When you pay for car insurance in Washington State, you expect your insurer to protect you after a crash. Unfortunately, insurance companies sometimes delay, deny, or underpay valid claims — especially those involving Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage.
The Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) gives consumers a powerful tool to fight back when insurance companies act unreasonably or in bad faith.
⚖️ What Is the Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA)?
The Washington Insurance Fair Conduct Act (RCW 48.30.015) allows policyholders to take legal action against their own insurance company if the insurer:
- Unreasonably denies a claim for coverage or payment of benefits.
- Violates Washington insurance regulations designed to ensure fair treatment of policyholders.
If your insurer unreasonably denies your claim, you may be entitled to up to three times your actual damages — also called treble damages.
💵 What “Actual Damages” Mean
Under IFCA, actual damages are the amount your insurer should have paid if it had acted fairly.
For example:
- If your insurer denied $10,000 in medical expenses under PIP coverage, and that denial was unreasonable, you may recover up to $30,000 in damages.
- If your insurer refuses to pay your UIM claim after a crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver, IFCA may apply as well.
🚗 IFCA and Your Auto Insurance: PIP and UIM
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses — no matter who caused the accident.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage protects you when the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your losses.
If your insurer:
- Delays or denies PIP payments,
- Refuses to pay your UIM claim, or
- Pressures you to settle for less than what you deserve,
you may have a claim under IFCA or the Washington Consumer Protection Act.
📨 How to File an IFCA Notice
Before filing an IFCA lawsuit, you must give your insurance company and the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) 20 days’ written notice.
Your notice must include:
- A cover sheet titled “IFCA Claim Notification.”
- A written explanation of why your insurer’s actions were unreasonable or unlawful.
Send your notice to: Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Both your insurer and the OIC are considered to have received your notice three business days after mailing, meaning you must wait 23 days total before filing your lawsuit.
You should consult an attorney at Althauser Rayan Abbarno to help protect your rights. Call (360) 736-1301.
⚠️ IFCA Claims Are Complicated — Don’t Go It Alone
IFCA claims, especially those involving PIP and UIM disputes, can be legally complex. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers and adjusters working to protect their bottom line — not your recovery.
That’s why you should have an experienced law firm like Althauser Rayan Abbarno on your side. Our attorneys:
- Understand the IFCA notice and filing process.
- Know how to identify bad faith insurance practices.
- Fight for full and fair compensation — including triple damages and attorney’s fees when applicable.
💬 Free Consultations & Spanish Interpretation Available
At Althauser Rayan Abbarno, we believe every injured person deserves help — regardless of language or financial situation.
✅ Free consultations are available to review your insurance dispute.
✅ Spanish interpretation is available for all consultations and case meetings.
We proudly represent clients throughout Lewis and Thurston counties, and across Washington State in PIP, UIM, and bad faith insurance cases.
📞 Contact Althauser Rayan Abbarno Today
If your insurance company delayed, denied, or underpaid your PIP or UIM benefits after a car accident, don’t wait. You may have powerful rights under Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act — but strict timelines apply.
📍 Office in Centralia
📞 Call (360) 736-1301
🌐 Visit www.centralialaw.com
💬 Free consultations. Spanish interpretation available.
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