Short Answer

In North Carolina, a property owner or management company usually does not have a general, automatic duty to tell an injured person (or their lawyer) the name of the liability insurance carrier before a lawsuit is filed. Once a lawsuit is filed, insurance coverage information is commonly obtainable through the court’s discovery process, but the timing and exact scope depend on the procedural rules and the case. If the property is connected to certain public or self-insurance programs, special confidentiality rules may also limit access.

Understanding the Problem

If you were hurt in North Carolina and the property owner or management company will not identify their liability insurer, the practical question is: can you make them provide the carrier’s name and claim contact information so you can pursue the injury claim, especially when your attorney has already tried multiple channels without success.

Apply the Law

North Carolina generally does not require a private property owner or management company to hand over liability insurance details to a claimant just because an injury happened on the premises. In most premises-injury cases, the most reliable way to compel insurance information is through a filed civil case and formal discovery (for example, written discovery requests and, if needed, a motion to compel). The main forum for that is the North Carolina state trial court (typically the Superior Court or District Court, depending on the case), and the key timing issue is the statute of limitations for the underlying injury claim—because discovery tools usually require an active lawsuit.

Key Requirements

• Right setting (pre-suit vs. lawsuit): Before suit, the owner/manager often can refuse to share insurer details; after suit, discovery is the usual mechanism to obtain insurance information.
• Correct target: Insurance information is typically held by the insured entity (owner/manager) and sometimes by a parent entity or risk-management administrator; identifying the correct legal entity matters.
• Proper procedure: To force disclosure, you generally need a pending case and properly served discovery requests; if the other side does not respond, the court can be asked to order compliance.
• Confidentiality exceptions: Some public or quasi-public self-insurance programs have statutes that can restrict public-record access and even limit discovery of certain claims-program records.
• Deadline awareness: Waiting for voluntary disclosure can burn time; injury claims have filing deadlines, and missing them can end the case regardless of insurance.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-222 (Confidentiality of certain liability insurance program records) - Provides that certain records for a liability insurance program are not public records and are not subject to discovery under the Rules of Civil Procedure.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-350.125 (Confidentiality of certain liability insurance program records) - Similar confidentiality rule for certain liability insurance program records, including limits on discovery.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Here, the injury is reported as a slip-and-fall at an apartment complex, and the injured person’s attorney has tried multiple channels to identify the liability carrier without success. Under North Carolina practice, that lack of cooperation usually does not create a standalone obligation for the owner/manager to disclose the insurer pre-suit. Instead, the attorney typically treats insurer identification as something to obtain through a filed case and discovery directed to the correct owner/management entities (and any related entities that may control insurance or claims handling).

Process & Timing

1. Who files: The injured person (plaintiff). Where: The appropriate North Carolina trial court in the county where venue is proper (often where the incident occurred or where a defendant resides/does business). What: A civil complaint naming the correct legal entities (for example, the owner and/or management company). When: File before the statute of limitations expires for the injury claim.
2. Discovery phase: After service and the case is pending, the plaintiff can serve written discovery aimed at insurance information (commonly requests that identify insurance policies, coverage periods, and claim contacts). If responses are incomplete, the plaintiff can pursue follow-up and, if necessary, ask the court to compel responses.
3. Outcome document: If the court orders compliance, the defendant must provide the ordered discovery responses; in many cases, that results in identification of the liability carrier and the claim/adjuster contact channel (or confirmation that the entity is self-insured or covered under a program).

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Wrong defendant name: Apartment complexes often operate under trade names; suing the wrong entity can delay discovery and risk running into deadlines.
• Assuming “no insurer” means “no case”: A defendant’s refusal to identify insurance does not necessarily mean there is no coverage; it may mean the claim is being routed through a third-party administrator or risk-management channel.
• Public/self-insurance confidentiality: If the property is tied to a covered liability insurance program with statutory confidentiality protections, some records may not be obtainable through public-record requests and may be restricted even in discovery. See, e.g., N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-222 and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-350.125.
• Waiting for “the adjuster” before filing: In some cases, the only practical way to force an insurance identification is to file suit in time and use discovery; waiting for a voluntary response can be a costly strategy.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, a property owner or management company typically does not have to voluntarily provide liability insurer information to an injured person before a lawsuit is filed. In most cases, the dependable way to obtain insurer details is to file the premises-injury case in the proper North Carolina trial court and use formal discovery to require disclosure, while staying mindful of the injury claim’s filing deadline. Next step: file the civil complaint before the statute of limitations expires so discovery can be used to identify the carrier.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with a slip-and-fall claim where the property owner or management company will not identify the liability insurer, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Reach out today by calling undefined.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.