Auto Insurance News Archive for 2010

• Lower Your Car Insurance Rates In Talladega County

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  If you are a car owner residing in Lincoln, AL or any city in Talladega County and you want to lower your auto insurance rates, the first thing you need to do is be conscious of your driving habits. How you drive greatly affects how much you pay for car insurance premiums. Even one speeding ticket can cause premiums to increase. Some auto insurance providers give a substantial discount if you maintain a clean driving record for as little as six months, while others require longer, but the bottom line is: keeping your driving record clean lowers car insurance premiums. … (more) February 19, 2010

• The Importance Of Auto Collision Insurance In Alabama

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Alabama auto insurance laws do not require auto collision insurance, but more and more car owners are finding it necessary, especially if you live in the “Heart of Dixie.” Every responsible car owner in Alabama knows the importance of having auto collision insurance in the state considered as “Crossroads of the South.” An auto collision insurance policy basically covers all your needed expenses if your car or vehicle gets damaged in a road accident and you were found the driver responsible for the mishap. If your car gets damaged beyond repair, your policy can cover expenses for a replacement car. … (more) February 19, 2010

• Keep Financial Problems At Bay

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Nashville, Arkansas may not be one of the busiest places in the country, but it has its own share of traffic and road accidents. For years, Nashville has witnessed a number of road mishaps involving teenage drivers. Although most of these accidents do not result in serious injuries, most of these incidents do result in costly lawsuits. Since the laws of the State of Arkansas only require drivers and car owners to get the minimum coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person involved in the accident and $25,000.00 for property damages, parents of teenagers involved in road accidents … (more) February 18, 2010

• Stay Protected – Get Full Coverage Before You Drive Around Cleveland

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Cleveland, Arkansas is a moderately populated area. Its population is fairly young. In fact, most of its inhabitants are between the ages 16-30. As it is, young drivers tend to dominate the main thoroughfares of this city. Although serious road accidents are not very common around Cleveland, most insurance companies around this area advice their clients to get more than the minimum coverage required by law. According to them, minimum bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person injured and minimum property damages coverage of $25,000 may not be enough to pay for all expenses resulting from a typical road accident. … (more) February 18, 2010

• Massachusetts High Court Rules In Favor of DOI’s decision

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  After two years of legal battle, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts finally ruled on an issue involving the Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI) against an insurer and an association of insurance agents. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2008, started after the government agency released a decision exempting new auto insurance companies within the state from covering high-risk motorists. Spearheaded by Arbella Mutual Insurance and the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, they sought to nullify said decision on what they consider to be an “ultra vires act” or an act exceeding authority made by then insurance commissioner Nonnie Burnes. The … (more) February 17, 2010

• Woman Nabbed in Massachusetts for Auto Insurance Fraud

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The arrest of a woman alleged of having committed insurance fraud brought the number of individuals charged for the same offense to 420 in the State of Massachusetts. According to reports made by the state’s Insurance Fraud Bureau, the lawsuit against Matilda Gabin is the latest in a string of crackdowns made by investigators since 2003. Authorities reveal that Gabin was turned over by his former husband after the latter had “hounded” him into conspiring to make her car “disappear.” It turned out that Gabin, 28, wanted to buy a new car and desired to get rid of her 1999 … (more) February 17, 2010

• Texas and New York transform into better states for insured drivers

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Texas and New York both take part in improving auto insurance for their local drivers. Senator Charles Schumer proposed a bill that will reinforce laws regarding car insurance fraud for New Yorkers. For Texas drivers, the public roads have become safer for motorists, which resulted to fewer accident claims and cheaper insurance costs. In New York, Senator Schumer has proposed a bill that will increase the penalty for auto insurance fraud and will create federal jail sentences for felons convicted of the said offense. Expediting the implantation of the said bill is Albany County State Senator Neil Breslin who is … (more) February 16, 2010

• Toyota Car Recall Causes A Stir

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  After Toyota announced that it will recall 8.5 million vehicles, the company is facing a wave of problems, primarily from an increasing number of consumer class-action lawsuits. Aside from being worried about the dwindling resale value of their vehicles, concerned owners of recalled Toyota car are now contacting their insurance providers to ensure that their auto policies include coverage for a recalled car. Toyota Motor Corporation has recently announced that it will start its biggest recall in the company’s history to repair sticking gas pedals that have been reported to cause unexpected acceleration in car models and ill-fitting floor mats. … (more) February 16, 2010

• Dense Areas Benefit More From Ban of Mobile Phone Use While Driving

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  A professor from the University of Illinois had recently conducted a study linking cell phone use with automobile accidents, but it does not overall dispute another study stating that mobile phones are not significantly responsible for collisions. In their research, Sheldon Jacobson used data from 62 counties in the State of New York while looking at the relationship between the “pre and post ban on texting and cell phone use” while driving. They found out that at least 10 counties presented a statistically significant number of reductions in accidents. Out of the 62 counties, 46 of them showed a reduction … (more) February 15, 2010

• Insurance Agents Lobby for Auto Insurance Verification System in Alabama

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Insurance agents headed by the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents, Inc. (AIIA) are lobbying Alabama’s Congress to enact a law that would pave the way for a real-time auto insurance verification system. The move, according to the trade group, would most likely be introduced at the state’s Senate. It must be noted that since 2000, automobile insurance has been mandated in Alabama. However, for a down payment of as low as $50, a driver could get a proof of insurance card which would be valid for six months. As such, even if the policy holder discontinues or has lapses in monthly … (more) February 15, 2010

• Proposed Law in Missouri Aims to Hold Uninsured Non-Resident Drivers Accountable

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Incidents such as this have sparked a new legislation in the State of Missouri. A resident of Jasper County was driving her car in Joplin, Missouri when she met a vehicular accident involving an Oklahoman driver. While the latter was at fault, authorities could not hold said motorist for having no insurance simply because the vehicle was registered out-of-state. The sad part is, the local driver did not have coverage for collision nor the finance to have her car fixed. According to state Senator Gary Nodler, this is exactly the “loophole” which ignited the introduction of a bill aimed at … (more) February 14, 2010

• Nevada to Implement New System to Target Uninsured Vehicles

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The State of Nevada would soon be using auto insurance — or more appropriately the lack thereof — in order to help augment the state’s budget deficiency. Thus, if a vehicle has no insurance or no registration, it would likely be the target of a new verification system set to take effect on March 15 this year. According to Lynn Hettrick, the state would hire a Chicago-based company in order to find-out if a vehicle has the necessary registration and insurance coverage as required by the state. Hettrick, who works as Governor Jim Gibbons’ deputy chief of staff, said that … (more) February 14, 2010

• Missouri’s Out-Of-State Drivers Targeted by New Auto Insurance Bill

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  MISSOURI –  A bill has been introduced that aims to bolster automobile insurance laws to cover up a current legislative loophole which compels drivers in Missouri to maintain their liability insurance, but excludes drivers who register their cars outside of the state. Carthage Republican State Rep. Tom Flanigan and Joplin Republican State Sen. Gary Nodler both introduced a bill to expand the liability laws of Missouri beyond state boundaries to cover ‘out-of-state’ car owners. Nodler said that a recent incident given coverage in the news was what brought the loophole to the attention of the lawmakers. He admitted that he … (more) February 13, 2010

• New York’s No-Fault Auto Insurance Policy Reaches Epidemic Proportions

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  The ‘epidemic’ of auto insurance fraud in New York has prompted a number of insurance trade groups to call the attention of state lawmakers for urgent no-fault insurance reform. This comes amidst the record increases in rates which residents currently have to deal with. At a New York State Senate Standing Committee on Insurance hearing in Albany last February 4, several groups opened up regarding the disturbing trend and gave some proposals to halt it. Kevin M. Ryan, president of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State, expressed that their group supported the no-fault system, but urged for reform. … (more) February 13, 2010

• Debates Raging Over Proposed Auto Insurance Law in California

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Even before the controversial Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act goes into ballot on June 8, debates among proponents of the law and those against it have already ensued to obtain popular opinion among California residents. Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit group which advocates consumer and taxpayer interests, disclosed that voters may be fooled by the real purpose of the proposed statute. It even prompted Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the group, to state that the new legislation is fraudulent and full of deception. The main contention of Consumer Watchdog is that the initiative is nothing but an attempt to hike insurance … (more) February 12, 2010

• Fraudulent Auto Insurance Claimant and Conspirator Charged in California

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  Two California residents who were arrested for auto insurance fraud last month posted bail amounting to $25,000. With this at hand, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner emphasized the importance of having vehicles insured, and the trouble that uninsured motorists would have to face in case of an accident. Michael Gaudenzi, 45, and Robert Carter, 52, were both charged for allegedly falsifying the time of the auto accident. Both of them reside in San Jose, California. Investigators said that on April 10, 2009, Robert Carter, Jr., 19, was allowed to drive an uninsured vehicle owned by Gaudenzi when the car mishap … (more) February 12, 2010

• Mistake in Credit Scoring Could Lead to Higher Premium Rates

  by Jeanny Hopper
  

  A credit score is basically a statistical analysis representing a person’s credit files. Banks and credit card companies use this as a tool to determine the following: those who are qualified to take a loan; the interest rates that may be charged; and, the credit limit which may be given to an applicant. Few people know that credit scores are also being used by auto insurance companies. But these three numbers, which could also be prone to mistakes, may eventually lead to paying higher premium rates because of instances when insurers mistakenly interpret credit reports. According to Mississippi Insurance Commissioner … (more) February 11, 2010