Creating a third-party claimant's right to appraisal under automobile liability insurance policies.

 S-6033.1

SENATE BILL 6359

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2026 Regular Session

By Senator Stanford

AN ACT Relating to creating a third-party claimant's right to appraisal under automobile liability insurance policies; adding a new section to chapter 48.18 RCW; creating new sections; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:

(a) Under Washington law, persons injured by another's negligent operation of a motor vehicle are entitled to recover the full measure of their property damages, including the reasonable cost of necessary repairs, the diminished value of repaired vehicles, and compensation for loss of use, as outlined in Washington pattern jury instructions 30.10 and Grothe v. Kushnivich , No. 39010-1-III (Wash. Ct. App. Dec. 6, 2022);

(b) At present, the only means by which a third-party claimant may obtain a judicially enforceable resolution of a property damage dispute with an automobile liability insurer is to file a civil lawsuit. For many consumers, the cost of retaining counsel and litigating such claims is disproportionate to the value of the loss, leaving them without an effective remedy;