New Jersey Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Law Offices of Scott D. Grossman : Serving Monmouth County, Bergen County

New Jersey car accidents have always been a problem and a local dealership is doing its part to improve motor vehicle safety. According to a Sunbeam article the Pointe Pontiac Buick GMC is offering scholarships to attendees of a driver safety class offered by the AARP at Merion Gardens Assisted Living June 10 and 11. A two day course is being offered which could help lower insurance rates and reduce penalty points on your driver’s license. The AARP requires a $10 cover fee for class materials but the owner of Pointe Pontiac Buick GMC is willing to pay the cost of the entire class. Larry Davis, owner of Pointe Pontiac-Buick-GMC says "We are committed to giving back to our community and this seemed like an ideal fit. We provide transportation and this course helps raise safety awareness which can only benefit our customers and neighbors." The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) does not require for you to be a member or senior citizen to attend classes or qualify for an insurance discount. This program is a great way to improve driving skills and could refresh a lot of driving techniques that may have been forgotten over the years.
 

New Jersey has very busy roads during the summer months especially in Monmouth County. As an attorney representing many motor vehicle accident clients throughout the New Jersey and the Monmouth County area, I ask you to be extra careful driving this summer because the roads will get busy as people travel towards the shore to beat the summer heat. According to AARP, the likelihood of attendees being involved in an auto accident or receiving a traffic ticket should decrease by 15 percent following the completion of the two sessions. Being a Monmouth County and New Jersey injury lawyer I would recommend completing some of these courses to help improve driving safety and to help reduce those outrageously over priced New Jersey auto insurance rates.

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The Star Ledger reported last week that a New Jersey state legislative committee voted unanimously to force state regulators to redraft the price controls on over 1,000 medical procedures and devices relating to the treatment of victims of automobile accidents. The insurance industry as well as the state Department of Banking and Insurance have been working towards capping the costs of these medical expenses as they cite that the average dollar amount for medical claims per auto-accident victim is $11,000, twice the national average. What this amounts to is another screwing of the New Jersey insurance buying, law-abiding citizen. These price caps, if implemented, will not save you a dime in premium, folks; it will only increase the almighty insurance companies’ profits.

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In New Jersey, as a general rule if you are injured while occupying or driving a motorcycle, moped, commercial vehicle, taxi cab, chauffeured rentals or bus you will not be able to seek PIP no-fault benefits for payment of your medical bills. That's right, if you have private health insurance your medical bills may be covered as long as your policy does not contain any specific exclusions for treatment you receive as a result of an accident while driving for example a motorcycle.  

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Last week, the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee held a public hearing to discuss a bill introduced to create an independent office that would give a voice to the state's consumers in insurance matters. The proposed Office of Consumer Advocate for Insurance is designed to protect the largely unprotected and neglected insurance consumer in Pennsylvania. The office would possess the authority to represent citizens'  best interests on any insurance matter before the state Department of Insurance or any other state agency or court.

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I'm feeling particularly cranky today. In my continuing tirade against the auto insurance industry's apparent war against its insureds, I want to once again address the way in which, you, the consumer, with the good driving record, who has dutifully paid premiums on time, is getting the shaft by your insurer. God help us all if we need our auto insurance to pay our medical bills after a motor vehicle accident.

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I believe all New Jerseyans should have as much information at their fingertips when it comes to matters of automobile insurance. By law, all New Jersey drivers are required to have insurance. What kind of policies are there out in the market? How much coverage do you need? What should new drivers know about insurance issues? Answers to these questions and much, much more valuable information is contained a very informative booklet called "Everything You Wanted to Know About Auto Insurance In New Jersey But Were Afraid to Ask", published by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.
Also, take a look at  the New Jersey Auto Insurance Buyer's Guide.

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Here’s something interesting I’d like to share with you. Over the past decade, I have observed that most, if not all of my motor vehicle accident clients had no idea who (or more accurately, whose insurance company) was financially responsible for the medical treatment of the injuries they sustained. There is a common misconception that it is the automobile insurance carrier of the “at fault" driver that is responsible for paying the medical bills. 

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A federal jury recently awarded an Iowa man $10 million for emotional distress and pain and suffering after ruling that his employer's insurance carrier acted in bad faith in denying his claim for benefits from a back injury.

The plaintiff, Kris Zimmer, a computer technician for Norwest Financial, injured his back while bending over to pick up dropped papers. He was diagnosed with severe back pain, but his worker's compensation claim was denied by Travelers Insurance Company. Travelers argued that that Mr. Zimmer had a history of back problems that included at least two prior surgeries and that the injury worsened his pre-existing psychological conditions. But the jury didn't buy Travelers' argument. A decision regarding punitive damages is still pending. Read about it here.

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According to a recent article in Insurance Journal, New Jersey drivers could see a return to high prices and fewer choices for their insurance if legislators limit the use occupation and education as rating factors. The proposed bill would prohibit insurers from using occupation and education in the underwriting process, which, critics believe, will hamper competition and hurt consumers.

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• "Delay, deny, defend" is the battle cry for the auto insurance industry to protect their multi-billion dollar empire. In a recent report filed by CNN's Drew Griffin, he uncovered that this practice is rampant among the nation's auto insurance companies when people are injured in what insurance representatives consider a "minor impact" auto accident.   New Jersey attorneys representing persons who have suffered injuries in auto accidents have long experienced first hand these tactics of the nation's largest insurance companies.  Throughout the past decade I have represented many individuals that were involved in what the insurance company deemed a "minor impact" and as a result of the accident they suffered serious permanent injuries such as a herniated disc. Many times the injuries were so debilitating that after multiple steroid injections, extensive narcotics usage, physical therapy and chiropractic care, spinal surgery became the only option.   The suffering was very real.

 

 

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According to a New Jersey Citizen consumer advocate organization, Geico sets it's rates based upon factors such as  level of education and job status.    Geico denied these allegations which some say may ultimately translate into discrimation on racial lines.

"New Jersey Citizen Action said it obtained 449 rate quotes from Geico's Web site and found the average quote for those without a college degree was 19 percent higher than for those who have one. It also found the average quote for those with a blue collar-type job was 27 percent higher than those with a professional job."   read more.

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In a recent article in Insurance Journal, it was reported that GMAC Insurance announced a new product for owners of Recreational Vehicles ("RV"). Recognizing that RVs are unique motor vehicles, GMAC Insurance has tailor made a product for this specialized vehicle, which is available in a handful of states currently, but will be available nationwide in the future. For more information, check out GMAC Insurance's website.

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Interesting article in Insurance Journal about recent U.S. Supreme Court decision throwing out $79.5 million in punitive damages awarded by Oregon jury against cigarette maker Philip Morris.

Read the full article on InsuranceJournal.com.

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