Glossary
Duty to defend
The carrier’s obligation to provide and pay for your defense when a claim alleges covered conduct — broader than the duty to…
What is duty to defend?
The carrier’s obligation to provide and pay for your defense when a claim alleges covered conduct — broader than the duty to pay damages, and for most insureds the most valuable promise in the policy.
Why it matters
With duty-to-defend, the carrier must hire and pay lawyers as soon as a covered claim arrives, even a meritless one. That transfers the scariest part of being sued — the open-ended legal bill — to the insurer from day one.