A current ArticlesBase piece by Seattle personal injury attorney, Kirk Bernard, addresses twelve answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding auto insurance in Washington. The article provides answers to questions that range from what a person should do after being in a car accident, to how a…
An article was recently published on American Chronicle by Kirk Bernard that focuses on how the value of a personal injury claim is determined. Although formulating how much a claim is worth is not an easy task, the article emphasizes specific factors such as the extent of medical treatment (physical…
According to Consumer Reports, insurance companies can withhold payment after a procedure or treatment is done even if they had previously approved the procedure or treatment. If the insurance company concludes that whatever you had done was not medically necessary, based on information uncovered after the procedure was performed, they…
Washington State’s insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler fined Progressive Insurance group more than $150,000 after the company unlawfully calculated and charged incorrect premiums to more than 62,700 policy holders. From October 2005 through April 2006, both Progressive Classic Insurance and Progressive Northwestern Insurance companies used unapproved rates to calculate premiums for…
An internet survey recently conducted by PNC Financial Services Group found that out of 1,000 consumers, close to one in four said they had a legitimate claim denied by their health insurance. Here are some helpful hints when dealing with denied claims: 1. Get Help: Seek help from your doctor,…
The Approve 67 campaign announced today that Washington consumers, progressives, seniors, firefighters and labor leaders have officially endorsed the Approve 67 campaign. The group is working to pass new consumer protections against unfair insurance industry tactics and trends to deny legitimate claims. “Thousands of honest, hard working people in Washington…
Starting June 27th Safeco Insurance will offer “Teensurance” to its customers in 44 states. Teensurance is a new wallet sized tracking system that is mounted on the dashboard of a vehicle. The system allows parents to set limits for their teenage driver’s using the Teensurance web site. When the teenage…
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals whose goal is to settle your case as quickly and cheaply as possible. Every time you communicate with the insurance company their mindset is geared toward evaluating your claim in the light most favorable to their interests. Your bodily injury claim should never be settled…
On Tuesday, May 15, 2007, Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the Insurance Fair Conduct Act. This bill finally gives real penalties for insurance companies who unreasonably deny a claim or fail to pay benefits to their insureds. The attorneys at Bernard & Lindquist have fought for passage…
The Washington Administrative Code 284.30.3903 provides that an insurance company must make a good faith effort to honor your request for repairs to be made in a specific repair shop and cannot arbitrarily deny your request. The insurance company cannot deny that the repairs be made at a specific shop…