Anti Low-Balling Bill Passes Assembly Judiciary Committee

Sacramento– Innocent accident victims denied fair and timely insurance settlements are one step closer to insurance industry accountability, according to consumer advocates with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR). SB 1237 (Escutia — Montebello), which passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee today, will allow accident victims who have been denied, delayed, or offered an undervalued settlement by the insurance company of an at-fault driver to sue the insurance company for damages.

A 1988 California Supreme Court decision abrogated accident victims right to take to court insurance companies that delayed, denied or undervalued payment of legitimate claims. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights will present the Judiciary Committee a study documenting the low-balling of accident victims’ auto insurance claims since the change in the law.