Big Insurance

Buying a used car is almost as much fun as going to the dentist.

Everyone has dealt with used car salesmen at some point in their life and we are not out to attack the used car industry; however, a warning about avoiding the pitfalls when it comes to purchasing a used car.

The used car industry can be very tricky. Vehicles that have been totaled, flooded, fire-damaged, sold and re-sold several times over, and even stolen have been salvaged, repaired and sold to innocent buyers across the nation. Unfortunately, there is little to no regulation or protection in place from fraudulent resale of potentially dangerous used vehicles.

In 1992, Congress tried to remedy this by passing a law calling for a nationwide database that would give people shopping for cars and trucks information about used vehicles.

The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is a good idea. In September, a call went out to consumers concerning the Proposed Rules. And we all have until November 21, 2008 to submit written comments. Please do so. This is a case where your government has let you down.

Unfortunately, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Justice have failed to implement the database, putting consumers in danger of compromised unsafe vehicles and safety features such as airbags that don’t work.

The database would allow consumers to instantly check the validity of a vehicle’s title, mileage, and history of theft or damage. The data would have to be reported by insurance companies and junk and salvage yards. Failing to do so, Public Citizen the consumer group, has gone to court to find the federal government in violation of the 1992 law.

It would help consumers who have purchased cars that were under water during Hurricane Katrina, or split in two after hitting a tree, or burned up in a fire, then passed on by unscrupulous people. Read the rest »

The Florida Supreme Court ruled this week that a lawyer representing an injured worker is entitled to “reasonable” fees.

Ever since a controversial 2003 reform of the state’s workers’ compensation law, lawyer’s fees have been capped. That means most lawyers understandably shy away from workers’ comp cases. We at Farah and Farah do not.

The state Supreme Court ruled 5-0 in the case of Emma Murray vs. Mariner Health Care.

Murray, a nurse in her late 50s, was injured hoisting a patient in a nursing home. Her employer’s insurance carrier denied her claim. They said her condition was pre-existing.

Murray didn’t get rich here. Her Port Charlotte lawyer won $3,244 in back wages and medical costs and Mariner Health had to pay her court costs which amounted to $648 for 80 hours of work. That is about $8 an hour. Read the rest »

Florida is seeing a reduction in the number of fatalities on our state’s highways.

For the second year in a row the number of traffic accidents is down as is the number of deaths from those accidents, down more than four percent from 2006. The Florida Highway Patrol believes people are becomming educated about safe driving, but let’s not forget that with the price of gas going up, some people are driving slower to conserve on precious fuel.

The number of injuries also decreased but only by one percent.

There is another side to these statistics – the number of alcohol-related fatalities is up more than 13 percent.

“Which means too many people are drinking and driving, making bad decisions, getting behind the wheel,” FHP Lt. Bill Leeper told Channel 4.

There is another story for motorcycles, the number of crashing is up just over two percent and the number of people injured in those crashes is up as well. Numbers on fatalities fluctuate year to year but let’s hope the cost of gasoline has something to do with the decrease in deaths on the highway.

There is nothing more devastating than trying to recover from an auto accident. If you believe you need help contacting insurance companies that may not want to cover your claim, call Farah and Farah. Our experienced accident attorneys can help with the details so you can concentrate on getting better. #

It is bad enough when a young person died in an auto accident, imagine if you are his friend now charged with his death.

A Jacksonville teen has been charged with vehicular homicide in the death of his friend in an accident that happened in Mandarin last June.  Early in the morning of June 23, 17-year old Daniel R. Farren had been drinking.

Police later said his blood alcohol level (BAC)  was 0.04, not legally intoxicated but enough to be “buzzed”- and as the slogan goes - buzzed driving also impairs judgment behind the wheel.

Read the rest »

Beginning the first day of next year, the Health Care Consumer’s Right to Information Act becomes law. 

This will provide the uninsured medical consumer with reliable and understandable information about health care charges so a patient can make an informed decision.

Often it is the uninsured patient, seeking doctor or hospital services, who is charged a full retail rate, which is higher than the rate an insured patient pays.

Read the rest »

With high winds from Hurricane Fay predicted to hit the Jacksonville area this week, the Department of Transportation reports that motorists are calling to find out if roads will be closed.

Motorists can call 511 for traffic information. Newly constructed electronic signs along portions of I-95 will keep drivers updated on any road or bridge closures.

Bridges are a concern as well as the new elevated flyovers that take cars high above the congestion below. 

When are winds too high to travel on them?  The DOT says there is no wind threshold that requires vehicles to stay off the elevated roadways. It’s up to the local law enforcement.

Read the rest »

Florida and Allstate Insurance have settled their differences with state insurance regulators and the news is good for consumers for a change.  

The Northbrook, Illinois company is giving Florida homeowners an additional 5.6 percent rate cut, as part of a settlement. That means homeowners can expect a 19.8 percent homeowners cut in rates since June of last year.

The insurer will also offer coverage to 100,000 more Floridians against hurricanes and other perils; pay a $5 million fine; and forgive a $175 million loan to its Florida subsidiaries.

Read the rest »

The American Association for Justice, is an organization of personal injury attorneys that is long experienced in fighting insurance companies.  This report just issued shows what some of the fights are about, and the consumer is getting the short end of the stick.

The number one worst insurer for consumers is Allstate, says AAJ.

AAJ issued its report after sorting through thousands of legal documents, financial filings, as well as complaints filed with state insurance departments, the Securities and Exchange Commission and FBI records to determine how many claims were paid and how often the company employed hardball tactics against policyholders.

“While Allstate publicly touts its ‘good hands’ approach, it has instead privately instructed its agents to employ a ‘boxing gloves’ strategy against its policyholders,” said American Association for Justice CEO Jon Haber says in a statement.  “Allstate ducks, bobs and weaves to avoid paying claims to increase its profits.”

Allstate is known to force consumers to accept lowball claims or to deny claims altogether. One Allstate employee reported that supervisors told agents to lie and blame fires on arson, and in turn, they were rewarded.  

Some other wrongdoing AAJ found was extravagant salaries for upper ranked executives while consumers faced rising premiums. 

Some of the others at the top of the list include :

*  Unum - which sells disability insurance.

*  AIG  - The world’s biggest insurer.

*   State Farm - Lawyers are familiar with State Farm’s deny and delay tactics, especially during Hurricane Katrina.

*  Conseco  - Conseco sells long-term care policies, typically to the elderly.

Also in the Top Ten are -  WellPoint, Farmers, United Health, Torchmark, and Liberty Mutual.

Read the rest »

Florida’s Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is working on a deal that will get Allstate Floridian back into business in the state. 

Allstate is barred from writing new business  - auto, property or health - until it turns over thousands of documents that will reveal how it does business.  Allstate has been accused of cancelling policies at its own discretion and escalating premiums.

This does not affect the two million existing policies. But company agents can’t write any new business.  

Read the rest »