| Intentional Injury Exclusion in Auto Insurance |
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| When a vehicle is involved in an automobile accident, the conduct of an insured may activate the automobile insurance policy's exclusion for intentional injury. Intentional injuries include suicide and assault, among other acts. Even though some states require automobile insurance companies to provide statutory minimum coverage, the companies may exclude coverage for intentional injuries. The intentional injury exclusion prohibits an insured, which caused an intentional injury to himself or herself or to another person, from recovering insurance benefits for that injury. This is a common exclusion in automobile insurance policies. Further, most no-fault statutes contain intentional injury exclusions. More... |
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| Manufacturing Defects in Automotive Products Liability Cases |
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| The essential things that have to be proved by a plaintiff in a products liability action against the manufacturer or seller of a car or truck are that the vehicle contained a defect that created an unreasonable risk of danger when the vehicle was used for its intended purpose and that the alleged defect caused the occurrence of a collision or similar incident, for example a vehicle fire, that resulted in the death, personal injury, or property damage for which the plaintiff seeks to recover damages. Such alleged defects in a vehicle may include shortcomings in its design, errors in the manufacturing of its numerous parts and their assembly into a complete car or truck, or failure to properly warn the purchaser or user of some danger inherent in the operation and use of the vehicle. More... |
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| Trailer Exclusions in Auto Insurance |
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| There are all kinds of trailers. There are mobile home trailers, boat hauling trailers, car hauling trailers, horse trailers, and campers. Some automobile insurance policies exclude all trailers from coverage. Some permit coverage of a trailer only if it is designed for use with a private passenger automobile and is described in the insurance policy. Commercial truck trailers and semi-trailers have their own insurance needs and are beyond the scope of this article. More... |
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| Setoffs and Uninsured Motorist Insurance Policies |
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| Some state statutes allow uninsured motorist insurance companies to setoff amounts that an insured received from workers compensation, Social Security, and settlements with a liability insurance company. Therefore, if an insured were injured in a car accident while driving in the course of his or her employment, the insurance company could offset the uninsured motorist benefits in the full amount of the insured's workers compensation judgment. More... |
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| Automobile Insurance Policies: Refusals to Insure |
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| An automobile insurance company has the right to choose whom it will insure. If an applicant for automobile insurance is deemed to be a bad risk, the insurance company can refuse to issue an insurance policy. Ordinarily, the insurance company does not have to give the applicant a reason for refusing to insure him or her. However, insurance companies must act in good faith in their dealings with insureds and applicants. Although an insurance company can refuse to insure someone, they cannot refuse to insure a person for an improper reason. The same applies to the cancellation of an insurance policy. More... |
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