Online Car Insurance

Vehicle insurance (also known as auto insurance, GAP insurance, car insurance, or motor insurance) is insurance purchased for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other road vehicles. Its primary use is to provide financial protection against physical damage and/or bodily injury resulting from traffic collisions and against liability that could also arise therefrom. The specific terms of vehicle insurance vary with legal regulations in each region. To a lesser degree vehicle insurance may additionally offer financial protection against theft of the vehicle and possibly damage to the vehicle, sustained from things other than traffic collisions.

Public policies

In many jurisdictions it is compulsory to have vehicle insurance before using or keeping a motor vehicle on public roads. Most jurisdictions relate insurance to both the car and the driver, however the degree of each varies greatly.

Several jurisdictions have experimented with a "pay-as-you-drive" insurance plan which is paid through a gasoline tax (petrol tax). This would address issues of uninsured motorists and also charge based on the miles (kilometres) driven, which could theoretically increase the efficiency of the insurance, through streamlined collection.^[1]

Australia

In South Australia, Third Party Personal insurance from the Motor Accident Commission is included in the licence registration fee for people over 17. A similar scheme applies in Western Australia.

In Victoria, Third Party Personal insurance from the Transport Accident Commission is similarly included, through a levy, in the vehicle registration fee.

In New South Wales and the Northern Territory Compulsory Third Party Insurance (commonly known as CTP Insurance) is a mandatory requirement and each individual car must be insured or the vehicle will not be considered legal. Therefore, a motorist cannot drive the vehicle until it is insured. A 'Green Slip,'^[2] another name by which CTP Insurance is commonly known due to the colour of the pages which the form is printed on, must be obtained through one of the five licenced insurers in New South Wales. Suncorp and Allianz both hold two licences to issue CTP Greenslips – Suncorp under the GIO and AAMI licences and Allianz under the Allianz and CIC/Allianz licences. The remaining three licences to issue CTP Greenslips are held by QBE, Zurich and IAL – NRMA. APIA now also supplies CTP but is only for over 50's who are no longer working full-time. A similar scheme applies in the Australian Capital Territory.

In Queensland, CTP is a mandatory part of registration for a vehicle. There is choice of insurer but price is government controlled in a tight band.

These state based third party insurance schemes usually cover only personal injury liability. Comprehensive vehicle insurance is sold separately to cover property damage and cover can be for events such as fire, theft, collision and other property damage.

CTP covers only personal injury liability

Third Party Insurance only covers damage that you are responsible for to someone else's property or vehicle .

Third Party Fire and Theft Insurance covers damage that you are responsible for to someone else's property or vehicle & It will cover your vehicle in the event of a fire or theft.

Comprehensive Insurance covers damage to your vehicle from an accident and any damage that you are responsible for to someone else's property or vehicle.

Canada

Several Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec) provide a public auto insurance system while in the rest of the country insurance is provided privately. Basic auto insurance is mandatory throughout Canada with each province's government determining which benefits are included as minimum required auto insurance coverage and which benefits are options available for those seeking additional coverage. Accident benefits coverage is mandatory everywhere except for Newfoundland and Labrador. All provinces in Canada have some form of no-fault insurance available to accident victims. The difference from province to province is the extent to which tort or no-fault is emphasized. International drivers entering Canada are permitted to drive any vehicle their licence allows for the 3-month period for which they are allowed to use their international licence. International laws provide visitors to the country with an International Insurance Bond (IIB) until this 3-month period is over in which the international assailant must provide themselves with Canadian Insurance. The IIB is reinstated every time the international assailant enters the country. Damage to the driver's own vehicle is optional – one notable exception to this is in Saskatchewan, where SGI provides collision coverage (less than a $1000 deductible, such as a collision damage waiver) as part of its basic insurance policy. In Saskatchewan, residents have the option to have their auto insurance through a tort system but less than 0.5% of the population have taken this option.^[3]

Germany

Since 1939, it has been compulsory to have third party personal insurance before keeping a motor vehicle in all federal states of Germany. Besides, every vehicle owner is free to take out a comprehensive insurance policy. All types of car insurances are provided by several private insurers. The amount of insurance contribution is determined by several criteria, like the region, the type of car or the personal way of driving.^[4]

The minimum coverage defined by Germany law for car liability insurance / third party personal insurance is:
7.5 Million Euro for bodily injury (damage to people), 1 Million Euro for property damage and 50,000 Euro for financial/fortune loss which is in no direct or indirect coherence with bodily injury or property damage. Indeed Insurance Companies usually offer all-in/combined single limit insurances of 50 Million Euro or 100 Million Euro (about 141 Million Dollar) for bodily injury, property damage and other financial/fortune loss (usually with a bodily injury coverage limitation of 8 to 15 Million Euro for EACH bodily injured person).

Hungary

Third-party vehicle insurance is mandatory for all vehicles in Hungary. No exemption is possible by money deposit. The premium covers all damage up to HUF 500M (about €1.8M) per accident without deductible. The coverage is extended to HUF 1,250M (about €4.5M) in case of personal injuries. Vehicle insurance policies from all EU-countries and some non-EU countries are valid in Hungary based on bilateral or multilateral agreements. Visitors with vehicle insurance not covered by such agreements are required to buy a monthly, renewable policy at the border.^[5]

Indonesia

Third-party vehicle Insurance is a mandatory requirement in Indonesia and each individual car and motorcycle must be insured or the vehicle will not be considered legal. Therefore, a motorist cannot drive the vehicle until it is insured. Third Party vehicle insurance is included through a levy in the vehicle registration fee which is paid to government institution that known as "Samsat". Third-Party Vehicle Insurance is regulated under Act No. 34 Year 1964 Re: Road Traffic Accident Fund and merely covers Bodily injury, and managed by a SOE named PT. Jasa Raharja (Persero).^[6]

India

A Sample Vehicle Insurance Certificate in India

Auto Insurance in India deals with the insurance covers for the loss or damage caused to the automobile or its parts due to natural and man-made calamities. It provides accident cover for individual owners of the vehicle while driving and also for passengers and third party legal liability. There are certain general insurance companies who also offer online insurance service for the vehicle.

Auto Insurance in India is a compulsory requirement for all new vehicles used whether for commercial or personal use. The insurance companies have tie-ups with leading automobile manufacturers. They offer their customers instant auto quotes. Auto premium is determined by a number of factors and the amount of premium increases with the rise in the price of the vehicle. The claims of the Auto Insurance in India can be accidental, theft claims or third party claims. Certain documents are required for claiming Auto Insurance in India, like duly signed claim form, RC copy of the vehicle, Driving license copy, FIR copy, Original estimate and policy copy.

There are different types of Auto Insurance in India :

Private Car Insurance – In the Auto Insurance in India, Private Car Insurance is the fastest growing sector as it is compulsory for all the new cars. The amount of premium depends on the make and value of the car, state where the car is registered and the year of manufacture.

Two Wheeler Insurance – The Two Wheeler Insurance under the Auto Insurance in India covers accidental insurance for the drivers of the vehicle. The amount of premium depends on the current showroom price multiplied by the depreciation rate fixed by the Tariff Advisory Committee at the time of the beginning of policy period.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance – Commercial Vehicle Insurance under the Auto Insurance in India provides cover for all the vehicles which are not used for personal purposes, like the Trucks and HMVs. The amount of premium depends on the showroom price of the vehicle at the commencement of the insurance period, make of the vehicle and the place of registration of the vehicle. The auto insurance generally includes:

• Loss or damage by accident, fire, lightning, self ignition, external explosion, burglary, housebreaking or theft, malicious act.

• Liability for third party injury/death, third party property and liability to paid driver

• On payment of appropriate additional premium, loss/damage to electrical/electronic accessories

The auto insurance does not include:

• Consequential loss, depreciation, mechanical and electrical breakdown, failure or breakage

• When vehicle is used outside the geographical area

• War or nuclear perils and drunken driving

Ireland

The Road Traffic Act, 1933 requires all drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles in public places to have at least third-party insurance, or to have obtained exemption – generally by depositing a (large) sum of money with the High Court as a guarantee against claims. In 1933 this figure was set at £15,000.^[7] The Road Traffic Act, 1961^[8] (which is currently in force) repealed the 1933 act but replaced these sections with functionally identical sections.

From 1968, those making deposits require the consent of the Minister for Transport to do so, with the sum specified by the Minister.

Those not exempted from obtaining insurance must obtain a certificate of insurance from their insurance provider, and display a portion of this (an insurance disc) on their vehicles windscreen (if fitted). The certificate in full must be presented to a police station within ten days if requested by an officer. Proof of having insurance or an exemption must also be provided to pay for the motor tax.

Those injured or suffering property damage/loss due to uninsured drivers can claim against the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland's uninsured drivers fund, as can those injured (but not those suffering damage or loss) from hit and run offences.

New Zealand

Within New Zealand, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) provides nationwide no-fault personal injury insurance.^[9] Injuries involving motor vehicles operating on public roads are covered by the Motor Vehicle Account, for which premiums are collected through levies on petrol and through vehicle licensing fees.^[10]

Norway

In Norway, the vehicle owner must provide the minimum of liability insurance for his vehicle(s) – of any kind. Otherwise, the vehicle is illegal to use. If a person drives a vehicle belonging to someone else, and has an accident, the insurance will cover up for damage done.

Romania

Romanian law mandates Răspundere Auto Civilă, a motor-vehicle liability insurance for all vehicle owners to cover damages to third parties.^[11]

South Africa

South Africa allocates a percentage of the money from gasoline into the Road Accident Fund, which goes towards compensating third parties in accidents.^[12][13]

United Kingdom

Uninsured cars seized by the Merseyside Police on display outside the force's headquarters in 2006

In 1930, the UK government introduced a law that required every person who used a vehicle on the road to have at least third party personal injury insurance. Today, UK law is defined by the Road Traffic Act 1988, which was last modified in 1991. The Act requires that motorists either be insured, have a security, or have made a specified deposit (£500,000 as of 1991) with the Accountant General of the Supreme Court, against their liability for injuries to others (including passengers) and for damage to other persons' property, resulting from use of a vehicle on a public road or in other public places.

It is an offence to use a car, or allow others to use it, without the insurance that satisfies the act whilst on the public highway (or public place Section 143(1)(a) RTA 1988 as amended 1991); however, no such legislation applies on private land.

Road Traffic Act Only Insurance differs from Third Party Only Insurance (detailed below) and is not often sold. It provides the very minimum cover to satisfy the requirements of the Act. For example Road Traffic Act Only Insurance has a limit of £1,000,000 for damage to third party property – third party only insurance typically has a greater limit for third party property damage. As a result of costly claims, insurance companies can now no longer place a limit on the amount that they are liable for in the event of a claim by 3rd parties against a legitimate policy. This can be explained in part by the Great Heck Rail Crash that cost the insurers over £22 million in compensation for the fatalities and damage to property caused by the actions of the insured driver of a motor vehicle that caused the disaster.^[14]

The minimum level of insurance cover commonly available, and which satisfies the requirement of the Act, is called third party only insurance. The level of cover provided by Third party only insurance is basic, but does exceed the requirements of the act. This insurance covers any liability to third parties, but does not cover any other risks.

More commonly purchased is third party, fire and theft. This covers all third party liabilities and also covers the vehicle owner against the destruction of the vehicle by fire (whether malicious or due to a vehicle fault) and theft of the vehicle itself. It may or may not cover vandalism. This kind of insurance and the two preceding types do not cover damage to the vehicle caused by the driver or other hazards.

Comprehensive insurance covers all of the above and damage to the vehicle caused by the driver themselves, as well as vandalism and other risks. This is usually the most expensive type of insurance. For valuable cars, many insurers only offer comprehensive insurance.

Vehicles that are exempt from the requirement to be covered under the Act include those owned by certain councils and local authorities, national park authorities, education authorities, police authorities, fire authorities, health service bodies and security services.

The insurance certificate or cover note issued by the insurance company constitutes legal evidence that the vehicle specified on the document is insured. The law says that an authorised person, such as the police, may require a driver to produce an insurance certificate for inspection. If the driver cannot show the document immediately on request, and proof of insurance cannot be found by other means such as the Police National Computer, drivers are no longer issued a HORT/1. This was an order with seven days, as of midnight of the date of issue, to take a valid insurance certificate (and usually other driving documents as well) to a police station of the driver's choice. Failure to produce an insurance certificate is an offence. The HORT/1 was commonly known – even by the issuing authorities when dealing with the public – as a "Producer".

Insurance is more expensive in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the UK.^{[vague][citation needed]}. In 2010 the cost of car insurance rose by an average of 33%.^[15]

All motorists in the UK are required to prominently display a vehicle excise licence (tax disc) on their vehicle when it is kept or driven on public roads. This helps to ensure that most people have adequate insurance on their vehicles because an insurance certificate must be produced when a disc is purchased, although the insurance must merely be valid at the time of purchase and not necessarily for the life of the tax disc.^[16]

The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) compensates the victims of road accidents caused by uninsured and untraced motorists. It also operates a number of Motor Insurance Databases, which contain details of every insured vehicle in the country and acts as a means to share information between Insurance Companies.

On 1 March 2011 the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled that gender could no longer be used by insurers to set car insurance premiums. The new ruling will come into action from December 2012.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2011 a new law known as Continuous Insurance Enforcement came into force in the UK meaning that a vehicle must have a valid insurance policy if it has a tax disc, whether or not it is kept on public roads and whether or not it is driven.^[17] If the car is to be "laid up" for whatever reason, the tax disc must be surrendered and a SORN declaration completed to say that it is off the public roads.

Investigation into repair costs & Fraudulent claims

In September 2012 it was announced that the Competition Commission had launched an investigation into the UK system for credit repairs and credit hire of an alternative vehicle by a 3rd party following a non-fault accident. It was announced that insurers of vehicles that had caused a valid claim were unable to control the costs that were applied to the claim by means of repairs, storage, vehicle hire, referral fees and personal injury claims. Many accident management companies will take over the running of a non fault claim and arrange everything for the 3rd party. The subsequent cost of some of the items submitted for consideration has been a cause for concern over recent years and this has caused an increase in the premium costs. Also, the recent craze of "Cash for crash" has substantially raised the cost of policies. This is where two parties arrange a collision between their vehicles and one driver making excessive claims for damage and non existent injuries to themselves and the passengers that they had arranged to be "in the vehicle" at the time of the collision. Another recent development has seen crashes being caused delibarately by a driver "slamming" on their brakes so that the driver behind impacts them, this is usually carried out at roundabout junctions, when the following driver is looking to the right for oncoming traffic and does not notice that the vehicle in front has suddenly stopped for no reason.

United States

Main article: Vehicle insurance in the United States

The regulations for vehicle insurance differ with each of the 50 US states and other territories (see separate main article).

Coverage levels

Vehicle insurance can cover some or all of the following items:

• The insured party (medical payments)

• The insured vehicle (physical damage)

• Third parties (car and people, property damage and bodily injury)

• Third party, fire and theft

• In some jurisdictions coverage for injuries to persons riding in the insured vehicle is available without regard to fault in the auto accident (No Fault Auto Insurance)

• The cost to rent a vehicle if yours is damaged.

• The cost to tow your vehicle to a repair facility.

Different policies specify the circumstances under which each item is covered. For example, a vehicle can be insured against theft, fire damage, or accident damage independently.

Excess

An excess payment, also known as a deductible, is a fixed contribution that must be paid each time a car is repaired with the charges billed to an automotive insurance policy. Normally this payment is made directly to the accident repair "garage" (the term "garage" refers to an establishment where vehicles are serviced and repaired) when the owner collects the car. If one's car is declared to be a "write off" (or "totaled"), then the insurance company will deduct the excess agreed on the policy from the settlement payment it makes to the owner.

If the accident was the other driver's fault, and this fault is accepted by the third party's insurer, then the vehicle owner may be able to reclaim the excess payment from the other person's insurance company.

Compulsory excess

A compulsory excess is the minimum excess payment the insurer will accept on the insurance policy. Minimum excesses vary according to the personal details, driving record and the insurance company.

Voluntary excess

To reduce the insurance premium, the insured party may offer to pay a higher excess (deductible) than the compulsory excess demanded by the insurance company. The voluntary excess is the extra amount, over and above the compulsory excess, that is agreed to be paid in the event of a claim on the policy. As a bigger excess reduces the financial risk carried by the insurer, the insurer is able to offer a significantly lower premium.

Basis of premium charges

Main article: auto insurance risk selection

Depending on the jurisdiction, the insurance premium can be either mandated by the government or determined by the insurance company, in accordance with a framework of regulations set by the government. Often, the insurer will have more freedom to set the price on physical damage coverages than on mandatory liability coverages.

When the premium is not mandated by the government, it is usually derived from the calculations of an actuary, based on statistical data. The premium can vary depending on many factors that are believed to have an impact on the expected cost of future claims.^[18] Those factors can include the car characteristics, the coverage selected (deductible, limit, covered perils), the profile of the driver (age, gender, driving history) and the usage of the car (commute to work or not, predicted annual distance driven).^[19]

Gender

On 1 March 2011, the European Court of Justice controversially decided insurance companies who used gender as a risk factor when calculating insurance premiums were breaching EU equality laws.^[20] The Court ruled that car-insurance companies were discriminating against men, and these practices had to stop.^[20] These legal changes have introduced pressure in the industry to adopt better discriminating factors, like Telematics 2.0 solutions.

Age

Teenage drivers who have no driving record will have higher car insurance premiums. However, young drivers are often offered discounts if they undertake further driver training on recognized courses, such as the Pass Plus scheme in the UK. In the US many insurers offer a good-grade discount to students with a good academic record and resident-student discounts to those who live away from home. Generally insurance premiums tend to become lower at the age of 25. Some insurance companies offer "stand alone" car insurance policies specifically for teenagers with lower premiums. By placing restrictions on teenagers' driving (forbidding driving after dark, or giving rides to other teens, for example), these companies effectively reduce their risk.^[21] A teenager driving a safer car, such as a sedan rather than a flashy sports car, can also get lower insurance rates.^[22] Senior drivers are often eligible for retirement discounts, reflecting the lower average miles driven by this age group. Rates may increase for senior drivers after age 65, due to increased risk associated with much older drivers. Typically, the increased risk for drivers over 65 years of age is associated with slower reflexes, reaction times, and being more injury-prone as a result of aging.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, older drivers between the ages of 60 and 70 in the US must be able to demonstrate competency in order to retain a driver's license.^[23]

U.S. driving history

In most U.S. states, moving violations, including running red lights and speeding, assess points on a driver's driving record. Since more points indicate an increased risk of future violations, insurance companies periodically review drivers' records, and may raise premiums accordingly. Laws vary from state to state, but most insurers allow one moving violation every three to five years before increasing premiums. Accidents affect insurance premiums similarly. Depending on the severity of the accident and the number of points assessed, rates can increase by as much as twenty to thirty percent.^[24] Any motoring convictions should be disclosed to insurers, as the driver is assessed by risk from prior experiences while driving on the road.

Marital status

Statistics show that married drivers average fewer accidents than the rest of the population so policy owners who are married often receive lower premiums than single persons.^[25]

Vehicle classification

Two of the most important factors that go into determining the underwriting risk on motorized vehicles are: performance capability and retail cost. The most commonly available providers of auto insurance have underwriting restrictions against vehicles that are either designed to be capable of higher speeds and performance levels, or vehicles that retail above a certain dollar amount. Vehicles that are commonly considered luxury automobiles usually carry more expensive physical damage premiums because they are more expensive to replace. Vehicles that can be classified as high performance autos will carry higher premiums generally because there is greater opportunity for risky driving behavior. Motorcycle insurance may carry lower property-damage premiums because the risk of damage to other vehicles is minimal, yet have higher liability or personal-injury premiums, because motorcycle riders face different physical risks while on the road. Risk classification on automobiles also takes into account the statistical analysis of reported theft, accidents, and mechanical malfunction on every given year, make, and model of auto.

Distance

Some car insurance plans do not differentiate in regard to how much the car is used. There are however low-mileage discounts offered by some insurance providers. Other methods of differentiation would include: over-road distance between the ordinary residence of a subject and their ordinary, daily destinations.

Reasonable distance estimation

Another important factor in determining car-insurance premiums involves the annual mileage put on the vehicle, and for what reason. Driving to and from work every day at a specified distance, especially in urban areas where common traffic routes are known, presents different risks than how a retiree who does not work any longer may use their vehicle. Common practice has been that this information was provided solely by the insured person, but some insurance providers have started to collect regular odometer readings to verify the risk.

Odometer-based systems

Cents Per Mile Now^[26] (1986) advocates classified odometer-mile rates, a type of usage-based insurance. After the company's risk factors have been applied, and the customer has accepted the per-mile rate offered, then customers buy prepaid miles of insurance protection as needed, like buying gallons of gasoline (litres of petrol). Insurance automatically ends when the odometer limit (recorded on the car's insurance ID card) is reached, unless more distance is bought. Customers keep track of miles on their own odometer to know when to buy more. The company does no after-the-fact billing of the customer, and the customer doesn't have to estimate a "future annual mileage" figure for the company to obtain a discount. In the event of a traffic stop, an officer could easily verify that the insurance is current, by comparing the figure on the insurance card to that on the odometer.

Critics point out the possibility of cheating the system by odometer tampering. Although the newer electronic odometers are difficult to roll back, they can still be defeated by disconnecting the odometer wires and reconnecting them later. However, as the Cents Per Mile Now website points out:

As a practical matter, resetting odometers requires equipment plus expertise that makes stealing insurance risky and uneconomical. For example, to steal 20,000 miles [32,200 km] of continuous protection while paying for only the 2000 in the 35000 to 37000 range on the odometer, the resetting would have to be done at least nine times, to keep the odometer reading within the narrow 2,000-mile [3,200 km] covered range. There are also powerful legal deterrents to this way of stealing insurance protection. Odometers have always served as the measuring device for resale value, rental and leasing charges, warranty limits, mechanical breakdown insurance, and cents-per-mile tax deductions or reimbursements for business or government travel. Odometer tampering, detected during claim processing, voids the insurance and, under decades-old state and federal law, is punishable by heavy fines and jail.

Under the cents-per-mile system, rewards for driving less are delivered automatically, without the need for administratively cumbersome and costly GPS technology. Uniform per-mile exposure measurement for the first time provides the basis for statistically valid rate classes. Insurer premium income automatically keeps pace with increases or decreases in driving activity, cutting back on resulting insurer demand for rate increases and preventing today's windfalls to insurers, when decreased driving activity lowers costs but not premiums.

GPS-based system

In 1998, the Progressive Insurance company started a pilot program in Texas, in which drivers received a discount for installing a GPS-based device that tracked their driving behavior and reported the results via cellular phone to the company.^[27] Policyholders were reportedly more upset about having to pay for the expensive device than they were over privacy concerns.^{[citation needed]} The program was discontinued in 2000. In following years many policies (including Progressive) have been trialed and successfully introduced worldwide into what are referred to as Telematic Insurance. Such 'telematic' policies typically are based on black-box insurance technology, such devices derive from stolen vehicle and fleet tracking but are used for insurance purposes. Since 2010 GPS-based and Telematic Insurance systems have become more mainstream in the auto insurance market not just aimed at specialised auto-fleet markets or high value vehicles (with an emphasis on stolen vehicle recovery). Modern GPS-based systems are branded as 'PAYD' Pay As You Drive insurance policies, 'PHYD' Pay How You Drive or since 2012 Smartphone auto insurance policies which utilise smartphones as a GPS sensor.

OBDII-based system

The Progressive Corporation launched Snapshot to give drivers a customized insurance rate based on recording how, how much, and when their car is driven.^[28] Snapshot is currently available in 38 US states.^[28] Driving data is transmitted to the company using an on-board telematic device. The device connects to a car's OnBoard Diagnostic (OBD-II) port (all petrol automobiles in the USA built after 1996 have an OBD-II.) and transmits speed, time of day and number of miles the car is driven. There is no GPS in the Snapshot device, so no location information is collected. Cars that are driven less often, in less-risky ways, and at less-risky times of day, can receive large discounts. Progressive has received patents on its methods and systems of implementing usage-based insurance and has licensed these methods and systems to other companies.

Credit ratings

Insurance companies have started using credit ratings of their policyholders to determine risk. Drivers with good credit scores get lower insurance premiums, as it is believed that they are more financially stable, more responsible and have the financial means to better maintain their vehicles. Those with lower credit scores can have their premiums raised or insurance canceled outright.^[29] It has been shown that good drivers with spotty credit records could be charged higher premiums than bad drivers with good credit records.^[30]

Behavior-based insurance

The use of non-intrusive load monitoring to detect drunk driving and other risky behaviors has been proposed.^[31] A US patent application combining this technology with a usage based insurance product to create a new type of behavior based auto insurance product is currently open for public comment on peer to patent.^[32] See Behavior-based safety. Behaviour based Insurance focusing upon driving is often called Telematics or Telematics2.0 in some cases monitoring focus upon behavioural analysis such as Smooth driving.

Repair insurance

The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (September 2012)

Auto repair insurance is an extension of car insurance available in all 50 of the United States that covers the natural wear and tear on a vehicle, independent of damages related to a car accident.

Some drivers opt to buy the insurance as a means of protection against costly breakdowns unrelated to an accident. In contrast to more standard and basic coverages such as comprehensive and collision insurance, auto repair insurance does not cover a vehicle when it is damaged in a collision, during a natural disaster or at the hands of vandals.^{[citation needed]}

For many it is an attractive option for protection after the warranties on their cars expire.

Providers can also offer sub-divisions of auto repair insurance. There is standard repair insurance which covers the wear and tear of vehicles, and naturally occurring breakdowns. Some companies will only offer mechanical breakdown insurance, which only covers repairs necessary when breakable parts need to be fixed or replaced. These parts include transmissions, oil pumps, pistons, timing gears, flywheels, valves, axles and joints.^[33]

 

What Is A Mesothelioma Lawyer ?

Mesothelioma (or, more precisely, malignant mesothelioma) is a rare form of cancer that develops from transformed cells originating in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.^[1]

The most common anatomical site for the development of mesothelioma is the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it can also arise in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), and the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart),^[2] or the tunica vaginalis (a sac that surrounds the testis).

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers, or were exposed to airborne asbestos dust and fibers in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos increases their risk for developing mesothelioma.^[3] Unlike lung cancer, there seems to be no association between mesothelioma and tobacco smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers.^[4] Some people who were exposed to asbestos have collected damages for asbestos-related disease, including mesothelioma. Compensation via asbestos funds or class action lawsuits is an important issue in law practices regarding mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and constitutional signs such as unexplained weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, but must be confirmed pathologically, either with serous effusion cytology or with a biopsy (removing a sample of the suspicious tissue) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to acquire biopsy material, and allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (a procedure called pleurodesis), preventing more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Exposure to asbestos fibers has been recognized as an occupational health hazard since the early 20th century. Numerous epidemiological studies have associated occupational exposure to asbestos with the development of pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx, gastrointestinal tumors, and diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, gaskets, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.

Commercial asbestos mining at Wittenoom, Western Australia, occurred between 1945 and 1966. A cohort study of miners employed at the mine reported that while no deaths occurred within the first 10 years after crocidolite exposure, 85 deaths attributable to mesothelioma had occurred by 1985. By 1994, 539 reported deaths due to mesothelioma had been reported in Western Australia.

Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos related diseases.^[24][25] This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibres, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

Many building materials used in both public and domestic premises prior to the banning of asbestos may contain asbestos. Those performing renovation works or DIY activities may expose themselves to asbestos dust. In the UK use of Chrysotile asbestos was banned at the end of 1999. Brown and blue asbestos was banned in the UK around 1985. Buildings built or renovated prior to these dates may contain asbestos materials.

There is no universally agreed protocol for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. Screening tests might diagnose mesothelioma earlier than conventional methods thus improving the survival prospects for patients. The serum osteopontin level might be useful in screening asbestos-exposed people for mesothelioma. The level of soluble mesothelin-related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening.^[29] Doctors have begun testing the Mesomark assay which measures levels of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRPs) released by diseased mesothelioma cells.

Although U.S. regulations on asbestos and asbestos exposure began in the 1970s, more than three decades later people are coming to the conclusion they need a mesothelioma lawyer. One result of the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma cancer is continued legal claims by patients who were made sick through no fault of their own. Companies and contractors for branches of the military that exposed workers to the toxic mineral are being held accountable.

As early as the 1930s, medical evidence linked asbestos exposure to lung disease and mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers, diseases that severely limit someone’s life expectancy. Although many companies that made or used asbestos knew about these health hazards, they continued to expose their workers and the public to them for several decades.

Many veterans are in need of a mesothelioma attorney because so many of them, especially Navy veterans, had a high risk of asbestos exposure in the U.S. military. All together, up to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. If a doctor has diagnosed you or a loved one with an asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may have legal options to get help with medical bills and other related expenses.. 

For almost a century, asbestos was one of the most commonly used construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding materials. It was also used in thousands of products and can still be found in houses, apartments buildings and other facilities built before the 1980s. Many members of the public and workers in a variety of jobs were exposed to asbestos.  Another reason for the high number of new cases: It can take up to 50 years after an exposure for patients to start showing symptoms of mesothelioma. That is why a construction worker, shipbuilder or plant employee exposed to asbestos in the 1960s or 1970s may only now be diagnosed with the disease. That is also why many companies were able to hide the fact they exposed employees and others to this toxic mineral.

The costs of mesothelioma can be overwhelming. They can include income loss, expensive treatments that may not be covered by health insurance, plus pain and suffering for you and for your family. Because the disease is preventable – and because it is usually caused by someone else’s negligence – legal options may be available to help regain these costs.

Asbestos lawyers focus their practice on knowledgeably and effectively bringing to justice companies that exposed employees and the public to asbestos products. A mesothelioma attorney can help you consider your options and file a claim against the company responsible for your asbestos-related illness. More than one company may be responsible. A mesothelioma attorney identifies all companies at fault.

Mesothelioma lawsuits have helped thousands of people receive financial assistance. A lawsuit can result in much-needed money to help reduce financial hardships during an illness and can also provide a more stable future for your loved ones. A lawyer specializing in asbestos litigation can help you seek compensation for expenses related to illness caused by asbestos exposure, including the following: 

Every claim is different. A mesothelioma attorney can help explain what types of compensation are specific to your case. It is important to save all medical and financial records relating your illness so that your lawyer can have up-to-date information about your expenses.

You will be asked to show medical records and to answer questions about how you may have been exposed to asbestos, there is usually no reason to take part in other stages of the case. Lawyers know clients may be too tired to keep up with their lawsuit or attending a trial. For this reason, they handle every aspect of the case on your behalf

Asbestos litigation is regarded as the longest, most costly mass tort in U.S. history. Legal analysts calculate that there are more than 600,000 plaintiffs and more than 6,000 defendants and that the total outlay for the lawsuits could reach $200 billion.

Most mesothelioma lawsuits are between people who had direct exposure (also known as primary asbestos exposure) and the manufacturers of asbestos or products containing asbestos. However, workers and former workers of companies that knew they had asbestos issues are not the only ones with rights against asbestos manufacturers. Other groups of people did not work with asbestos but were exposed also may have rights. (This is known as secondary asbestos exposure.) For example, if you shared a workspace with others who handled asbestos or your spouse worked with asbestos, you may also have a claim. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you consider your options.

There are two types of asbestos injury cases. A lawsuit filed by an individual suffering with an asbestos-related illness is called a personal injury claim. A lawsuit filed by the family of someone who has passed away from an asbestos-related disease is called a wrongful death suit. Specific rights in these lawsuits depend on the county and state where the case is filed. A lawyer can explain your options and take care of filing a lawsuit.

Only a qualified asbestos or attorney can provide legal advice on whether you qualify to file a lawsuit or seek recovery through a bankruptcy trust. Asbestos.com offers basic assistance in understanding the mesothelioma litigation process and about finding a qualified mesothelioma lawyer. If you have questions about mesothelioma or the legal process, feel free to call one of our Patient Advocates in our Mesothelioma Center at (800) 615-2270 for guidance. The advocate can ensure that you get accurate information about any potential claim.

established itself as one of the nation's premier law firms featuring highly acclaimed mesothelioma lawyers with decades of experience in the areas of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma law. The firm prides itself on the accomplishments attained by its lead poisoning lawyers, whistleblower attorneys, birth defect lawyers, medical malpractice & personal injury attorneys.

LPK has litigated precedent-setting cases and obtained significant rulings and judgments, which have included some of the highest awards in mesothelioma, asbestos, lead poisoning, and personal injury litigation. As plaintiff's advocates, we pledge the best of our experience, skill, and resources to every client.

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 5, 2013 - With its mesothelioma lawyers already working all over the country, Levy Phillips & Konigsberg LLP (“LPK”), a nationally-acclaimed asbestos litigation law firm, whom U.S. News & World Report recently named 2013 Law Firm of the Year in Product Liability, announce the addition of Massachusetts mesothelioma lawyer and Navy veteran Chris Humphrey, who joins the law firm to help more victims of mesothelioma who were exposed to asbestos in a wide variety of industries, including many industrial and commercial sites, in and around Boston, MA.

Each year thousands of men and women are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis as a result of their unnecessary exposure to asbestos and asbestos-containing products. These diseases may have been prevented if the companies profiting from the sale and/or use of asbestos products shared the knowledge they had concerning its dangers to its customers or end-users.

Boston and the surrounding area is home to many shipping and manufacturing job-sites where workers would have been exposed to asbestos. Boston’s rich maritime history and abundant coastal environment makes industries such as shipbuilding, fishing, and merchant shipping incredibly popular for Massachusetts workers throughout the city’s respected history. As one of the oldest cities in America with readily accessible coastal ports and railroads, Boston and the surrounding area was also the home of countless manufacturing sites.

In addition to the shipping and manufacturing industries, thousands of victims were exposed to asbestos during the construction of Boston’s many hospitals, colleges, and universities.

Massachusetts workers were frequently exposed to asbestos by their involvement in Boston’s abundant shipbuilding and manufacturing industries. Some of the most common exposure sites include the following (see also Figure 1 below):

• Charlestown Navy Yard - Covering nearly 30 acres, Charlestown Navy Yard (now known as the Boston Navy Yard) was the birthplace of more than 200 warships from its inception in 1800 until its closing in 1974. The now historic park and landmark stands as a symbol of Boston’s rich maritime history.

• Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard – Founded in 1913 and covering over 150 acres, the Bethlehem Shipyard in Hingham, Massachusetts was paramount to the production of naval vessels needed to secure the victory in World War II. With over 24,000 employees at its peak, who were known for their excellent craftsmanship and speed, Massachusetts workers were proud to work at Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard.

• Boston Edison Company – Now known as NSTAR, Boston Edison Co. employed thousands of workers to install and maintain asbestos containing equipment such as steam pipes, boilers, valves, pumps, turbines, and generators necessary for the use and sale of electricity and steam they sold all over the greater Boston area. Boston Edison powerhouses and sub-stations can be found all over Massachusetts, and were the primary source of asbestos exposure for many victims employed by the Boston Edison Company.

• Fore River Shipyard – Situated in Quincy Massachusetts, the Fore River Shipyard and Engine Building Company was also known as the Quincy Shipyard, the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, and the General Dynamics Shipyard during its operation from the 1880s until its closing over 100 years later. During this time, and especially during World War II, hundreds of submarines and destroyers laid their keels at Fore River Shipyard.

• Salem Harbor Power Station – Built in 1951, the Salem Harbor Power Station consisted of both coal-fired and oil-fired power stations. Covering over 60 acres, the water-front site is complete with many smoke-stacks, oil tanks, and coal piles. Asbestos insulation and materials would have commonly been used in and on the countless boilers, steam pipes, valves, pumps, and generators located on the site.

Not limited to shipyards and power generation, thousands of other victims were exposed to asbestos through their work at industrial and commercial sites including (see also Figure 1 below):

• Attleboro Manufacturing Company;

• B.F. Sturtevant Co. – Hyde Park, Boston;

• Boston Harbor Industrial Park;

• Boston Logan International Airport;

• Boston University – Brookline, Massachusetts;

• Cabot Corporation – Waltham, Massachusetts;

• Filenes Department Store – Boston, Massachusetts;

• General Electric Company – Springfield, Massachusetts;

• Framingham Assembly - Framingham, Massachusetts;

• The Gillette Company – South Boston Manufacturing Center;

• Harvard University – Cambridge, Massachusetts;

• Massachusetts General Hospital – Boston, Massachusetts;

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Cambridge, Massachusetts;

• Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station - Plymouth, Massachusetts;

• Prudential Building – Boston, Massachusetts;

• Riley Stoker Corporation – Worcester, Massachusetts;

• United States Gypsum Company – Charlestown, Massachusetts;

• University of Massachusetts – Amherst, Massachusetts;

• V.A. Hospital – Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.

Figure 1. Map of some of the common asbestos exposure sites in Massachusetts

Massachusetts workers who were exposed to asbestos at these and other jobsites located throughout the Commonwealth can seek the expertise of the Massachusetts mesothelioma lawyers at LPK for possible legal representation. LPK’s history of obtaining numerous landmark and record-setting verdicts and nationwide recognition makes it the first choice for many victims suffering from mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis who were exposed to asbestos in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

If you or your family member has an asbestos-related disease, you should get in touch with an experienced asbestos attorney at LPK right away to determine if you have a case. For a free consultation, please call our 24/7 toll-free hotline at 1-800-MESO-LAW (1-800-637-6529) or submit an online inquiry using the email form or live chat on this website

Mesothelioma has no known cure and often causes severe pain, suffering, and other types of damage, such as loss of consortium, and loss of income. Additionally, due to the exceedingly high cost of mesothelioma treatments, many families exhaust savings and accumulate financial debt in order to pay for the medical expenses of their family member.

Under the law of most states, pain and suffering from mesothelioma may be compensated through the award of money damages, usually obtained with the help of experienced mesothelioma attorneys. In some states other types of damages may also be recovered.

Asbestos litigation affords mesothelioma victims the opportunity to receive financial compensation and hold accountable the companies that caused their asbestos exposure. 

If you or your family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should get in touch with a mesothelioma lawyer as early as possible to determine if you have a mesothelioma case and to:

• Preserve your rights to bring a legal action against the responsible parties within the limited time frame allowed by law, known as statute of limitations;

• Obtain maximum compensation in your case by being able to:

  • Preserve evidence and establish facts of the asbestos exposure while the claimant is still alive and able to provide information;

  • File and resolve a lawsuit against the responsible parties before they file for bankruptcy or, if they already have, to obtain compensation before their bankruptcy trust funds run out of money;

• Expedite your case, as courts tend to give higher priority to mesothelioma lawsuits where the claimant is still alive.

Find out whether you have a case by speaking to one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers via our 24/7 toll-free hotline at 1-800-MESO-LAW (1-800-637-6529) or by submitting an email inquiry (see form above). Our attorneys will be quick to respond to you and happy to answer all of your questions.

While our offices are located in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, many of our mesothelioma lawyers are licensed to practice law in a number of U.S. states and have the capability and extensive experience of representing mesothelioma clients throughout the United States.

Many multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements in mesothelioma cases Being diagnosed with mesothelioma is a stressful experience that raises questions concerning healthcare, the ability to support loved ones and the ability to pay for medical care. A Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyer can help. Having won millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for people suffering from mesothelioma, a Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyer has the skill and experience that you can count on. Mesothelioma Lawyer for the People People suffering from mesothelioma almost always experienced exposure to asbestos decades prior to being diagnosed. Frequently, the exposure to asbestos occurred in the workplace. Workers such as mechanics, construction workers, electricians, plumbers, sheet metal workers and boilermakers worked with or near asbestos containing products. Asbestos was used in many products because it is strong, flexible and heat resistant. Some asbestos products are: adhesives, cement, brakes, clutches, gaskets, pipe covering, pipe insulation and cement wallboard. Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers have successfully fought for the rights of many retired workers with mesothelioma and assisted them and their families in supporting themselves and paying for cancer care. A Mesothelioma Lawyer to Fight Injustice by Companies in the Asbestos Industry Many companies that made or distributed asbestos products knew of the lethal dangers of asbestos but chose to conceal them for the sake of financial profit. It has been reported that as far back as the 1930s, asbestos manufacturers and their insurance companies knew that asbestos was killing workers. Companies in the asbestos industry could have prevented the development of an aggressive cancer like mesothelioma by warning of the dangers of asbestos or providing safety equipment to prevent exposure to asbestos. The failure to do so was unjust. Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers have been fighting this injustice by filing lawsuits against asbestos industry companies to hold them accountable for the deadly harm they caused. Accomplishments of Weitz & Luxenberg Mesothelioma Lawyers For decades, Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers have been achieving outstanding accomplishments in mesothelioma disease cases. Many people suffering from mesothelioma have chosen the lawyers of Weitz & Luxenberg to protect their rights. Here are some accomplishments of Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers: $53 million verdict won for a brake mechanic suffering from mesothelioma $47 million verdict won for boilermaker who died from mesothelioma $17 million verdict won after a consolidated trial involving 5 mesothelioma patients $44 million verdict won in five asbestos cases, including an $11.6 million award for the widow of a sheet metal worker who died of mesothelioma. Can I Afford a Weitz & Luxenberg Mesothelioma Lawyer? Yes. We understand that someone diagnosed with mesothelioma is under extreme stress about their health, providing care for loved ones and their ability to pay for expensive cancer treatment. Many mesothelioma patients are elderly people who have a limited income and are unable to work due to their illness. Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers try to ensure that mesothelioma sufferers are not deprived of legal services due to financial constraints by working on a contingency fee system. Under a contingency fee system, the lawyer does not charge the client anything while the case is active. Once the case reaches a settlement or a verdict, the lawyer deducts case expenses from the settlement amount or verdict obtained for the client. Then, a fraction of the remaining amount is deducted for legal fees. The final remaining amount is provided to the client. If the lawyer fails to obtain a settlement or a favorable verdict for the client, the client does not pay anything. Our Mesothelioma Lawyers are Here to Help You and Your Family If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, you can turn to the mesothelioma lawyers of Weitz & Luxenberg. Weitz & Luxenberg lawyers have been recognized as the "Best Lawyers of New York" by New York Magazine. The lawyers accept mesothelioma cases from all areas of the U.S. and some regions of Canada. While many lawyers advertise themselves as "mesothelioma lawyers" and simply refer mesothelioma cases to other lawyers, Weitz & Luxenberg lawyers work on mesothelioma cases from beginning to end. To contact a mesothelioma lawyer now, complete the form on this page. We will get in touch with you shortly.

For Any legal help anywhere in the U.S. call: 1 - 800 - 476 - 6070 What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer that can affect several vital organs, including the lungs, the stomach and abdominal area, and, rarely, the heart. It's extremely difficult to diagnose, and people who have been diagnosed usually die within six months of finding out that they have the disease. It strikes approximately 3,000 Americans every year--most frequently men between the ages of 50 and 70. Unlike many forms of cancer, it's highly preventable. What Causes Mesothelioma? The only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States is through exposure to asbestos, a fibrous mineral once used as insulation in the construction and ship-building industries, the automotive industry, and other manufacturing industries. The cancer occurs most often in people who are exposed to asbestos fibers at work. The fibers can be carried on clothing and later released into the air, where they can stay suspended for hours, making them dangerous not only to the person exposed to asbestos, but to their families, too. Who is At-Risk for Developing Mesothelioma? People who have a history of extended exposure to asbestos are at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma, but even a small exposure to asbestos fibers can result in the disease. Why is Mesothelioma so Hard to Diagnose? Mesothelioma can take several decades to develop. Because of this, the onset of symptoms is often delayed for many years after the initial exposure that caused the cancer. As a result, people who were exposed to asbestos 30 or 40 years ago are just now being diagnosed with the disease. The cancer is rare, and its symptoms are often mistaken for more common and less serious diseases. The most common form of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, affects the lining of the chest cavity that protects the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma can cause fluid to build up in the lining around the lungs, causing breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, and difficulty swallowing. These symptoms are similar to what pneumonia sufferers experience, and so an early stage of pleural mesothelioma can easily be misdiagnosed as pneumonia. Delays in making an accurate diagnosis, coupled with the long latency period between the asbestos exposure and the onset of symptoms, often means that the cancer is not diagnosed until its latter stages, when little can be done for the sufferer. Why are Mesothelioma Sufferers Entitled to Compensation? Unfortunately, employers and companies knew for decades that working with asbestos on a regular basis was dangerous, but they said nothing and allowed their employees to work with asbestos without protection, putting them at risk for mesothelioma. Because of the long latency period of the cancer, these employees were unaware that they had the disease until years after their exposure, when the symptoms of the disease have started to appear, and they learned, too late, that they have a deadly cancer that was caused by asbestos many years ago. As a result, mesothelioma sufferers can file for workeres' compensation to help defray the costs of their medical treatment, to compensate them for their pain, suffering, and mental anguish, and to secure their families' financial future after they are gone. Juries have awarded mesothelioma sufferers billions of dollars in damages. Many companies have set aside funds to compensate people who have been injured by their asbestos products. Who Can File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit? Anyone who has developed mesothelioma through exposure to asbestos can file a mesothelioma lawsuit. A family member can file suit if the mesothelioma sufferer has passed away, as can the executor of the patient's estate. A family member who has developed the disease through close contact with the person who was exposed to asbestos can also file a mesothelioma lawsuit. How Do I File a Mesothelioma Claim? If you want to file a lawsuit, you should find a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. This is very important because each state has a time limit, called a statute of limitations, restricting how long you have to file your mesothelioma claim. The time limit varies from state to state, but it's usually one to two years from diagnosis. Although missing the time limit doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be able to pursue your claim, it will limit your chances of success. You should look for a lawyer who has experience with mesothelioma lawsuits. You'll want someone with the resources and contacts to deal with your case quickly and efficiently. Most reputable lawyers will be able to provide you with information on previous cases such as how many mesothelioma lawsuits they've handled, how quickly the cases were resolved, and how much compensation was obtained. Meeting with a Lawyer Once you find a lawyer, you should make an appointment to discuss your options. You'll need to provide details about where and when you were exposed to asbestos so that your lawyer can identify the appropriate employer or company to name in your lawsuit. If you're not sure where and when your exposure occurred, your lawyer will hire a private investigator, at the law firm's expense, to find out. Most mesothelioma lawyers work on a contingency basis, that is, for a percentage of the amount of the compensation claimed, so you won't have to pay legal fees unless you get compensation. After gathering all the details, your lawyer will try to settle your case out of court. Not having to go to trial saves time and legal costs. Many lawyers are able to get substantial out-of-court payouts for their clients. Past payouts have ranged from thousands of dollars to hundreds of millions, depending on a number of factors, including the type and severity of the mesothelioma involved. Although there is no guarantee that your claim will be successful, you have nothing to lose by filing a mesothelioma lawsuit: you'll be no worse off if no compensation is paid, and you may be able to secure your family's financial future if your claim is successful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washington Mesothelioma Lawyers

An Introduction to Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a deadly mineral that has been used in thousands of products. When microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can cause a number of diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Of the diseases caused by asbestos, mesothelioma is the most aggressive, attacking the internal lining of the lungs and abdomen. Mesothelioma typically does not develop until decades after the asbestos exposure occurred.

Asbestos in Washington

A number of work sites throughout Washington are linked to asbestos exposure including:

Everett
Todd Shipyard
Everett Pulp & Paper/Simpson Lee Paper Mill
Kimberly – Clark Paper Mill fka Scott Paper Mill

Boeing Aircraft Assembly Plant
Weyerhauser Lumber Mill

Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis Army Base

Longview
Longview Fibres Paper Mill
Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill
Weyerhauser Paper Mill
Longview Fiber Co.

Seattle
Lake Union Shipyard
Hydraulic Supply Fabrication Shop
Isaacson Iron Works
Sand Point Naval Air Station
Boeing Aircraft Assembly Plant 1
San Point Naval Station
Lockheed Shipyard (Harbor Island)
Todd Shipyard (Harbor Island)
Duwamish Shipyard

Tacoma
Asarco Smelter
U. S. Oil & Refining Oil Refinery
Kaiser Aluminum Plant
Hooker Chemical Plant
Boeing Aircraft Plant
Simpson Kraft Paper Mill fka St. Regis fka Chamion Paper Mill
Todd Pacific Shipyards, formerly Seattle-Tacoma (SEA-TAC)

Vancouver
Kaiser Shipyard
Boise Cascade Paper Mill
Columbia River Paper Mill

The majority of individuals who have been exposed to asbestos encounter the so-called "magic mineral" in their line of work, often due to inadequate safety precautions. Others are exposed to asbestos indirectly when they come in contact with the clothing of a family member involved in a high-risk asbestos occupation.

Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. When microscopic asbestos dust particles becomes airborne, they can be inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health issues.

Common work environments where a mesothelioma or cancer patient may have encountered asbestos include shipyards, oil refineries, sheet metal plants, automotive plants, construction sites, and many more. Here is a complete list of occupations that have been linked to asbestos exposure.

Giving Back to Mesothelioma Patients & Families

In 2010, the Simmons Law Firm established the Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting research and advancing awareness about this rare cancer. The Foundation partners with established experts and thought-leaders in the mesothelioma research field. Learn more about the Foundation's current mesothelioma research partners.

As a long-time supporter of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the Simmons Law Firm has an extensive history of supporting the fight against mesothelioma and cancer. The firm has also pledged over $10 million to establish the Simmons Cancer Institute at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The institute provides extraordinary new resources to enhance treatments and implement the continuing search for a permanent cure. It is the largest single gift in the history of SIU and establishes the university as home to one of the leading cancer facilities in the United States.

Asbestos Exposure in Washington Today

Asbestos has not yet been banned in the United States. Its use is regulated, but it is still used in products today. Asbestos has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a human carcinogen. This assessment is supported by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), both of which believe that the future use of asbestos should be banned.

The following chart shows the higher-risk occupations for malignant mesothelioma along with their corresponding Washington employment numbers.

Occupation

Number Employed in Washington, 20061

Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters

14,346

Mechanical engineers

6,276

Electricians

19,461

Teachers, elementary school

28,998

Washington continues to be affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases. Consider the following:

• CDC statistics show Washington's age-adjusted death rate for malignant mesothelioma to be between 11.5 and 23 deaths per million per year.²

• The Environmental Working Group reported that there were up to 1,387 mesothelioma cases in Kentucky from 1979 to 2001.³

•  

• At The Ferraro Law Firm, we concentrate on handling the most serious injury cases, such as cancers caused by asbestos, work place diseases such as mesothelioma victims, catastrophic accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, defective drugs and medical devices, environmental toxins, automobile defects and wrongful death. We also represent homeowners and litigate consumer protection cases, Qui Tam / Whistleblower matters, White-Collar Criminal Defense Representation, and the administering of receiverships.

  Read the biographies of our attorneys by clicking on their names.

  

  James L. Ferraro

  

  David A. Jagolinzer

  

  Juan P. Bauta

  

  Jeffrey H. Sloman

  

  Dino G. Galardi

  

  Allan B. Kaiser

  

  Melissa Damian Visconti

  

  David J. Finger

  

  Marc P. Kunen

  

  Gregory S. Lynam

  

  Scott A. Knott

  

  Erica L. Brady

  

  Janpaul Portal

  

  Amanda Kessler

   

• ^{Attorney Brian Weinstein is the founding  partner of Weinstein Couture,  Seattle, Washington.  Brian started filing lawsuits for asbestos mesothelioma victims as soon as he became a lawyer in 1981. Over the last 30 years, Brian has achieved numerous significant asbestos verdicts, favorable appellate results and advantageous asbestos settlements nationwide on behalf of working men and women suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases. His clients have worked at shipyards, power plants, refineries, paper mills and just about any type of industrial or commercial setting where one could be exposed to asbestos. Brian pioneered asbestos lawsuits for housewives suffering from mesothelioma who were exposed through their husbands work-clothes.  Brian has successfully tried asbestosis, asbestos related lung cancer and mesothelioma lawsuits in federal courts in New York, Georgia, Texas,  and New Mexico. He has won asbestos lawsuits in state courts in Washington, Illinois, Missouri, and Texas.  Brian has long been recognized as one of the nation’s leading asbestos  trial attorneys and a Super Lawyer by Washington Law and Politics. For 15 years  he has been rated AV by Martindale Hubble which is the highest rating one can achieve from his peers based on the quality of his work and adherence to the highest ethical standards.}

  “A lot of the lawyers I went to school with just wanted to work on Wall Street,” Brian recalls. “But I had no interest in joining the corporate world. In fact, just the opposite; I knew I wanted to use my law degree to hold corporations accountable when they negligently make dangerous products and take advantage of working men and women just trying to support their families. Trying lawsuits for people suffering from mesothelioma by asbestos exposure has allowed me to do that.”

  After more than twenty years of successful law practice as a mesothelioma attorney, in 2004 Brian ran for and won a seat in the Washington State Senate representing a the suburbs east of Seattle. While in the Washington State Senate, Brian continued to advocate for the benefit of working families, focusing on consumer rights issues. After only two years in the Senate, Brian was honored with the chairmanship of the Consumer Protection and Housing Committee. Brian was also the prime sponsor of the Insurance Fair Conduct Act which punished insurance companies that unreasonably deny coverage claims or benefits. He also worked to pass a new law imposing a fiduciary duty on mortgage brokers toward borrowers – quite timely in the recent sub-prime crisis. After one four-year term, Brian decided not to run for re-election and to return to his law practice, where he continues to tirelessly advocate for asbestos victims and others harmed by defective drugs and medical devices. He has a special interest in birth defect caused by anti depressants and migraine drugs taken by pregnant women.

  Education

  Juris Doctorate, University of Texas Law School (with Honors) 1981

  Bachelor of Arts, Economics, University of Wisconsin – Madison (with Honors) 1976

  Memberships in Lawyer and Attorney Groups
  

  American Association for Justice

  King County Washington Bar Association, Seattle

  Tacoma-Pierce County, Washington Bar Association

  Washington State Association for Justice

  Washington State Bar Association

  Recognition, Awards & Honors

  Recognized as a Super Lawyer by Washington Law & Politics Magazine

  Pike Place Market Foundation, Seattle, Washington, Former Director of Board

  Public Stadium Authority – Appointed by Washington State Governor Gregoire, 2009

  Mesothelioma Lawyers Washington, D.C.

  Washington DC’s primary source of asbestos exposure is its historical buildings. When construction workers demolish, rehabilitate or update these buildings, they can easily come into contact with dangerous asbestos fibers, unless proper precautions are taken. According to the Environmental Working Group, at least 54 people died from asbestos exposure in Washington DC from 1979 to 2001.

  If you or someone you love has mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) due to asbestos exposure while working in Washington DC, attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason can help. Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason are mesothelioma lawyers with over 30 years of success. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlement compensation for mesothelioma patients and their families. We can guide you through the complicated mesothelioma legal process. Our attorneys provide a free mesothelioma case evaluation, and there is no up front cost to you for our services.

  Asbestos Exposure in Washington DC

  Many of the buildings and structures located in Washington D.C. were built during an age when asbestos was heavily used for insulation and as a fire retardant. Before its dangers were well known, asbestos was incorporated into roofing materials, floor tiles, millboard and other building products.

  Today, construction workers can be exposed to asbestos while demolishing and renovating these older buildings, unless proper precautions are taken. Safety procedures, such as dampening asbestos-containing materials, wearing disposable protective clothing and avoiding the use of power tools, need to be followed when working with older buildings.

  Workers who maintain these older buildings can be exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos as well, since asbestos was also used to line water pipes, HVAC ductwork, boilers and electrical conduits.

  Our Attorneys Can Help Victims of Mesothelioma in Washington DC

  If you or a member of your family has been affected by asbestos cancer in Washington DC or any state in the U.S., contact Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason. Whether your asbestos exposure was due to working at a contaminated jobsite or because you used asbestos-containing products, our mesothelioma attorneys will give you sound, legal advice. We have provided mesothelioma legal representation to clients across the United States for more than 30 years. We offer a free case evaluation and can fly to Washington DC to meet with you in person.

  If you are in need of mesothelioma medical information or treatment, please visit our list of Washington DC mesothelioma doctors.  Our mesothelioma attorneys are here to help.

  Call Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason for a free consultation.