Why These Records Matter
Insurance information helps you direct the claim to the right place, avoid wasted time with the wrong department, and confirm who is handling the defense of the claim. It can also help with basic logistics, like where to send medical bills and records requests (without getting into policy interpretation).
What to Request
- Core documents: The name of the campus entity responsible for the location, the liability claims contact (risk management/claims administrator), and the general liability carrier information (or confirmation of self-insurance) for slip-and-fall claims.
- Helpful add-ons: The preferred method for submitting a claim packet, any incident report reference number (if one exists), and the name/title of the person designated to coordinate the claim (often someone in the legal or risk office).
How to Request Them (General Steps)
- Identify the right campus “owner” of the location: Campuses can include multiple legal entities (the institution itself, a foundation, a housing entity, a contractor, or a vendor). The correct entity matters because the insurance may differ depending on who controlled the area where the fall happened.
- Send a focused written request: A short letter or email usually works best. Include the date/time window, the general location on campus (building/area name only), and a brief description of what happened and the injuries alleged. Ask for the liability claims contact information and where to send supporting documents.
- Use the campus’s designated legal/risk contact: If you are directed to an associate general counsel (as in your situation), follow that instruction and ask that office to confirm (a) the proper defendant entity and (b) the correct claims administrator/insurer contact for general liability.
- Know what you may not get pre-suit: In many cases, insurance carriers do not voluntarily provide detailed coverage information before a lawsuit is filed. If litigation becomes necessary, North Carolina civil procedure typically allows discovery requests that include insurance coverage information.
- Consider whether this is a “state entity” claim: If the campus is part of a state agency system, the claim may need to be brought through the North Carolina Industrial Commission under the State Tort Claims Act framework rather than in regular civil court.
What to Do If the Campus Won’t Provide Insurance Details
- Document every attempt: Keep a clean timeline of who you contacted, when, and what was said. Save emails and letters.
- Ask for the claims administrator even if they won’t discuss “coverage”: Many entities will at least confirm where to submit the claim, even if they won’t share policy details.
- Preserve evidence while you wait: Photos, witness names, and any incident report details can become harder to obtain over time.
- If it is a state entity: Make sure you are using the correct forum and process. A misfiled claim can create avoidable delay and deadline risk.
How This Applies
Apply to your facts: Because you were directed to the associate general counsel, that is a reasonable next point of contact for confirming the correct campus entity and the correct place to submit the claim. In your follow-up, keep the request narrow: ask who administers general liability claims for slip-and-falls at that location and where to send the claim packet. If the campus is a state entity, also ask whether the institution contends the State Tort Claims Act process applies so you can evaluate the correct next step.
What the Statutes Say (Optional)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-291 (State Tort Claims Act forum and scope) – explains that certain negligence claims against state departments/institutions/agencies are heard by the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-297 (Contents of the affidavit/claim filing) – lists information typically required when filing a tort claim in that forum.
Conclusion
Getting a campus’s general liability insurance information after a slip and fall usually starts with identifying the correct campus entity and sending a clear written request to the campus legal/risk office for the proper claims contact. If the campus is a state entity, the claim may need to proceed through the Industrial Commission rather than a standard civil lawsuit. One practical next step is to send a short follow-up to the associate general counsel asking who administers the claim and where to submit supporting documentation.
