Auto Insurance News Archive for December, 2009

  • New Mexico and Pennsylvania Prepare for Winter Driving

    by Jeanny Hopper
    New Mexico and Pennsylvania Prepare for Winter Driving

    Several states in the US go all out in preparing motorists for the challenges that winter can bring. States like New Mexico and Pennsylvania are planning ahead for the safety of warning drivers and are making sure that transport groups are ready for the harsh, colder days. According to major insurance providers in the said states, they are very happy in what state officials are doing since the winter season also marks a season with high numbers of insurance claims due to collisions and road accidents. In New Mexico, the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is advising motorists … (more) December 6, 2009

  • Cut Back on Highway Patrol a Bad Move

    by Jeanny Hopper
    Cut Back on Highway Patrol a Bad Move

    According to reports last November 25th, Florida, together with other states, has cut back on the number of its highway patrol while traffic and population have gone up.  Analysts are afraid that frugality when it comes to traffic enforcement can be a bad move for Florida especially that Thanksgiving weekend is yet to take place. An analysis made by USA Today reveals that in the past 13 years, the population in Florida has grown by 28.8% while the number of road troopers has decreased by 4.6%. Insurance experts are afraid that the decline in highway personnel can lead to increased … (more) December 5, 2009

  • Old Cars Kept in the Belief that it Will Cut back Premium Expenses

    by Jeanny Hopper
    Old Cars Kept in the Belief that it Will Cut back Premium Expenses

    More and more car owners today are saving extra dollars by keeping and maintaining their existing cars instead of purchasing newer models. Now, the current financial condition still has them looking over their old vehicles, but in an attempt to save more, drivers today also tune up their aging vehicle’s insurance. Major insurance providers in US states such as New York say that the changes in consumer attitude are happening extremely well day after day. According to them, New York policyholders look for more ways to save on car insurance, and of them is by maintaining their old cars as … (more) December 5, 2009

  • Motorists Confused: Can existing policies cover for car rentals?

    by Jeanny Hopper
    Motorists Confused: Can existing policies cover for car rentals?

    Reports indicate that the number of car rentals have boomed during the final quarter of 2009, which experts say is a result to the continuous hike in car operating costs and auto insurance premiums.  As the costs of owning a car goes up, people who do not need to own a vehicle now lean on renting a car instead of buying one. Likewise, those who previously own an old vehicle prefer to rent newer models than to purchase them. For those who prefer car rental, the next question is – will your auto insurance cover for your rented vehicle? To … (more) December 4, 2009

  • New Jersey Fee Schedule: Effective or Not?

    by Jeanny Hopper
    New Jersey Fee Schedule: Effective or Not?

    State authorities are contemplating whether the implementation of a fee schedule since April 2009 was effective or not in controlling the escalating costs of medical care that comes with auto insurance claims. According to records, the fee schedule has been in the works for a long time when the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that the schedule be implemented. The fee schedule is a list of maximum allowable charges for some general medical treatments and procedures linked with collisions and car accidents. Designed primarily to lay down reasonable limits on what insurers pay for medical expenses, … (more) December 4, 2009

  • Local Groups and Private Companies team up to promote Thanksgiving Safety Driving

    by Jeanny Hopper
    Local Groups and Private Companies team up to promote Thanksgiving Safety Driving

    For this year’s Thanksgiving, reports say that an estimated number of more than 33 million motorists are expected to start their engines and hit the road. According to projections made by major insurance providers, the number represents a 2.1% increase compared to last year’s driver statistics. According to the Insurance Information Institute, more motorists driving during thanksgiving can mean more chances for collisions and road accidents to take place. For 2009, Thanksgiving Day still represent one of the busiest day for the year for drivers and insurance providers. To help consumers understand the hazards of Thanksgiving driving, local groups expect … (more) December 3, 2009

  • November and December Dedicated To No-Fault Car Insurance

    by Jeanny Hopper
    November and December Dedicated To No-Fault Car Insurance

    For the last two months of 2009, focus in certain states fall on personal injury protection coverage which, during the course of the year, has become the target of fraud and abuse by deceitful clinics and medical practitioners who bill for very expensive and unnecessary medical and check-up procedures. For those who are not familiar, the words “no-fault car insurance” are used in states to refer to a car insurance program that makes it possible for policyholders to receive reimbursements and to recover monetary losses from their own insurance provider, regardless of which party caused the accident. Today, there are … (more) December 3, 2009

  • Understanding Coverage Levels Reduces Premium Costs

    by Jeanny Hopper
    Understanding Coverage Levels Reduces Premium Costs

    Consumers who are in the market for auto insurance can best cut back on premium costs by understanding the coverage levels. Some policies are critical, others are advantageous, and there are some that are just unnecessary will only make auto insurance more expensive. Based from the records compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 43,000 motorists die from fatal vehicle accidents every year in the US. From these accidents, around 2.9 million citizens end up injured each year. Insurance insiders say that the number of injured motorists means millions of dollars in insurance claim costs and also reflect … (more) December 2, 2009

  • Congress Debating on How to Make Auto Insurance Mandatory

    by Jeanny Hopper
    Congress Debating on How to Make Auto Insurance Mandatory

    According to reports, Congress is currently debating whether they can force people to purchase auto insurance or not. While most industry experts that the thousands of uninsured  American drivers may be difficult to be forced into buying car insurance policies, the White House says that legislation can indeed for motorist into being insured before they drive along the national roads. Right now, Congress is currently debating on how they will penalize individuals who do not comply with the insurance mandate. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said last week that the people who claim that the supposed individual directive in … (more) December 2, 2009

  • Court Rules That a Riding Mower is not a Vehicle

    by Jeanny Hopper
    Court Rules That a Riding Mower is not a Vehicle

    A ruling by the Georgia Supreme Court concludes that a lawn motor is, indeed, not a motor vehicle. A riding lawn mower may cost almost the same as a used car and may have a strong engine and four wheels, but a lawn mower theft is still not the same as a motor vehicle theft. The court decision inverted the conviction of Franklin Lloyd Harris, who was convicted of the criminal act motor vehicle theft back in 2006 when he drove away with a Toro riding mower from an appliance store in Dalton without paying for it. Harris was proven … (more) December 1, 2009

  • Bill to change workers’ compensation car insurance requirements still in the works

    by Jeanny Hopper
    Bill to change workers’ compensation car insurance requirements still in the works

    A special legislative session is on ongoing to see if changes can be made to Tennessee workers’ compensation car insurance requirements and if these changes can be made effective immediately. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro and House Republican Leader Jason Mumpower of Bristol. The change is set to mandate workers’ compensation coverage for self-regulating and private contractors that were formerly exempt. Larger private companies say the bill is essential to create equity and fairness the playing field. On the other hand, smaller firms argue that the cost of workers’ compensation auto insurance requirement would be … (more) December 1, 2009