have been served with law suit. Must I use the insurance company attorney or can I choose my own attorney?

Question

insurance and legal represention

insured with The Hartford property

Answer 1

don't know, but if you use the one they offer, you don't have to pay attorney fee

Answer 2

You can always hire your own lawyer. Someone will take the case. The thing to consider is the claim at hand. What sort of claim do you have against you/your insurance policy and do you have any personal exposure not covered by your policy? By the terms of your insurance policy (which is a contract between you and the insurance company), the insurer has the duty and the right to defend you. But that duty ends at the limits of the policy you purchased. (There are some instances in which the duty to defend exceeds the policy but for the most part that is the extent of the insurer's obligation.) So are there any aspects of this insurance claim that would affect you even after the insurance policy has paid what it can? This could be due to some aspect of the claim not covered by your policy or possibly because the limits of your policy are exceeded by damages claimed. Only you can know the answer to that question.

Answer 3

First of all, turn it in to the company right away. Your policy requires you to do that. Insurance companies usually do the attorney hiring.

If there are coverage issues, you can always hire your own attorney to monitor or act as co counsel, but it would probably be a waste of time. The insurance company usually retains the right to settle or not settle, and all he would be doing is making money off you doing things that won't be necessary as someone else is providing the defense.

Answer 4

If the insurance company is going to pay for the settlement (if any) then go with their lawyer. Let them cover the costs as much as possible. Because this is obviously a property claim, your reputation isn't on the line. If you were being sued as a doctor/lawyer/broker, etc., then you might want to have your own counsel involved, because an insurance company might just settle for the least amount they can get away with while your reputation could be ruined. Remember, the reason you've been paying premiums to the insurance company is to cover just this sort of occurrence.

Answer 5

You can get your own, but in your insurance contract, it says they'll defend you on any suit. Why in the world would you want to pay out of your own pocket for an attorney? Do you think the insurance company wants to lose money?? If they've gotten the attorneys involved, believe me...they'll vigorously defend. It's their money, too. Unless, of course, they've already paid up to your limits...then, oh well. It's YOUR money, but at least you an save on the lawyer.

Answer 6

The insurance company will want to defend itself and thus you by default, but if your potential liability may extend beyond the policy you may wish to seek outside cousel (and you will be required to pay for this representation out of pocket, the insurance company will not pick up this tab).

Answer 7

Everyone is titled to their own attorney.