Smart Auto Insurance Blog

More than a year later, the National Transportation Safety Board has determined that a horrible car accident in Missouri was caused by a 19-year old driver texting on his cell phone.  Joan Lowy’s Associated Press article, “Driver was texting in Missouri traffic pileup,” says that the 19-year old was driving a pickup truck while texting on his phone and rear ended a tractor truck.  Because of that collision, one school bus rear ended the pickup truck and was consequently rear ended by another school bus.  The pickup truck driver and a 15-year old in one of the school buses were both killed.

Many states have banned texting or talking on the phone while driving; Pennsylvania was recently the 35th state to put a ban on texting while driving.  The NTSB has recommended bans for commercial drivers, but hasn’t recommended the ban for passenger cars yet.  Missouri auto insurance companies are well aware of all of the additional accidents caused by the use of cell phones for talking, texting, and surfing the internet.  One out of 100 drivers on the road in America are on their phones at any given time of the day.  An accident caused by using your cell phone while driving will likely increase your auto insurance premiums, but more importantly, no one wants to cause a death like those in Missouri for something as ridiculous as texting while driving.

Written by Sara Smart

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SaraSmart55

Missouri auto insurance regulators have updated the public with some storm data about claims throughout the state.  According to the press release found on WiredPRNews.com, Missouri residents have collected approximately $750 million from insurance companies from claims filed throughout the storms that hit Joplin back in May.

John M. Huff, who is the director of the state Department of Insurance encourages consumers to contact their department or their insurance company if they believe they may be eligible to file a claim.  Huff and other officials believe the department and insurance companies have done an excellent job helping the people of Missouri who needed it most through the quick fulfillment of claims.

Area regulators previously announced in June that Missouri insurers of auto insurance as well as other coverages, had paid out around $500 million in claims with auto claims specifically making up over $34 million.  This number has steadily increased throughout the summer as claims were filed and insurers met their needs.  About $250 million was paid out in early July alone says the Department of Insurance.

Altogether, almost 17,000 claims have been submitted as a result of the disastrous tornado that devastated the area.  Huff believes that total claims could hit up to $2 billion altogether.  The claims that are still pending at this point will be difficult to resolve and may take some more time.

Written by Sara Smart

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SaraSmart55

Progressive Insurance Company has expanded their optional usage-based auto insurance program to include drivers in Missouri.  The program called MyRate gives drivers a customized auto insurance rate based on their driving habits, (i.e. how much, and when their car is driven.)

New Missouri auto insurance customers get an immediate first-term discount of up to 10% when they sign up for MyRate.   When they renew their policy, they could save as much as 25%. or be charged up to 9% more, based on their driving habits.

The MyRate program is now being rolled out nationally pending regulatory approval on a state-by-state basis.

More information about Missouri auto insurance.