Posts Tagged ‘auto accidents’
Auto Insurance Savings from Life Changes
Auto Insurance Savings from Life Changes
Sometimes life takes funny turns. when you go through troubles it can seem like nothing is going your way. but strangely enough, there are certain times when troublesome circumstances in life can lead to nice savings on your auto insurance bill. for example, unhappy things like divorce or job loss can lead to lower auto insurance costs for you as a customer. And the good news is that positive life changes can also lead to savings off your auto insurance premiums. Life’s ups and downs can lead to nice saving off of your car policy. it is good to know that this is a possibility. for most of us, we’ll take all the help we can get.
Money Saving Life Changes
If you have recently been laid off, it could give you a way to save some money on your premium. To begin with, you are driving less, putting less gas into the car, and encountering fewer opportunities for auto accidents. While you are laid off from work and driving few miles, you may be able to get a lower rate from your insurer. if you can verify the mileage you are driving, you could save money. Many insurers give discounts for cars that are driven less than a certain number of miles per year. when you are laid off and your car or truck is mostly parked, you’ll very likely be under that maximum if one exists where you live with the insurer you’re working with.
Getting Married, Getting Divorced
Getting married isn’t quite as sad as getting laid off, but it is a big change in life nonetheless. Young drivers who get married can enjoy significant discounts on their rates, especially when they are under the age of 25. being married counteracts to a great extent the youth surcharge under 25 drivers have to pay. that surcharge and the corollary married discount both vary from state to state and from company to company. Getting divorced, like getting married, can get you a discount on your auto insurance rates. Here’s how: if you kicked your high risk driver spouse out of the house, and he is no longer driving the car he used to drive, there is no need to pay high risk rates on that car when you are a standard or preferred class driver with your auto insurance company. if the ex spouse had a good driving record like you, it might not make much of a financial difference, but you ought to inform your insurer either way.
Getting a Minivan
Getting a minivan usually symbolizes the fact that you’re right in the middle of raising a family. maybe you have two or three kids, and you need the space for the kids and all of their stuff. Well, in addition to being spacious and having awesome sliding doors, minivans have another great feature: they are very cheap to insure. in fact, they are some of the least expensive vehicles to insure out on the road. So if you had to get rid of that fun sports car for a minivan, at least you can feel good about all the money you’re saving.
Teen Off to College
When your teenage kid goes off to college, it removes a full time high risk driver from your roster of everyday operators at your house. This is great news for your auto insurance rates. with your teen off to college, you can get a break from those astronomical prices you have been paying for him. the payoff is even better is he is far away and does not take a car with him.
Quitting Smoking
When you quit smoking, you need to tell your insurance company. some auto insurers offer discounts for non smokers. At the very least, you can get a discount on your homeowners insurance for this one. but check into it with your auto insurer. Add these savings to all the money you’re not spending on cigarettes and you can buy yourself a new car pretty soon with all of the money you’re saving.
Important Birthdays
When you turn 25, you should see a large decrease in your next renewal rates as long as you have kept a relatively clean record. Drivers under the age of 25 pay a huge age based surcharge that only the turning of the calendar can do anything about. Similarly, retirees get a discount, usually a pretty significant one. if you have just retired or are getting ready to, make sure it is reflected in your rates with your auto insurance company.
Sometime life has its ups and downs. it is informative to look at some of these changes that life throws at us in the context of the rates we pay for our auto insurance.
Insurance fraud rising
The sour economy is producing a bumper crop of cash-strapped consumers, business owners and shady agents who’re fueling a wave of insurance fraud that’s keeping regulators and law enforcement officials busy from coast to coast.
Whether it’s worthless health plans peddled by fax, staged auto accidents, arson or slip-and-fall accidents at the local mall, insurance fraud of all kinds is booming in the recession and consumers are paying the price in higher premiums.
To keep it in perspective, roughly 48 million insurance claims are made each year in the U.S. and less than one-quarter of 1 percent are referred to the nonprofit National Insurance Crime Bureau for investigation of possible fraud.
Last year, that amounted to just more than 85,000 questionable claims. That was up 14 percent from nearly 75,000 in 2008, however.
A recent survey of 37 state insurance-fraud bureaus by the Coalition against Insurance Fraud found that the recession “appears to have had a significant impact on the incidence of fraud” last year. On average, the bureaus reported increases in case referrals and new investigations in all 15 categories of fraud the survey covers.
Leading the way was the sale of bogus health insurance plans, with 38 percent of bureaus reporting a “much higher” increase over 2008.
With some 50 million uninsured Americans and growing confusion about the health care debate, state insurance regulators have their hands full keeping up with scam artists. In recent months, more than dozen states have put out consumer alerts or issued fines and cease-and-desist orders against unregistered firms offering worthless plans or deceptively marketing plans with limited benefits as full-coverage insurance.
Some of the bogus plans turn out to be discount cards that provide only slight price breaks on services such as prescriptions or X-rays. many are advertised on television and the Internet, but most are marketed through junk faxes that are sent to businesses, government offices and homes.
One recent fax reads “Congress to pass reform act. In preparation for the new health care model, our company now offers creditable coverage plans” with 80 percent coverage on prescriptions, diagnostic, X-ray and lab work for only $368 a month, or $4,416 a year for a family policy.
Not a bad deal, considering the average annual price for standard family coverage exceeds $13,000, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. For those who are jobless, uninsured and unable to afford COBRA health coverage, these offers seem too good pass up.
“So here you have people in desperate circumstances, and they’re getting these faxes that are promising them the moon and complete coverage at low costs and they want to believe, so they buy it. But it’s just a scam. It’s a total scam. It’s just a maddening, frustrating, unfortunate circumstance,” Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland said.
In August, the state of New York fined the American Medical and Life Insurance Co. $700,000 and barred it from selling limited-benefit plans in New York after numerous complaints from consumers.
In one instance, a Rochester woman bought an American Medical plan, paying $419 a month in premiums.
When her hospital bills totaled nearly $28,000, the policy paid only $1,164 of her bill, state officials said.
A 36-year-old man who suffered a stroke had a similar experience when his plan paid only $250 toward his $30,000-plus hospital bill, state officials said. The company eventually paid in full after the state insurance department got involved.
A company spokesman couldn’t be reached to comment late Thursday.
Oklahoma is one of 20 states that have taken action or are moving to stop one of the biggest national providers of these policies, a company known as the American Trade Association. Headquartered in Tennessee, ATA has taken in about $14 million in premiums across the country from about 12,000 people, Holland said.
Typically, policyholders don’t realize they have worthless or inadequate coverage until they submit claims. The company does business in numerous states under a variety of monikers, including Serve America Assurance and Smart Data Solutions.
“They change their name and face when regulators get close,” Holland said.
Recently, ATA sued two South Carolina companies in federal court in Tennessee, claiming the firms were to blame for failing to secure insurance for ATA members.
An ATA attorney in Memphis, Tenn., declined to comment.
Frank Scafidi, a spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, said there were no empirical data to validate the theory that the economy was spurring more insurance fraud.
He said, however, that when gasoline prices began to spike several years ago, so did the number of automobile “give-ups,” in which owners fraudulently report their vehicles as stolen or destroyed in order to collect on the insurance. many of the abandoned vehicles were gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks, Scafidi said.
In the absence of more hard data, however, the survey of state insurance-fraud bureaus is notable. as the recession raged last year, 68 percent of states surveyed by the Coalition against Insurance Fraud also reported an increase in auto “give-ups” as job losses made it hard for many people to keep up with their payments.
Some owners put their vehicles into lakes or rivers and report them stolen. Others may be less creative.
When creditors came looking for Elizabeth Layton’s tractor in January, she allegedly claimed that it was stolen. however, information in an unrelated burglary investigation revealed that the vehicle was in a garage on a nearby farm. Layton, of Laurens, N.Y., faces charges of grand theft, insurance fraud and false reporting.
Insurance agents appear to be a big part of the fraud problem, with 69 percent of states citing an increase in agent fraud.
Former insurance agent Emil Feduniec, 52, of Tuckahoe, N.Y., was arrested in February, accused of failing to make payments on two policies while collecting more than $15,000 in commercial property insurance premiums in 2008 and 2009. The two policies ended up being canceled for nonpayment, but not before one of the property owners paid $25,000 for roof damages to a structure that Feduniec allegedly failed to insure. if he’s convicted on grand larceny charges, Feduniec faces up to seven years in prison.
Roofers were some of the worst insurance scammers last year.
According to the insurance crime bureau, the number of questionable claims for hail damage spiked more than 200 percent, from 256 in 2008 to 772 last year.
Roofers, like other general contractors, suffered through a dismal 2009 as homeowners, unwilling to tap their depleted equity, put off repairs.
“We have seen more questionable claims in the area of hail damage where unscrupulous roofing companies take advantage of storms to fake or deliberately cause damage to roofs,” said Joe Wehrle, the president of the insurance crime bureau.
Scott Morrison, an expert in hail roof damage with Haag Engineering of Dallas, said homeowners were more likely to be the culprits. they try to simulate hail damage by striking the roofs with ball-peen hammers or golf balls inside socks or even by twisting quarters into asphalt shingles.
The scams often unravel when cotton and nylon fibers from the socks are left in the shingles. Morrison said that striations left in the tiles from quarters or dimes also were visible.
Miami residents arrested for staging auto accidents
In recent weeks, Florida has arrested a number of South Floridians for staging car accidents to collect insurance, including an arrest Thursday of a Miami man who was part of a staged auto accident ring.
Angel Sotolongo Sierra, 28, was arrested on seven felony counts and faces up to 10 years in prison. The other members of the ring arrested so far include Abdel Tome, 40; Luis Rivero Dominguez, 34; Hilda Somodvilla-Licea, 81; and Sergio Cordero, 21, after an investigation found they had received more than $90,000 through fraudulent insurance claims. The ring recruited participants by offering up to $2,000 in cash. The investigation is ongoing.
also this month, the state arrested Miami residents Jeff Ceremy, 22, for having a fake insurance card; Yadira Gonzalez, 21, for insurance fraud and grand theft, and Leanardo Santana, 25, for making false statements in support of an accident.
The most common types of fraud involve reporting a collision at an intersection after purposely damaging cars elsewhere and the so-called “swoop and squat” — intentional real collisions followed by fraudulent injury claims.
Since July 2009, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s investigators have arrested 260 people for Personal Injury Protection fraud, leading to 156 convictions.
Depending on the estimated loss amount, the state Department of Financial Services will pay up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. call the state’s fraud fighters hot line at 800-378-0445 or go to www.MyFloridaCFO.com/fraud.
Three arrested in auto fraud scam
Tampa, Florida — Police have arrested three people in connection with a staged auto accident in Tampa.
These types of accidents are on the rise in the Bay area. all three people arrested are from Tampa and are being charged with participation in a staged motor vehicle accident that occured on Saturday at a Bay area intersection. the trio planned to file claims with a pain management clinic.
Two of the suspects in yesterday’s crash admitted to police the accident was staged.
Staged auto accidents like the one that occurred at Sheldon Road and Hamilton Avenue are a big reason why Tampa has been ranked number two in the country for false auto claims.
“It’s huge. It’s absolutely enormous and it represents millions of dollars in fraud,” said State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.
Scammers will stage a car accident,report it to police and insurance companies, then pocket the insurance moneyinstead of using it for bills and repairs.
“Every driver that has auto insurance is paying for auto insurance fraud in the form of higher insurance premiums and the estimate is around $200-$300 annually,” said Amy Moore, a spokeswoman for Allstate Insurance.
Cracking down on auto insurance and personal injury fraud is a top priority for the insurance industry this legislative session. They’re lobbying to give state fraud investigators the authority to pull over suspects and they also want to ensure personal injury clinics are licensed with the state.
One of the best protections against accident fraud is keeping plenty of distance between your car and the one in front of you. You should also pay attention to the other cars surrounding you.
If you know of someone committing fraud, youcan call the state hotline at 1-800-378-0445. You could be eligible for up to a $25,000 reward.
Watch out! Tampa leads in auto insurance fraud
Tampa, Florida –Look out Miami! Tampa is taking over as the statewide leaderwhen it comes toauto insurance fraud. This is not a claim to famethe city wants to have and it’s not looking much better on thenational level, with Tampa ranking second nationwide.
It’s believed the surge of auto insurance fraud cases where the scammers stage auto accidents is up in Tampa because they are being squeezed out of Miami by investigators.
Alex Sink, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, joined Tampa Police and Allstate Insurance representatives to promise a crackdown on these scammers.
“It represents millions of dollars of fraud and the reason it’s important to us, the everyday person, is because the insurance companies just take the costs of that and put it back into our premiums,” said CFO Sink.
Police officers demonstrated a common technique used by the accident stagers known as a “swoop and squat” where an unsuspecting driver is targeted.
But, state investigators say the type of staged accident they see the most in the Sunshine state involves only the criminals themselves. They stage the accident, file fraudulent claims for injury and damage, and ultimately pocket the money from the insurance company.
‘You and I are paying for the cost of auto insurance fraud,” said Amy Moore, a spokeswoman for Allstate Insurance.
“An everyday driver that has an auto insurance policy is paying for auto insurance fraud in the form of higher insurance premiums and the estimate is around $200 to $300 annually,” Moore added.
If you know of someone who has committedinsurance fraud, you could beeligible for a reward of up to $25,000 ifstate investigators areable to prove it. you canfile a fraud report on-line with the Florida Department of Financial Services or call the fraud hotline at: 1-800-378-0445.
You cantake steps to protect yourself. Insurancecompanies advise you to followcars at a safe distance when you’re on the road. if you get into an accident, be sure to have a disposable camera or your cell phone camera ready to take pictures of thescene, anotepad to take notes about what happened, and collect the driver’s information and license plate information and any witness information. you are also advised to file a report with police and bewary of unsolicited tow truck drivers who arrive on scene.
Auto Car Cheap Insurance Quotes ~ Wan's Site : More Info Blog ~
Sunday, March 07, 2010 // 0komentar // Bang Ir // Category: Insurance // To recover from these unexpected losses of their vehicle one needs to have auto car cheap insurance quotes. it makes a person protected from the costs of repairing a vehicle, lost vehicle, etc. Several important things need to be considered before buying insurance. to avoid any kinds of financial consequences after auto accidents, the best way to protect safety to your car could go through long term or short term auto insurance policy.
The auto insurance quotes vary from state to state, driver history, model of the automobile and various other factors. one means to buy free auto insurance quotesis to talk to an insurance consultant or agent who can be in a position to educate you on the on the market insurance plans from varied insurance companies with the rates of premium for every plan.
quotesautoinsurance.org provide best auto insurance coverage results and you may just check our rates simply clicking at the map or just starting a quote. You can choose an agent to deal with your future. and it is simple as well to define who is going to provide you with better service.
And if you have any query regarding insurance policy, then don’t hesitate in calling them. it is very essential to clear down all your queries before you buy insurance.
Auto Car Cheap Insurance Quotes ~ Wan's Site : More Info Blog ~
Toyota Owners Could Be Looking at Affordable Auto Insurance Rates After Recall
$100? $200? $300? How much Could You SAVE on Car Insurance?
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By: Jaime Lethrop, Car Insurance Guru
CheaperCarInsurance.com
Beginning in January 2010, Toyota has recalled a great number of its models, including Lexus models, on account of faulty problems that have caused issues and accidents. these defects in Toyota vehicles have resulted in auto accidents that have taken the lives of approximately three dozen people so far:
- Faulty brakes
- Defective accelerators
- Concerns with the driveshaft
- Issues with floor mats slipping out of place while driving
While this means bad news for Toyota dealers, and could permanently affect their reputation, it could mean more affordable auto insurance for Toyota owners. The massive recall has brought down the value of Toyota vehicles. As a result, the insurance premiums are likely to be lower for these vehicles as they are not worth what they were prior to the recall. The lower the value is on a vehicle, the less amount of coverage is needed by the insurance provider for replacement costs. this is good news for consumers who have purchased Toyota vehicles that were recalled, and even others who own other Toyota models.
According to analysts and an insurance industry group, Toyota is having major insurance issues as a vast number of claims are being filed. Insurance companies are holding Toyota responsible for claims being made for faulty issues with Toyota and Lexus vehicles rather than the customers. for this reason, the insurance companies can afford to provide more affordable auto insurance rates to those who own these vehicles.
What Can Toyota Owners Do to Maintain Affordable Auto Insurance?
With over eight million Toyota vehicles recalled this year, it has many owners concerned. Many people thought that this issue would have a negative impact on insurance premiums as well as on coverage. it makes sense that it might raise concern if the defects caused more accidents and claims being made. however, according to the National Highway Transportation Administration there have not been enough reported accidents from the faulty issues to result in raising premiums on car insurance for the affected Toyota models.
On the contrary, Toyota owners can actually expect more affordable auto insurance. if you’re concerned that you might lose your insurance coverage, don’t be. You can’t lose coverage as a result of the recall; although, you will need to bring your vehicle to the dealership to have the recalled parts replaced for free. It’s imperative that you do this in order to be eligible for affordable auto insurance as soon as possible. and since there are so many recalled cars, you might want to make an appointment with your Toyota dealer to make sure they can fit you in.
Having the recalled parts replaced on your Toyota or Lexus will ensure you are eligible for affordable auto insurance rates as it will reduce your risks of getting in a collision. unfortunately having the repairs will not bring up the value of your vehicle if you plan to sell your recalled Toyota. The recall has dropped the demand in Toyota vehicles and has hindered the trust of consumers with this brand.
If you happened to purchase a Toyota or Lexus vehicle that has been recalled, you can rest easy about your insurance coverage. if there is any impact on your insurance, it would be getting more affordable auto insurance coverage. this may offer some peace of mind for Toyota drivers. Check with your insurance company to see if your premium is eligible to go down, and make sure you have your Toyota repaired for the recalls. this will help ensure you stay compliant with your insurance company’s regulations and keep you covered in terms of car insurance for your vehicle.
Posted: March 05, 2010
Toyota Owners Could Be Looking at Affordable Auto Insurance Rates After Recall
Auto Insurance FAQs – Accidents Happen
With over 6 million auto accidents per year in the United States alone, there’s a good chance that you or someone close to you will be involved in an auto accident at some point. Having auto insurance is a great way to be prepared for an auto accident. when shopping for auto insurance, it’s important to look at auto insurance rates and quotes and do some comparing. Knowing how to proceed in the event of an auto accident can save you time, money, and headaches, especially if your car is damaged.
Q: What should I do if I’ve just had an auto accident?
A: Assuming there are no injuries, here’s a checklist of how to proceed:
- Call 911 to report the auto accident. You’ll want a copy of a police report for any future claim, especially if the accident was not your fault. if the damage is minor and the other driver wants to negotiate a settlement on the spot, be wary: You could have unseen damage.
- Don’t bother engaging the other driver in an argument about who was at fault – the police will handle that.
- Write down the other driver’s name and insurance information.
- If you have a camera in your car, get some shots of the damage and general accident scene.
- When you get home, call your auto insurance company to report the accident if there will be a claim on your policy. if the other driver was at fault and you don’t live in a “no-fault” state, contact their auto insurance company to start the claims process.
Whether the car damage is minor or extensive, your main goal is to get enough information in order to protect your best interests later. and remember that honesty is the best policy in reporting the circumstances of the auto accident.
Q: What coverage pays for damage to my car?
A: if you’re at fault in an auto accident (whether you’ve crashed into someone else or into a fence), you’ll need collision coverage if you want your repairs covered. if you don’t have collision coverage, you’ll need to pay for repairs out of your own pocket. Some drivers drop collision coverage when their cars get older because the potential cost of fixing them is more than the value of the cars.
If someone else crashes into you, their liability auto insurance must pay for repairs to your vehicle. This is called a “third-party” claim because you’re making a claim on their auto insurance company.
If you live in a “no-fault” state, you always make a claim on your own policy no matter who is at fault.
Q: Do I have to use my auto insurer’s body shop for repairs?
A: No, you can never be forced to use a repair shop that your auto insurance company designates. However, you may find it’s more convenient to do so. many auto insurance companies have customer service programs that streamline your claim process by handling paperwork and your rental car from the repair shop and fully guaranteeing the work.
You can never be too prepared when it comes to an auto accident. hopefully, these FAQ’s have given you some helpful advice and information if you or someone you know has to face this situation in the near future. Auto insurance companies are there to help you sort through the car damage and remove some of the headaches and worries for you. Auto accidents aren’t something that we like to think about, but thinking ahead will help you and your auto rates in the long run.
Auto Accident Attorney Takes on Insurance Companies on Behalf of Injured Clients
WOODLAND HILLS, CA January 13 / Auto accidents are the cause of severe and sometimes life-threatening injuries. many auto accidents occur because of the negligence of others, stated Robert a. Brenner, a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, California. some of the most serious auto accidents cause catastrophic injuries like amputations, damage to the spine, and head trauma. These types of debilitating injuries are the focus of Brenners practice.
Brenner has been practicing personal injury law for over three decades. his experience with victims of serious injuries has been extensive. not only has he been a legal advocate, but he also has been dedicated to providing victims with helpful information about their injuries. Brenners Web site www.Catastrophicinjury.com offers a medical guide about catastrophic injuries, a list of rehabilitation centers, and information about a victims legal rights.
Minor auto accidents do not usually result in serious injuries and people usually recover quickly. it is the serious accidents, said Brenner, that require substantial medical treatment. often an auto accident victim must not only find a way to pay for the medical treatment they need, but they must also find a way to support themselves financially. most often, stated Brenner, when the injuries are so severe that the person is no longer able to work, it is often necessary to recover compensation from the person at fault. most claims involve auto insurance companies.
Brenners job is to help his clients recover compensation for the injuries they sustained. Compensation should provide for medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering, stated Brenner. In personal injury cases, attorneys use experts to calculate damages. Compensation not only includes reimbursement for past medical treatment and lost wages, but a damage award will include an amount for future medical treatment. In this situation, for example, an attorney will use a life care planner to calculate the cost of prospective medical care. it is really important to employ experts that know what they are doing because it is the client that will suffer if the damage award is insufficient, remarked Brenner. Personal injury attorneys like Brenner have years of experience using the assistance of experts to determine damage awards.
For additional information about the Law Offices of Robert a. Brenner, the Catastrophic Injury Law Group, or the Burn Injury Law Group, visit http://www.attorneyrobertbrenner.com or http://www.catastrophicinjury.com
ABOUT ROBERT a. BRENNER
Robert a. Brenner earned a J.D. from Whittier College, Beverly School of Law. Brenner has served as counsel or co-counsel for hundreds of catastrophic injury cases. he has recovered million and multi-million dollar awards for the victims. Brenner is an active member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and he has been selected as a Super Lawyer for the last five years. Brenner is also the founder of http://www.Catastrophicinjury.com and http://www.Burnsurvivor.com.
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Auto Accident Attorney Takes on Insurance Companies on Behalf of Injured Clients