In our 30+ combined years of representing injured victims, we’ve learned that not all car insurance companies are created equal. While many are honest, fair and diligent – we can’t say the same for others. Far too often, we see car insurance companies use tactics designed to give them an upper hand and reduce how much they must pay on your car accident claim – all the while marketing to the world about how virtuous and fair they are. Unfortunately for many of our clients, they find out far too late that the insurer they chose – often times based on polished marketing campaigns – isn’t who they thought.
Insurance companies spare no expense in protecting their interests with legions of lawyers and insurance company adjusters. The process to protect their bottom line begins immediately upon an automobile accident. Dealing with an insurance company can be overwhelming and confusing, especially when you are dealing with recovering from an injury.
Every year, Consumer Reports releases a list of the worst rated Auto insurers in America. Consumer Reports took a look at the auto insurance industry by surveying nearly 24,000 readers in the winter of 2017 about their satisfaction on the claims process, the cost of premiums and the overall customer experience.
According to this survey, here are the 10 worst Auto Insurance Companies in America (#1 is the worst):
The metrics that were used in coming up with this list – as well as some tips – are as follows:
The Claims Process
Even though you may be injured in a car accident as a result of another driver’s negligence, you usually do not deal directly with the other driver to settle your claim for damages. This is fortunate, because it is rare that an individual have the resources available to make you whole after a serious accident or injury. In a typical car accident, you or your lawyer will deal directly with the other driver’s insurance company.
Because of this, it is vital that you gather certain information at the scene of the accident. This information includes the name and contact information for
- The other driver;
- The other driver’s insurance company;
- Any witnesses to the accident; and
- Any law enforcement officers that come to the scene
It is also wise to take photographs of the scene if you are able to. Most people carry cellular phones, and the vast majority have camera functionality. While at the accident scene, take pictures of:
- The locations of the vehicles;
- Areas of physical damage to each vehicle; and
- The license plates of each vehicle.
The best way to successfully pursue and settle a claim with the other driver or their insurance company is to understand that the insurance company will require a lot of information from you.
The other thing to remember is that the insurance company is NOT on your side. The insurance company is in business to make money, and it makes money when it pays out less money to you on a claim than it otherwise has to. The insurance company tries to accomplish this by arguing (1) the accident was completely or partially your fault, and so you should only be paid a reduced amount on your claim, and (2) you haven’t provided sufficient documentation to support your claims of loss. Sometimes it may argue both points with you.
Cost of Premiums
An insurance premium is the amount of money that an individual or business must pay for an insurance policy. The insurance premium is income for the insurance company, once it is earned and also represents a liability in that the insurer must provide coverage for claims being made against the policy. Insurers assess many factors – including your driving record – when calculating your premium. Your insurance rates are also determined, in part, by the type of caryou drive. Generally, the harder your car is to steal and the less expensive it is to repair, the less you pay for insurance.
Auto insurance premiums vary greatly State to State. In Ohio, How much is car insurance in Ohio? Most drivers in the state of Ohio pay significantly less for auto insurance than the national average. The annual average cost of auto insurance in Ohio is:
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Ohio
Ohio law requires that all drivers on Ohio roads maintain adequate minimum coverage standards across all vehicles registered in their names. While policies vary from company to company, Ohio has a minimum coverage requirement called the 25/50/25 rule. That means driver policies must include the following:
- $25,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 of coverage for bodily injury liability per incident
- $25,000 of coverage for property damage liability per incident
Remember that these are the minimum levels. Work with your policy provider to ensure you have at least the required coverage before adding on additional elements to your policy.
If you have any specific questions about any automobile accident claim, call the Car Accident Lawyers at Sawan & Sawan today at 1-866-INJURY-0 to schedule a free consultation.
Dennis E. Sawan
