Q: Will at fault party's insurance pay for damages after claim approval, if the at fault party cancels their insurance?
Hello, My car was hit by my stepdad's car, my car was parked & he backed into it. His insurance, The General, approved the claim I filed against him, he was found at fault. Insurance did their own appraisal via pictures uploaded an app, they sent a check, etc. They stated for it to get fixed, I choose the shop, and whatever goes over what they appraised it for, the shop is to bill them directly. I just found out my step-dad recently canceled his auto insurance(his car got repoed) while this whole process isn't even finished. Since the accident happened beforehand and the claim was approved before he canceled his insurance, will they (insurance company) still be required to pay for any repairs the body shop bills them for that goes passed the initial appraisal that's connected to the initial approved claim?
This was an awful situation and they were already difficult to deal with. Thanks for help!
A: A Washington attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks and it looks like the matter has created its share of stress for you. Since insurance practices are governed by state-specific regulations and an insurance carrier's own operating procedures, I could only offer a general outlook based on common protocols nationwide. Usually, if the policy was in effect at the time of the accident, such claims are generally honored. It could still be a difficult claim that receives close scrutiny from the carrier to cancellation, repossession, or other issues that could trigger a closer look. If the claim is denied after legitimate validation of damages from an approved collision shop, then you could reach out to an attorney to discuss further. I hope you're able to resolve your claim and be back in business with your car. Good luck
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