What is Insurance?
Insurance is, “a contract whereby, for a stipulated consideration, one party undertakes to compensate the other for loss on a specified subject by specified perils. The party agreeing to make the compensation is usually called the “insurer” or “underwriter;” the other, the “insured” or “assured;” the agreed consideration, the “premium;” the written contract, a “policy;” the events insured against, “risks” or “perils;” and the subject, right, or interest to be protected, the “insurable interest.” (Black’s Law Dictionary 946. 4th Ed. Rev. 1968)
An insurance policy is a contract in which an individual or entity (the policyholder) pays an insurance company (the insurer) in regular payments in exchange for financial protection over specific risks or losses. For example, medical insurance helps to cover medical costs, such as hospital visits, hospital stays, and medications. Similarly, auto insurance helps to cover damages incurred from car accidents. Insurance payments are known as premiums. Insurance contracts typically limit the amount of costs that an insurance provider may be required to pay.
The McCarran-Ferguson Act (15 U.S.C. § 1011) grants many aspects of insurance regulation to individual state governments. However, federal laws like federal taxes do apply to insurance, and must be acknowledged. Insurance is important to the legal system, as it helps protect individuals, those who cause harm to individuals through negligence, and any third party that is faced with the burden of compensating for an injury.
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How effective are night driving restrictions for teens?
Most nighttime accidents among teens occur before midnight, a new study shows. This means that night driving restrictions on teens that prohibit driving after midnight may be ineffective.
Driving in the dark increases crash risk for all drivers. Young and inexperienced drivers face an even greater risk; one-third of fatal teen car crashes happen at night. That’s why every state in the U.S. (except VT) has laws restricting how late newly licensed teen drivers can be on the road unsupervised. In 23 states and the District of Columbia, the ban goes into effect at midnight or later. New research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that this is too late.
Ruth Shuts, a researcher at the CDC, suggests 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. might be a more appropriate curfew for unsupervised newly licensed drivers. […]
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Dog Bite Prevention Myths Debunked
When it comes to dog bites, can you separate fact from fiction?
When it comes to dog bites, can you separate fact from fiction?
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we love our dogs. But, we’re also very familiar with how devastating a dog bite can be. Many of these bites are preventable. Knowing the signs and brushing up on some dog-safety tips can help you or your child avoid an attack. That means sorting out fact from fiction, and dispelling common myths and misinformation.
Dog Bite Prevention Myths vs. Facts
- You can tell whether a dog will be friendly or aggressive based on the breed: FALSE. While some types of dogs account for more bites than others, any dog can bite, so you shouldn’t assume a dog is friendly based on breed.
- Most dog bites happen with strange or stray dogs: FALSE. You’re most likely to be bitten by a dog at the home of a friend or family member. […]
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Doctors on Probation for Gross Misconduct Still Practicing
Would you want to know if your doctor was on disciplinary probation?
When it comes to a physician’s disciplinary history, patients are kept very much in the dark. Physicians all over the country who have been disciplined for sexual misconduct, drug abuse, and devastating medical mistakes are still practicing, some while on probation, and they are not required to disclose their probationary status to their current patients.
Meanwhile, medical errors 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S.
Recently, Senator Jerry Hill of California authored a bill that would require doctors to inform patients of their probationary status. The legislation didn’t pass.
Is your doctor on probation?
Under current laws, doctors are required to disclose their disciplinary history to the hospital or practice where they work, and to their medical malpractice insurer, […]
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Jeep that Killed Actor Anton Yelchin was Under Recall
What may appear to be a freak accident may actually be the result of a widespread safety problem that has caused hundreds of crashes across the United States in recent months.
The vehicle that killed actor Anton Yelchin, 27, was part of a safety recall issued two months ago. Yelchin was crushed to death when his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled backward down his driveway and pinned him against a fence.
Yelchin’s Jeep was included in a recall that was issued after hundreds of similar – but nonfatal – accidents were reported. Due to a gear shift problem, drivers can mistakenly believe their car is in park, when it is actually in drive or neutral. The confusion stems from a monostable gear shift lever, which rests in a default position, unlike the traditional gear shift, which moves to a different position for each gear. […]
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The hashtag #whiledriving shows a disturbing trend
One of the more idiotic and dangerous trends to develop recently is the hashtag #whiledriving.
Erie Insurance, a Pennsylvania insurance company, published a study of social media data showing a surge in the use of the hashtag, reflecting a growing number of drivers who pull out their phones, take a picture, and post it to Twitter and Instagram – all while driving. Most of the posts were photos of nature, clouds, a sunset, traffic, and selfies.
The top U.S. states with the most posts using #whiledriving were:
- California
- Florida
- Texas
- South Carolina
- New York
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Oregon
- Colorado
- Nevada
No selfie or picture of the sunset is worth putting your life or someone else’s life in danger. […]
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