While most people know that their insurance rates will increase if they cause accidents, they may not realize that their insurance companies may raise their premiums when they have been involved in accidents that were not their fault. A recent report from the Consumer Federation of America showed that rates for people who are in…
While bicyclists also own automobiles, some do not, choosing to instead use their bicycles as their means of transportation. Those who do own insured cars may not be aware that their policies also provide some protection to them if they are injured in a bicycle accident while commuting. Cyclists who do not own cars and…
Dog bites can be extremely serious, leaving victims with lasting scars, disfigurement and permanent injuries. The states handle dog bite cases differently with some following what is known as the one-bite rule and others, such as California, instead holding dog owners strictly liable when their dogs attack. Because traditional homeowners and commercial general liability policies…
Uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage is a smart insurance choice because we all know that many drivers in the U.S. are driving around with little or no insurance. (See prior blog post – click here). Having the coverage on just the vehicles you drive the most, though, can leave you coming up short in the…
Many people don’t realize that large corporations especially huge retailers like Wal-Mart, don’t have the same type of insurance policies as smaller companies or individuals. Normally, an insurance company is obligated to pay starting dollar one on a claim and is obligated to pay for the cost of defense, including attorney’s fees and costs at…
Driving is an inherently dangerous activity. When motor vehicles such as cars or trucks are involved in accidents, people can be seriously injured. In addition, these incidents happen with alarming frequency in cities and towns throughout the county. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration1 (NHTSA), there were more than 2.3 million people injured…
Can I sue my insurance broker for negligence? This is a question that often gets asked when a party suffers a catastrophic loss and doesn’t have sufficient insurance coverage to pay for all claims. Many states, including California, have existing law that provides a duty on the part of a broker to, “use reasonable care,…
Insurance policies are abundant in the United States because incidents are abundant in the United States. Each year, people invest trillions of dollars in various types of necessary coverage. A myriad of policies exists, and they all have the same main goal: protection. The purpose of an insurance policy is to protect the policyholder from…
What is primary insurance coverage and what is considered excess coverage and how does this affect personal injury claims? The definition of “primary” insurance is coverage which immediately kicks in upon the occurrence of an event giving rise to potential liability. In addition, the insurance carrier holding the “primary” policy, usually has the immediate…
While there are numerous types of insurance policies and insurance coverage within those different policies, insurance can, generally, be categorized in one of two forms as follows: (1) “First Party”; and (2) “Third Party”. Some policies fall within one or the other and some insurance policies have aspects of both. Depending upon your the laws…