If I was involved in a car accident, should I release my bodily injury liability policy limits?
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If I was involved in a car accident, should I release my bodily injury liability policy limits?
What happened was that I was on the freeway and changed lanes. Next thing I knew, a car drove past me on the shoulder and ricocheted of the wall and spun back onto the lane in front of me. His car was still driveable but his front was smashed in a little and he complained of neck and back pain. Although my car was not hit or damaged, they’re saying I’m liable because I caused the accident. I received a letter today from my insurance requesting for authorization to release my bodily injury liability policy limits to the other party’s attorney. Should I authorize it or is it better not to?
Asked on November 20, 2013 under Personal Injury, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
It will probably speed settlement to release the information. The other side does not want a valueless judgment or settlement agreement; ideally, they will settle within the policy limits, since in that way, they can be sure of being paid, unless those limits are so low as to be worthless (i.e. pay only a small fraction of the legitimate damanges). Releasing the limits will let the other side see what they have to work with or within.
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