What does it mean if subrogation is pending?

If subrogation is pending, it means that one car insurance company is trying to recover money from another car insurance company or another driver. Subrogation is the system through which insurers pay claims quickly, but then request that the amount of the claim be refunded to them by the responsible party after fault is determined.

For instance, subrogation is often relevant to car accidents. Say you are hit by a distracted driver, causing damage to your car. You file a collision claim with your own insurer because the other driver hasn’t admitted fault and you need your car fixed soon. In this case, your insurance company will begin subrogation, trying to recover the cost of the damage from the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. Depending on your state laws and whether you were determined to be partially at-fault, subrogation might mean that you get your deductible refunded.