Bill > HB437

This bill modifies Missouri law regarding settlement demands in personal injury, bodily injury, or wrongful death cases by establishing specific requirements for how settlement demands must be made to be considered valid. The bill redefines key terms, such as changing "time-limited demand" to "settlement demand" and clarifying what constitutes "extracontractual damages". The new law requires settlement demands to be in writing, sent via certified mail, and include specific material terms like the time period for acceptance (which must be at least 90 days), the monetary amount requested, details about the loss, known injuries, and parties to be released. Additionally, the demand must be accompanied by healthcare provider and employer information with appropriate authorizations. The bill stipulates that settlement demands not meeting these requirements cannot be considered a reasonable opportunity to settle and will not be admissible in lawsuits alleging extracontractual damages against a liability insurer. The legislation aims to create more structured and transparent processes for settlement negotiations, providing clearer guidelines for both claimants and insurance companies in personal injury cases.