On July 11, an Alabama court decided that a case filed by car wreck attorneys against Ford Motor Company, Pontiac Coil, Inc. and Visteon Corporation can proceed despite motions to dismiss.

The motion to dismiss filed by Pontiac Coil, Inc. was denied because of pre-established case law.

Car wreck attorneys filed the case on behalf of the Alabama couple after the wife was seriously injured in a car wreck. The case alleges that the brake transmission shift interlock system failed, causing the vehicle to move out of park and into gear. The ensuing car wreck resulted in serious injuries to the wife including the amputation of her leg.

Ideally, the brake transmission shift interlock system will not allow a driver to shift the vehicle out of park without applying pressure to the brake.

Over 180,000 vehicles are being recalled by Nissan due to a defective air conditioning fan motor. The models that are being recalled include:

• Nissan Infinity QX56, model years 2005/2006
• Nissan Armada, model years 2005/2006
• Nissan Titan, model years 2005/2006

The vehicles are being recalled due to a defective fan motor which may not be sealed properly. Improper sealing may cause corrosion and may allow water to drain onto the motor. This can lead to overheating which may possibly result in a vehicle fire.

Car wreck attorneys understand that serious burn injuries can result during a vehicle fire. In the event that a vehicle fire results from defective vehicle manufacturing, the manufacturer may be liable for the injuries.

            The American Association for Justice (AAJ) conducted an extensive investigation to determine the worst insurance companies in America.  These include homeowners and auto insurers, health insurers, life insurers, and disability insurers. 

            According to AAJ, Allstate is placed at the top of the worst insurance provider list; this is largely due to the fact that their primary mission is to “earn a return for the shareholders.”  As a senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) said, “The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims.”  Allstate even goes so far as to distribute corporate training manuals explaining how to avoid payments, and portable refrigerators are awarded to the adjusters who deny the most claims.  Former employees have called Allstate’s approach to claims the “three D’s”: deny, delay, and defend. 

            The top 10 list produced by AAJ, includes the following insurance companies:

                        Profits                          Assets

Allstate            $4.6 billion                   $156.4 billion

Unum               $679 million                  $52.4 billion

AIG                 $6.2 billion                   $1.06 trillion

State Farm       $5.5 billion                   $181.4 billion

Conseco           $179.9 million               $33.5 billion

WellPoint         $3.2 billion                   $51.6 billion

Farmers            $5.6 billion                   $387.7 billion

UnitedHealth    $4.7 billion                   $53.5 billion

Torchmark       $527.5 million               $15.2 billion

Liberty Mutual  $1.5 billion                   $94.7 billion

            It seems that the insurance industry has lost sight of the policyholders, and as Allstate’s CEO said, they have “begun to think and act more like a consumer products company.”  However, pro-consumer insurance reforms are being pushed, among these are: requiring insurers to work in good faith with consumers, requiring prior approval of rate increases, and establishing an insurance consumer advocate.

            Do not assume that because you are purchasing insurance you will always be protected, and keep these names in mind the next time you purchase insurance.  For more information on AAJ’s findings, and more specific information regarding individual companies, read the full report at http://www.justice.org/docs/TenWorstInsuranceCompanies.pdf