What is a duty to defend clause?

A duty to defend clause is a type of clause found in many insurance policies that requires the insurer to provide a defense for the insured if they face a legal claim. In Washington, the duty to defend clause is required for most insurance policies and is meant to protect policyholders from financial risk and legal liability. Under the duty to defend clause, an insurer must defend an insured policyholder from any legal claim that is included in the scope of coverage in the policy. In Washington, the insurer must also cover reasonable attorney fees and costs associated with defending the insured. Furthermore, the insurer is forbidden from making the insured cover any uninsured losses. In Washington, the insurer has the responsibility to investigate any claims and must provide a reasonable defense to the insured. This is regardless of the merits of the claim, so long as it is within the scope of coverage. The insurer’s duty to defend also includes any settlement they may reach with the third party, again within the scope of coverage. The duty to defend clause is an important part of many insurance policies and is essential for providing protection to policyholders in Washington. It allows for the policyholders to be defended from legal claims that may otherwise be too expensive or burdensome for the insured to handle.

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What is a duty to defend clause?

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