The Perfect Disclosure System
Begin with the information a reasonable person needs to make a decision, then design the law around delivering that information before unnecessary litigation consumes years of life.
The existing system often answers the coverage question too late. The proposed system treats coverage identification, preservation, and UM/UIM coordination as an early claims function rather than a reward for filing suit.
Today: the information gate
The reform model
What the Coverage Search Record would contain
| Field | Purpose | Privacy treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Insurer and policy type | Identifies the coverage source | Disclose |
| Named insured / relevant insured status | Connects policy to person, vehicle, owner, employer, or business | Disclose only what is relevant |
| Policy period and liability limits | Determines temporal applicability and available layer | Disclose |
| Form and endorsement identifiers | Allows the contract to be reconstructed and audited | Disclose |
| Umbrella / excess / commercial / HNOA search result | Closes predictable secondary branches | Disclose result and responsive policies |
| Coverage dispute or reservation status | Prevents a nominal limit from being mistaken for admitted coverage | Disclose status, not privileged legal analysis |
| Premium and payment information | Not needed to evaluate third-party liability coverage | Redact / do not require |
Three decision gates
Gate 1 — Coverage
Do identified policies plausibly cover the loss, and are all reasonable owner/employer/excess leads closed?
Gate 2 — Evidence
Is there objective evidence worth preserving or obtaining before choosing litigation?
Gate 3 — Proportionality
What recovery is realistically available, and is the expected benefit worth the cost in money, time, health, and attention?
Why UM/UIM belongs inside the same architecture
UM/UIM is not a separate universe. A vehicle may appear uninsured at the scene while the owner has coverage, the driver has another applicable policy, or an employer/business policy responds. Conversely, liability coverage may exist but be insufficient. The claimant's own UM/UIM carrier should receive the verified liability-coverage record directly rather than requiring the injured person to repeatedly carry information between companies.
Where litigation still belongs
Transparency does not eliminate litigation. It makes litigation a more informed choice. Suit remains appropriate when liability, causation, damages, coverage, bad faith, or legal responsibility is genuinely disputed. The reform objective is to stop using litigation merely as the key that unlocks basic insurance information.