LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS:

Posted a notice to all insurance carriers doing business in West Virginia. The  West  Virginia  Offices  of the  Insurance  Commissioner (OIC)  has  become  aware  of an  influx of property damage  claims due  to  recent  instances  of  severe  weather  in  our state  during the  spring and  summer.  The  purpose of this  Notice is  to  provide  continued  guidance  from  the  OIC  regarding the  handling of total  and  partial  loss  claims.  One  of the  central  purposes of West Virginia's  Unfair  Claims  Settlement Practices Act is to  assure timely action on  claims and require  insurers  to  have  meaningful  communication with  claimants  so they  are  kept  apprised  of  the  status  of their  claims.  Pursuant to W.Va.  Code§ 33-11-4(9), "[n]o person  shall  commit or  perform  with  such  frequency as  to  indicate a general business  practice  any of  the  following:  ...  (b)  [f]ailing  to  acknowledge  and  act  reasonably  promptly  upon communications with  respect to  claims  arising under  insurance  policies,  (c)  [f]ailing to  adopt  and implement  reasonable  standards  for  the  prompt  investigation  of  claims  arising  under  insurance policies."  To view a copy of the notice, go to https://www.wvinsurance.gov/