Most Recent Auto Insurance News in State Insurance News

Now rental car insurance covered by credit cards
by Richard Burton

Rental car insurance has long been regarded by the travel experts as the cash cows for the car rental companies. This is also better known as collision or loss damage waiver. Rental cars don’t need insurance unlike other primary vehicles. There are some policies that extend only partial coverage to these rental cars. Even the damage waivers are not exactly comprehensive as they are filled with lots of exemptions such as exclusions for damage to property as well as high deductibles. Now, you can expect your credit card company to pick up the tab at no extra cost. Things that … (more) June 23, 2011
The manner in which Florida handles the pip auto insurance must be changed
by Richard Burton

Despite the fact that there is an endless stream of TV commercials that keep bombarding Floridians about the need to pay their quarterly auto insurance premiums, there are few who actually enjoy paying them. Floridians are currently paying around $1,200 more than people elsewhere in the Southeast. Lawmakers in Florida should find ways and means to ease the burden of paying auto insurance bills. It is necessary to come down heavily on those factors that have led to an increase in premiums. There should be limits to the attorney’s fees as well as the fraud which is perpetuated due to … (more) June 20, 2011
Go ahead given for bill that is aimed at fighting staged accidents
by Richard Burton

The House Insurance Committee today approved a bill that is aimed at curbing staged accidents as well as other fraudulent PIP claims. As per the coverage that is offered by the PIP cover, the policyholders that are injured in auto accidents can get some amount of coverage irrespective of who the faulty driver is. This was done with the intention to protect the uninsured Floridians, especially those that don’t have health insurance and also to avoid lawsuits and other legal costs that may be associated in such cases with minor injuries. However, the outcome of this has been just the … (more) June 19, 2011
Boyd’s bill to bring about reforms in no-fault insurance
by Richard Burton

Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton has announced the introduction of the new legislation under House Bill 1411. Now there would be several important measures that would be taken by the lawmakers in Florida to fight the menace of auto insurance scams. There would be increased consumer protection, stiffer penalties, and revisions to car crash reports. The bill has been sponsored by Jim Boyd and it aims to bring about reforms to the PIP insurance which is also known as the No-Fault insurance in Florida. The no-fault protection has been one of the main reasons for the staged accidents that are so … (more) June 18, 2011
Insurance scams in LA drive premiums upwards
by Richard Burton

Within the last two months, State Police Investigators in Louisiana have arrested 2 groups of fraudsters who have been suspected of staging motor vehicle accidents throughout Acadania just to receive the payments from the insurers. The premiums could now get higher even as the cases are pending in the courts and law-abiding citizens could now end up paying hefty premiums as direct fallout of these scams. Frank Scafidi who is a spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau has stated that, all those who purchase auto insurance will now be paying extra premium and this would be used to offset … (more) June 16, 2011
Following investigators deaths louisiana regulators are reviewing procedures
by Richard Burton

Following the deaths of two insurance department employees, Louisiana regulators are now reviewing their policies and procedures to investigate into fraud. Two Insurance Investigators Rhett Jeansonne and Kim Sledge were killed on the 7th of June while they were collecting the case information from an agent in Ville Platte. The authorities claim that John Melvin Lavergne had shot dead the LDI investigators around 1 p.m. before he could turn the gun on himself. Both the investigators were unarmed. Over 100 law enforcement officers that included the SWAT team as well as negotiators had surrounded the building for a couple of … (more) June 15, 2011
Online quotes for auto insurance the most popular route states J.D.Power
by Richard Burton

Most of the auto insurance buyers turn to the internet to obtain a quote and they are no longer going through the traditional channels such as the insurance agents or other call centers, states J.D. Power and Associates in its recent report. For the first time, states the Westlake Village, a California-based marketing information services company, there are over 50% of the insurance buyers who are obtaining their quotes online. In the US Insurance shopping study conducted this year, at least 54% of insurance shoppers had turned to the net to get their first quote. But there are many who … (more) June 12, 2011
Catastrophic insurance call by halifax lawyer
by Richard Burton

Now a Halifax personal injury lawyer has called on the Nova Scotia government to bring about a sharp increase in the medical rehab benefits that are given to those who suffer serious injuries in an auto accident. These injuries are termed as ‘catastrophic’ and the medical costs involved are huge. Hence, John McKiggan of the Atlantic Trial Lawyers Association states that those who suffer such severe injuries in auto accidents require extensive treatment and they should be made eligible to receive medical benefits of at least $100,000 along with income replacement of around $1,000 per week, in case they are … (more) June 10, 2011
Now insurance fraud would become more difficult – thanks to the bill
by Richard Burton

Insurance fraud is costing the policyholders as well as the state millions of dollars each year and business leaders in New York are hence urging policymakers to pass the legislation to help enable them to fight the insurance fraud. Fraud Costs New York is a coalition of consumers, business leaders, and lawmakers. It has called upon the state legislature to bring about reforms in the no-fault auto insurance policy in order to curb auto insurance fraud and insurance scams that they claim has totaled to over $200 million in the last year alone. The New York State Business Council’s acting … (more) June 8, 2011
Students at California colleges introduced to low-cost auto insurance programs
by Richard Burton

Notebook computer maker ASUS Computer International and representatives from California’s Department of Insurance have been paying visits to the community colleges in California in an attempt to introduce students to the CLCA program or the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program that has been offered by the state. Most students look forward to saving money in today’s scenario and the CLCA program helps in providing affordable liability-only insurance which meets the requirements of the state’s responsibility laws for under $400 per year. Chris Shultz, Deputy Commissioner stated that although the CLCA program was a wonderful resource for citizens of California, … (more) June 1, 2011
Low-cost auto insurance program promoted at universities in California
by Richard Burton

Students are always finding themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to Auto Insurance costs. However, things look quite promising with the Low Cost Automobile Insurance program. This was introduced by representatives from California’s Department of Insurance and the notebook computer maker ASUS. In the current economic situation, people are trying to save money, especially students. Liability auto insurance at affordable rates is a dream-come-true for many students. The CLCA program is the best one meeting the state’s financial responsibility laws while costing less than $400 a year. The CLCA has been a useful resource for many Californians but its … (more) May 30, 2011
Questions rise about financial impact of Wisconsin auto insurance law
by Richard Burton

There has been talk that the new bipartisan-backed law regarding auto insurance aimed at reducing minimum coverage to pre 2010 levels will not really achieve the primary objective it has been made for. Lowering costs of auto insurance for Wisconsin drivers will not be easily done say insurance experts discussing this law. A spokesman for American Family Insurance said that looking at legislation and trying to predict its impact with changes in premium is not an easy thing. The company is one of the largest among auto insurers in Wisconsin. The law is what will erase the legislation of 2009 … (more) May 25, 2011
Florida PIP reform comes to an abrupt halt in committee
by Richard Burton

Florida’s no-fault PIP reform came to an abrupt halt at the House Committee, where the comprehensive reform bill was rejected by a single vote. In spite, of the coordinated effort by the insurance industry, state officials, as well as consumer groups like the Sunshine Alliance to Erase Fraud and the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, the House Subcommittee on Health Care and Human Services voted down by a 9 to 8 margin, the HB 967/HB1411, which represented the far reaching attempts to bring about reforms in the state’s no-fault law since 2007. These combined bills had contained various provisions that were … (more) May 24, 2011
Auto fraud ring case in Massachusetts – three persons convicted
by Richard Burton

Three men have been convicted in the auto fraud ring case by the Massachusetts jury and this includes a chiropractor and a lawyer as well. They have been accused of staging a number of fraudulent accidents, according to reports from the attorney general’s office. Michael H. Kaplan from Hampstead, N.H., Omar Castillo from Methuen, and James C. Hyde from Boxford were found guilty following a jury trial that lasted for six weeks. They were charged with insurance fraud, attempted larceny, and larceny. The additional charges of conspiracy to commit larceny and conspiracy to commit auto insurance fraud are still on, … (more) May 22, 2011
$1 billion deal struck by allstate as it will buy esurance to add online sales
by Richard Burton

The largest auto insurer in the US, Allstate has struck a $1 billion deal and agreed to buy Esurance and Answer Financial from White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd and plans to expand the sales through the internet. Thomas Wilson, CEO is now seeking to add on more customers through other channels such as the internet since the younger generation simply shuns agents. Since most of the online shoppers are opting for insurance coverage from the smaller companies, Allstate has lost a lot of customers since the last three years. Paul Newsome, analyst, Sandler O’Neill & Partners LP, states that these … (more) May 20, 2011
Wisconsin’s auto insurance law and its financial impact has been questioned
by Richard Burton

Opponents of the bipartisan-backed auto insurance law as well as insurance experts state that there is very little evidence that this measure of reducing minimum coverage to the pre-2010 levels will lower auto insurance costs for the motorists in Wisconsin. Looking at a piece of legislation and trying to correlate that with the premium changes is a very complex affair, stated Steve Witmer, spokesman for American Family Insurance, which is one of the biggest auto insurance companies in Wisconsin. According to the new law the minimum coverage standards signed by Jim Doyle in 2009, would be erased. He had signed … (more) May 19, 2011
Abrupt end to the PIP reform effort in Florida
by Richard Burton

The bid to bring about a change in reforms in Florida’s PIO insurance cover came to an abrupt end after the House committee rejected the comprehensive reform bill by a single vote. In spite of widespread efforts and coordination from the state officials, insurers, and consumer forums such as the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud as well as the Sunshine Alliance to Erase Fraud, the House Subcommittee on Health Care and Human Services by a margin of 9 to 8 voted down the HB 967/HB1411 which made a far-reaching attempt to bring about reforms to the no-fault laws in the state … (more) May 15, 2011