THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE INSURER IN CONTRACTUAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

Professor Jakov Radišić stated: “The word ‘responsibility’ serves as a comfort to those who feel that an injustice has been done to them, and a scarecrow to those who have committed the injustice.” Following his line of thought, the term ‘insurance’ provides comfort to those who have committed an injustice and, above all, to those who have suff ered from it. However, what if the wronged party suff ers further due to the incorrect application of legal provisions? Given the increasing importance of liability insurance, the author analyzes the direct claim of the third party against the insurer and its relationship with the rules of civil liability. Through a systematic interpretation of the provisions of the Law of Contract and Torts that regulate the statute of limitations for claims for damages, the author concludes that the incorrect application of these provisions has become customary in practice. By analyzing the causes of this practice, the author asserts that adherence to the principle of legality should prevail over the potential consequences of its application.
Nastavimo li njegovu misao, reč osiguranje je uteha i onome koji je nepravdu učinio, ali pre svega dodatna uteha onome kome je nepravda učinjena. Međutim, šta ako onaj kome je nepravda učinjena nepravdu trpi i pogrešnom primenom zakonskih odredaba? Uzimajući u obzir rastući značaj osiguranja od ugovorne odgovornosti, autorka analizira direktan zahtev trećeg oštećenog lica prema osiguravaču i njegov odnos s pravilima o građanskoj odgovornosti. Sistemskim tumačenjem odredaba Zakona o obligacionim odnosima kojima se reguliše zastarelost prava na naknadu štete, autorka zaključuje da se u praksi odomaćila nepravilna primena ovih odredaba. Analizirajući uzroke te prakse, autorka konstatuje da primena načela zakonitosti treba da prevlada moguće posledice njegove primene.

Keywords: liability insurance, contractual liability, statute of limitations, direct claim of third party against the insurer.