Americans in 17500 accidents drivers an average day of the NHTSA. This amounts to tens of billions of dollars a year in insurance fees and billions more to pay premiums for drivers of its policy.
Americans in 17500 accidents drivers an average day of the NHTSA. This amounts to tens of billions of dollars a year in insurance fees and billions more to pay premiums for drivers of its policy.
Despite its size and importance for millions of drivers, patchwork, the insurance system is that the American love affair with - and dependence - the car she - even in the crisis of the need to repair, at least in some countries most populous U.S.. This year, for example, debates on proposed reforms of insurance have dominated local politics in California, Massachusetts and New Jersey, where drivers have been stung by a series of two increases in interest rates.
This is not the first time that the automobile insurance was caught in a wave of reform. Twenty years ago, with drivers angered by rising prices, insurance and some consumer groups began a concerted push-to-win acceptance insurance.
In no mistake, the pilot of files with their own claims and insurers are required in certain circumstances, complain of mutually reinforcing. Proponents argue that their approach would keep rates in line on the prevention of costly litigation and the rapid promotion of claims. Through mid-1970’s, 26 countries had adopted various forms of no-fault.
But now turning quotes are still in many countries - some with no-fault systems and some without. In some cases, efforts by the regulatory authorities of the slow growth is that insurers say they can not afford new political messages. And around this time, policymakers do not provide quick solutions.
Betankt by weaknesses in the law no-fault, deterioration of roads, medical bills steeper and more car thefts - and especially by simply increasing the number of drivers on the road - the rates have increased tight increase in premium over 25 per cent for private vehicles from early September 1986, until the statistics.
The premiums of $ 1000 for an average car in many cities and more and more working poor are the choice of driving without insurance, that even in danger, legally and financially, and finally on the rate paid by other drivers .
”Self-insurance is a question of law and order, as at any time since the mid-1970,’’said Michael Morrissey, an analyst Mark Fire Insurance Research, a firm in Morristown, NJ, that insurance companies listed on the stock exchange.
The absence of a consensus on what to do about the rising cost of insurance is the best reflection of the confusion in the decisions before the voters in California Tuesday. Voters are asked to choose between five reform proposals, including a measure to promote the insurance sector of the State on the introduction of the first no-fault law. Insurers are millions of dollars for advertising, planning and support their plans against criticism from industry, the harshest that the introduction of reductions in interest rates of up to 40 per cent and the introduction of new rules. Driver in the state, were Premium rockten the average increase of nearly 20 per cent per annum during the last three years.
In the meantime, Massachusetts and New Jersey has recently completed two months of legal maneuvers with the adoption of important reform packages.
Last week, has strengthened the legislative authority of Massachusetts, the state is not for want to change the law and regulations for car repairs, which allows a sort of cut interest rates next year is inevitable. Prices rose by 17.2 per cent in 1987 and 16.2 per cent this year.
In New Jersey, legislators to reinforce other bills that the State has no debt law, increased assessments for the expenses of medical care and exceeds the town Underwriting Association, a debt-ridden agency created to cover high-risk drivers. New Jersey rates are the highest in the nation, 50 percent in the past three years.
Most market regulators from industry and other experts fear, however, that higher premiums are inevitable over a long period of time, no matter what reforms have passed, these and other countries.
”The question of what we do, what the next big improvement, eluded each,’’said James M. Stein, a former insurance commissioner of Massachusetts, he was chairman of the Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation. ”It does not seem to take any manner whatsoever a house in this area.”Galore variables, and lobbyists Too
”The problem with auto insurance is so complex that,’’said Tony Nicely, Executive Vice President of the Geico Corporation, a leading auto insurers, whose headquarters is in Washington.
The costs are higher in some countries or regions than others, because the density of traffic, weather, regulations, such as motor insurance is sold or repaired, theft and medical expenses, to take only some key variables that affect prices in the two no - traditional fault liability and country.
Some of the factors that contribute to rising costs, beyond the ability of a country to control, including the development of cars more and more complex - and expensive - machines.
Le”unibody construction of the car is now an important factor cost problem,’’said Anne D’Agostino, director of professional associations, Massachusetts and New Hampshire and repair businesses. ”They are designed so that explode if the go-Hit, protects passengers, but must again within three-thousandth of a right to compensation if the emphasis on good. Otherwise, they are dangerous.”
These developments, together with the increasing use of electronics in cars, mean that repair companies need to invest in laser alignment equipment and other capital goods as well as employees of the situation with them. As that regulators pressure on insurance companies, repair costs, the body it difficult to find shops to pay for their modernization.