West Virginia law
Insurance Disputes Laws in West Virginia.
West Virginia insurance is regulated by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner under Chapter 33 of the West Virginia Code. West Virginia was historically one of the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions for first-party insurance bad-faith claims, recognizing both common-law Hayseeds v. State Farm (1986) bad faith and a statutory private right of action under the Unfair Trade Practices Act (UTPA, W. Va. Code § 33-11) until 2005. In 2005 the legislature eliminated the private right of action under UTPA, leaving common-law bad faith as the principal remedy. West Virginia is a traditional tort (fault) auto-insurance state.
Last verified: 2026-04-20
State law
Key West Virginia Statutes
West Virginia's principal insurance title — covering licensing, market conduct, rating, and policy requirements.
West Virginia's UTPA — sets unfair-claims-settlement standards. 2005 legislation eliminated the private right of action; UTPA violations now primarily support administrative enforcement and common-law bad-faith claims.
State law
Official Sources
Not Legal Advice
This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in West Virginia.
Next step
Move from state law into guided help or attorney search.
If you want help applying this information to your situation, start with guided help or browse attorneys for this issue in West Virginia.
More in West Virginia
Other state law topics.
Personal Injury Laws·Criminal Defense Laws·Family Laws·Immigration Laws·Employment Laws·Bankruptcy Laws·Medical Malpractice Laws·Workers' Compensation Laws·Social Security Disability Laws·Wrongful Death Laws·Product Liability Laws·Long-Term Disability & ERISA Laws·Estate Planning Laws·Probate Laws·Real Estate Laws·Landlord & Tenant Laws·Business Laws·Intellectual Property Laws·Tax Laws·Elder Laws·Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Laws·Civil Rights Laws·Domestic Violence Laws·Veterans Legal Services Laws·Healthcare & Benefits Laws·Construction Defect Laws·Premises Liability Laws·Commercial Litigation Laws·Environmental Laws·Securities & Finance Laws·Municipal Laws·Administrative Laws