(1) A person in this state has the
right to choose any glass repair facility for the repair of a
loss relating to motor vehicle glass.
(2) An insurer or its third-party administrator that owns in
whole or in part an automobile glass repair facility that is
processing a claim limited only to auto glass shall:
(a) Verbally inform the person making the claim of loss, of
the right provided under subsection (1) of this section, at the
time information regarding the automobile glass repair or
replacement facilities is provided; and
(b) Verbally inform the person making the claim of loss that
the third-party administrator is an entity separate from the
insurer that has a financial arrangement to process automobile
glass claims on the insurer's behalf.
(3) An insurer or its third-party administrator that owns an
interest in an automobile glass repair or replacement facility
shall post the following notice in each of its repair facilities:
"THIS AUTOMOBILE GLASS REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT FACILITY IS
OWNED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY (NAME OF INSURER OR INSURER'S
THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR). YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT YOU ARE
ENTITLED UNDER WASHINGTON LAW TO SEEK REPAIRS AT ANY AUTOMOBILE
GLASS REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT FACILITY OF YOUR CHOICE."
The notice must be posted, in not less than eighteen point
font, prominently in a location in which it is likely to be seen
and read by a customer. If the automobile glass repair or
replacement facility is mobile, the notice must be given to the
person making the claim verbally by the insurer or its
third-party administrator prior to commencement of the repair or
replacement.
(4) A person making a claim of loss whose motor vehicle is
repaired at an automotive glass repair or replacement facility
subject to the notice requirements of this section may file a
complaint with the office of the insurance commissioner.
(5) This section does not create a private right or cause of
action to or on behalf of any person.
[2007 c 74 § 1.]