GEICO sued for not honoring accident-forgiveness policy

GEICO faces a class-action lawsuit alleging it unfairly raises premiums after a first at-fault accident, despite its accident-forgiveness policy. Image (c) ConsumerAffairs.

Plaintiff's premiums rose by more than 91% after first at-fault accident

Car insurer GEICO is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging it doesn't honor its accident-forgiveness policy, which promises to not raise a customer's premiums after their first at-fault accident.

The lawsuit, filed Feb. 25 in Texas, alleges GEICO unlawfully disguises premium increases after the first at-fault accident as "surcharges" or other terms, ClassAction.org reports.

The lawsuit said it represents a Dallas resident, Christoper Cude, who alleged he got a policy-renewal notice one month after his wife got into a minor fender-bender accident, which was the first she was at fault for.

The plaintiff's premium rose to $2,663 from $1,392, an increase of more than 91%, after he was told by GEICO they had "merely applied a surcharge," the lawsuit said.

GEICO didn't immediately respond to ConsumerAffairs's request for comment.

The lawsuit aims to represent any Texas residents insured by GEICO whose premiums rose after their first at-fault car accident.

Lawyers from Steckler Wayne & Love Law are handling the case and can be reached at bruce@stecklerlaw.com, austin@stecklerlaw.com and judgestickney@stecklerlaw.com.

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