Posted by Benji Riggins on March 27, 2012 under Safety | 
Most U.S. adults support a nationwide ban on the use of cellphones while driving, according to a new IBOPE Zogby poll.
The poll of 2,099 adults finds that 64 percent support the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation for a nationwide ban on the non-emergency use of personal-electronic devices while driving, with 41 percent saying they “strongly agree” with the recommendation.
Twenty-two percent of respondents say they strongly disagree.
The poll comes days after several risk managers told NU Online News Service that they would support such a ban.
The American Insurance Association has also said it supports the NTSB’s recommendation.
However, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on Dec. 22 that he would not back a nationwide ban, saying he supports using hands-free devices while driving instead.
The IBOPE Zogby poll shows more women than men strongly support a ban (49 percent of women versus 31 percent of men).
Adults 65 and older are also more likely to strongly support a ban (58 percent) than younger adults (34 percent for both the 18-29 and 30-49 age groups).
Broken down by political affiliation, 59 percent of adults identifying themselves as Democrats strongly support a ban compared to just 33 percent of independents and 27 percent of Republicans.
Commenting on the poll, Daniel DeVries, IBOPE Zogby communications and media manager, says, “I think the numbers show some strong support almost universally, with the only major variations really appearing when it comes to age. Unsurprisingly, young people who grew up in a time of widespread cell use are more likely to disagree with the NTSB recommendation.”
NU Online News Service
Posted by Benji Riggins on March 23, 2012 under Safety |
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced winning vehicles for this year’s Top Safety Pick. Good news for drivers: at 115, the number of winners is greater than ever this year.
The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute evaluations.
Specifically, frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. In the roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against a side of a roof at a displacement rate of 0.2 inch per second. Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure, with starting points measuring the head restraint geometry. Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested using a dummy that measures forces on the neck.
The ratings, which cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes, are designed to help shoppers pick vehicles that offer the highest levels of crash protection.
In all, 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups were recognized. The winners’ circle includes 18 new recipients for 2012, while 97 models that previously qualified for the 2011 award carry over to 2012.
“For the second year running a record number of models qualify,” said Institute president Adrian Lund. “It’s tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority.”
Again this year every major automaker has at least one winner. Subaru remains the only manufacturer with the distinction of earning awards for every model it builds. Subaru picked up 5 awards, including one for the redesigned Impreza, a small car.
Toyota/Lexus/Scion has 15 winners for 2012, more than any other auto manufacturer. General Motors is next in line with 14, followed by Volkswagen/Audi with 13, and Ford/Lincoln and Honda/Acura with 12 awards apiece.
The full list can be found at: www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr121511.html
Tags: auto ins, auto safety, automobile ins, automobile safety, car ins, car safety, insurance agency, insurance agent, top safety picks, vehicle ins, vehicle safety
Posted by Benji Riggins on March 21, 2012 under Safety |
Online auto insurance quotes provider 4autoinsurancequote.org released a study which reveals that insurance rates are rising due to the increase in texting while driving. The study found that both texting while driving traffic citations and cell phone related accidents can cause monthly premiums to go up.
As part of the study, 4autoinsurancequote.org found that fatal traffic accidents caused by drivers distracted by their cell phones have almost doubled since 2005. According to the company, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that distracted driving accidents saw a marked increase in 2008, when texting found its way into the mainstream. The following year, distracted drivers were at fault in 24,000 injury accidents and caused 1,000 fatalities.
When conducting this study, the company found that those who text and drive place themselves and others in danger due to three specific factors. First, drivers are visually distracted, as they remove their eyes from the road in order to read incoming texts. Secondly, drivers are cognitively distracted, as they are thinking about the content of the text message rather than their surroundings. Lastly, drivers are limited in their ability to drive safely and to react quickly when they remove their hands from the wheel.
Though the risks of texting and driving are apparent, many drivers admit to continuing with this practice. During the study, 4autoinsurancequote.org learned that nearly 10 percent of the driving population in the United States text and drive on a regular basis. According to the CDC, drivers who fall between the ages of 18 to 29 admit to texting while behind the wheel at least once per month, while a full 25 percent of those in that age group state that they habitually text and drive.
The study found that because of the high incidence of accidents caused by distracted drivers, as many as 35 states as well as the District of Columbia and Guam have enforced strict regulations related to texting and driving. In many states, it is now illegal for drivers to text while behind the wheel and law enforcement officials may cite any driver that is visibly seen conducting this practice. In some states, law enforcement agents may stop drivers who are texting even if no other offenses are being committed.
Because texting and driving causes serious accidents every year, being issued a ticket for this offense can cause the driver to be viewed as an insurance risk. Thus, the monthly premium can escalate very quickly. 4autoinsurancequote.org has learned that the insurance industry is not only raising premiums for those drivers who text behind the wheel, but the industry as a whole is attempting to curb the practice altogether. The industry suggests blocking text messaging services while driving by installing text-blocking apps on phones or installing sensor devices in cars that block signals on cell phones.
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9132011.htm
Copyright:
(c) 2012 PRWEB.COM Newswire
Source:
PR Web
Posted by Benji Riggins on March 15, 2012 under Safety |
When I started driving six months before turning 16 years old — with a learner’s permit — I was terrified of the roadways.
Remember that scene in Clueless when Dionne accidentally exits onto the freeway and she, Cher, and Murray freak out? That was me. In fact, until I was about 19 years old, I had to turn off the radio when merging into moving traffic, and for the first year I avoided highways all together.
It didn’t help that I owned a beater of a car — and that’s an understatement. This vehicle was so terrible that one of my best friend’s fathers refused to let her in it. And in hindsight, I don’t blame him. It looked like it might break down or blow up at any minute. Eventually it did — break down, that is. Luckily it was in my own neighborhood, so I did what any self-respecting teen boy would do in that situation — I called my dad to pick me up and left the car where it died for someone else to scavenge.
So your kid doesn’t suffer the same fate, conduct research into a vehicle’s safety before you buy. I know that not everyone can afford a new car or even a great used car when their kid reaches driving age, but safety is never a poor investment.
To help you make the most informed decision, I’ve asked a few experts for their insight on how to choose the safest car for your new driver. Here’s what they had to say.
Q: Overall, what’s the safest type of car for teens?
A: “Teens are safest in a mid-sized, four-door sedan with four cylinders. This type of vehicle does not have too much power, but still allows the inexperienced driver to maneuver safely through traffic,” says LeeAnn Shattuck, co-owner of Women’s Automotive Solutions, a consulting firm that helps women (and men) buy cars. “It’s big enough to protect them sufficiently in an accident, but not so big that it is difficult to control. They also can’t stuff too many of their friends into a mid-sized sedan, which can be a significant distraction for teens. My insurance agent partners all say that this type of vehicle is also the cheapest to insure for a teen.”
Q: What about SUVs? They seem safe, especially since there’s a higher center of gravity. Are they good for teen drivers?
A: “Many parents think their teen is safest in an SUV because it will protect them in an accident,” Shattuck says. “But statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that teens are more likely to get into an accident in an SUV (vs. a sedan) because those larger vehicles (with a higher center of gravity) are much more difficult to control if they have to take evasive action. Because the SUVs also tend to cause more damage in an accident, insurance rates are higher.”
Q: Besides safety in accidents, what are some other concerns parents should think about when buying a car for the teen?
A: “I advise parents to avoid Hondas for their teens, especially for teen girls, since Honda Civics and Accords are the most stolen cars in America. You don’t want your 16-year-old daughter getting car jacked on her way home from soccer practice or work,” says Shattuck. “I tend to steer parents more towards the Toyota Camry or even Corolla, the Nissans, and the Hyundais. Even the Ford Focus or Fusion (or an older Taurus) are safe and reasonably reliable. If they really want an SUV (to be higher up for better visibility), I highly recommend the Ford Escape. It’s a decently reliable little SUV, easy to drive, used ones are in the $6,000 to $10,000 range, and they have relatively low maintenance costs.
Q: What are the benefits of a used car over a new car?
A: “Buying used for a young driver makes more sense than buying new since overall vehicle costs on used cars are typically lower,” says Max Katsarelas, marketing strategist for Mojo Motors. “Plus, with the rapid depreciation of a new car once it drives off the lot, buying used can save some major coin, especially when considering the accident rate of young drivers. Auto repair costs for young drivers total about $19 billion, so buying a new car doesn’t make financial sense when taking into consideration the resale value after an accident. Since a vehicle’s crash history can be seen with a Carfax report and any sign of an accident, even ‘fender benders’ drop a vehicle’s resale value considerably. Ultimately, the best bet for parents looking at cars for young drivers should buy used. For example, a new 2012 Ford Focus starts at around $18,000. A gently used 2008 Ford Focus with under 60,000 miles can be had for under $10,000. Both boast the highest safety rating, ‘Good’ from IIHS, but a used Focus can cost up to $10,000 less.
Q. If parents want to buy their new driver a new car for under $15,000, what are some of the best options?
A: Money Crashers recently compiled a list of the “10 Best Affordable Cars for College Students.” Of course, the choices are great for teen drivers in high school, too, since their parents are likely covering at least part of the vehicle’s cost. As it turns out, most of the cars on the list, as mentioned by the experts, are four-door sedans with modest sticker prices and a history of safety. While these selections and prices are based on new cars, feel free to use this guide to help identify economical used cars with good safety ratings.
Written by Mikey Rox and published on Wise Bread.
Tags: auto ins, automobile ins, car ins, driver safety, insurance agency, insurance agent, safest auto, safest car, teen driver, teen driver safety, vehicle ins
Posted by Benji Riggins on March 13, 2012 under Claims |
The Consumer Federation of America, a Washington, D.C.-based group whose insurance division is directed by consumer advocate J. Robert Hunter, recently published a guide with “insiders’ advice” on filing a successful auto insurance claim, collecting a fair settlement, and dealing with adjusters.
The guide says many people are intimidated when they file an auto insurance claim, because they have never done it before or are worried about getting less than they deserve for personal injuries or damages to their car.
“You should report the loss to the insurer as soon as possible. Your insurer cannot begin the claims’ payment process until you do so,” the guide says. It adds, “It is your choice — not the insurer’s — as to where your vehicle is repaired.”
And when trying to get the insurer to address the insured’s concern, “aim higher up the company’s ‘food chain’ than the adjuster’s supervisor if you want to get your problem resolved.”
“The last thing a local or regional claims’ office wants is a call from the home office about a complaint,” the guide says. “They are evaluated based on how they resolve the complaint, which means that they’ll work hard to resolve the complaint as quickly as possible.”
It also advises the insured to “file a complaint with your state insurance department.” It says that “While the department may not help resolve your complaint, they will pass it on to the insurer. Most companies treat these complaints seriously.”
The full report, “Guide to Navigating the Auto Claims’ Maze,” can be found at Consumer Federation of America’s website.
By Young Ha |
Posted by Benji Riggins on March 10, 2012 under Insurance News |
A cash-strapped businessman torches his home then massacres five people to keep witnesses from testifying. A cop shoots himself to steal workers’ comp money. Two scammers stuff a coffin with a mannequin and cow parts to invent a dead person for a million-dollar life-insurance payout.
These are among the extreme schemers elected to the Insurance Fraud Hall of Shame sponsored by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.
The Hall of Shame annually dishonors the year’s most brazen, vicious or plain klutzy convicted insurance criminals. The Hall of Shame helps brand insurance fraud as a socially offensive crime by detailing true-life cases, and the damage caused by these masters of disaster.
Witness the No-Class of 2011:
Executed scheme. Dogged by debt, William Craig Miller burned down his fancy Scarsdale, Ariz. house for an insurance payday. Miller then executed two witnesses in their home. He also gunned down three kids in the home to keep them quiet. Some were shot at point plank, including a 10-year-old boy. Miller received the death penalty.
Daffy diamond heist. Financially strapped diamond merchants Atul Shah & Haveer Kankariya staged a dopey $9-million diamond heist for insurance money. They hired two thugs to dress as Hassidic Jews in beards and black-brimmed hats, then pretend to rob their Manhattan business. But the merchants’ own security cameras recorded them removing the diamonds themselves. The merchants both received up to four years in prison.
Policing fraud. Los Angeles cop Jeff Stenroos said a man shot him in his protective vest. Hundreds of police were diverted to hunt for the phantom shooter. Thousands of kids were locked in their schools for hours without food, water or toilets. Traffic was snarled. Stenroos had faked a painful injury to score paid time off via his workers comp policy. He received four years in jail.
Explosive con. Stuck with a decaying home they couldn’t sell Victor & Olga Barriere hired Thomas Trucios to burn down the Long Beach, Calif. place. But Trucios was an amateur who used too much gasoline. The toxic brew exploded. Flames engulfed Trucios, blew up the house and carved large cracks in the sidewalk. Trucios died from third-degree burns. Victor received 14 years and Olga six years.
Stormy scheme. Lori Sergiacomi was popular Providence, R.I. deejay called “Tanya Cruise,” Sergiacomi had two corrupt politicos bang up her home roof, pool and interior to look like storm damage so insurance would pay for her home remodeling. A crooked adjuster helped grease the claim. But just her luck, one politico spilled the entire scheme while being wiretapped in yet another corruption con. Sergiacomi received four months in a halfway house. Her cronies received varied sentences.
Cow parts & mannequins. Jean Crump and Faye Shilling took out life insurance on Jim Davis, a fake person they invented. “Davis” later died of a heart attack, the Los Angeles duo said. Crump and Shilling staged his funeral, with fake mourners and a burial. Then they dug up the empty coffin when the life insurer got nosey. They filled it with the mannequin and cow parts to fool workers lugging the box to the crematorium to erase the evidence. Crump awaits sentencing, and Shilling received two years in federal prison.
Bad medicine. Armen Karazianis headed an Armenian-American gang that bilked Medicare out of $163 million in one of the largest Medicare scams ever by one criminal gang. The Los Angeles-area man set up 118 fake medical clinics in 25 states, and stole the identities of doctors and Medicare beneficiaries. Karazianis also recruited Medicare patients for bogus treatments, and staged crashes for false injury claims. Karazianis received three years in federal prison.
Blind to honesty. Kevin Pushia was a Baltimore pastor who befriended a blind, developmentally disabled man named Lemuel Wallace. Pushia secretly took out $1.4 million of life insurance on Wallace, then had him shot in a park bathroom. Pushia even stole $50,000 from his own church to pay the hitmen. He also tellingly scrawled “L.W. project completed” in his datebook. Pushia earned life in prison.
Fake FBI agent. Bridget Buckner told her employer that her child and husband died suddenly just months apart, the Chicago woman said. She collected $25,000 in life coverage. Her husband was an FBI agent shot in his lung while on duty, she said. Poor guy died awaiting surgery. But the fraud investigator himself was a retired FBI agent who would’ve heard about the death. Buckner’s innocent hubby wasn’t an agent, and her daughter had died several years prior. A spooked Buckner disappeared but was hauled back for a 10-year jail term.
Tags: auto ins, automobile ins, car ins, home ins, homeowner ins, homeowners ins, house ins, ins fraud, insurance agency, insurance agent, insurance fraud, vehicle ins
Posted by Benji Riggins on March 8, 2012 under Interesting Info |
There were 81 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2011, a decrease from the 87 fatalities reported for 2010.
The 81 fatalities occurred in 33 states, one U.S. territory, and one overseas U.S. military facility, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA).
Texas experienced the highest number of fatalities (seven). North Carolina experienced six firefighter deaths and was the only other state with five or more firefighter fatalities.
Heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 48 firefighters (59 percent) in 2011, nearly the same proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke (60 percent) in 2010.
Ten on-duty firefighters died in association with wildland fires, the lowest number of annual firefighter deaths associated with wildland fires since 1996.
Fifty-four percent of all firefighter fatalities occurred while performing emergency duties. Only three firefighters were killed in vehicle collisions.
Posted by Benji Riggins on March 5, 2012 under Insurance News |
It’s long been said that “dog is man’s best friend,” and many people feel that way about their family pets. They are so attached to their pets, in fact, that they frequently take them along with them in the car—and it’s not just a ride to the vet. They’re taking dogs to dog parks, day care and even play dates with other dogs. This is all well and good, until one thinks about the distraction that having a dog in the car brings.
A survey of drivers who travel with their dogs showed that drivers admit to petting their dogs; using hands or arms to hold dogs in place while braking; using hands to keep dogs from climbing into the front seat; allowing dogs to sit on their lap; and feeding dogs treats while driving.
In addition to the driving distraction that Bowzer presents when he is a passenger in the car is the safety hazard. In an accident, Bowzer becomes a flying missile, injuring himself and others as he bounces around the car. In an abrupt stop, Bowzer will keep moving at the speed the car was traveling. Take a 40-pound dog moving at 60 miles an hour, and the physics of the situation get ugly. The driver, passengers and Bowzer may all be injured.
Remember that as far as insurance is concerned, Bowzer is personal property, so the Auto policy med pay doesn’t cover injuries to Bowzer, and the Homeowner’s policy doesn’t cover animals. Some carriers are now offering coverage for animals traveling in cars. One carrier’s limit is $2,000; however, if you’ve ever taken an animal to an emergency vet, you know that $2,000 may not be enough to treat all of Bowzer’s injuries.
But all is not lost. A visit to most pet stores will provide you with a safety harness for your furry friend. While there aren’t any laws that Bowzer must be buckled up, if you buckle up yourself and your family, you may as well buckle up Bowzer.
About the Author
Christine G. Barlow
Christine G. Barlow is an associate editor with FC&S Online. She has an extensive background in insurance underwriting. She may be reached at cbarlow@sbmedia.com.
Posted by Benji Riggins on March 2, 2012 under Insurance News |
Is it more important to keep overall car insurance premiums low, or to make sure everyone’s paying what they deserve?
North Carolina legislators once again examining the unique rate-setting system for the state’s roughly 7 million insured personal vehicles will be hard pressed in 2012 to agree whether changes are needed to address the balance between insurance risks and costs. Insurers are divided on the issue.
Proposals floated in 2011 at the General Assembly to alter the system could have lowered rates for bad drivers considered too risky for conventional insurance. But supporters of the current system say the bills would have raised rates on many others who have neither caused accidents nor been convicted of speeding recently, yet still sit in the state’s large high-risk pool.
“I don’t think you have a clear consensus among the industry that they want change,” said David Marlett, a professor and insurance expert at Appalachian State University.
The proposals are about better matching premium rates with the level of risk each driver presents, according to a group of insurers led by national industry leader State Farm, along with Geico, Progressive and trade associations seeking a system overhaul. They say they’re hamstrung in what they can charge customers because all auto insurers file one combined annual plan to raise or lower rates together through what’s called the North Carolina Rate Bureau. The state insurance commissioner can approve or change those rates.
The coalition supported legislation filed this year that would have eliminated the Rate Bureau for auto insurance and given insurance companies more authority to raise or decrease rates by up to 15 percent overall annually without the commissioner’s consent.
“It’s an antiquated system that was used way long ago and no longer has a purpose in today’s marketplace,” said Liz Reynolds with the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, a member of the Fair Automobile Rates for North Carolina coalition.
Nationwide Insurance, which has the No. 1 automobile market share in the state, along with North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance at No. 3, and others, aren’t in the coalition. Nationwide says the rate-filing mechanism promotes stability and hasn’t discouraged insurers from writing policies in North Carolina.
Depending on who’s calculating, North Carolina’s average premium rates rank 7th or 8th lowest in the country.
“North Carolina has a system that is fair and competitive. There is no reason to dismantle it,” Nationwide spokesman Eric Hardgrove said.
Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, who strongly opposed the 2011 bills, said the changes would have harmed the public.
“You’d have more people who have no convictions and no points getting higher rates,” Goodwin said in an interview. “That’s unfair, and I don’t think that’s the way North Carolina wants our drivers treated.”
The Republican-led Legislature agreed to study the auto insurance system over the next few months, only three years after a similar panel created under Democratic rule covered the same ground. A key GOP leader said he’s unsure whether changes are needed.
“Whatever we do, we really don’t want to increase our premiums on consumers,” said Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, co-chairman of the new study commission that will report to the full Legislature in time for the May work session.
Arguments have focused again upon North Carolina Reinsurance Facility, the pool for drivers that insurers aren’t willing to insure at the rates worked out through the Rate Bureau and Goodwin. North Carolina state law requires liability insurance for drivers.
About one in every five insured automobiles in the state are placed in the facility. The pool includes drivers considered bad risks because of their driving history. They pay rates about 30 percent higher than the rates in the conventional market.
But more than 70 percent of the pool’s population involves experienced motorists who haven’t been cited for violations in at least three years. These “clean risk” motorists don’t pay the additional 30 percent, but their premiums fall $151 million short of what it takes to cover their losses and expenses, according to a presentation at the committee’s first meeting this month.
To make up the difference, the facility issues a surcharge on liability policies statewide that’s currently $17 a year on average, bureau general manager Ray Evans said.
Goodwin, a Democrat seeking re-election in 2012, pointed to a 2006 department review of criteria insurance companies said they used when deciding whether to surrender these policies to the facility to suggest who could face higher rates. The review found insurers sometimes looked at credit scores, occupations, types of car driven, education levels and even if the person is in the military.
Marlett suggested lawmakers could consider granting flexible rates to encourage insurers to take on more bad risks currently in the pool. The change would lower the facility size, and the surcharge for everyone could fall.
That, however, doesn’t resolve the huge number of clean risks in the pool. Some argue allowing insurers to charge higher rates for clean risk could raise the percentage of drivers who avoid insurance altogether.
There are good things about North Carolina’s market, Marlett said. It’s competitive, average premiums are low and auto insurers make profits. But the size of the facility should raise flags, Marlett said.
“We have the largest one in the nation by far, and that’s the sign of an unhealthy market,” he said.
By Gary D. Robertson |
Posted by Benji Riggins on February 24, 2012 under Insurance News |
A man from British Columbia has been ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution and $2,000 in fines after bragging on Facebook about a fraudulent claim he filed after totaling his truck on New Year’s Eve. While driving under the influence, Canadian Corbin Joseph rolled his truck. There were three other passengers in the vehicle, but no serious injuries were sustained. Unfortunately, Joseph was prohibited from driving at the time of the accident, and never should have been behind the wheel.
In order to receive an insurance payout, Joseph convinced one of the other passengers to say she had been driving at the time of the accident. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) paid out $18,350 as a result of the false claim before ICBC’s special investigation unit found Joseph had been bragging on Facebook about drunkenly rolling his truck on New Year’s Eve.
Joseph’s friends were interviewed and ultimately conceded that he had in fact been driving at the time of the accident. On top of having to repay the settlement amount and additional penalties, Joseph also received a three month conditional sentence and six months probation.
When it comes to insurance fraud, filing a false claim is pretty stupid, but publicly bragging about it after the fact is about as dumb as it gets.
