SECTIONS 550-557.5 - California Statutes

INSURANCE CODE

SECTION 550-557.5

550. In case of loss upon an insurance against fire, an insurer is
exonerated if notice thereof is not given to him without unnecessary
delay by an insured or some person entitled to the benefit of the
insurance.

551. Except in the case of life, marine, or fire insurance, notice
of an accident, injury, or death may be given at any time within
twenty days after the event, to the insurer under a policy against
loss therefrom. In such a policy, no requirement of notice within a
lesser period shall be valid.

552. When preliminary proof of loss is required by a policy, the
insured is not bound to give such proof as would be necessary in a
court of justice; but it is sufficient for him to give the best
evidence in his power at the time.

553. All defects in a notice of loss, or in preliminary proof
thereof, which the insured might remedy, and which the insurer omits
to specify to him, without unnecessary delay, as grounds of
objection, are waived.

554. Delay in the presentation to an insurer of notice or proof of
loss is waived, if caused by an act of his, or if he omits to make
objection promptly and specifically upon that ground.

555. If a policy requires, by way of preliminary proof of loss, the
certificate or testimony of a person other than the insured or
beneficiary, there is sufficient compliance with the requirement if
the insured or the beneficiary (a) uses reasonable diligence to
procure the certificate or testimony, and (b) in case of refusal to
give it to him, furnishes reasonable evidence to the insurer that the
refusal was not induced by just grounds of disbelief in the facts
necessary to be certified or testified.

557. It is a misdemeanor for any person alone or in concert to
prepare or make any bid or other writing which falsely purports to be
a bona fide offer to repair a damaged motor vehicle or any other
damaged property, with the intent that the same be used for the
purpose of fraudulently leading an automobile liability insurer to
believe:
(a) That a bid of some other person represents an offer made in
open competition; or
(b) That the policy provisions of such insurer governing bids for
the repair of vehicles or other property insured under the policy
have been complied with in good faith.

557.5. No peace officer, member of the Department of the California
Highway Patrol, or firefighter shall be required to report any
accident in which he or she is involved while operating an authorized
emergency vehicle, as defined in subdivision (a), (b), or (f) of
Section 165 of the Vehicle Code, or any employer-leased or
employer-rented vehicle in the performance of his or her duty during
the hours of his or her employment, to any person who has issued that
peace officer, member of the Department of the California Highway
Patrol, or firefighter a private automobile insurance policy.
As used in this section:
(a) "Peace officer" means every person defined in Chapter 4.5
(commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code.
(b) "Policy" shall have the same meaning as defined in subdivision
(a) of Section 660.