Automobile Accidents

• Courts weaken uninsured motorist coverage

  Don Jacobs | March 20, 2008 8:12 AM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  Smart consumers purchase uninsured motorist coverage when they buy insurance for their car. With so many uninsured drivers on the road this coverage is a must. Not only are there more uninsured drivers on the road now than in the past, many who do carry insurance buy the cheapest coverage possible. Most states set thresholds for the lowest coverage you can purchase and still legally drive. ...

• Criminal Charges for Surgeon

  Don Jacobs | March 16, 2008 1:00 PM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  Dr. Jayant Patel, a former Kaiser surgeon in Portland was front page news on March 13, 2008 in the Oregonian Newspaper. The surgeon nicknamed "Dr. Death" was wanted in Australia for manslaughter charges, all arising out of his bungling care of patients. Manslaughter, for the uninformed, means someone has to die as a result of his actions. The real story here however is how easily this doctor...

• Hospital errors result in 24 fatalities

  Don Jacobs | March 13, 2008 12:09 PM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  Buried back on the 2nd page of the Metro section, the above story title appeared in the March 12, 2008 Oregonian Newspaper. Note it says fatalities, not injuries. Injuries, whether serious life threatening ones or merely something from which you recover, are separate numbers. So what type of hospital errors caused 24 deaths? All ones that were easily preventable. The article described some...

• Contingent Fees and Frivolous Lawsuits

  Don Jacobs | March 06, 2008 4:32 PM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  Oregon is about to put an Initiative on the ballot that would limit contingent fees charged by attorneys. At first glance you'd think this is a good idea. Don't lawyers make lots of money? Why shouldn't we pass laws that limit what they can charge? Once again the usual urban myths are trotted out by the people who have the most to gain by proclaiming them. Do lawyers make a lot of money? ...

• Initiative Limits Attorney Fees in Oregon

  Don Jacobs | February 29, 2008 5:55 PM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  It looks like Kevin Mannix and Bill Sizemore are at it again. The initiative process in Oregon is supposed to exist so the voice of the people can be heard. If citizens can gather enough signatures from registered voters, an indication many feel strongly about an issue, a measure can be put on the ballot. This grass roots process allowing citizens to bypass the legislature and have a voice...

• The Rising Costs of Health Care - Who's to Blame?

  Don Jacobs | February 21, 2008 11:39 AM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  An interesting article in the March 2008 issue of Consumer Reports helps to once again dispel an urban myth. Lawyers and frivolous lawsuits are the reason health care costs keeps rising. The article notes over 60% of surveyed adults think this is true. The same survey showed 69% specifically thought it was due to frivolous lawsuits. Well guess what, neither is true. Not even close. Yet...

• Insurance Medical Examinations

  Don Jacobs | February 19, 2008 11:37 AM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  After an injury accident, many consumers get demands from an insurance company that they be examined by a doctor of the insurance company's choosing. Laughingly referred to by the insurance industry as "Independent Medical Exams", many companies use these as a tool to limit insurance benefits. Insurance adjustors are trained to tell someone injured in a car accident that the exam is set up to...

• Uninsured Motorist Claims - What are you paying for?

  Don Jacobs | February 08, 2008 6:15 PM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  Many consumers when hurt by an uninsured motorist turn to their own company for help. When this happens, those that were prudent in purchasing uninsured motorist coverage are entitled to recover monetary benefits. The benefits are calculated by determining the value of the injury claim against the guilty driver. An evaluation of this nature can require quite a bit of expertise in tort law. ...

• Uninsured Motorist Claims

  Don Jacobs | February 05, 2008 6:12 PM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  Many of us carry uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage on our auto policies. With many accidents caused by drivers with little or no insurance, this coverage is a prudent item to purchase. What you pay for under this coverage is a monetary benefit. If you have this coverage and become injured by an uninsured bad driver, your company is essentially required to assume the role of the bad...

• Is an Oral Agreement Valid?

  Don Jacobs | January 17, 2008 1:17 PM | 0 CommentsVancouver, WA

  A not entirely new practice by insurance companies is being used more and more lately. Oral releases. Calling up an injured consumer after an accident and asking if they want to settle over the phone. Insurance companies train adjusters to make immediate contact after an accident. Often before the injured party has called a lawyer or has any idea about their rights or the value of their...