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Category: Insurance

Dark Green: Energy-Efficient Wind Power isn’t So Safe

April 05, 2012 Staff No comments

Green energy has many positives. The cheap cost of electricity production allows many businesses and private homes to trim expenses in an environmentally-friendly way, while also shaking dependence on traditional energy sources. The technology, ever in development, is not without its problems. Wind turbines weigh in the thousands of pounds and sit high in the air. When mechanical problems occur – and they do frequently – these money-saving devices turn into life-threatening hazards. Wind power companies and turbine owners may not be doing enough to limit the risk to people living and working close to turbines. Wrongful death cases and significant injuries from turbine accidents are inevitable, if manufacturers continue to cut production corners.

Pennsylvania Turbine Fire

Photo Credit: Panoramio

In 2009, one of 12 wind turbines in Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania caught fire while crews were performing regularly-scheduled maintenance. Locals in nearby Butler Township were so wary of the dangers that they aggressively fought a proposed wind farm that would’ve placed 27 turbines next to residential homes and schools.

187-Ton Windmill Collapse

Photo Credit: Dennis Nett

One of 20 windmills in a wind farm in Fenner, New York collapsed like a kid’s bendy straw scattering mechanical parts and jagged steel across the landscape. Enel North America, the company owning the windmill, had more than 260 turbines in various farms throughout the country at the time of the accident. The estimated replacement cost for the single turbine was between $2 and $3 million, according to Syracuse.com. The windmills in Fenner sit 212 feet off the ground, nearly as tall as the town’s highest building.

Turbine Malfunctions, Throws Fireballs

Photo Credit: Panoramio

A wind turbine on the home of Texas State Representative Susan King experienced mechanical failure in October 2011. The turbine’s blades continued to spin even as the engine sparked, ignited and spewed gouts of flame across a two-acre swath of the senator’s property. Crews responding to the emergency needed eight trucks to contain the blaze. Next Era Energy owns the turbines on King’s ranch, according to Friends of Freedom International.

Windmill Blades Fall Off

Photo Credit: Yes to Renewables

Bolt failures on a windmill in Rugby, North Dakota caused the blades and rotor on the tower to fall off and crash to the ground. Subsequent inspections by the Public Service Commission discovered similar problems in at least four more turbines in the 71-turbine farm. Iberdola Renewables owns the turbines manufactured by India-based Suzlon Wind Energy Corp. Inspectors normally examine bolts every six months, according to “The Bismarck Tribune”. That leaves only two explanations: the bolts show rapid degeneration or those inspectors aren’t keeping up with proper protocols.

With the force involved in these accidents, it’s only a matter of time before someone sustains significant injuries. Companies that fail to properly maintain wind turbines may be liable for damages relating to injuries or life loss occurring as a result.

If you or someone you love sustained injuries as the result of manufacturer negligence, you may have rights to pursue the party responsible for damages. New Jersey accident attorneys are ready to represent your interests and stand up to those at fault for your losses. Having an advocate on your side allows you to focus on what’s important – your recovery.

Photo Credit: Renewable Power News

New NJ License Rules, Fees by 2014

April 02, 2012 Staff 1 Comment

Your New Jersey driver’s license may expire much sooner than you think. In seeking to comply with new federal regulations, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is setting new mandates for proper identification when acquiring a new/renewal driver’s license. New ID’s will have a gold star in the upper-right hand corner signifying the driver’s license is a federally-approved document, according to NJ.com. After December 2017, you won’t be able to legally board a domestic flight or enter a federal building without that star. All drivers in the state have until 2017 to meet the new requirements.

New Application Rules

You think the lines at the MVC are bad now, wait until every single driver in the state needs a new license – at the same time. For those of you playing the home game, that’s 6 million people. To fight the crush of applicants trying to both renew existing licenses and obtain new ones, the state is staggering approval requirements. If you’re born after December 1964, you must meet new licensing requirements by December 2014. If you’re born before that date, you don’t have to meet the new licensing requirements until your license actually expires or December 2017 – whichever comes first. In July, “Baby Boomers” can avoid the harrowing trip to the MVC and renew by mail.

Proof of Identification

The documents needed to renew a driver’s license and obtain a new one are also getting tougher. Starting with this renewal cycle, you’ll need your physical Social Security card or copy of an IRS W-2 to prove your identity. Military identification and membership cards won’t be sufficient to prove identity. You’ll also need two different proofs of address – save those utility bills – for the state to grant you a new license or renew an existing one. Expired bills are not valid.

On the plus side, your driver’s license won’t expire for eight years. That’s a four-year increase. New Jersey is jacking the fee up to $48 for new/renewal licenses, so you won’t be saving any money. Is all of this making you feel any safer, yet? If you get into an accident, is your driver’s license going to somehow protect you? Verifying someone’s auto insurance feels more important to me than making sure his MVC photo is current. Still, if the new requirements keep someone from illegally obtaining a driver’s license, that’s a plus.

Fighting the Non-Insured

Sustaining injuries in an accident presents a number of difficulties – missing work, paying your bills, taking care of your family. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have auto insurance, pursuing damages can be problematic at best. An experienced NJ personal injury attorney goes over your rights, explains your options to pursue damages and works tirelessly to win a fair settlement on your behalf.

Photo Credit: Townsquare Media

New Rules Add Fees for Car Accidents, Fires

March 30, 2012 Staff No comments

An ordinance up for adoption on April 3 in the City of Passaic would charge car accident victims, homeowners, businesses and any injured parties “response” fees to use fire services. That means every time the fire department shows up to an accident, before rendering any services, the meter is already running. New Jersey is one of 26 states in the country that allows its cities and towns to charge “emergency response fees” to private individuals or insurance carriers.

The proposed charges read like a restaurant bill: $500 to arrive at a car accident, $600 if a vehicle is on fire and $1,500 to free trapped passengers from a wrecked car. That’s not including the response fees for accidents involving damage to public utilities, rescues from burning buildings and investigations involving arson. The city can charge you these fees regardless of fault in an accident.

What are Tax Dollars For?

The Fire Department is a tax-funded institution in Passaic and other cities across New Jersey. It makes me wonder where the tax money they’re actually collecting is going. Could I get an itemized bill of how the town plans to use the dollars forcibly extracted from its citizens? Maybe I can find some extra dollars lying around.

Charging these response fees can have vast implications for both the insurance industry and drivers. Higher costs for insurance companies lead to higher premiums for policy holders. Drivers involved in car accidents may think twice about calling for emergency assistance when faced with these fees. How can a driver know what coverage she needs to make sure she won’t end up paying just for the local Fire Department to show up and help her? This is the reality of a pure capitalist system. You want help? Pay me.

The Government Spin

Government officials in Passaic claim the fees provide much-needed revenue for the cash-strapped city, according to NorthJersey.com. Officials say that most fire insurance policies already cover emergency response fees, so the city is simply tapping into covered services that already exist. This statement makes no mention of how the charges affect auto insurance policies. If other towns follow Passaic’s lead, everyone in the state could be looking at higher insurance rates.

Getting the Help You Need

With accident charges on the rise, it’s never been more important for you to have a knowledgeable NJ car accident lawyer on your team. An experience attorney negotiates with your health insurance company to reduce your charges and informs you of your rights to pursue damages. You shouldn’t have to face your insurance company alone.

Photo Credit: Next For You

What You Need to Know About Personal Injury Protection Insurance

January 30, 2012 Staff No comments

Personal Injury Protection insurance (PIP) has been getting a lot of attention recently due to rising costs of auto coverage and cries for reform. When PIP was initiated back in 1972 it was meant to help victims of auto accident get the medical treatment they needed without legal delays no matter who was at fault for the accident. PIP is sometimes referred to as “no fault insurance” for that reason.

While PIP really does benefit those who have been injured in an accident, abuse of this system has led to the demand for an overhaul of the system. Fraudulent or staged car accidents have become an all-too-common occurrence in some areas of the country which is leading to higher PIP costs and in turn increased car insurance premiums.

Florida, who boasts the highest amount of fraudulent reports in the country, has a bill working its way through the legislature that they hope will curb this issue. However, while this law would help decrease fraud it would make it more difficult for those who legitimately need it to get the help they need. Part of the bill proposes a 72 hour limit on when someone needs to seek medical treatment in order to collect their PIP. This sounds fair enough, after all who would wait longer than 72 hours if they are injured, but the truth of the matter is that many car accident injuries will not present that early.

Common accident injuries such as soft tissue damage (herniated discs, etc.) can take days or even weeks to present. If this 72 hour limitation is implemented people who sustain this type of injury would not get the benefit of PIP to help with their medical treatment or lost wages. In the long run it seems that this bill will discriminatorily effect those who need it as far as costs.

CBS reported that Florida PIP fraud costs are nearly $1,000,000,000. They went on to tell the story of Christine Donovan, a car accident victim who sustained soft tissue damage. Her insurance company investigated her for insurance fraud when she tried to collect her PIP for her injury. Since the injury was not something affecting her immediately following the accident the company thought it was suspicious when she later sought treatment. This is how it is without the 72 hour limit, imagine how much harder it will be for those who need it most to get treated after an accident.

New Jersey drivers can relate with the frustrations of PIP as it is the third most expensive state to insure a vehicle in according to National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). It was reported by the NAIC that PIP counts for 50 percent of the recent rises in car insurance premium, which is enough to frustrate anyone. The problem is that since people are getting so frustrated about their bills they are not seeing the bigger impact new legislation would have. Only when someone really needs to utilize their PIP will they realize how much these regulations would adversely affect them.

PIP coverage can be confusing and frustrating, even more so when you have to utilize it. If you’ve been injured in a crash speak with a New Jersey car accident attorney. The lawyers at Console & Hollawell will guide you through the process and make sure you get the help you need.

Photo credit: FL Chamber.

The 10 Worst Insurance Companies

January 11, 2012 Staff No comments

The insurance industry in America makes $1,000,000,000,000 annually from premiums according to the American Association for Justice. Yes that is a TRILLION dollars. The AAJ compiled a list of the worst insurance companies in the U.S. by examining thousands of records about the companies including court documents, FBI records, and testimony from former insurance employees. Their research resulted in identifying the companies that work against the clients that need them the most and reject claims, deny coverage, and jack up premiums.

The following list is comprised of the 10 WORST insurance companies in America:

1. Allstate The list explains that even the CEO of this company admits that their loyalty does not lay with their customers. CEO Thomas Wilson states that Allstate’s “obligation is to earn a return for our shareholders.” They have been proven through documents they had to make public that while they boast “good hands” to the public they encourage right hooks from their employees against their own policyholders. The AAJ says this of Allstate, “The company essentially uses a combination of lowball offers and hardball litigation.” In order to illustrate just how much money this company is making off their tactics, Wilson received $10,700,000 in compensation in 2007, and his predecessor Edward Liddy got $18,800,000. All of this has earned them the title of the worst insurance company.

Photo credit: Black Triangle.

2. Unum This is one of the nation’s most prominent disability insurers and it has established a poor reputation with its insurers. They are renowned for delaying and denying claims set forth to them. The CEO, Thomas Watjen, made $7,300,000 in 2007. The media frequently investigates this company for their continual claim abuse, earning them the number two spot.

Photo credit: USFST.

3. AIG Even with his dismissal, former CEO Martin Sullivan is still expected to earn $68,000,000. AIG is the largest insurance company in the world, and somehow they have gotten away with mistreating their clients for years. There have been allegations that the executives of this company strategically try to increase prices when there is a catastrophe. The AAJ reported that, “the company has been labeled the new ‘Enron’ because of charges of multi-billion dollar corporate fraud.”

Photo credit: Sharenator.

4. State Farm This company has committed some truly deplorable acts to avoid paying their clients. After Hurricane Katrina they altered engineering reports about damage from the storm, and they have also forged signatures on earthquake waivers after significant earthquakes. State Farm is the largest property casualty insurance company in the country. Like most insurance companies, they will go to extreme lengths to delay and deny claims. All this while paying their CEO Edward Rust Jr. $11,700,000 in 2007.

Photo credit: Blogspot.

5. Conseco It is truly disturbing to learn of Conseco’s tactics. They mainly serve the elderly with long-term care policies, and they know that delaying is key to not having to pay out money. AAJ reported that, “unfortunately, Conseco uses the deteriorating health of its policy holders to its advantage because the company knows if it waits long enough to pay out claims, its customers will die.” Their CEO, C. James Prieur got $2,600,000 for his role in 2007.

Photo credit: Dock.

6. WellPoint CEO Angela Braly made $9,100,000 in 2007 and didn’t even have to be fair to their clients. This company has a long-running history of canceling the policies of chronically ill or pregnant policy holders. They are about the bottom line rather than the wellbeing of their customers.

Photo credit: Car Insurance Comparison.

7. Farmers Despite customers continually ranking the company low with regards to customer satisfaction, the CEO still was compensated $10,300,000 in 2007. The company offers incentives to their employees if they meet their low payment goals. Both JD Powers & Associates and Consumer Reports have put this company among the worst auto and home insurance companies in the country.

Photo credit: Car Insurance Comparison.

8. UnitedHealth Their tactics not only make the company lots of money, they put patients in danger. According to AAJ, “Physicians report that reimbursement rates are so low and delayed by the company that patient health is compromised.” Stephen Hemsley, the CEO, received $13,200,000 for his ‘work’ in 2007—he has also faced criminal and civil charges. They target their elderly customers with high premiums for seemingly no other reason than because they can.

Photo credit: Torchmark Corp.

9. Torchmark A Southern company for more than 100 years, Torchmark has some very distasteful practices. For one, they have been under scrutiny for charging higher premiums for their minority customer than they charge their Caucasian customers. They also use many subsidiary companies boasting case-specific insurance such as cancer insurance that is met with the same lack of customer care as the mother company.

Photo credit: Bill Dodge.

10. Liberty Mutual While it may not be as good at denying and delaying claims as State Farm and Allstate, Liberty Mutual sought the help of the same consulting firm that the other two companies did to reduce costs. Edmund Kelly, company CEO, made $27,000,000 in 2005—it doesn’t seem that they are having problems keeping money in the company. They have used the tactic of abandoning and refusing renewal to clients in high-risk areas such as those susceptible to hurricanes or floods.

As you can see in the chart above, these companies are by no means lacking the funds necessary to properly compensate their customers. AIG tops the list with $6,200,000,000 in profits in 2007. Only three of these companies made below a billion dollars—that means 70 percent of the worst insurance companies made over a billion dollars yet they did everything they could to keep that money away from their clients.

When you have been injured in an accident you will have to deal with insurance companies a lot. They key to successfully beating them is to hire a New Jersey personal injury attorney who knows the games insurance companies play and knows how to thwart their attempts. The lawyers at Console & Hollawell have 17 years’ experience going up against some of the biggest names in the injury. If you’ve been injured and need legal help, call (866) 778-5500 and get the compensation you deserve.

Do’s and Don’ts of Talking With an Insurance Adjuster

January 03, 2012 Staff No comments

When you have been injured in an accident you will be dealing a lot with insurance adjusters both from your insurance company and that of the other party. The insurance adjuster’s job is to try and minimize the amount of money the company has to pay out as much as possible. When you have a phone interview with an adjuster there are things you are required to tell them, but saying too much could hurt your personal injury claim. It can be very intimidating to talk to these representatives, and mistakes can be made. It is important to know what you should do and what you should avoid to make sure these interviews do not hurt or limit your claim.

Don’t

• Let them record the conversation. They will ask if you agree to have the conversation recorded, do not allow this. They may use something you said, that you thought was harmless, to contradict statements later in your case.

• Only discuss basic facts. The adjuster may attempt to make small talk in order to make you more comfortable with talking to them. Do not discuss anything beyond the principal facts of your accident. This means only talking about the type of accident (i.e. motor vehicle, slip-and-fall, etc.), the location of the accident, and the date and time it occurred.

Photo credit: RL Chiropractic.

• Sign or agree to anything. Do not agree to anything they offer or sign any documents without having a skilled attorney review your case. Do not be fooled into believing that they are giving you a quick and fair offer. A knowledgeable lawyer will know the tricks insurance companies try to use and they will be able to thwart those attempts in order to get you the compensation you deserve.

• Write down their information. Take down the information of the person you are speaking with including their name, the address and phone number of the office they are calling from and the insurance company’s main office.

• Take notes. It is important to keep documentation of what you discuss with the insurance adjuster. If need be, you can refer back to the notes if a problem arises in the future.

Photo credit: Lori Lowe.

• Be general. Do not go into detail about your injuries. There is no way of knowing just how serious the injuries are until your doctors have completed a full assessment. Give a basic description of your injury and inform the adjuster that you will provide them with a complete and detailed description once your doctors have fully evaluated the injuries.

• Contact a personal injury attorney. Studies show that those who seek the help of a skilled New Jersey personal injury lawyer receive, on average, 3.5 times more money than those who don’t. The lawyers at Console & Hollawell have 17 years’ experience going up against some of the biggest names in the insurance industry, and they know how to prevent these companies from reducing your claim. If you choose to hire an attorney, they will handle all correspondence with the adjusters so you don’t have to.

In order to insure that you receive fully and proper compensation contact one of our experienced lawyers today by calling (866) 778-5500 and set up your free, confidential consultation.