Recent Blog Posts
Separating Fact from Fiction in Auto Dealer Advertising
Every state and the federal government have laws regulating what auto dealers can and can’t say in their advertisements. Nevertheless, false, deceptive and misleading ads abound on the air, in print and online. Let’s look into some of these rules so you’ll be better informed about when the dealers are dealing with honestly, or less so.
What is the Seat Belt Defense?
Last month we talked a lot about airbags, and we asked the question, Do you need to wear a seat belt if your car has airbags? The answer to that question was a resounding yes, in part because seat belts can protect you from severe injury or death whether the airbags deploy or not, and also because the fact your car has airbags does not absolve you from the legal duty to wear seat belts currently required in 49 states
Do You Need to Wear a Seat Belt if Your Car has Airbags?
Yes, you do, and for a couple of reasons. For one thing, it’s the law just about everywhere. Currently, 34 states have primary seat belt laws, meaning you can be pulled over and ticketed for not wearing a seat belt. Fifteen states have secondary laws, where you can only be cited for not wearing a seat belt if first stopped for some other reason.
Is Your Uber or Lyft Driver Picking you Up in a Car with an Open Recall?
On your list of things you shouldn’t have to worry about but do anyway, you can add this brain tickler: Is my rideshare driver driving a car that’s been recalled for safety issues but hasn’t been fixed? This is not just an academic question; a recent review by Consumer Reports of 94,000 vehicles found one in six Uber and Lyft cars have open safety recalls. We’ve previously discussed potential concerns with the quality of any given driver working for a ridesharing app and what to do if injured in a car accident while taking an Uber.
Remember Those Complaints about the Toyotas with Unintended Acceleration? The NHTSA has Decided (ten years later) that a Safety Rule isn’t Needed.
The year was 2009. The average price of a movie ticket was $7.50, a loaf of bread cost $1.77, and a first-class postage stamp could be had for only forty-two cents. Also that year, Toyota recalled 4.2 million vehicles to address reports of its cars suddenly accelerating, when sudden acceleration was not the driver’s intention.
How Does No-Fault Car Insurance Work?
The term “no-fault insurance” seems to imply that you’ll be covered by insurance after a car accident regardless of who was at fault in causing the crash. In other words, even if your own negligence caused the crash, you can still receive insurance coverage for your medical bills, as well as lost wages if you’re unable to work because of the injury.
Buying Used? Here’s What You Need to Know.
A story published by CNBC the other day reports that the average price of a new vehicle this quarter will top $33,000, about $1,000 more per purchase than this time last year and the highest ever first-quarter report. Those who can afford it don’t seem to mind the higher prices, but the “those who can afford it” segment
Advanced Auto Safety, but at What Cost?
Extra costs for advanced auto safety features may seem like a small price to pay for the safety of your most precious cargo on the road, and you may not even realize what you are paying for automated driver assistance systems (ADAS) because they are factored into the total price of the car.
Officials Address Self-Driving Car Liability in Executive Orders
Late last year we reported on an appeal from an Under Secretary at the United States Department of Transportation for better testing of self-driving cars (USDOT Under Secretary Calls for Better Testing of Driverless Cars). We may be one or more decades away from a future where all cars are autonomously driven.
Who’s Picking You Up?
Thoughts on ride-sharing apps, driver safety and insurance coverage in an auto accident
Catching a ride somewhere is easier than ever before, thanks to ride-sharing apps and services like Uber and Lyft. Once you have the app on your phone, simply tell the app your destination, and within minutes a car arrives like magic to take you where you want to go.
