance defense attorney will investigate the claim and defend their client against the legal action. They will argue that the policy does not cover the damages sustained by the third party, and therefore, their client should not be held responsible.

Benefits of Insurance Defense

There are several benefits to having insurance defense coverage, including:

  • Protecting your business and assets from legal action
  • Ensuring that claims made against your business are valid and covered under your policy
  • Providing legal representation in court to defend against legal action
  • Reducing the financial burden of defending against legal action

FAQs

What is the role of an insurance defense attorney?

An insurance defense attorney represents the insurance carrier or policyholder when a claim has been made against the policy. They review all relevant documentation and assess the validity of the claim made against the policy. If the claim is denied, they defend their client against the legal action.

What types of cases does insurance defense cover?

Insurance defense covers a wide range of cases, including personal injury, property damage, product liability, and professional liability, among others.

What are the benefits of having insurance defense coverage?

Insurance defense coverage protects your business and assets from legal action, ensures that claims made against your business are valid and covered under your policy, provides legal representation in court, and reduces the financial burden of defending against legal action.

What happens if a claim is denied by the insurance company?

If a claim is denied by the insurance company, the policyholder may be responsible for the damages sustained by the third party. In this case, the policyholder can hire an insurance defense attorney to represent them in court.

How do I know if I need insurance defense coverage?

If you have insurance coverage, it’s important to review your policy carefully to determine whether it includes insurance defense coverage. If it does not, you may want to consider adding this coverage to protect your business and assets in the event of a legal action brought forth by a third party.

Conclusion

Insurance defense is an important aspect of protecting your business and assets. With the help of an experienced insurance defense attorney, you can defend your interests and ensure that claims made against your business are valid and covered under your policy. By understanding insurance defense and its benefits, you can take proactive steps to safeguard your business and prepare for any legal action that may arise.