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Freeze-Frame Radio -> Freeze-Frame Radio Lounge -> On a serious note...consumer alert
Post Info TOPIC: On a serious note...consumer alert
Trish


The Procrastinating Red-Head

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On a serious note...consumer alert
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I just wanted to encourage all of you to look at your automobile policies.  There is part of your policy that tells how much they will pay out per person in an accident and how much they will pay out per accident.  Check this out closely!  My brother was in a car accident right before Thanksgiving.  He and another car hit head on.  His insurance was pretty good.  $100,00 per person/$350,000 per accident.  One of the women that rode with my brother is suing.  She is taking him to court because the second doctor she went to after she hired her lawyer said that she has back injuries (which is not that amazing since she is receiving a check from ANOTHER accident where she sustained back injuries).  Anyway, I digress.  If your max amount is reached, you are liable for the rest.  Think of it this way...you're in a car and you hit another car and it's your fault.  There can be up to 7 people in a minivan.  What if they don't have medical insurance?  That comes out of that amount I mentioned before.  Not to push, but I just wanted you guys to be aware.  I checked mine out and only had $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.  I about choked.  I raised it up sky high and it only raised my insurance by about $60 a year.  Peace of mind, baby.  I can live with that.


Oh, on another note...watch who you carpool with.  If you know that someone is sue happy, don't be stupid enough to ride with them, even if you feel sorry for them because no one else will.  You will just be hanging yourself if you get into an accident with them.


O.K.  Trish is stepping down from the soapbox and is REALLY going to bed now.  Catch y'all later.



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Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you do criticize them you will be a mile away and have their shoes.
JD The Jazz Doctor


Grand Poobah

    



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Trish-


I want to thank you for sharing information like this with the forum. Thanks for seeing the Freeze Frame community with the spirit of friendship and care you bring to it. Really makes it fun and worthwhile.


JD



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"And like Web, I enjoy throwing JR under the bus.  Problem is, it's usually under the special bus that I ride every day". Ghostdancer 12-18-09
Trish


The Procrastinating Red-Head

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Thanks, JD.  Gotta share with my freeze frame family. 

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Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you do criticize them you will be a mile away and have their shoes.
Jeremy Riggs


2011 Super Bowl Champions!

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Hey Trish,


If you don't mind my asking, would the higher level of insurance cover the amount of the lawsuit?


I saw a story on 20/20 or 60 minutes, or something like that about a year ago on how insurance was just not able to protect against that because the suits were going for millions.  You know, the medical costs and then the PUNITIVE damages, usually were in the million or more area.


People with the best insurance coverages were still losing everything to lawsuits.


The lawsuit thing is out of control, there's a whole group of people out there who make their living suing people.



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Trish


The Procrastinating Red-Head

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Tell me about it.  I live near Madison County, Illinois.  I don't know if you've heard of them or not, but it is the cesspool of the courts.  It's awful. 


The way it works is...if someone sues you (your insurance) and say they sue for $200,000 and you have $350,000 per person on your insurance.  If their medical costs and short term disability (which my insurance company pays also) and all that does not come out to more than $350,000, you are o.k.  If it goes over, you have to pay the rest.  That means you either transfer all your stuff over into your spouses name, divorce and declare bankruptcy or you pay it.  Luckily, my brother owns nothing.  His truck.  His house he just sold for contract for deed and is living with my parents.  They won't get a dime out of him, even if she does collect.  There are other people who aren't so fortunate. 


It's crazy.  We were in an accident right after Christmas and the first thing someone said to me was "You should sue."  I looked at them like they were nuts.  I wasn't hurt, why would I sue?  Where has the integrity and morality gone in this country?  It's stealing, plain and simple.  I'm not going to hell for any amount of money.  Maybe I'm just too Catholic, I don't know, but I just don't see the point. 



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Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you do criticize them you will be a mile away and have their shoes.
StevieB


Chairman Of The Board

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Yes, thank you Trish for sharing the information.  On that note, if your state doesn't require you to purchase Uninsured Motorist, do it anyways, the benefits out weigh the few bucks that it cost.  January 2004 I was hit head on by a truck and the driver was uninsured.  After I was hit the impact pushed me off the road and into a partked truck.  Here in Idaho its not required to have UI coverage but thank GOD that I did.  My insurance paid for my totalled car, all my medical bills, the damage to the parked truck that I was pushed into and some pain and sufferring.  All without my raising my rates. 

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Sparky


Phat Cat EL Presidente

    



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Now I want to go home and read my policy. I know we have some of the better insurance but I hardly ever read the fine print. Thanks Trish!



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murscclub


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Would an umbrella liability policy cover the amount that goes above your auto insurance coverages?  I have a $1 million umbrella policy that I know covers things like if someone slips on my walk or whatever and sues me for beyond my homeowner's coverage amounts, but I haven;t read the policy in quite a while to remember whether it covers auto accidents.  A million dollars sounds like a lot I know, but it's actually very inexpensive coverage to get, and like you guys are saying, lawsuit-happy people can easily rack up that much in damages.

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Trish


The Procrastinating Red-Head

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I don't know about that.  I haven't had any experience with that.  Sounds like a good idea, though.  When I go home I will have to post the winners of the Stella Awards this year.  These awards are named after the woman who sued McDonald's because of burns from coffee.  It is amazing.  Can't check my MSN at work, so I'll post that later tonight.  You guys will get a laugh (or be saddened) by it. 

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Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you do criticize them you will be a mile away and have their shoes.
CP


Lord of the Lair

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Amen and also don't forget to check your med pay.  Standard is 2K.  I was rear ended a year ago last November.  Stopped at a stop light minding my business when a Ford Excursion plowed into me--he was doing 50 mph.   Of course he hid from the police, but i thought all would be OK becasue I had medical insurance and a medpay on my insurance.  Let me tell you how fast the 2K goes., and how you have to fight the insurance company to get your care approved and paid for.  After the accident I attempted to raise the med pay--no go.  Even though it was not my fault they will not let me increase the coverage unless I reimburse the first 2K paid.  The logic is that it was the other guys fault and the claim still hits me.

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StevieB


Chairman Of The Board

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I swear if I didn't have any morals I would start my own insurance company. 

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Jeremy Riggs


2011 Super Bowl Champions!

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I hear you man!


Insurance companies are the biggest scam in this country.


They pay your little claim, but then make 5X the money back from you by raising your premium for the next five years.  It's a total joke.



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