Pam News

House of Representatives Unanimously Passes Legislation to Preserve the Division of Insurance Board of Appeals

Action Would Codify Independent Board into Massachusetts Statute

BOSTON - The House of Representatives approved legislation that will maintain an independent appeals board for consumers to appeal fault for auto accidents. The legislation, approved 157 - 0, comes on the heels of the Division of Insurance reversing their previous decision to do away with the appeals board.

"This is an example of all branches of state government working together in bipartisan fashion to promote good government practices," Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said. "This legislation will provide all consumers involved in automobile insurance disputes the right to an independent appeals process."

"Consumers must be given the opportunity to question their insurance companies when they feel they have not been treated fairly," said Representative Pam Richardson. "This bill will go a long way toward ensuring that motorists always have a recourse when it comes to auto insurance fairness."

The bill would create via statute, a motor vehicle surcharge Board of Appeals. This would ensure that the current Board of Appeals remained an option for any driver to appeal what they believe was a wrongful determination of a surchargeable incident due to an at-fault accident.

I laugh at Pam's line that claims "consumers must be given the opportunity to question their insurance companies when they feel they have not been treated fairly".. what about the voters Pam?