In April 1998, the Washington state Legislature passed a law that stopped insurance companies from discriminating against domestic abuse victims.
What is domestic abuse?
Under Washington state law, domestic abuse happens between family or household members or intimate partners. It's when one of them:
- Injures or assaults the other person, or makes them fear being harmed.
- Sexually assaults the other person.
- Stalks the other person.
- Damages property to intimidate or control the other person.
Your insurance rights
If you've been or may be a victim of domestic abuse, insurance companies cannot use this as a reason to:
- Change your policy or property coverage.
- Charge you a different premium for the same coverage.
- Deny you coverage.
- Refuse to renew your policy.
- Cancel your policy.
Filing an insurance claim
Insurance companies can't deny your claim if a covered loss is due to domestic abuse and you didn't help cause the loss.
If you file a claim for a property loss, you'll also need to file a police report. Make sure to help with any investigations by law enforcement or your insurer.
Your insurer may try to get money back from the person responsible for the property loss.