A client called me a couple of weeks ago. He’d been rear-ended by another person who said he had car insurance, but he didn’t. Their car insurance had been cancelled due to non-payment which meant my client had to file a car insurance claim on his policy where someone else was clearly at fault. This type of claim is referred to as an uninsured motorist claim.
?2013 has come to a close and 2014 is off and running. Housing in north Texas rocketed last year, however many predict it will cool a bit in 2014. The population of Texas continues to grow at a rapid pace. While the rate of growth is predicted to slow a bit in the coming years, it will still grow.
You are in your car, stopped at a red light patiently waiting for it to turn green so you can get to your destination. A car zooms up behind you and rear ends you. Maybe the driver wasn’t paying attention, was texting, or some other equally frustrating reason the driver didn’t stop. You know your car sustained significant damage just from the force of the impact.
The Dallas Morning News reported earlier this year on surcharges the state of Texas assesses to Texas drivers who are convicted of offenses such as driving while intoxicated, failure to maintain car insurance, and driving without a valid license or with an invalid license. These driver surcharges were enacted as a part of The Driver Responsibility Program in 2003.
I’ve had a couple of interesting discussions with clients about their car insurance renewals. In both cases, their car insurance rate increased and both wanted to know why. Most of the carriers systems don’t give me a clear reason, so I called each company and we reviewed each client’s policy together. Most of the factors that led to rate increases were understandable and one was a surprise.
Outgoing Texas Insurance Commissioner, Eleanor Kitzman, vacated her office on Monday, May 27th when Texas State Senators blocked her from another two year term. Governor Rick Perry quickly appointed Kitzman’s replacement, Julia Rathgeber who until May 27th had been Lt. Governor David Dewhurst deputy chief of staff. Prior to serving as Dewhurst’s deputy chief of staff, Rathgeber served as a Director of Research for the Texas General Land Office and also as former division head for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
Every year, I like to review the current state of personal insurance for Texas. Personal insurance is what most individuals and families concern themselves with. It includes car, home (condo & town homes), renters, and umbrella insurance policies. The goal is to help most people keep their finger on the pulse of what’s happening. An informed consumer is a powerful force!
I’ve worked with several people over the past few days quoting their car insurance. Ultimately we’re hoping to provide equal or better coverage for them for less money than they’re currently paying. I’ve been able to save several of them anywhere from $100 to $1,000 a year. There were two we couldn’t help. For them, it would have cost them more to have me write their car insurance than to stay with their current insurance company. I told them to stay with their current insurance company. The reason was ticket activity.
?Several years ago, I rear ended a truck in stop and go traffic on I-35 in Dallas. It was my fault. Six years ago, I was rear ended by a truck and it was their fault. Usually the person who hits the person in front of them is at fault. Unless of course the person in front does something that would not be considered an intelligent move, like the guy who changed a tire in the middle of the road on a two lane highway! That was not the case last week!
You’re sitting at a red light in any city in Texas. Surrounding you are 4 to 5 other drivers waiting with you for the light
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