64% of Americans are less than "fully engaged" with their insurance company, according to a new Gallup poll. And our youngest generation, the so-called millennials, are the least engaged of all! This post breaks down:
Louisiana has the 4th highest car insurance rates in the country! Our average premium is $1,842 - over $500 more expensive than the national average of $1,325. But we certainly don't get better service for the extra money. There are many proposed reasons for the high rates, including:
Here's what residents have to say about their insurance company:
An independent insurance agent in Livonia, Louisiana is disgusted with the industry:
“Information is always varied from rep to rep... Being able to get a hold of a rep is near to impossible, and obtaining accurate information?? Forget about it!”
A Metairie, Louisiana customer posted:
“I had an accident in April, here it is August and they still haven't paid my claim. UN-BE-FREAKIN-LIEVABLE. I saved 55 dollars a month...for this?”
This leads us to create our own list of the 10 worst insurance companies in Louisiana. We used multiple data sets to compile our list. First, we combined existing 'Worst Insurance Company' lists from SmartShop, Property Casualty 360 & Insure.com, who ranked these companies based on surveys of 4,000 customers nationwide. Then we overlaid those scores with the aggregate customer review scores on Consumer Affairs.
The lower the score, the worse the company, so 1st place can be considered the Worst Insurance Company in America:
10th place: Direct General Insurance Company
Insure score: 85.9
SmartShop score: F (more than 4x as many complaints as average)
Consumer Affairs: 1.1 stars
9th place: Allstate Insurance
Insure score: 82.6
Customers who recommend this carrier: 84%
Claims processing stars: 4
Financial strength ratings: A+
Consumer Affairs: 2.5 stars
SmartShop score: A-
8th place: Liberty Mutual Insurance
Insure score: 82.1
Customers who recommend this carrier: 78%
Claims processing stars: 4
Financial strength ratings: A
SmartShop score: B
Consumer Affairs: 1.2 stars
7th place: Titan Insurance/ Nationwide
Insure score: 82
Customers who recommend this carrier: 88%
Claims processing stars: 5
Financial strength ratings: A+
Consumer Affairs: 2 stars
6th place: Farmers Insurance
Insure score: 81.4
Customers who recommend this carrier: 78%
Claims processing stars: 4.5
Financial strength ratings: A-
Consumer Affairs: 1.6 stars
5th place: American Family Insurance
Insure score: 80.7
Customers who recommend this carrier:79%
Claims processing stars: 4
Financial strength ratings: A+
Consumer Affairs: 1.9 stars
4th place: Mercury Insurance
Insure score: 79.6
Customers who recommend this carrier: 75%
Claims processing stars: 4.5
Financial strength ratings: A-
Consumer Affairs: 1.1 stars
3rd place: Esurance
Insure score: 79.6
Customers who recommend this carrier: 78%
Claims processing stars: 4.5
Financial strength ratings: A+
Consumer Affairs: 1.2 stars
2nd place: Travelers Auto Insurance
Insure score: 78.7
Customers who recommend this carrier: 74%
Claims processing stars: 4.5
Financial strength ratings: A++
Consumer Affairs: 1.6 stars
Worst Insurance Company: 21st Century Insurance
Insure score: 78.1
Customers who recommend this carrier: 83%
Claims processing stars: 3.5
Financial strength ratings: A
Consumer Affairs: 1.5 stars
(Not all companies were represented in the study & we excluded some local companies with incomplete data)
You may look at these numbers and think “they're not too bad”; however, let me share some industry information:
First, the rates. Here are 5 ways you can lower your car insurance costs:
With the 4th most expensive premiums in the country, it should come as no surprise to insurance carriers that Louisiana residents expect excellent service. Let's use this article to hold insurance companies to a higher standard & demand more accountability & a higher level of customer service.
You should consider an accident attorney if the insurance company is not willing to pay you for damages to your car or person. You should also consider one if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, or if their insurance coverage is not substantial enough to address all of your damages. It’s crucial that you contact a Monroe car accident attorney immediately so you can learn more about your legal rights and get the help you deserve right away. We would love to talk to you.
Accidents caused by dilapidated infrastructure has everyone talking, including John Bel Edwards, who became Louisiana’s governor last November.
"For years, the Transportation Trust Fund has been raided to pay for other priorities," Edwards said, "leaving a $12 billion backlog in critical infrastructure projects."
UPDATE: Louisiana is now Rated a D+ Overall in 2017
Edwards isn’t the only one who shares this concern. Infrastructure has been a hot topic on the campaign trail this year. Across the country, the American infrastructure system has come under intense scrutiny, with politicians citing dangerous performance reports, like the 2013 Report Card for American Infrastructure researched by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Louisiana received a C- grade, with bridges and roadways scoring the lowest among several categories. Specifically, 1,827 of the 13,050 bridges were deemed structurally deficient. What’s more shocking, each motorist in the state of Louisiana spends an extra $464 a year to drive on roadways in need of major repair.
According to the report, "Nearly every deficiency noted in the road system is directly attributable to an inadequate and outdated funding model that forces transportation professionals to defer capacity, safety and maintenance projects."
In early June, Governor John Bel Edwards and Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Secretary Shawn Wilson announced the formation of the Governor’s Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment—a group designated to research immediate threats, identify long-term funding solutions, and make recommendations "to be introduced in 2017 to fund a robust, multimodal construction program...".
During the next six months, the Louisiana Task Force will be researching and drafting plans that will hopefully reduce congestion and safety concerns on our local roadways. Additionally, they’ll be looking at ways in which Louisiana can become a leader in multimodal transportation, with an emphasis on sound and sustainability policies.
In the meantime, motor vehicle accidents in Louisiana continue to be a likely occurrence, as excessive congestion and poor maintenance translates into a greater risk for drivers, their vehicles, and personal property.
Remember to heed warning signs during construction. Slow down for construction workers, and keep extra distance between you and the driver in front of you. As public roadways, bridges, and other municipal works begin their improvements, it’s going to take extra attention from everyone in the state of Louisiana to ensure the safety of other drivers during this critical time of development.
If you’re in a car accident, your No. 1 priority should be your health, but that’s often easier said than done, especially when taking time off work is a challenge, and expensive medical bills become a burden.
Choosing an experienced personal injury lawyer can make a huge difference to your recovery. While you focus on getting better, we take care of the insurance claim and manage the complicated legal process from start to finish.
Along with causing auto accidents, personal injury due to negligent drivers or safety hazards from poor infrastructure can affect pedestrians and bicyclists. It’s never been more important for us to share public roads with our fellow drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
If you have questions about auto accidents or a personal injury claim, we at the Monroe Law Office of J. Antonio Tramontana, Attorney at Law, want to hear from you. For a free case review, please fill out the form to the left, or call me directly at 318-340-1515.
If you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident because of someone else’s negligence, you probably know you’re entitled to compensation for your injuries.
But did you know the compensation you receive is dependent on the type of harm incurred? It’s important to work with an experienced Monroe car accident attorney who can accurately estimate the value of loss you have suffered in a crash.
As the result of a car accident, you may suffer two general types of harm:
You can probably guess what economic harm includes:
It’s items like your medical expenses, any lost wages due to injuries, and the costs of having your car repaired or replaced.
The value of non-economic harm, on the other hand, is harder to peg with a dollar figure. It includes categories like your physical pain and suffering, any emotional consequences, and the loss of your enjoyment of life.
Losses from an auto accident also can be sorted according to the object of the harm: people and vehicles. Among the harm caused to people, some losses are economic.
Medical expenses: If you’ve suffered mental or emotional injuries, you may need medical care now and in the future. Your attorney will work with a medical professional to help you get better and to estimate the ongoing costs of your care.
Compensation for medical expenses may include:
Your attorney will assist you in gathering documentation to prove that your medical expenses are directly related to injuries you suffered in an accident.
Household help: You may need help with household tasks while you recover and even on a permanent basis, depending on the extent of your injuries. If you would not have incurred the expense if you hadn’t been injured, you may be entitled to compensation.
Lost income and lost earning capacity: If you lose wages or the ability to earn money in the future because of an accident, you may receive compensation.
Other human losses related to accidents are non-economic and can include:
When a vehicle is damaged in a crash, the resale value may be diminished even if the vehicle is repaired. For the owner this means:
Diminution — or reduction — in the value of the vehicle.
So even if you’re compensated for the cost of repairing your car after an accident, you may be entitled to additional compensation for the lost value ("diminished value of your vehicle").
Under Louisiana law, you may be entitled to recover damages related to diminution if:
If you’ve suffered loss in an accident — either from personal injury or damage to your vehicle — it’s important to work with an experienced Monroe car accident attorney. For a consultation, please contact J. Antonio Tramontana at 318-340-1515.
In the State of Louisiana, drivers are required by law to report accidents that either result in injuries or in damages of over $100. Damages- whether physical or property- can be deceptively expensive, so we suggest reporting all accidents.
When you play it safe and legal and call police to file a report after a Louisiana car accident, you protect your rights as well. If the other party later tries to claim that you caused the accident, that police report will be a lifesaver for your case. What makes the police report so important? Information and official documentation – read on to find out why they matter.
While remaining within the legal guidelines is a must, there are also some clear benefits to filing a police report after an accident; the report filed now may be needed by your lawyer later.
The police report will include hard facts about the accident and provides much-needed information for your legal team. If you have been injured, these details will be needed to support you case in court and ensure that you receive all of the compensation you are entitled to. If you have been accused of contributing to the accident, then these details can help clear your name and ensure that the accusations do not impact your insurance or case settlement.
The report will cover the names of the people involved, describe any overt or obvious injuries or damages, properly identify the vehicles, drivers and witnesses; and since it is written by an objective third party, be accepted as an accurate account of what happened.
A police report also serves as official documentation of the accident and can be used by the court, your lawyer and the insurance company as evidence. Everything from the location of the vehicles to the weather outside will be documented in the report and serve as useful information for your attorney. Many personal injury cases are settled before the court is involved, so official documentation will help your attorney fight for you.
Three words: Call right away
While Louisiana does give you up to 24 hours to make the report, there is really no reason to wait. You should call the authorities in the city or town where the accident occurred or the state authorities if the accident was not within town limits. Calling the police at once allows them to see what happened immediately, not a day or two later or after the cars have been removed.
Call the police immediately after an accident, even if there do not seem to be injuries. This will protect your rights and make it easier for an attorney to help you out in the courtroom.
If you have been injured an accident, we can help. Contact us for a complimentary consultation about your case and to find out what compensation you might be entitled to. We are committed to protecting your rights and helping you fully recover from an accident and stand ready to help you however we can.
In an effort to combat distracted driving, New York is proposing legislation that will make it legal for law enforcement to use a "textalyzer" on the phones of drivers after an accident. The textalyzer, which allows police to determine if the driver was texting at the time of the accident, will make it much easier to identify when drivers have been operating their vehicles while distracted.
Nationally:
The numbers are clear – distracted driving, especially related to mobile device use, is a major issue on both a state and a national level. According to the the official government website on distracted driving – Distraction.gov – there were 3,129 deaths due to distracted driving crashes in 2014.
In Louisiana:
Louisiana Crash Data Reports, which gathers data on all crashes in the state of Louisiana, lists five fatalities and another 812 injuries due to cell phone use while driving in 2015.
The Distraction website lists a number of unsettling facts related to distracted driving, including the fact that a driver's eyes are off the road for a full five seconds while texting – enough time to drive the length of a football field blindfolded. It is no surprise then that so much can go wrong while texting behind the wheel. The driver is not aware of his or her surroundings while hurtling along in a dangerous vehicle traveling at potentially high speeds.
The texting-while-driving problem has a lot of parallels to the drunk driving epidemic, hence the name of the new device. Like the breathalyzer, the textalyzer can quickly determine if a driver was doing something that they shouldn't have. The risks of texting while driving are apparent now, as evidenced by the statistics and the many movements to discourage the dangerous practice. Drivers should be driving, not messing around on their phones – for both their own safety, and for the safety of everyone else on the road.
One of the main arguments for the adoption of the textalyzer by law enforcement is that it will give clear insight into whether or not the driver was using the device in the moments leading up to the accident. If law enforcement can identify the use of the device right before the accident, then prosecuting the offender for distracted driving becomes much easier. With successful prosecution and punishment, it will become clear to all drivers that distracted driving puts you at risk of getting in big trouble. Like with drunk driving, most people will prefer to control themselves rather than risk getting caught.
The fact that you can be obeying all the rules of the road, yet still get hurt due to another driver's negligence, is not OK. Yet every day, other drivers get behind the wheel and choose to endanger the lives of others. Fortunately, technological innovations like the textalyzer are making it possible to deter at least some of the bad behavior that puts innocent people at risk. It may take some time for all states to adopt the use of the textalyzer, but it is encouraging to know that solutions are being created to combat the rise in distracted driving due to mobile device use.
If you or someone you care about has been hurt in an accident caused by a distracted driver, it is important that you talk to an attorney about what happened. Our firm is here to answer your questions and help you determine if you have a case. Let us help you pursue those responsible for your injuries and make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Please contact us now to get started.
If you have ever had the unfortunate experience of being in a car accident, you know the trauma, pain, and suffering that goes along with the event. This single incident can change the course of your life, especially if you are severely injured. Of course, even minor injuries can have a lasting impact. That is why attorneys like us work so hard to help accident victims like you get the compensation you need.
As a victim of a car accident in Louisiana, you might
be wondering if you have a feasible personal injury case. Getting an attorney to work hard for you is the best way to ensure your long-term needs are met. You are also more likely to succeed in getting compensation if the other driver involved was deemed negligent. We have outlined the most common causes of accidents; Read through them to see if your particular case fits into one of these categories:
With the popularity of social media and cell phone use on the rise, the incidents of distracted driving accidents have escalated. It is estimated that thousands of people are killed and injured as a result of distracted driving each year. Although younger drivers tend to be more apt to text and drive or to surf social media while operating a vehicle, they aren’t the only ones on the road who make that mistake. It is unfortunately all too common. Distracted driving isn’t limited to cell phones only, though, as talking on the phone, eating, drinking, talking to passengers, messing with the radio or setting a GPS are also significant distractions.
In 2014, there were a reported 737 traffic deaths on Louisiana roads due to alcohol-impaired driving, this according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of course, this number doesn’t reflect the injuries that occurred that didn’t result in death. However, the number does reveal the propensity of Louisianians to get behind the wheel while inebriated. As many experts have proven, even buzzed driving can reduce a person’s ability to properly react while operating a vehicle, which can and often does lead to an accident.
Virtually every car accident is caused by driver error of some sort. After all, it’s not like anyone ever "means" to run off the road or plow into another car. Therefore, driver error is a common cause of accidents and makes up a significant portion of car accident claims. If an accident happens as a result of a driver failing to yield the right of way, driving improperly for conditions, running a stop sign or red light, braking suddenly, merging without proper signaling or speeding, this would be considered drive error.
The final addition to our list of the most commonly filed car accident claims is an accident involving an employee on the clock. This is most often the case when a big-rig truck is involved in an accident, as they are usually on the clock while driving. The size factor of a big-rig, of course, makes any accident in which it is involved much more substantial. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Commission, there were 77,000 non-fatal accidents caused by large trucks in 2012. This number exemplifies the danger that big-rig and other large trucks pose to fellow motorists on the roadways. Unfortunately, when you are dealing with large corporations, like those who own and operate major trucking companies, car accident claims aren’t always cut and dry, since any case dealing with a major corporation can be difficult to prove and win. However, it is possible when there is enough evidence. On the other hand, a claim can involve the employee who was driving the big truck, instead of a driver or passenger who was in a car that was hit by a big-rig. In this type of case, the employee or driver of the big-rig involved in an accident will file a claim against their employer. In most instances, they must be without fault in regards to their accident for this to be a possibility.
Contact Tony Tramontana today if you have any questions about your case.
What if no one died in auto accidents in Louisiana? That’s the goal of an ambitious new statewide initiative, and it’s one that Attorney J. Antonio Tramontana fully supports.
Destination Zero Deaths offers methods for law enforcement and others to positively impact the state’s transportation system. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and Louisiana State Police are all involved in the effort, part of the Louisiana Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
The strategic plan is a "comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach" to lessening the tragic consequences of fatalities and injuries related to devastating automobile accidents on Louisiana’s highways. A website and Facebook page are devoted to the effort, and citizens are encouraged to spread the word.
A spokesman for LADOTD said the plan’s Zero Deaths goal is ambitious but is worth pursuing, and Attorney Tramontana agrees. In 2014, according to the State Police, 740 people died on roadways statewide, and 73 fatalities occurred in the northwest northeast region of our state. Total fatalities are down from 987 in 2006, but remain too high.
Between 2009 and 2013, the leading cause of death on Louisiana’s northwest northeast region highways was roadway departure. Failure to wear seat belts and driving under the influence of alcohol also caused fatalities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over the past decade, fatalities related to people driving under the influence of alcohol have dropped by 27 percent, and the numbers continue to decrease. Nationally, the rate of fatalities that involved alcohol-impaired drivers decreased from 0.34 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2013 to 0.33 in 2014.
Another positive indicator at the national level is that seat belt use is up slightly, from 86 percent in 2012 to 87 percent in 2013, the NHTSA reports.
In Louisiana, the Strategic Highway Safety Plan includes strategies for all levels of government — local, regional and statewide. Nine regional safety coalitions are charged with working in cooperation with a number of entities and groups that have an interest in roadway safety, including emergency medical services, education, engineering and law enforcement. The coalitions and their community partners will develop regional safety plans using the state plan as a guide.
Each of the regional plans will look at accident-related issues that directly affect the specific region. Areas of focus will include impaired driving, infrastructure operations, protection of vehicle occupants, and younger drivers. Among drivers ages 15 to 24, the primary issues related to safety are risk-taking behaviors, immaturity and lack of experience behind the wheel, the NHTSA reports.
Louisiana initiative leaders note that reducing roadway fatalities across the state will require the involvement of multiple agencies and interested parties. Law enforcement cannot solve the problem alone.
One component of the Zero Deaths initiative is slashing the number of roadway fatalities in half by 2030. To meet that ambitious goal, the regional groups will look at crash data and will identify strategies that can reduce the numbers. They also will develop and implement action plans toward the goal.
Maj. Carl Saizan with the Louisiana State Police said that the state is in the midst of a culture change regarding automobile accidents and that change will require significant time, energy, and local involvement. Some measures are already in place and are making a difference, he said.
In the coming years, the Destination Zero Deaths initiative should reduce highway fatalities — and, with cooperation and vigilance by the public, may even eliminate them. In the meantime, if you’re in an accident, it’s important to know what to do. Immediately afterward, stay at the scene until law enforcement officers arrive, ensure that anyone involved gets medical treatment, and collect all the information you can about the accident.
If you’re injured in an accident, you should contact an experienced Monroe automobile accident attorney to learn about your rights. Your attorney also will assist you in securing the compensation you’re due from the insurance company and the at-fault party for your injuries and damage to your vehicle. To consult with an attorney now, contact J. Antonio Tramontana, Attorney at Law, at 318-340-1515.
In 2012, federal statistics show that there were 722 bicyclist deaths in the United States- an increase of 6 percent from 2011 and 16 percent from 2010. The state of Florida takes the top spot as the most dangerous place for cyclists, recording an annual per capita average of cyclist deaths as 5.7 per million residents. This exceeds the national rate of bicyclist fatalities, which was 2.3 deaths per 1 million.
Louisiana claims the number 2 spot as the deadliest state for bicyclists with an average per capita bicyclist fatality rate of 3.8 per 1 million residents; an average of 17 deaths per year.
While fatalities related to cyclist crashes seem to make the activity very dangerous, let’s put it into perspective. There are no hard numbers on how many people are actually riding bicycles or how far they are riding. That makes it impossible to gather complete data, particularly regarding the percentage of bicycle riders that have fatal accidents. However, even one fatality related to bicycling is one too many.
While the statistics paint a grim picture about bike riding, it is still a fun activity with many health benefits. It is important for both cyclists and drivers to take necessary precautions when they are on the road. Drivers need to be vigilant and avoid distractions such as cell phones and texting while driving.
Cyclists can take certain precautions to minimize their risk of accident. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers some recommendations.
Wearing a bicycle helmet while you ride will reduce your risk of brain and head injuries if you are in a crash. No matter your age, you can benefit from wearing a helmet. According to Louisiana bicycle laws, anyone under the age of 12 is required to wear a helmet. These laws have been proven effective in reducing bicycle-related injuries and deaths to children.
The more visible a bicycle rider is, the less likely he or she is to be hit. The use of active lighting and clothing that makes the rider highly visible has been shown to be effective in reducing bicycle-related injuries and fatalities. Some ways that a cyclist can be more visible include:
Many areas are installing bike lanes on their roadways. This gives cyclists a safe place to ride. There are several organizations that work to encourage areas to install bike lanes. You can get involved by searching for an organization in your area.
Bicycle accident injuries can be very severe, even debilitating. The rider is essentially unprotected and no match for a car or truck. A bicycle accident can cause long-term injury or even permanent disability. Often people who have been injured in a bicycle accident in Louisiana have trouble finding legal representation that is knowledgeable in the state’s bicycle laws. These cases can be quite complex and you need an attorney who has experience in bicycle law and specializes in handling cases that involved catastrophic personal injury, especially those sustained in a bicycle accident.
If you have been in a bicycle accident, call our office and schedule a consultation so we can discuss your case. Our caring, committed, and knowledgeable staff will be there every step of the way for you to help you get the justice that you deserve.
Many states across America have seen a reduction in traffic accidents as well as injuries and fatalities when they have passed stricter traffic laws along with stiffer penalties, but what happens when drivers seem to disregard traffic laws altogether? Unfortunately, Louisiana has a horrible record when it comes to obeying the basic rules of the road including following traffic signals, using their seatbelts, and even making sure their driver's license is valid before they take to the road. A car insurance comparison website has compiled a list of "the worst drivers in the U.S." The ranking looks at the following driving statistics for each state and determines scores for each state depending on their performance. Louisiana had poor scores in all areas. These include
All of these rankings were made by looking at fatal accidents. They did not consider those where people survived but suffered various types of injuries. They did not reveal how often a traffic accident results in significant damage to the vehicles involved or other property.
In every state, there is some provision that requires at least some drivers or passengers to wear a seatbelt while they are in a passenger vehicle. In Louisiana, it is required for everyone in a vehicle 13 or under to wear a seatbelt regardless of where they are sitting in the car. There's no requirement for older children or adults in the state, but many other states require everyone to buckle up. A little more leniency is granted to those who are in the back seat. Many people don't take Louisiana's seat belt laws very seriously, and this may be influenced by the fact that the penalty for an initial offense is only $25.
According to the Center for Disease Control wearing a seatbelt can reduce a person's risk of injury by half. Responsible drivers will often make a "car rule" that their passengers buckle up when they are driving. They do this not only because they are concerned for their passenger's safety, but because in the event of an accident the mere movement of a person inside a vehicle can cause a person to person crash and more injuries. The CDC has also found that over half of teens in fatal auto accidents were not wearing seatbelts. It also takes a while for people to grow out of failing to use a seatbelt. Adults aged 18-34 are restrained half as often as those aged 35 and older. Men are also 10% worse about belt usage than women. Also, more people forgo seatbelts if they are in a rural area. In urban areas, overall seat belt usage is at 87%, but in the country, the rate falls to 78%. Louisiana's overall seatbelt front seat usage rate in 2012 was 79% -- far less than the national average of 86%.
Failing to follow laws requiring a valid license is also a big concern, as it shows that many do not consider losing their license to be a significant enough of a punishment for offenses such as reckless driving, speeding, or driving under the influence. Since there is a lack of concern for the potential criminal penalties for poor and dangerous driving practices, it is that much more important that those who suffer personal injuries from an auto accident pursue their legal rights when it comes to being properly compensated for their injuries. This includes medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and more. A good personal injury lawyer will help you hold the driver responsible for their negligent driving by fully investigating the circumstances of the accident and the likely long-term effects of your injuries.
At J. Antonio Tramontana Attorney at Law in Monroe, LA we have more than twenty years experience helping clients with their personal injury cases. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you.
