Virginia Administrative Code
Title 14 - INSURANCE
Agency 5 - STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION, BUREAU OF INSURANCE
Chapter 342 - RULES GOVERNING STANDARDS FOR THE CONTENT OF HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE POLICIES
Section 14VAC5-342-90 - Personal liability coverage
Universal Citation: 4 VA Admin Code 5-342-90
Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 9, December 16, 2024
A. Insurers shall provide personal liability coverage as follows:
1. Insurers shall pay on behalf of the insured all sums that the insured is legally obligated to pay as damages for bodily injury or property damage caused by a covered occurrence.
2. Insurers shall defend a suit against the insured seeking damages for bodily injury or property damage, even if any of the allegations of the suit are groundless, false, or fraudulent.
3. Insurers shall investigate any claim or suit and may settle any claim or suit as it deems expedient.
4. Insurers shall not be obligated to pay a claim or judgment after the limit of liability has been exhausted by payment of judgments or settlements.
B. In addition to the limit of liability applicable to personal liability coverage, insurers shall provide coverage for any of following personal liability claims expenses:
1. All expenses incurred by the insurer and all costs taxed against an insured in a suit defended by the insurer;
2. All premiums on appeal bonds required in a suit; premiums on bonds to release attachments in a suit for an amount not more than the applicable limit of liability of the policy; and the cost of bail bonds required of an insured because of an occurrence to which the policy applies, of at least $250 per bail bond, except the insurer shall have no obligation to apply for or furnish the bonds;
3. Pre-judgment interest incurred;
4. Post-judgment interest on the part of a judgment that does not exceed the limit of the insurer's liability; and
5. Reasonable expenses incurred by an insured of at least $50 per day. Reasonable expenses include (i) loss of earnings except loss of other income, (ii) vacation time, and (iii) other benefit loss because of an insured's attendance at hearings or trials or assistance with the investigation as requested.
C. In addition to the limit of liability applicable to personal liability coverage, insurers shall provide coverage for the following:
1. Insurers shall pay for damage to property of others caused by an insured during the policy period at the actual cash value or the cost to repair or replace the damaged property with other property of like kind and quality.
a. Insurers may limit this coverage to $250 per occurrence.
b. Insurers may exclude damage to property of others:
(1) Caused intentionally by an insured 13 years of age or older;
(2) Rented to an insured;
(3) Owned by or rented to (i) roomers, (ii) boarders, (iii) tenants, or (iv) residents of the insured's household;
(4) Arising out of (i) an act or omission in connection with a premises owned, rented, or controlled by an insured other than the insured premises; (ii) business pursuits or professional services; or (iii) the ownership, maintenance, operation, use, loading, or unloading of a vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer, farming machinery or equipment, aircraft, or watercraft; or
(5) If the property is covered elsewhere under the policy.
2. Insurers shall pay expenses incurred by an insured at the time of an occurrence for first aid to others for bodily injury covered under the policy.
Statutory Authority: §§ 12.1-13, 38.2-223, and 38.2-2108 of the Code of Virginia.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Virginia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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