How Do You Find the At-Fault Driver’s Policy Limits?

You can find the at-fault driver’s policy limits by sending a written request directly to their insurance company. You can also consult an attorney to request and verify the coverage information on your behalf. Knowing these limits helps you determine how much insurance coverage may be available to pay your accident-related damages.

Insurers may cite policy limits to restrict how much they pay. But you must know whether those limits accurately reflect all available coverage. At Todd Miner Law, we request the required insurance disclosures, review the policy details, and verify the stated limits. Our lawyers also investigate umbrella policies, additional insurance coverage, and other parties that could provide further compensation. If you suffered injuries in a car accident, call 407-894-1480 today for a free consultation.

How Can You Request the At-Fault Driver’s Policy Limits After a Car Crash?

You can request the at-fault driver’s policy limits directly from their insurance company. First, identify the correct insurer and file a claim. Then, send a written request for the driver’s liability coverage information. Keep proof that the insurer received your request and track its response.

After the insurer receives your request, it reviews its records to identify the liability policy connected to the crash. The company then prepares the required coverage disclosure and sends it to you. Once you receive it, review the stated limits and policy information carefully. If anything is missing or inconsistent, request clarification from the insurer.

When Should You Ask for the At-Fault Driver’s Policy Limits?

You should ask for the negligent driver’s policy limits as soon as you file a car accident claim and identify their insurer. Do not wait until settlement negotiations begin. Knowing the available coverage early helps you assess whether the policy can realistically cover your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.

This step becomes more important when your damages are significant. For example, if your medical expenses continue to increase, limited liability coverage may not cover all your losses. Identifying that issue early gives your attorney more time to investigate other potential sources of compensation.

Here are some other benefits of asking early about policy limits:

• Identify coverage disputes sooner: Early review can reveal exclusions, reservation-of-rights issues, or other defenses that could affect payment.
• Estimate litigation practicality: If the policy carries only $25,000 in bodily injury coverage, your attorney can weigh that amount against filing fees, expert costs, and trial expenses.
• Account for medical liens: Knowing the available policy limits helps your attorney determine how medical liens and reimbursement claims could affect the amount you ultimately receive.

What Are Insurance Policy Limits in a Car Accident?

Insurance policy limits are the dollar caps an insurer agrees to pay under each type of coverage in a car insurance policy. These limits appear on the policy declarations page and apply separately to different coverages, such as bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

Insurers commonly express liability limits as three numbers, such as $25,000/$50,000/$10,000. In this example, the policy provides up to $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for all injured people in one accident, and $10,000 for covered property damage. These amounts define the insurer’s financial obligation under that policy.

How Much Liability Insurance Does Florida Require?

Florida requires at least $10,000 in property damage liability coverage under Florida Statute 324.022 for vehicles registered in the state. However, bodily injury liability insurance is not mandatory for every Florida driver. Still, some drivers may have a legal obligation to carry it, particularly when they meet the following criteria:

1. Drivers Involved in Certain Crashes

After certain reportable crashes, Florida may require a driver to prove financial responsibility. In such cases, the minimum limits can include $10,000 per person and $20,000 per crash for bodily injury, plus $10,000 for property damage.

2. Certain License Suspensions or Revocations

Drivers whose licenses are suspended or revoked for certain traffic violations may need to show proof of financial responsibility before reinstatement. This may require liability coverage that meets Florida’s 10/20/10 minimum limits.

3. DUI Conviction

Florida imposes higher liability requirements after certain DUI convictions under Florida Statute § 324.023. These drivers generally must carry $100,000 per person and $300,000 per crash for bodily injury, along with $50,000 for property damage, for the required period.

4. An Unsatisfied Accident Judgment

A driver who fails to satisfy a judgment arising from a crash can face license and registration suspension. To regain driving privileges, the driver may need to satisfy the judgment and maintain proof of financial responsibility.

How Do You Contact the At-Fault Driver’s Insurer?

You can contact the at-fault driver’s insurer by phone, through the company’s claims portal, or through the contact information listed on the insurance card. If a claim already exists, use the assigned adjuster’s direct number or email. You can also find insurer contact details in the crash report or claim correspondence.

What Documents Do You Need to Request Insurance Limits After a Car Collision?

You need the crash report, the at-fault driver’s insurance information, and any correspondence from the insurer. Each document helps confirm different details about the collision and the insurance claim. For example, the crash report can confirm the drivers involved, vehicle details, accident date, and insurance information recorded at the scene.

Similarly, the driver’s insurance information can identify the insurer and policy number. In addition, claim correspondence can confirm the claim number, the assigned adjuster, and the insurer’s contact details.

What Must a Car Insurer Disclose Under Florida Statute § 627.4137?

Under Florida Statute § 627.4137, a car insurer must disclose specific coverage information for each known applicable liability policy after receiving a written request. This requirement applies to primary, excess, and umbrella policies. The insurer must provide the information through a sworn statement from an authorized company representative.

Here is what the disclosure must include:

• The insurer’s name: The company providing the applicable liability insurance.
• Each insured’s name: Every insured person identified under the applicable policy.
• Liability coverage limits: The maximum liability coverage available under each known policy.
• Policy or coverage defenses: Any defense the insurer reasonably believes could affect coverage when it provides the statement.
• A copy of the policy: The insurer must provide the applicable insurance policy along with its disclosure.

The statute also requires the insurer to immediately amend its disclosure if it later discovers facts that make the original information incomplete or inaccurate.

How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Disclose Policy Limits?

In Florida, an insurance company generally has 30 days after receiving a written request to disclose the at-fault driver’s policy limits. The deadline begins when the insurer receives the request, not when you send it. Therefore, keep proof of delivery so you can determine exactly when the 30-day disclosure period expires.

What If the Insurer Refuses to Reveal the Policy Limits?

If the insurer refuses to disclose the policy limits, send a written follow-up citing Florida Statute § 627.4137 and documenting the original request. The statute generally requires the insurer to provide the required liability insurance information within 30 days. If the insurer still refuses, consult our car accident lawyers at Todd Miner Law.

Our lawyers contact the insurer and formally address its failure to provide the required disclosure. If the refusal continues, we file a lawsuit when appropriate and obtain the coverage information through formal discovery. Our attorneys request the defendant’s insurance policies directly and require disclosure of insurance agreements that may satisfy a judgment. We also use depositions and written discovery to identify excess, umbrella, or additional policies connected to the crash. Call 407-894-1480 today for a free consultation.

Does a Higher Policy Limit Mean a Higher Settlement?

No, a higher policy limit does not automatically mean you will receive a higher settlement. Policy limits only establish the maximum amount an insurance company pays under the applicable coverage. Your settlement depends on the damages you can prove, available evidence, liability, and other factors affecting the value of your claim.

For example, suppose your car accident claim is worth $75,000 based on your injuries and other damages. If the at-fault driver has $250,000 in liability coverage, you do not automatically receive $250,000. The higher limit simply means there is enough coverage for the insurer to pay the full $75,000 claim.

What If the At-Fault Driver Has Minimum Insurance?

If the at-fault driver has minimum insurance, their policy will cover only a small portion of your losses after a serious accident. Once that available coverage reaches its limit, the insurer generally will not pay the remaining damages. However, reaching one policy limit does not necessarily end your ability to seek compensation.

You may still recover additional compensation from other sources, depending on the facts of the crash. These sources may include:

• Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM): Your own policy may cover damages that exceed the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability limits.
• Umbrella insurance: The at-fault driver may have an umbrella policy that provides additional liability coverage above the original policy limits.
• Employer insurance: If the driver caused the accident while performing job duties, the employer may share liability and have separate coverage.
• Vehicle owner’s insurance: If someone other than the driver owns the vehicle, the owner’s insurance may provide additional coverage in certain circumstances.
• Other liable parties: A business, vehicle manufacturer, or other negligent party may share responsibility and serve as an additional source of compensation.
• Collision coverage: Your own policy may help pay for vehicle repairs when the at-fault driver’s property damage coverage is too low, subject to policy limits and deductibles.

Can Policy Limits Be Reduced by Other Car Accident Claims?

Yes, other car accident claims can reduce the available insurance coverage. Although the policy limits do not change, the insurer may divide the available liability coverage among several injured people. As a result, you may receive less coverage because the insurer cannot pay more than the policy’s total per-accident limit.

How Do Insurers Divide Coverage Among Multiple Claims?

Insurers divide coverage among multiple claims according to the policy’s per-person and per-accident liability limits. Each injured person remains subject to the individual limit. However, all payments combined cannot exceed the per-accident limit. If total damages exceed that amount, the available coverage may need to be divided among claimants.

For example, assume the at-fault driver carries $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage. One injured person cannot receive more than $50,000 under that policy. At the same time, the insurer cannot pay more than $100,000 total for everyone injured in the same crash.

In such cases, the insurer may use one of the following methods under Florida Statute § 624.155:

• Interpleader action: The insurer can place the available policy limits before the court within 90 days of receiving the claims notice. The court then determines each claimant’s prorated share.
• Binding arbitration: If the insurer and claimants agree, an arbitrator can divide the available limits. The arbitrator considers comparative fault and each claimant’s damages.

Call Todd Miner Law to Learn What Policy Limits May Apply to Your Car Accident Claim!

If you were in a car accident, you may have no clear idea how much liability insurance the at-fault driver carries. Without confirmed policy limits, you cannot tell if the available coverage is enough to pay your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related losses.

At Todd Miner Law, our lawyers request official policy-limit disclosures and verify the available coverage. With more than 30 years of experience handling car accident cases, we know how to pursue this information when insurers delay, refuse, or provide incomplete answers. Call 407-894-1480 or visit 915 Outer Road, Orlando, FL 32814 to explore your legal options.

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