1-K Liability Insurance & Policy Limits Flashcards
Liable:
Obligated according to law or equity; responsible
Liability Insurance:
Indemnifies a third party for damage or injuries you have caused
Legal Liability:
can be determined outside of court
Liability Insurance _____ indemnifies a third party, never the insured!
ALWAYS
Liability insurance protects the ______ by paying for such damage on behalf of the responsible, or liable, party. This is the main difference between liability insurance and property insurance.
policyholder
Even though liability is a legal term, liability insurance cases are most often settled _____ of court. This is because liability is often so clear that a court’s ruling is not necessary.
outside
Liability Insurance Example
If a driver runs a red light and crashes into someone in the process, it is clear that he is legally liable for the damages he caused, because he broke the law when he ran the red light. No court ruling is needed, and the liability insurance claim can be settled according to the insurance policy.
Liability Insurance only covers someone who is an “_____” by the policy.
insured
who counts as an insured?
Liability policies always list the “named insured” first, and then go on to add others who are considered “insured” according to the policy
Liability “named insured” example
An auto insurance policy may define the “named insured” as the owner of the car and then define other insureds as those who use the car with the “named insured’s” permission.
Negligence:
The failure to use a reasonable degree of care in a particular situation; includes both wrongful acts and acts of omission.
● Negligence is the legal cause of damages if the negligent act directly caused those damages
● Liability insurance indemnifies the third party for the damages caused by the policyholder
● Liability Insurance never covers intentional acts of wrongdoing on the part of the insured
Negligence Example
If Jack runs a red light and hits Sue’s car, Jack’s liability insurance will indemnify Sue for the damages and injuries caused by Jack’s negligence.
Intentional acts of wrongdoing are specifically listed among the _____ of a liability insurance policy.
exclusions
Vicarious Liability:
When an act of negligence is transferred from one party to another
What does vicarious liability apply to?
● Employers: If John’s negligent act takes place at work, his employer is
vicariously liable for his actions
● Parents: If John is under the age of 18, his parents are vicariously liable for his
actions
When someone’s _____ act causes damage or injury to a third party, the third party can blame both the individual who committed the act and any persons or organizations responsible for that individual.
negligent
Vicarious liability is common in the _____ between employer and employee.
workplace
Vicarious Liability Example
If an employee of a grocer leaves a mop lying across the floor of the store, and a customer trips on the mop and suffers injury, both the employee and the employer are negligent parties to the customer’s injury due to the employer’s vicarious liability.
Vicarious liability also applies to negligent acts committed by _____. Parents or guardians of minors are held legally _____ for their children’s negligent behavior.
minors; liable
Four Elements of Negligence (that must be proven in order to be indemnified for damages caused by a policyholder)
- The defendant(s) had a legal duty to act (or not act) in a prescribed manner
- The defendant(s) failed to act accordingly (called a breach of duty)
- The plaintiff suffered actual loss or injury due to the defendant’s action or
inaction - The loss or injury to the plaintiff was a direct result of the breach of duty of the
defendant
the person who caused the injury or damage is considered negligent if he should have reasonably _____ the general consequences that would result from his actions
foreseen
Elements of Negligence Examples
- Legal Duty
- Failed to act accordingly
- Suffered actual loss
- Loss was direct result of act
Warning in manual
Aimed and shot at Tom’s leg Bullet wound = medical bills
Jim shot Tom & caused injury