Progressive Insurance quote new authority. Does this sound right?

Ding ding ding!

 

Texas is a lousy state for insurance companies....the legal climate there creates massive jury awards, especially in the south part of Texas.

The highest rated states we have for truckers is CA, TX, LA, FL, NY, NJ, NV. Rates in those states are by some view crazy high. But again we set rates based on the loss experience we have in a given territory, so the rates in those states reflect the higher frequency of loss we see there, but also the increased severity (large loss payments) we see in those states due to the attorneys and their aggressive actions. You know the attorneys have to feed like sharks so they can run those commercials telling everyone how much they got for minor fender benders.

 

Short answer: yes. A ticket is a ticket and an accident is an accident. You probably should have waited til they fall off.

 

If it were me, I'd wait til all of that falls off before trying to start a business. I'd give myself a running start with a clean slate.

 

The motor carrier reported the accident on the termination form. It could be something they called an accident regardless of the PD being involved. No PD = No accident report on your MVR with the state

 

Texas must be a horrible state for insurance carriers. It's the only state I can recall that has lots of billboards along the highway for lawyers advertising for customers that have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck. Must be an easy case to win down there.

 

Oh yeah and combine that with the lawsuits, it makes it ridiculous. You remember when that lady hit the Werner truck in Odessa some years back and got awarded 90 mil?

 

Yep, law suits don't determine guilt or innocence, they determine who has the best attorney. About 11 years ago 2 joggers ran out in front of my then 16 year old daughter without looking from behind a parked box truck while she was driving my pickup truck and she hit them. Both of the joggers sustained broken bones but survived the ordeal and fully recovered, and were both cited by the police at the time as being at fault. Even with that, MY insurance paid almost 2 million in medical/punitive claims from the joggers, AND they sued me and won in civil court for additional punitive damages for pain and suffering. The judge in the case later explained that had my insurance carrier fought the claim instead of rolling over and paying it, that would have set a precedent and the civil case against me would have been thrown out. But because my carrier didn't feel like spending the legal fees to fight for MY rights, that set me up for the civil suit because it made my side seem as taking some of the blame for the accident. I'm still steaming about it, but not much that can be done and I've moved on with life. My daughter still feels horrible for hitting them. I'd like her to sue the joggers for HER pain and suffering that they caused from their stupidity.

 

You're sure right about having the best attorneys. It's weird that your insurance had the fire power to fight back. I guess it's cheaper to settle, but it took your rates up I'm sure.

 

Steve, I'm curious if this cost you any money out of pocket? I'm honestly curious. I certainly agree with you here, not trying to water it down. I actually had a similar thing happen to me but many years ago, it was a car wreck with a pill popper, not hitting a pedestrian, but similar. They sued.

I always wonder if I would stand to lose anything personally in a similar circumstance. I keep a 1 million personal umbrella and it seems like someone here said it doesn't really even help.