Do I Need an Umbrella Policy?

Umbrella liability and defense policies are an extra layer of insurance that protects a policyholder when the caps on other sources of insurance are exceeded. Financial planners often recommend umbrella policies for individuals with substantial personal assets. They may be exposed in liability lawsuits or where unusual circumstances place them at a higher risk for catastrophic losses.

At Rutter Mills, our personal injury lawyers help their clients determine whether they need these policies to protect against excess liabilities. As a rule, we also look to see if defendants have umbrella policy coverage when representing clients in personal injury lawsuits. That coverage often provides an additional source of damage recovery for accident victims who have suffered severe injuries.

What insurance coverage does an umbrella policy provide?

Most homeowners have liability insurance as a component of the policies that cover their primary residences, and car owners are required by law to carry a minimum liability insurance. However, damages in a personal injury lawsuit can quickly exceed their liability limits, even if those limits are $250,000 per accident or more.

Depending on its terms, an umbrella insurance policy can provide coverage for liability and legal defense costs in amounts of up to $1 million or more. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you to determine whether an umbrella policy is needed and how much coverage is best for your circumstances.

Under what circumstances is an umbrella policy a good idea?

Most Virginia residents have a good sense of the risks and liabilities they face as they go about their daily lives. Nonetheless, those can change over time. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer will periodically review a client’s lifestyle and individual circumstances to see if anything might expose them to higher risks of loss, including, for example:

• A teenage child reaches driving age and begins to use the family’s vehicles.
• The client has frequent houseguests who might injure themselves in slip-and-fall accidents.
• Someone in the client’s family posts frequent online business reviews or personal opinions that might lead to libel or fraud allegations.

Does an umbrella policy cover all excess liabilities?

Each umbrella policy provides coverage for particular risks, and most exclude coverage for business-related liabilities, losses from breach of contract, and damages and injuries resulting from intentional conduct.

Liabilities associated with newer revenue-generating activities– such as renting out spare rooms to third parties– would likely be excluded from an umbrella policy. Understanding these exclusions is a critical factor in assessing risk exposure. Talk to your insurance carriers or consult an attorney when you have questions or concerns regarding your umbrella policy.

Contact us at Rutter Mills for a free consultation

A good umbrella policy can provide Virginia residents with critical liability protection and a source for reimbursement of legal defense expenses. They can also be an essential payment source for damages when you suffer losses and injuries in an accident– caused by someone else’s negligence.

We help clients in Newport News, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and elsewhere in Virginia to optimize the benefits offered by umbrella liability insurance. Please see our website or call our offices for a free consultation.