{"id":358013,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:18","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/insurance-law.html"},"modified":"2023-10-13T11:54:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T16:54:27","slug":"insurance-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/insurance-law.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is Insurance Law?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What is Insurance Law?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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Insurance law governs the contracts between policyholders and insurance companies, including what losses are covered and how claims are handled. When coverage questions or claim disagreements arise, an insurance attorney can help you understand your rights and navigate the process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Insurance law applies to many situations, from car accidents to property damage to disputes over denied or underpaid claims.<\/p>\n

People have insurance for their houses, their cars, and themselves. If anything breaks, they file an insurance claim, and the company sends out their adjusters. The claims process should take, at most, a few weeks or months.<\/p>\n

When a claim is delayed, denied, or undervalued, an insurance attorney<\/a> can help you understand your legal options. Insurance issues often overlap with other areas of law, including personal injury, medical malpractice, and real estate. Anytime a claim arises from an accident or property damage, you\u2019re dealing with insurance law. Keep reading to learn more about this area of law.<\/p>\n

Definition of Insurance Law<\/h2>\n

Insurance is a type of contract. The policyholder<\/a>, or “insured,” pays a premium to the insurance company (the “insurer”). In exchange, the company promises to pay for certain types of losses (“coverage”) if they occur.<\/p>\n

Insurance coverage and payouts depend on the type of insurance<\/a> and the nature of the claim. Auto insurance and homeowner’s insurance cover property damage. If you’re in an auto accident, collision insurance will pay for repairs but not medical bills. You need a different type of coverage for that.<\/p>\n

In personal injury and property damage cases, attorneys work on a contingency basis so that attorney’s fees<\/a> are part of the award if you win your case. A contingency fee agreement may also include court costs to reimburse filing fees.<\/p>\n

Public and Private Insurance<\/h3>\n

There are two broad areas of insurance: government insurance and private insurance. Both follow federal and state laws for claims management. They differ in claim administration and payment.<\/p>\n

Government insurance includes:<\/p>\n