Unfair claim settlement practices; appraisal of automobile repair costs. (HB870)

Introduced By

Del. Tim Hugo (R-Centreville)

Description

Unfair claim settlement practices; appraisal of automobile repair costs. Authorizes the repair facility or the insurer making the appraisal of the cost of repairing an automobile that has been damaged as the result of a covered loss to prepare an initial repair appraisal, which may be the final repair appraisal, on the automobile either from personal inspection of the vehicle by a representative of the repair facility or insurer or from photographs, videos, or electronically transmitted digital imagery of the automobile. The measure prohibits an insurer from requiring an owner of an automobile to submit photographs, videos, or electronically transmitted digital imagery as a condition of an appraisal. Currently, a person is prohibited from making appraisals of the cost of repairing an automobile that has been damaged as a result of a collision unless the appraisal is based upon a personal inspection. An insurer's violation of the requirement with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice constitutes an unfair claim settlement practice. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History