Liability Coverage

Those portions of an insurance policy which protect you from lawsuits are what we refer to as liability coverage. If you are being sued or threatened with a suit, Rounds Law Office will help you get the liability coverage you deserve.

  • Denial of coverage. If an insurer contends that an exclusion in the policy precludes coverage, we may be able to show that the exclusion is inapplicable.
  • Duty to defend. Even if there are questions as to whether a claim is covered, the insurer may have a duty to defend the suit, which can save thousands of dollars.
  • Reservation of rights. When you are being defended despite coverage questions, we can monitor the file to make sure that the assigned attorney does not exacerbate any coverage issues and that the insurer settles the case.
  • Protection from excess judgment. If there is any doubt as to whether your policy limits are sufficient to cover the alleged damages, we know how to pressure insurers to provide a vigorous defense and to settle when necessary.
  • Coverage under someone else’s policy. Even if you have little or no insurance coverage, there may be coverage under someone else’s policy. For example, if you are working for another person or driving another person’s car when an accident occurs, you may be covered under that person’s policy.

First Party Coverage

Claims you make directly against your own insurer are known as first party claims. Examples include property damage, fire, theft, and injuries caused by underinsured drivers. In any of the following circumstances, Rounds Law Office may be able to help:

  • Although the insurer agrees you are covered, it does not agree on the value of the claim.
  • The insurer seems suspicious of you and demands that you appear for questioning.
  • The policy contains exceptions and exclusions which the insurer wants to apply to your claim.
  • The insurer claims that the policy is void due to any number of reasons.

Bad Faith

Insurers have a legal duty to deal with their insureds in good faith. Oregon and Washington both have statutes which regulate the way insurers handle claims. Both states prohibit unfair claims practices such as denying a claim without adequate investigation, misrepresenting the facts or the policy language, or unreasonably delaying payment.

Enforcing those rules in Washington is easier than in Oregon because Washington’s statutes have more teeth. For example, Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) gives the trial discretion to award treble damages when an insurer denies a claim in bad faith. Insurers are wary of IFCA claims, and this wariness can make it relatively easy to secure a quick settlement.

At Rounds Law Office, we know how to lay the groundwork for a successful IFCA claim. We have found IFCA to be especially helpful when insurers have improperly cut off PIP benefits and when they have made low ball offers on underinsured motorist (UIM) claims.

Contact Us to learn more.