Auto Insurance Reform on The Horizon For New Jersey

New Jersey is proposing to change how insurance companies can reimburse health care providers for victims of car accidents.

2012-07-11

July 11, 2012 (Press-News.org) Auto insurance is generally intended to provide policy holders with the coverage they need to replace vehicles damaged in an auto accident and cover medical bills if injured in a car crash. Unfortunately, some government officials within the state of New Jersey are voicing concerns that these safeguards are being abused.

These concerns are supported by a recent report from the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America. According to this group of over 1,000 insurance companies from across the nation, the average claim for personal injuries in auto accidents for New Jersey was $16,397 in 2010. That rate was double those paid in other states.

Government officials specifically accuse medical professionals for these high numbers. They claim physicians are taking advantage of insurance protections by overbilling victims of car accidents for medical care.

Capping Medical Procedure Costs

In an attempt to stop these alleged abuses, the Insurance Commissioner introduced a wide array of tough rules. Many of these rules centered on price caps for various forms of treatment used for auto accident victims.

Medical professionals argued that these rules would negatively impact those involved in auto accidents who suffer personal injuries, since doctors would be less likely to treat car crash victims if price caps were in place.

Accidents Involving Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists

Another attempt to squash potential insurance abuse was highlighted in a recent Supreme Court hearing. The court ruled that uninsured motorists cannot sue for injuries, even if they were only a passenger in their uninsured vehicle. Current law clearly states uninsured motorists cannot bring a lawsuit if they are operating their own uninsured vehicle. Essentially, the court expanded this law to include being a passenger in the vehicle.

This holding highlights the move toward a crackdown on insurance abuse. Regardless of your insurance status, receiving compensation in New Jersey for injuries received in an auto accident can be difficult. As a result, if you or a loved one is injured in a car accident it is important to contact an experienced Newark personal injury claims lawyer to better ensure your legal rights and remedies are protected.

Article provided by Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A.
Visit us at www.lombardiandlombardi.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Highway Crashes Leading Cause of Oil and Gas Worker Deaths

2012-07-11

There is no doubt that working on oil fields, on oil rigs or at oil or natural gas well sites is dangerous work. The most deadly places for oil and gas workers, however, are actually on the roads. Highway crashes are the leading cause of death for oil and gas workers today. Many believe this is due to oil and gas industry exemptions from federal safety rules that prevent fatigued driving. As oil and gas drilling in the U.S. continues to grow, safety advocates are pushing for tougher rules to keep roads safe and prevent fatal truck accidents. Quantifiable Dangers Oil ...

New Texting Law a Challenge to Pennsylvania Law Enforcement

2012-07-11

Police and other law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania are struggling to enforce the new texting while driving ban that went into effect in March. State and local police say that they are responding to the enforcement challenge by formulating a strategy that will minimize their time in court making the charges stick while continuing to enforce what some critics say is a weak law. The reason for the criticisms of the law is that while the law makes texting while driving a primary offense--meaning that a police officer can pull over a person that they observe to be ...

Ashley's Law Could Ease Caps on Damage Awards Against School Districts

2012-07-11

Pennsylvania lawmakers may be ready to correct a wrong and lift an arbitrary damage cap that punished one young woman simply for getting hurt on school grounds. In 2007, Ashley Zauflk was seriously injured when she was run over by an out-of-control school bus while on school grounds in the Pennsbury School District. Zauflick was in a coma for over a month and eventually had to have her left leg amputated above the knee. Despite winning her lawsuit against the school district, Zauflick's award was limited due to an archaic law on Pennsylvania's books that capped damage ...

Florida's Ignition Interlock Program: How It Could Affect You

2012-07-11

A DUI conviction in Florida can have personal, financial and legal consequences that can significantly impact your life. Losing your license not only presents a major obstacle to holding down a job, but also can hinder your ability to do the things you love. Unfortunately, even after you have recovered your license, the state may require you to install what is called an ignition interlock device in your car. What Is an Ignition Interlock Device? An ignition interlock device will not allow a driver to start or maintain movement of a vehicle if his blood alcohol level ...

Protecting Your Rights as an Unmarried Father in Georgia

2012-07-11

So you're about to become a dad -- congratulations! Getting ready for a new baby is a big job, but if you and the baby's mother are not married, there is one important task you need to take care of. You need to establish paternity and go through the process of legitimating your child. If you don't, you will have no legal rights regarding the care and custody of the child. In Georgia, when a child is born outside of a marriage, the mother is the only person allowed to have legal or physical custody of the child. There are no automatic fathers' rights. This is true even ...

Obama Announces New Immigration Policy for Young People Living in the U.S.

2012-07-11

President Obama announced a new immigration policy that will allow certain young people who were brought into the United States as young children and meet other requirements, to be considered for relief from removal from the country. This policy incorporates some of the features of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM), which Congress failed to pass. Young people who meet the requirements will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, and the deferral will be subject to renewal after the two years. At this point, ...

State Supreme Court Addresses Consumer Responsibility in Lemon Law Ruling

2012-07-11

The Wisconsin Lemon Law gives consumers the right to get a timely refund or replacement vehicle from a car manufacturer when a vehicle they purchased is defective. The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently ruled that unless a consumer intentionally prevents the manufacturer from issuing a timely refund, under the Lemon Law, the manufacturer is responsible for paying the money within 30 days of the consumer's request. Case History The ruling was based on the case of businessman Marco Marquez, who bought a Mercedes-Benz E320 in 2005 and tried to get a refund for the $56,000 ...

Record Number of Veterans Applying for VA Disability Benefits

2012-07-11

There can be no doubt that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are having a significant impact on returning veterans. Even though death rates are lower than in previous wars, the fighting isn't any less violent. Today, however, there is better medical care which means that more soldiers are surviving their injuries. But, as a result, more veterans are returning home with service-connected disabilities like wounded or missing limbs and traumatic brain injury. Of course, physical disabilities aren't the only scars of war -- many veterans return home with service-related ...

Brain Injuries Can Result From Truck Accidents

2012-07-11

Trucks traverse Ohio's busy highways in large numbers, and accidents involving trucks are common. Among the possible effects of a truck accident are traumatic brain injuries, known as TBI. Collisions and Brain Injuries A TBI is the result of an external force exerted on the brain, and motor vehicle collisions are one of the most common causes of TBI. In a study published in Brain Injury in 2002, scientists analyzed the relationship between features of accidents and severity of TBI suffered by victims. TBIs were most common in collisions where a vehicle was struck ...

Proactive Stance Succeeds for Kenosha County Clients

2012-07-11

A Waukegan, Illinois personal injury attorney from Salvi & Maher, LLC prevails for another client. Salvi & Maher, LLC is pleased for a large jury verdict ruling in favor of their client. With the help of attorney Michael Maher, the client's personal injury settlement will help with medical costs and compensation. A DePaul University Law School graduate, Michael Maher practice area focus consists of auto accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, medical malpractice, defective products, and wrongful death. With a strong focus on auto accidents, Michael Maher helped ...

One of the largest studies on preterm birth finds a maternal biomarker test significantly reduces neonatal morbidities and improves neonatal outcomes

One of the largest studies of its kind finds early intervention with iron delivered intravenously during pregnancy is a safe and effective treatment for anemia

Auto Insurance Reform on The Horizon For New Jersey

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: