Auto Insurance News Archive for 2009

• New Mexico and Pennsylvania Prepare for Winter Driving

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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
  

  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

• Changes Set to be Made to Eliminate New York No Fault Fraud

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  In an attempt to lessen and eventually eradiate fraud, the New York State Insurance Department is proposing that changes be made for no-fault auto insurance coverage. Fraud on no-fault insurance is said to be an emerging problem in New York. Reports from the Department show more than 11,000 no-fault fraud complaints year to date, approximately 7% more than the number of complaints received last year. The proposed changes include regulations that will increase the number of information required on medical forms, and reduce the need for additional verification by insurance companies. Experts believe that these changes are necessary in hastening … (more) November 30, 2009

• Is Mobile Phone Usage the next threat on road safety?

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The Insurance Information Institute has recently conducted a research that the use of mobile phones while driving on the road is starting to be a growing concern in certain states in the US.  According to the results of the study, calling or texting while driving can be one of the greatest problems on US roads. According to industry experts, almost all US drivers own a mobile phone, and all of them are prone to making and answering a call or sending and reading text messages while behind the wheel. Loosing focus because of being caught in an important call or … (more) November 30, 2009

• Are Florida Insurance Requirements Not Enough?

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The state of Florida mandates its drivers to carry a car insurance policy that includes the coverage for both damage to third party properties and personal damages. However, a recent study conducted by a major insurance consultancy firm in Florida reveals that motorists think about buying higher limits on top of the minimum requirements due to the fact that the added coverage may be relatively low compared to the cost of property damage and medical expenses caused by being involved in a car accident. According to reports, state authorities in Florida are considering to upgrade their insurance laws and increase … (more) November 29, 2009

• Thousands of Denver Drivers still Uninsured

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Thousands of motorists on the public roads of Denver, Colorado still do not have Denver auto insurance despite the state laws in mandating it. Authorities now question if the almost 40 years of mandating car insurance is really effective in making the laws any safer. Insurance industry experts say that insurance mandates in Denver failed to achieve the goal of lowering the number of car accidents and lowering the costs of car insurance. According to University of Pennsylvania Professor Scott Harrington, the problem with mandates is that you can never expect for everyone to comply. He adds that while vehicle … (more) November 29, 2009

• Consumers Confused Why Premium Rates Go Up While Consumer Rates Go Down

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  According to many insurance consultancy companies, more and more motorists are confused as to why the rates of car insurance premiums continue to go up when the prices of most consumer products have started to decline. Speculations say that reports about the motorists’ confusion came out as an effect of the U.S. Department of Labor’s declaration early this week. The U.S. Department released information revealing that the Consumer Price Index went down by 2% from last year to October of 2009. The Consumer Price Index is a very reliable indicator that measures the cost of majority of the things consumers … (more) November 28, 2009

• High Unemployment Rates may lead to More Uninsured Drivers in California

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Motorists in California are now starting to be afraid that auto insurance will soon become a thing for the privileged few who can afford it. As both car insurance premium rates and unemployment rates go in the same upward direction, it’s only a matter of time until drivers run the risk of driving without being insured. According to reports, the state of California may be facing problems regarding unemployment. In the San Joaquin Valley in central California where a huge number of former employees were retrenched, high unemployment may result to more car owners driving in the state’s public roads … (more) November 28, 2009