Crockwell v. Government Employees Ins. Co., No. Cv-99-0090777 (Oct. 2, 2001)

Insurance Company Wins When Workers Miss Deadline for Claims

This case involved employees of Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) who were injured in car accidents and tried to collect benefits under their company insurance policy. The workers filed claims for underinsured motorist coverage and medical payment coverage, arguing that GEICO failed to properly handle their claims under their employment benefits.

The court ruled in favor of GEICO, granting the company's request to dismiss the case entirely. The judge found that the employees had failed to notify the insurance company about their claims within the required time period specified in their insurance policy. Because they missed this deadline, the court said they could not recover any money from GEICO, even if the company had otherwise mishandled their claims.

This ruling matters for workers because it highlights how strict insurance companies can be about deadlines and notification requirements. Even if you work for an insurance company and have coverage through your employer, you must still follow all the policy rules and deadlines when filing claims. Missing these deadlines can result in losing your right to benefits entirely, regardless of whether your claim has merit.