Cari McCaskill of Oakland County was involved in a traffic accident on May 2 last year. Another vehicle traveling at 40 to 50 miles per hour struck her car while attempting to pass traffic.
McCaskill had two passengers at the time, her 12-year-old daughter and her daughter's friend. All three emerged from the collision without physical injuries.
She filed a claim with her insurance provider, GEICO, following standard procedures. The claim required submission of a police report that documented the presence of the two young passengers.
McCaskill received notification that her vehicle's value exceeded $25,000. However, communication from the insurance company then ceased. She reported being unable to access her claim status through the company's mobile application.
Weeks later, McCaskill received correspondence from GEICO indicating her policy was under review for retroactive rescission. The letter cited failure to disclose all resident relatives in her household as the reason.
The insurance company canceled her coverage because she had not included her 12-year-old daughter in the personal injury protection statement. Michigan law does not permit children of that age to drive legally.
Complications arose when the daughter's friend visited a doctor for a post-accident examination. GEICO filed a complaint against both McCaskill and the physician, asserting no obligation to provide medical coverage due to the undisclosed household member.
The doctor had not submitted any payment request to the insurance company at that point.
McCaskill's attorney, Chris Camper, stated the situation made his client feel "as though she's done something wrong" and potentially responsible for a $25,000 to $26,000 lease obligation.
GEICO told media outlets it complies with all state insurance regulations regarding claims and coverage. The company declined to comment on ongoing litigation, and its specific legal representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Insurance provider AAA confirmed in a separate report that Michigan state law requires listing all household members on auto insurance policies, including infants.
Another Michigan case involved a local couple whose vehicle was struck on Christmas Eve 2025 with their two small children inside. GEICO initially indicated their failure to list their one-year-old and three-month-old children might affect coverage but ultimately agreed to cover approximately $15,000 in vehicle damage.