To recap the issues raised during Wednesday’s conference call, here are some of the key media stories, and the messages we’re conveying.
If there is a subject you would like to see addressed on Wednesday, December 22, please email Mike Barry at michaelb@iii.org
U.S. auto insurance premiums rose 5.3 percent on average over the past year (November 2009-November 2010):
That number appeared in the U.S. Department of Labor’s monthly consumer price index report, which was released on Wednesday, December 15.American Tort Reform Association launches new website dedicated to ‘judicial hellholes’:
ATRA’s ninth annual Judicial Hellholes report was released this week. Philadelphia, California (particularly Los Angeles and Humboldt counties), and West Virginia topped the list, in that order, as locales where defendants often fare poorly in civil lawsuits. ATRA’s latest analysis can be found at the newly-launched judicialhellholes.org. The I.I.I.’s Claire Wilkinson blogged on Tuesday, December 14, about the new website and the latest ATRA report.Wall Street Journal editorial page hails civil suit reform plans touted by the governor of Texas:
Texas Governor Rick Perry wants to impose a “loser pays” rule in his state, according to this Wednesday, December 15, Wall Street Journal (subscription required) editorial; the proposal was applauded by the WSJ’s editors. The system, used in Great Britain and many other nations, requires plaintiffs who lose their civil suits to pay the legal costs of the defendants. Governor Perry’s plan would also penalize lawyers and plaintiffs for bringing groundless suits to Texas and speed compensation to real victims by establishing a system to expedite claims under $100,000, the editorial states.
Overall number of highway fatalities in the U.S. is dropping but the reason behind this positive trend are unclear, new study finds:
Researchers at the University of Michigan found that the number of drivers involved in fatal accidents while distracted by talking on the phone, or other activities behind the wheel, increased 42 percent between 2005 and 2008, according to this Wednesday, December 15, Wall Street Journal (subscription required) article. The study also found that inattentive or distracted driving was recorded as a primary factor for only 7 percent of the 50,430 drivers involved in fatal accidents in 2008. The number of total road fatalities in the U.S. fell to 33,963 in 2009, a 22 percent decline compared with 2005, the fastest rate of decline in peacetime since the beginning of the 20th century. One of the major questions raised by the study is whether the rapid decline in highway fatalities in the U.S. can be attributed to better vehicle safety technology, improvements in safe driving, graduated licensing or the economic downturn.I.I.I. issues safe winter driving tips release a week earlier than usual as severe snowstorms, freezing temperatures, hit U.S.:
With icy weather conditions reported this week in Mississippi and Alabama, the I.I.I. issued its annual reminder about winter-weather driving and car maintenance on Wednesday, December 15, rather than Tuesday, December 21, the first day of winter.Partial collapse of Metrodome’s roof in Minnesota raises insurance issues for media; prompts relocation of Vikings home games:
The Minneapolis-based Minnesota Vikings were unable to play a scheduled home game at the Metrodome on Sunday, December 12, after heavy snowfall contributed to the partial collapse of the Metrodome’s roof last weekend. This Tuesday, December 14, Business Insurance (subscription required) article discusses some of the insurance issues raised not only by the damage to the arena but also by the interruption of the Vikings’ National Football League schedule. The Vikings, who created a roof collapse section on their official team website, played in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, December 13.BankRate.com developing editorial content for insurancequotes.com:
The I.I.I. has received a number of requests from freelance writers seeking consumer-oriented information for insurancequotes.com, which is owned by BankRate.com. The writers want to discuss when homeowners might want to add a rider to their policy, change their policy if they choose to rent out their home, etc…NAIC names its 2011 consumer liaison representatives:
University of Minnesota Law School associate professor Daniel Schwarcz and San Francisco, California-based United Policyholders’ executive director Amy Bach are returning for another year as NAIC-funded consumer representatives, the association announced, in a Wednesday, December 15, news release.Florida’s former Insurance Consumer Advocate joins the Merlin Law Group’s Tampa office:
Sean Shaw’s appointment was announced in this Merlin Law Group news release. Shaw left his state governmental post earlier this year to work on Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s unsuccessful bid for governor.Texas legislative panel hears from trial attorney who sued Texas Windstorm Insurance Association on behalf of TWIA policyholders:
Steve Mostyn, a prominent attorney who represented numerous TWIA policyholders in their legal actions against TWIA after Hurricane Ike damaged their properties in September 2008, testified at a Texas state legislative hearing on Monday, December 13. The Houston Chronicle offered a preview of the proceedings in their Sunday, December 12, print edition.Texas raising the minimum automobile insurance liability coverage levels a driver needs effective January 1, 2011:
The minimums are rising to $30,000 from $25,000 for each injured person, to $60,000 from $50,000 per accident, and remaining at the current $25,000 for property damage, per accident. The Austin American-Statesman published a story on Tuesday, December 14, regarding the new rules, noting that about half of Texas drivers today carry the minimum coverage levels.ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia airs story pegged to National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) finding on staged accidents:
The piece aired on the station’s Wednesday, December 15, noon newscast and featured Insurance Commissioner-elect Ralph Hudgens as well as an NICB statistic saying Georgia ranks seventh-highest in U.S. sites for staged accidents.Fire Department of New York’s (FDNY) proposed imposition of ‘motorist services’ fees generates broad NYC media coverage:
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore (WCBS-TV, WNBC-TV) and Mike Barry (The New York Times, NYC’s Fox affiliate) provided responses on behalf of the I.I.I. AIA, PCI and the New York Insurance Association were also involved in handling media inquiries over the past few days. At issue: whether the FDNY will be allowed to send bills to motorists for FDNY services rendered at the scene of a vehicle collision. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Friday, January 14, 2011, 10:30 a.m., at FDNY headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, New York. In addition, the I.I.I. has updated its backgrounder on Municipal Accident Response Fees.I.I.I.’s social media specialist to offer regular reports on what is going on in the social media sphere concerning insurance:
Justin Shaddix, the I.I.I.’s Web and Media producer, reported that the FDNY’s motorist service fee proposal has generated largely negative comments in the blogs and tweets the I.I.I. tracks with Meltwater Buzz. A couple of New York City Council members were among those who blogged in opposition to the Bloomberg administration’s proposal, and the idea was roundly criticized by the readers of websites such as Gothamist.com. Shaddix’s social media analysis will be a regular feature going forward on the I.I.I.’s weekly media calls.NBC Nightly News reports on tornado striking small town near Salem, Oregon:
The segment aired on Brian Williams’ broadcast on Tuesday evening, December 14, the day the tornado hit Aumsville, Oregon. There were no injuries reported but there was significant damage to property in the community southeast of Salem, NBC reports.
John Roberts leaving his post as co-anchor of CNN’s American Morning:
TVNewser reported on Roberts’ departure, and some of the other on-air changes being made at CNN.The I.I.I. is cited regularly in the media as an authoritative source of insurance information. To access the current I.I.I. press clips, click here
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