If red-light cameras reduce accidents, they should mean lower insurance rates as well, according to leaders from two Florida communities. Juno Beach has passed a measure and Pembroke Pines is considering a measure calling for lower insurance rates for their drivers because those two cities have red-light cameras. Community leaders argue that these cameras reduce the number of insurance claims — and auto insurance companies should pass those savings on to their residents.
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Crawford Frazer
July and August are the biggest months for auto theft, according to a news release from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and security company LoJack. Much of the problem is that thieves are clever. But, according to the release, some car owners are making things too easy.
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Jill Overmyer
Insurance companies are losing millions of dollars every because some of their customers are getting discounts they don’t deserve, according to a recent study by insurance analytics company Quality Planning. In order to get cost breaks, vehicle owners are fraudulently claiming that they’re using cars like BMWs and Porsches as farm vehicles.
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Justin Stoltzfus
Researchers have found that helmets save lives, and many motorcycle riders agree that they’re more than just an accessory. Yet not all agree with motorcycle helmet laws.
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Jill Overmyer
A valid driver’s license is required for purchasing auto insurance. And a valid driver’s license, in turn, usually requires proof of legal residency. This system raises questions when it comes to illegal immigrants: Should they be able to get auto insurance? And, if not, what happens when they drive anyway, cause an accident and can’t pay for the damages?
Utah is unique in that creates a path for illegal immigrants to get covered. It allows drivers who can’t prove legal presence in the state to get “driving privilege cards” — which then can be used to buy insurance.
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Justin Stoltzfus
Police and fire departments often are on the scene within minutes of a crash. Yet this rapid response costs money — money that some cash-strapped cities are attempting to get back in the form of accident response fees. These fees are called “crash taxes” by those who oppose them.
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Crawford Frazer
If you don’t carry auto insurance to protect those you hit, is it fair to expect another driver’s insurance to cover you? This is the question that some states have addressed through “no pay, no play” laws.
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Stephanie Taylor Christensen
If you assume all tow truck companies are alike, you might be surprised to know that rogue towing scams are a growing concern in the United States. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that complaints in the third quarter of 2010 for inflated bills for towing and storage were 103 percent higher than in the same period of 2009. While some cities have taken steps to regulate the industry through ordinances, many have not.
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Justin Stoltzfus
You have auto insurance. But what about the driver who just crashed into you?
Motorists who lack auto insurance pass their risks onto everyone else on the road. That’s why most states have auto insurance laws and requirements — with fines and penalties for those who don’t get insured. Still, lots of drivers don’t carry the required insurance, and when they cause injury to others, they may not be able to pay the bill.
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Only 2 percent of cats, dogs and other pets travel while safely restrained, according Bark Buckle UP, an advocacy program that promotes safe pet travel. The remaining 98 percent of pets are either improperly restrained in vehicles or not restrained at all.
If your cat, dog or other pet gets hurt in a car incident, the vet bills can reach astronomical proportions, especially if your pet suffers a chronic injury that requires long-term treatment, medication and therapies.
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