direct action

direct action. 1. A lawsuit by an insured against his or her own insurance company rather than against the tortfeasor and the tortfeasor’s insurer. 2. A lawsuit by a person claiming against an insured but suing the insurer directly instead of pursuing compensation indirectly through the insured. [Cases: Insurance 3542. C.J.S. Insurance §§ 1407–1413, 1523, […]