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I got in an accident the same day I reinstated my lapsed policy. Will it be covered?

I've been on time on my payments. But in January, my insurance payment lapsed on 1/25/20. But I made a payment on the next workday at noon on 1/27/20, but I had an accident that same morning. Do I have a right to be covered by my insurance?

Feb 27, 2020 Pico Rivera, CA

Answer
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Kristine Lee

Manager, Content and Data

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty

Kristine is a licensed insurance agent who joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer. Before joining The Zebra, she was a…

It depends on how the policy was reinstated. If they reinstated with no lapse, then you are free to file a claim. If they reinstated with no lapse but had you sign what is called a No Loss letter — which dictates that no accidents had occurred before taking payment — then filing a claim would be considered fraudulent.

Finally, they may have reinstated the policy with a lapse, meaning that anything prior to the time of payment cannot be claimed.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

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