Auto Insurance News Archive for November, 2010

• When more traffic means less crashes

  by Richard Burton
  

  A decline in the number of accidents has been reported in Hampton Roads despite having an increase in local traffic. In the past few years statistics showed that there has been a reduce in car accidents not just in the local areas but the trend was true also for the entire nation. In Hampton Roads accidents have dropped by 27.5 percent in the past six years. And since 2000, according to the figures released by the Department of Motor Vehicles and planning organization, reported accidents in Hampton Roads dropped by 18.4 percent despite the notable increase in local traffic by … (more) November 30, 2010

• Regulators recommend additional auto insurance coverage

  by Richard Burton
  

  A majority of the state require the drivers to carry a minimum level of coverage through auto insurance on their vehicles. Now industry experts and officials from the government are emphasizing to customers that these minimum levels of auto insurance protection are not sufficient and in case of a serious accident, additional coverage is highly required. Florida is one of the places where there is a strong case for additional auto insurance protection. The minimum requirement for drivers in this state remains amongst the lowest in the country. The automobile owners in the Sunshine State are needed to carry about … (more) November 29, 2010

• Pennsylvania sees new discounts on auto insurance from Unitrin Direct

  by Richard Burton
  

  A new program of auto insurance has been started in Pennsylvania by Unitrin Direct, which is a direct-to-consumer, group of companies. The insurance offers some attractive prices especially for the drivers with great track record. It also comes with improved protection rendered by novel coverage bundles. The model of business used by Unitrin Direct is very unique in the sense that the overheads are greatly reduced and the cost savings are passed on to the customers without compromising in the service. Unitrin Direct has launched a new savings program in Pennsylvania a few days earlier and customers of the company … (more) November 28, 2010

• Guidance from regulators to consumers on monthly auto insurance

  by Richard Burton
  

  An overwhelming number of states in the country impose strict minimum levels of auto insurance required by vehicle owners. Some states like Florida have an alarmingly low level of minimum requirements set by the state as far as coverage from an auto insurance policy is concerned. There are serious penalties imposed on those drivers who don’t follow these norms for minimum auto insurance required. The penalty for driving without appropriate auto insurance is quite severe in states like Texas, where the fees imposed on those who violate the norms can be as high as 1000 dollars for the first offense. … (more) November 27, 2010

• Auto insurance policies are being blindly renewed by US drivers

  by Richard Burton
  

  According to a new survey, US insurance consumers are far more likely than their counterparts in other countries to blindly renew their auto insurance policies every year. Only 32% of the drivers in the country actually look around for the more inexpensive options according to some market research. The country has ranked 7th in the world behind UK, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Canada and Germany. It was also found that 57% of the auto insurance consumers in the country automatically renew their policies. This percentage is far less than the 36% which is the global average. Also, with such a huge … (more) November 26, 2010

• The safest driving cities identified by Allstate insurance

  by Richard Burton
  

  This year the Allstate Insurance Company (NYSE: ALL) named the safest drivers across the nation in their sixth annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report.” The ranking of 200 cities was primarily based on car collision frequencies. This year’s safest driving city is Fort Collins, Colorado.  According to Allstate’s report auto collision in Fort Collins will be experienced by average drivers every 14.5 years. This probability is 31.2 percent less likely than the national average. Fort Collins is followed by its closest challengers namely Chattanooga Tennessee and Boise Idaho where typical drivers will experience collision every 12.9 years. The Allstate’s “America’s … (more) November 25, 2010

• Strengthening national laws to prevent traffic deaths and injuries pushed by governmental organizations

  by Richard Burton
  

  The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its National Center for Injury Prevention and Control conducted a research revealing that traffic deaths and injuries cost the entire nation about $99 billion a year. This huge amount is not an acceptable aftermath for preventable plague such as traffic injuries and deaths thus CDC is suggesting for states to take some actions regarding this serious matter. Researchers used the 2005 hospital, insurance and other pertinent data to tally the cost nationally for the recorded 3.7 million injuries and deaths caused by crashes. Result showed that the entire nation suffers … (more) November 24, 2010

• How well do people know their insurance policy

  by Richard Burton
  

  A recent RSA Canada Automobile Insurance survey using Leger Marketing’s web panel was commissioned by leading car, home and business insurers revealed that most Canadians do not entirely understand their insurance policy. The said survey which also revealed purchasing habits and general knowledge of auto insurance among Canadians showed that only 15 percent of the surveyed population really knows what their policy is covering and not. Auto insurance fine prints are important statement that has to be read moreover understood by consumers. There are several issues in auto insurance policies that consumers need to be fully aware of. With this … (more) November 23, 2010

• 10% more questionable claims registered by NICB

  by Richard Burton
  

  Filing claims is not like withdrawing cash from an automated teller machine, it takes a rigorous process of verification and authentication before the claim is granted. This way the insurers can be certain that the claims filed are legitimate hence will avoid fraud attempts. This year the National insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported a 10 percent increase in questionable medical claims from the 2009 data. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau fraud related to medical claims is about a third of all claims that are considered questionable. The questionable medical claims are said to be coming from the states … (more) November 22, 2010

• Distracted driving – when thoughts don’t match actions

  by Richard Burton
  

  According to the Allstate Canada poll performed by the Leger Marketing majority of the Canadian drivers are engaging in distracting behaviors while driving. This is the time when actions does not correspond to people’s thoughts and beliefs given that nearly all Canadian who are driving strongly believes that distracted driving is a no-no. The survey revealed that 75 percent of Canadian drivers are involved in distracted driving which opens a huge possibility for accidents to occur. According to statistics eight out of ten crashes are effects of distracted driving. With this large percentage people must be given some refresher course … (more) November 21, 2010

• Gender as a Determinant of Car Insurance Premiums – A Form of Discrimination

  by Richard Burton
  

  Gender issue is now the center of the debate ringing the European Union after an official asked for the EU high court to determine if the practice of using gender as a determinant of auto insurance premium rate is a violation of the European anti-discrimination laws. The said practice is also used in the United States thus the issue is now echoing in the auto insurance industry in America. Generally males receive higher auto insurance rates than females primarily not because of gender per se but on statistical facts associating males to higher risks. Gender is just one of the … (more) November 20, 2010

• Use smartphones smartly can help avoid car accidents

  by Richard Burton
  

  The use of smartphones are said to be the reason behind the growing number of people who are using their mobile phones while driving. According to a survey conducted online by the Swinton Car Insurance more than half of the people who use Smartphones tend to check on their mobiles, read instant messages or check the internet while driving. There are two primary reasons why people cannot resist on using their Smartphones despite knowing that the said act was banned by law. First the survey revealed that 72 percent of these law breakers use their phones to check work-related emails. … (more) November 19, 2010

• When Texting Can Kill – Car Accidents Due To Texting Shows Increasing Trends

  by Richard Burton
  

  One common behavior people are dwelling in while driving is using the mobile phone whether texting or talking to someone.  This is a risky behavior that is mostly displayed by young drivers. According to Allstate Insurance Company, in California people who are frequently using their mobile phones while driving or even walking increased the cases of pedestrian being hit by cars. The incidents of people being hit by cars in California was said to jump to 25 percent on Halloween as compared with the rest of October. This increase in the number of car-pedestrian collisions in the said place is … (more) November 18, 2010

• Auto insurance researchers recognized as auto theft lowered in michigan

  by Richard Burton
  

  According to the Michigan Auto Theft Prevention Authority or ATPA, there is a drop of 16 percent on the rate of auto theft in the state from 2008 to 2009. Dan Vartanian, the executive director of ATPA, said that their success in the fight against car theft was a collaboration of dedicated ATPA funded employees, people in the law enforcement authority, prosecuting offices, and state community groups. He said that without their undying passion to help reduce auto theft and help fellow citizens in the state, the decrease in the rate of cars being stolen in the state would not … (more) November 17, 2010

• Economic hardship for car insurance fades according to customer response

  by Richard Burton
  

  Car insurance is a necessity and is required by law. With the current economic hardship, it is difficult to manage additional expenses like these into the family budget. But, a study was conducted by a consultation group named Market Force Information that shows that car owners are able to cope with the expenses of having car insurance. They surveyed 2,800 people to get their responses about how well they are satisfied with their car insurance companies and how well they are able to keep up with their responsibilities as policyholders. From the 2,800 auto insurance policyholders, 59 percent of them … (more) November 16, 2010

• Auto insurance companies perform well despite economic crisis

  by Richard Burton
  

  A survey was conducted by Market Force Information, a business consulting group, to know how well auto insurance companies performed for their customers. A total of 2,800 auto insurance policyholders were interviewed to get their feedback on how satisfied they were with their car insurance companies. According to the group’s data, one of the main things that measured customer satisfaction is how fast their auto insurance companies were able to process their claims. From the questions provided in the survey, respondents were asked how many of them already filed a claim. And among the 2,800 participants, 18% of them already … (more) November 15, 2010

• Auto insurance premiums – high rates because of hybrid car repair cost

  by Richard Burton
  

  A recent report was presented by Mitchell International Inc., an automotive industry information provider, that costs of repairing a hybrid car as well as the changes in their owners’ attitude will possibly heighten auto insurance premiums. The contribution of hybrid cars to the effort of car companies to help reduce global warming and save natural resources such as oil is rewarded by auto insurance companies with lower premiums. During the time of its popularity, auto insurance companies help in promoting its quality through providing discounts and other marketing strategy for customers to choose them over regular cars that use gas. … (more) November 14, 2010