Definition of "Defense costs"

Expense of defending a lawsuit. To mount a legal defense against civil or criminal liability, a defendant faces expenses for lawyers, investigation, fact gathering, bonds, and court costs. Of critical importance in purchasing liability insurance is not only the limits of coverage under the policy but also the obligation of the insurance company to defend the insured against suits, even if a suit is without foundation. Because legal defense costs can be extremely high, the consumer should consider liability insurance that pays all defense costs in addition to the policy limits.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

number of serious injuries per 1,000,000 employee-hours worked. ...

Written statement by an insurance company attesting to the powers it has vested in an agent. ...

Restriction on the benefit that owners and other highly compensated individuals may receive from a qualified pension or other employee benefits. The U.S. Tax Code requires that benefits ...

Protection against the death of an individual in the form of payment to a beneficiary usually a family member, business, or institution. In exchange for a series of premium payments or a ...

Policy similar to that of an individual universal life insurance policy except that the coverage is provided (up to a limit) without the requirement of the submission of evidence of ...

Applications for insurance coverage that have been forwarded to an insurer but not yet processed. ...

Coverage for liability exposures that result from manufacturing and/or contracting operations in process on a manufacturer's premises (all locations of ongoing operations) or, in the case ...

Amount for which financial loss for bodily injury incurred by the plaintiff must exceed before a tort liability action may be brought. ...

Representative of an insurance company who sells ordinary and industrial life insurance policies. In an effort to move their field forces into the ordinary life business, many industrial ...

Popular Insurance Questions