Are you aware of the story behind the recall of Toyota models? If this did affect your car insurance quote or you have been paying higher auto insurance premium because of a similar accident where you were held liable, here is something important you should know.

“Toyota car recall was because of the fatal tragedy of three family members. The relatives of a California state trooper and three family members whose fatal car wreck helped spark Toyota’s wide-ranging safety recall have sued the automaker for defects they say caused the vehicle to speed out of control and crash.

Saylor was driving his wife, their 13-year-old daughter, and his brother-in-law on a family outing when their car “began to accelerate on its own” and sped out of control despite Saylor’s attempts “to apply the brakes and otherwise do everything possible to stop” the car, the lawsuit says.

The car reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour before it struck another vehicle, plowed through a fence, hit a berm and flew through the air, then rolled several times into a field and burst into flames.

The family’s final moments before impact were captured in the recording of a frantic 911-emergency cell phone call placed by Saylor’s brother-in-law, Christopher Lastrella, in which he is heard telling the dispatcher, “Our accelerator is stuck … We’re in trouble … there is no brakes.”

Others in the car are heard saying, “hold on” and “pray” as the call ended, the lawsuit said.

A law suit has been commenced. Toyota officials personally apologized and did send condolences to the family. It was first concluded that this incident was because of the fact that the brake and the accelerator got struck. However, similar incidents of the vehicles of Toyota accelerating have been brought to light. This has resulted on the mass recall of the vehicles and also the 50 crash incidents which were caused by failure of the car mechanism and defect in the vehicle.

Toyota has recalled more than 5 million vehicles in the United States for slipping floor mats. Another 2.2 million U.S. recall notices were issued for sticking accelerator pedals.

The U.S. Transportation Department has said that complaints of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles are linked with more than 50 U.S. crash deaths under investigation over the past decade.

It always pays to be aware, review car insurance and stay informed about the latest happenings in the auto insurance world. Compare auto insurance quote 411 gives you the latest information and a chance to look up your auto insurance rates. Review car insurance and get low auto insurance rates.
Kamlesh

Drew Bress : I heard that bad credit can mean higher auto insurance premium is it true?

Bad credit means no low auto insurance rates :

Response : Bad Credit Can Mean Higher Insurance Premium and you should know this before you compare home owner or automobile insurances.

Consumers who have suffered financial setbacks because of the economy are seeing an increase in the homeowner and auto insurance premiums.

Remember that you cannot escape mistakes often found in credit reports also can lead to rate hikes. Even Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said that he recently faced a 10 percent increase in his Safeco auto insurance rate because of an error on the insurer’s part.

He said his rate was corrected when he questioned the charge, based on his credit history.

Secondly, you should also avoid not establishing a credit history and paying everything in cash “The bottom line was, when we got down to it, they rate a credit risk because the agent had checked thatinstead of paying in instalments the full payment is done. As per Mike, his credit history is very good because I have a thin credit file, very little credit.”

The debate is attracting more attention as a bad economy affects consumer credit and has consumers scrutinizing their expenses.

Insurers defend their use of credit reports to develop insurance scores, which dates to the mid-1990s.

They cite a 2007 Federal Trade Commission study that found credit-based insurance scores do predict risk for automobile policies. Studies sponsored by insurance companies, and the state of Texas, have reached similar conclusions.

Insurance companies point out that customers with good credit are rewarded with lower premiums. They view rates partly based on credit as an equitable way to set premiums.
“If you’re conservative with your finances, you manage your finances and credit well, typically, you’re also going to be an individual who is less likely to be involved in an accident,” said Robert Hartwig, who heads the industry’s nonprofit Insurance Information Institute.

“You’re going to be someone who is more likely to obey speed limits. You’re going to be someone who is less likely to drive impaired. You’re going to be less likely to be someone who fails to perform maintenance on your car.

“It’s an objective measure of financial responsibility. What it’s showing is that people who are financially responsible tend to be responsible in other dimensions of their life. This is not anything that should be a revelation,” Hartwig said.

Employers run credit checks on applicants as one way to determine whether they are responsible, Hartwig said.

“The reality is that your credit standing is something that impacts your life in many ways beyond getting a credit card or a loan,” he said.

The bottom line is if you want to have low auto insurance rates and want to save $$ on auto insurance than you must compare auto insurance quotes or review car insurance.

Rich Schferren: I live in Massachusetts and was surcharged for an auto insurance accident ? I drive a Toyota. How do I get a low auto insurance rate if I compare auto insurance quotes?

Save $ Compare auto insurance
Response : You will definetly save $$ once you learn the why, how and when to compare auto insurance quotes. However,here is some great news for you. In case you were driving one of the Toyota which has been recalled than you can appeal against the surcharge. This is because the fault lies in the vehicle and you were not at fault.

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance will expand the appeal process for some drivers of Toyota vehicles who received an at-fault determination from their insurance company after an accident, and thus received a surcharge. The consumer alert issued by the insurance department said the decision was made in light of the recent recall of certain Toyota models due to unintended acceleration. At-fault appeals will be allowed if an owner of a Toyota received a recall notice and was involved in an accident, or if an owner has already appealed his or her at-fault determination and lost. A request for a re-hearing or initial appeal must be filed within 60 days from the notice of the recall or the date of the consumer alert, issued Jan. 29.

You will have to prove the vehicle involved in the accident is one of the models recalled by Toyota and that the accident was related to acceleration problems in the recall notice, the insurance department said. A $50 fee is required if an appeal has not been previously filed.

This is because Toyota said Jan. 21 it was recalling about 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific models. Several days later, Toyota suspended the sales of eight models. The Massachusetts DOI said the recall also covers several Lexus models and the Pontiac Vibe.

The top five writers of private passenger auto insurance in Massachusetts last year, according to BestLink, which provides online access to A.M. Best’s Global Insurance & Banking Database, were: Commerce Group, with a 31% market share; Safety Group, with 11.1%; Arbella Insurance Group, with 9.3%; Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., with 8.5%; and MetLife Auto & Home Group, with 6.5%.

Thus my advice to you or any of your friends who drives a Toyota and was surcharged if in an accident last year in a model that has been recalled, compare auto insurance quotes afterwards., first file your appeal and reduce your surcharge on the auto insurance.

Happy motoring

Compare auto insurance quote-California

Latest News
The Californians for Fair Auto Insurance rates, which is a collation of Insurance Rates, a coalition of consumer advocates, businesses, taxpayer advocates and insurers, has issued a statement in response to the opposition of the Continuous coverage auto discount act . This is a new act which is going to the ballots in June 2010.
As per the statement given by Kathy Fairbanks, a representative of the Fair Auto Insurance rates : Continuous Coverage Auto insurance discount act” will in fact encourage competition and choice in the auto insurance market. It is in favor of 80% of the drivers, who are buying continuous auto insurance coverage as mandated by the law. This law will reward these auto insurance drivers who have maintained their insurance. They would now be able to go online or to any agent and shop for lower auto insurance prices because they can get higher auto insurance discounts for having continuous auto insurance, once this is allowed and implemented.
“California’s regulatory and rate-setting environment is completely different from Nevada’s or any other state’s. In fact, current California law mandates that your driving safety record, miles driven annually and years of driving experience be the top three factors in determining auto insurance premiums. Nevada has no such requirements.
“Comparing California to Nevada is like comparing apples to oranges.
“The Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act will mean more competitive auto insurance rates, more choice for consumers and lower auto insurance premiums. That’s why it’s endorsed by groups like Consumers First, Consumers Coalition of California, Citizens Against Regulatory Excess, California Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Action Committee, League of United Latin American Citizens, California Taxpayer Protection Committee and many more.
With the recession and especially since California’s economy has been affected with a slower recovery, any options to compare auto insurance quotes, online and to be able to get low car insurance rates would be a welcome move.

Mark Ling : I like to compare auto insurance quotes online and do get good low auto insurance quotes. Are there any changes in the distracted driving regulations in USA for 2010.

Distracted driving and low auto insurance quotes :
Response : It is nice to know that you compare auto insurance quotes online and are able to obtain low auto insurance quotes. If you try here at compareautoinsurancequote411.com you will be able to get low auto insurance quotes. Yes, you are right about the new driving regulations in USA which will come into effect from Jan 1 2010. You should appreciate that the Insurance companies and the insurance institiute encourage and support the regulations since this will help in minimizing the claims.

Here are the latest news on distracted driving from the Insurance Institutute ” Illinois, Kansas, New Hampshire and Oregon will bring in the new year with new state laws aimed at cracking down on distracted driving, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).

Of the four states with stronger laws regarding cell phone use and texting that take effect Jan. 1, 2010, Oregon goes the farthest by banning the use of hand held devices and texting for all drivers. The new law in Oregon also prohibits people under age 18 from using any type of cell phone while driving.

Illinois is placing new restrictions on hand held devices and bans their use in construction and school zones.

Kansas is implementing a ban on all cell phone use and texting for young drivers who have learner’s permits and intermediate licenses.

New Hampshire is banning texting for all drivers.

“These four states are joining a growing number states and localities that are implementing or strengthening restrictions on cell phone use and texting,” said Robert Passmore, senior director of personal lines for PCI. “In 2009, 17 states implemented or strengthened cell phone and texting laws.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. Research also shows that the worst offenders are the youngest and least experienced drivers: men and women under 20 years of age.

As per the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are statewide bans on driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone seven states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) and the District of Columbia.

The use of all cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 21 states and the District of Columbia.

Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 19 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, novice drivers are banned from texting in nine states (Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and West Virginia)

You will agree with me that these regulations will go a long way in reducing auto accidents and hence would give you low auto insurance rates.
Happy 2010.
Kamlesh