Category: Insurance Coverage

A friend, Johnny, asked me to evaluate his auto insurance coverage. He lives in Los Angeles and drives an Audi TT, a small sports car. Although my often tongue-in-cheek responses are geared for California auto coverages and, in particular, Los Angeles, this should give you an idea of what to look for in your own venue. Most importantly you must be aware that if you do not have insurance coverage that is sufficient to compensate someone for injuries sustained in an accident that is wholly or partially your fault, you could be on the hook personally for that amount which exceeds… Read More

Commissioner Poizner Announces Bakersfield Woman Charged With Insurance Fraud For Second Time In Two Years. Commissioner Steve Poizner announced today that Shawn Rene Dodd, 43, of Bakersfield, was arrested on Wednesday, and charged with uncertified practice of medicine, making false or fraudulent insurance claims, money laundering, commission of a felony while on bail and selling stocks without a license. Dodd’s bail was set at $1,000,000. If convicted, she could face a maximum of nine years four months in prison for these charges. “I will not tolerate those who abuse the insurance system to satisfy their own greed,” said Commissioner Poizner.… Read More

So what happens when you’re in a car accident in California, you’re injured badly, it’s the other driver’s fault and you have no liability insurance? Back in 1996, Californians passed Proposition 213 which then became California Civil Code Section 3333.4 which states “in any action to recover damages arising out of the operation or use of a motor vehicle, a person shall not recover non-economic losses to compensate for pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, disfigurement, and other non-pecuniary damages if any.” What does this actually mean? Well, to give an extreme example, let’s say that you’re driving along and someone makes an illegal left turn… Read More

Through California’s Worker’s Compensation Laws injured employees are able to recover from the limited benefits of their employer’s insurance. But what happens in cases where an employee has sustained an on-the-job injury caused by someone other than the employer? Simply put, in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim, the injured employee may sue this third party (i.e., other person or entity) in tort law. Third party cases may fall into categories such as traffic accidents, slip & fall incidents, defective products, defective equipment or the exposure to toxic substances and any number of other situations. If a worker suffers a significant injury,… Read More

New York Personal Injury Lawyer Eric Turkewitz Reports The Following in his Blog: State Farm Hit With Civil RICO Claim Over Sham Medical Exams State Farm has been sued for racketeering in New York with a claim that it conspired with “Independent Medical Exam” companies and medical practitioners to produce fraudulent and sham medical reports. The suit, filed January 30th in the Eastern District of New York, is brought under the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization Act (RICO). (This story has not been previously reported.) State Farm acted in concert with “IME” companies and doctors to furnish fraudulent and boilerplate reports, according to the… Read More

How horrific it was for my client, Mrs. F., an innocent woman legally slowing down for a stop to be suddenly, and without warning, be rear-ended by a drunk driver. Otherwise in great health, this lovely lady’s life was turned asunder by the flagrant disregard of a guy who was more concerned with his afternoon cocktails than the safety of other people on the road on which he drove. The physical impact to Mrs. F’s car was so severe that it was deemed a total loss. In particular, the insurance company felt that it would cost more to repair her car… Read More

CNN has done an incredible expose on the tactics and strategies of major insurance carriers whose strategy is to deny, delay and defend claims where a person is, through no fault of his/her own, injured in a minor collision. The strategy is to make initial offers far below your medical bills which forces you into the court system. At that point, the auto insurers make it so expensive to litigate the matter that injured persons and their lawyers will be dissuaded from pursuing legitimate claims. In 2006, Business Week published an in depth article about Allstate’s practices entitled In Tough Hands at Allstate wherein… Read More

The following is an article that appeared in the May 7, 2007 Los Angeles Times reporting that an appeals court is hearing a case regarding Blue Shield retroactively cancelling the medical insurance policy of a self-employed machinist who was badly injured in an auto accident. The article reports that the case could affect hundreds of suits challenging such cancellations as illegal and unfair. LOS ANGELES TIMES INSURANCE Halted health coverage suit may be far-reaching An appeals court will weigh Blue Shield’s retroactive cancellation of a car-crash patient. By Lisa Girion Times Staff Writer May 7, 2007 A 2001 car accident… Read More

Anderson Cooper of CNN did a great piece on insurance company tactics. Fascinating reading exposing the negative tactics of insurance companies: Deny, defend, delay and save BILLIONS in claims payouts. Click here, read and try not to become enraged as you see how the insurance companies systematically deny injured people their due. Personal Injury Law attorneys have been fighting this for years. You can read the Rough Transcript here.

Insurance companies posted a $429 BILLION profit for the third quarter of 2006. Click Here to get the full story. Please note that we are talking BILLIONs, not Millions here.