Who pays the jury verdict?
In most cases, the insurance company pays the entire verdict. In a small number of cases there may be an “excess verdict.” This means that the insured’s policy was insufficient to cover the damages. When that happens the insured is on the hook for any amount the insurance company does not pick up. How can I avoid an excess judgment? The first thing you can do is raise your insurance limits. Minimum insurance coverage is inadequate and can leave you responsible for an excess verdict. The minimum insurance requirement in Oregon is $25,000 per person per accident and $50,000 per accident maximum. A couple of days in the hospital or a minor surgery can be extremely costly and minimum policy limits will not be enough to cover such expenses. I recommend to my friends and family that they carry a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 in liability insurance. Adequate insurance helps to protect you if you are being sued. Moreover, you can make a claim against your own insurance company, up to the amount
