The Rising Cost of Car Insurance Thanks to Whiplash Claims

ByJoe A Jones

The cost of car insurance continues to rise with no end in sight. It's hard to pinpoint an exact cause but one of the largest contributing factors is the rising number of claims for whiplash suffered in road accidents. In 2011 these claims accounted for 70% of all the claims made for road accidents with 554,000 in total.

It is accepted that whiplash injuries are a genuine concern and can cause serious problems for those who suffer from them, but it is being recommended that compensation should only be paid if plenty of evidence of the injury is provided. It is feared that it has become too easy to successfully claim for a whiplash injury and people are taking advantage of that. It is currently required that proof be presented in the form of medical reports but the bar needs to be raised for the quality and quantity of these proof to ensure that only those who are deserving of compensation receive it.

The rise in insurance premiums comes even after a 10% decrease in road accidents. The main problem is fraud. The no win no fee offerings of many personal injury companies are too good for many potential fraudsters to turn down, making it easy for people to try and take advantage of the system. In 2010 133,000 fraudulent insurance claims were detected costing almost £1bn. Whiplash is the go to condition for people wanting to scam the system because it is basically impossible for a doctor to either diagnose or disprove the condition.

The insurance companies also have a big hand in the number of these claims. It is common practice for them to share details of accidents with personal injury companies for a referral fee, who then pressure people to make claims. These companies are also accused of encouraging people to claim for hire cars and other sometimes unnecessary costs.

Fraud is of course is not the only factor in the rising cost of car insurance. New legislation recently came in that prohibits gender discrimination in the price of insurance. As a general rule it was always cheaper for a female to insure a car as statistically they were less likely to have an accident. This is no longer seen as fair as each person should be treated individually regardless of gender. Due to this legislation change prices for females have risen significantly rather than bringing them down for males.

Ward & Rider are an experienced firm of lawyers based in Coventry specialising in many areas including personal injury. If you have a genuine accident claim to make they will handle the whole process for you, taking the strain at a difficult time.

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Insurance: Car-Auto
Joe A Jones

Email Address:SubscribeCar Auto Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchSimilar ArticlesPersonal Injury Laws - Car Accident Pain and SufferingHow Can You Claim For Your Personal InjuryCompensation Claims - Get Compensated Fairly For Your Work Injury, Car Accident Or Personal InjuryCar Insurance Premiums Suffer From WhiplashGuide to Accident Claims5 Typical Situations When You Should Contact a Personal Injury LawyerInsurance Whiplash - Awarded When Your Case Is ProvenHad a Road Traffic Accident? Time to Claim Personal Injury CompensationCompensation For Personal Injury ClaimsPersonal Injury Accident Claim Company!Recent ArticlesFind Cheap Auto Insurance for Young DriversTips For Understanding Your Insurance PolicyWhy Car Insurance Bundling Is BeneficialCalifornia Car Insurance Rates: Affordability GuaranteedFinding the Cheapest Route to a Good Car Insurance PolicyCalifornia Auto Insurance Laws: A Must Thing to FollowDriven Off the Road By The Cost of Young Drivers Car Insurance?Buying Car Insurance Coverage For Safe DriversTaking Your Insurance Coverage To The Highest Levels For LessSmall Companies Change Insurance Landscape In AustraliaSubmitted On February 13, 2012. Viewed 4 times. Word count: 405.

MLA Style Citation:
Jones, Joe A.".".13 Feb. 2012EzineArticles.com.17 Feb. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
Jones, J. A. (2012, February 13). . Retrieved February 17, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?The-­Rising-­Cost-­of-­Car-­Insurance-­Thanks-­to-­Whiplash-­Claims&id=6877915Chicago Style Citation:
Jones, Joe A. "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-­Rising-­Cost-­of-­Car-­Insurance-­Thanks-­to-­Whiplash-­Claims&id=6877915EzineArticles.com© 2012 EzineArticles.com
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Car Insurance Claims in California

ByScott A Coleman

By law, every driver is required to prove financial responsibility in case of a car accident. There are several ways to do this: Make a cash deposit of $35,000 with the California Dept. of Motor Vehicles; Get a self-insurance certificate also from the California DMV; Obtain a $35,000 surety bond from a company licensed in California; and finally to purchase car insurance coverage. Most people opt for the last option.

For car insurance in California, the minimum liability requirements by the state is represented by 15/30/5. The first two numbers refer to personal liability limits and the third to property damage limit. This means that $15,000 is the limit per person per accident and $30,000 is the limit for the coverage for all the persons involved per accident. $5,000 is the limit for the coverage for the car/s involved. If the costs exceed these numbers, then the person deemed responsible for the accident will have to pay the difference in damages. Keeping the minimum requirements for an insurance policy may be good if you are a safe driver, but an accident can occur at any time, and you could end up paying dearly. Now you know why insurance companies often offer policies exceeding the minimum requirements of the state. It is to increase the coverage for claims when something unexpected happens. It is wise to consider all options and consult a California insurance agency when shopping for a policy.

If an accident does occur, your insurance company has 15 days to acknowledge your claim and send you the forms necessary to process the claim. The insurance company also has 40 days to either accept or deny your claim after it was filed. Once accepted, the company has 30 days to settle the claim. You also have the freedom to choose the repair shop where you can take your car; this is good because it allows you to shop and compare repair costs and get the best service for your vehicle.

In some cases, it may happen that you and the insurance company may have a dispute about the claim. For car insurance California, you can turn over your dispute with your insurance company to a third party referred to as the mediator. The mediator will work with both parties to try to reach an agreement.

If the amount for the claim is at least $7,500 and the disputed amount between the two parties exceeds $2,000 then you are eligible for mediation. Issues eligible for mediation include the following: amounts of damage, methods of repair, and cost of total loss. Issues not eligible for mediation include legal interpretations of the terms of the policy. You will not have to pay for the cost of the mediation as it is the insurance company that pays for it.

Here is the mediation process in a nutshell for auto insurance in California: You must file a complaint with the CDI (California Department of Insurance) who will notify the insurance company that you will be referred to a mediator if no resolution is reached within 28 days. Once you make the request to continue with the mediation, CDI will appoint a mediator to handle your case. Then there will be a mediation conference wherein both parties will strive to reach an agreement. If they agree they will sign a settlement. Otherwise, you may take other options available to you if you still want to continue with the dispute.

Scott Coleman is the owner of ThomCo Insurance Services, a full-service insurance agency specializing in high quality insurance services including home insurance, car insurance, life, health, business and farm insurance. Scott runs an office that is equipped with the latest in computer systems assisting both in record keeping and quoting to provide quick rate insurance comparisons.

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Insurance: Car-Auto
Scott A Coleman

Email Address:SubscribeCar Auto Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchSimilar ArticlesHow to Comparison Shop For California Auto InsuranceTips on Shopping For the Best Auto Insurance PolicyKnowing the Auto Insurance BasicsGet To Know Auto Insurance California StyleWhat to Do If You Don't Agree With Your Insurer's Evaluation For Your "Totaled" Car?How To Make A Claim For Vandalism On A CarPros and Cons of Buying California Car Insurance Online - Don't Be Fooled by Advertisements5 Tips That Will Lead To The Cheapest Car Auto Insurance QuotesPurchasing Insurance Rates for a Used Car - TipsCalifornia Rental Car InsuranceRecent ArticlesHow Save Money On Your Auto InsuranceTips on How to Pay for Car InsuranceWhy You Should Own a ConvertibleChoosing a Good Auto Insurance CompanyTips on Getting Auto Insurance Quotes OnlineThe Steps For Filing A Car Insurance ClaimTheft of Personal Property From Car - Does Your Insurance Cover It?Learning From A Vehicle Insurance OverviewHow to Choose the Right Car Insurance PlanWhat Information Do I Need to Compare Car Insurance Online?Submitted On January 12, 2012. Viewed 10 times. Word count: 583.

MLA Style Citation:
Coleman, Scott A.".".12 Jan. 2012EzineArticles.com.26 Jan. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
Coleman, S. A. (2012, January 12). . Retrieved January 26, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Car-­Insurance-­Claims-­in-­California&id=6813252Chicago Style Citation:
Coleman, Scott A. "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Car-­Insurance-­Claims-­in-­California&id=6813252EzineArticles.com© 2012 EzineArticles.com
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The Impact Claims Have On Your Insurance Coverage

ByAllan Koenen

The claims you make against your auto insurance policy greatly affects your premiums. Some claims can cause a higher rate increase than others. Knowing the difference can help you to make the right choices and keep down your rates for coverage. Check out these facts about making claims and keep them in mind in the event you have to file one.

Learning the steps you need to take for filing a claim is important. Every company has different rules they follow for doing so. Making sure you talk to your agent about what you would need to do will help you get returns faster and have a better peace of mind if you ever have an accident.

The accident you have that is your fault will certainly cause your rates to increase. However, you should know the accident that is your fault and was caused by you being negligence will cause a significant increase. Violations like DUI or high rates of speed that cause you to be involved in an accident will increase your premiums greatly.

Insurance companies do monitor your claim activity. The more claims you make, even if they are small ones, the higher risk you become to companies. This applies also if you have made several claims with one company and then change to another one. Companies can still check to see the number of claims you have, made in the past with another company as well.

The part of your policy you file a claim under can determine if you experience a rate increase. The claim made under comprehensive coverage may not cause your rates to change at all. For example, if your vehicle is damaged due to a tree falling on in a storm, your rates will most likely not increase because you make a claim for those damages.

The claims made under liability and collision are the ones most likely to increase premiums. However, you might consider talking to your agent about their accident forgiveness policy. This term applies to those drivers involved in their first ever accident. You may be able to avoid your premiums going up due to this aspect of an insurance company rule.

Following up as soon as you can after an accident with your insurance company is important to you being able to move through the claim process faster. Acting in a timely manner also allows you to experience less stress during the process as well. Make sure you know the proper steps your company follows for making claims.

It is important to understand the impact of accidents on auto insurance. You can find more information about the factors that affect insurance rates and details about the reasons why you should compare car insurance for teenagers prices, now.

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Insurance: Car-Auto
Allan Koenen

Email Address:SubscribeCar Auto Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchSimilar ArticlesCheap Auto Insurance For TeenagersWhat Affects the Price of Car Insurance For Teenagers?Secrets to Getting Cheap Car Insurance For TeenagersAuto Insurance Guide to Risks and Premium Auto InsuranceFind Affordable Teen Auto Insurance Using Insurance Price QuotesCovering Your Teenage Driver With an Online Auto Insurance ComparisonTeen Auto Insurance - Making Sure That You Get Your Teenager The Lowest Rate PossibleWhat is the Best Way to Get Cheap Auto Insurance?Is Age Really a Factor in the Price of My Auto Insurance?5 Ways to Save on Insurance for Young DriversRecent ArticlesHow Save Money On Your Auto InsuranceTips on How to Pay for Car InsuranceWhy You Should Own a ConvertibleChoosing a Good Auto Insurance CompanyTips on Getting Auto Insurance Quotes OnlineThe Steps For Filing A Car Insurance ClaimTheft of Personal Property From Car - Does Your Insurance Cover It?Learning From A Vehicle Insurance OverviewHow to Choose the Right Car Insurance PlanWhat Information Do I Need to Compare Car Insurance Online?Submitted On January 20, 2012. Viewed 20 times. Word count: 420.

MLA Style Citation:
Koenen, Allan".".20 Jan. 2012EzineArticles.com.26 Jan. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
Koenen, A. (2012, January 20). . Retrieved January 26, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?The-­Impact-­Claims-­Have-­On-­Your-­Insurance-­Coverage&id=6830438Chicago Style Citation:
Koenen, Allan "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-­Impact-­Claims-­Have-­On-­Your-­Insurance-­Coverage&id=6830438EzineArticles.com© 2012 EzineArticles.com
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