House To Examine Accident Appeals Board

A State House hearing Wednesday will examine whether to keep in place a board that hears appeals from drivers deemed at fault in an accident.

State Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burns says under the new managed competition system, drivers can just shop around for a company willing to waive the at-fault surcharge.

But House Financial Services Chair Peter Koutoujian says avoiding a fee is not the same as being found to be not at fault in an accident.

"You still have this surcharge type of finding that will be on your driving record," Representative Koutoujian says. "So even if you were to go to a new insurance company, they would have something on your record showing that you were at fault in an accident."

Last year, the board heard appeals from more than 43,000 drivers and overturned more than half of the insurance companies' at-fault findings.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, along with several insurance companies, support keeping the board in place. It's set to be disbanded April first.