OAI: Most Car Insurance Shopping Starts Online, Study Finds

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    May 02, 2012 /EIN Presswire/ -- A recent study released by J.D. Power and Associates shows that most shopping for insurance starts online, underlining the increasing impact that websites are having on the ways customers buy policies and insurers market themselves, according to Online Auto Insurance.

Fifty-two percent of consumers looking for a policy start their search online, with almost three-fourths visiting the website of at least one insurer as they shopped, according to the study.

The study also found that 32 percent of consumers surveyed got their quotes only through websites and that, for 34 percent of shoppers, the Web has become the preferred method in the search to get low cost auto insurance.

"Shoppers now expect to be able to visit an insurer's website and complete their purchase in the same visit," Jeremy Bowler, senior director at the research firm, said in a statement. "In most cases, shoppers can compare many policies online and narrow down their search field entirely via this self-service paradigm. From that point, they can then decide if they need to speak with an agent or to continue their online purchase process."

The annual study also measured insurers' retention rates and found they were at an all-time high since the study began six years ago, with only 25 percent of surveyed policyholders indicating that they researched a new insurer in the past year.

And with 43 percent of those shopping consumers ultimately ending up at another insurer, firm representatives said that an increase in the industry's advertising dollars seems to have shown limited impact.

Bowler cited statistics showing that advertising expenditures in the insurance industry were pumped up to around $5.7 billion for 2011.

Websites may also provide more advertising space that allows insurers to include specialized information that they need to entice certain markets.

A graduate study from Florida State University analyzing industry marketing trends toward Latinos found that several insurers created Spanish-language websites that were "often more information-oriented than their general market counterparts."

The Internet has proven to be powerful tool for insurers in their pursuit of the hard-to-corner market for Latinos, a group that has showed historically low rates of having insurance, according to the study.

Some company websites even included step-by-step guides and brochures "on how to choose the right policy," the study stated.

Source: http://hmc.comm.fsu.edu/content/download/4058/29138

For more on this and related insurance issues, head to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/low-cost/ for access to an easy-to-use quote-comparison generator and informative resource pages.

About OnlineAutoInsurance.com: OnlineAutoInsurance.com supplies informative resources for consumers seeking to understand the finer points of coverage and quote-comparison services for shoppers looking for the best rates on a policy.

Media Contact:
Charles Nguyen
Online Auto, LLC
9097842475
http://news.onlineautoinsurance.com/

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Workers Compensation Benefits and Returning to Work

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May 12, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In Pennsylvania, workers' compensation helps compensate injured workers hurt through on-the-job accidents. It is essentially a no-fault measure for resolving workplace injury claims, as injured workers are paid for their lost wages and medical expenses in exchange for giving up their right to sue their employer for damages. The main purpose is to help employers and employees alike by making sure that injured workers have a way to maintain a certain standard of living while they recover from their injuries, and to provide a reintegration process after recovery.

Most people understand that they may be eligible for benefits if they cannot work (i.e. temporary total disability payments), but workers' compensation also helps injured workers when they return to work. Through temporary partial disability benefits, those who cannot earn the same wages they earned before their injury can be compensated for the money they are losing due to the injury. Essentially, they are entitled to 66 percent of the difference between their average weekly wage (AWW) at the time of the injury and their post injury earning power.

Returning to work may be easier if the employer creates accommodations that will allow the worker to work within his or her restrictions. Modified duty assignments help in maintaining a productive job assignment while the worker regains their normal abilities. These may include shorter work days, assistance with one or more duties, or temporary assignments. Injured workers may also take advantage of rehabilitation programs that assist in regaining strength and flexibility, and help in preventing future injuries.

Regardless of the remedies available through an employer, it is important to understand how workers' comp benefits may be affected should you return to work. Also, you should know how your current limitations and abilities affect the type of work you can do. If you have questions about returning to work, or what your obligations are under an employer's Return to Work program, an experienced workers' compensation attorney can advise you.

Article provided by Huber & Palsir, LLC
Visit us at www.huberpalsir.com

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Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina Names New Chair and Two Board Members: Retiring Directors Include Last Founder of Country's First Mutual Insurance Company for Attorneys

New York Medical Malpractice Lawyer From The Perecman Firm Commends New York's Ellis Hospital for Acquiring Innovative Infection Prevention Technology

Virginia Workers' Compensation: The Borrowed Employee Doctrine

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May 19, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Sometimes employment relationships are confusing, which can make related legal liability issues difficult to sort out. Some business entities have intertwining relationships because of common ownership, shared commercial interests, financial arrangements or even family ties. An example of this complexity is when many organizations come together on a construction project -- potentially including property owners, investors, general contractors, subcontractors, utility services, government entities and more.

In Virginia and all other states, workers' compensation is the exclusive legal remedy for almost all workplace injuries or deaths. Employers carry workers' compensation insurance that pays medical and other expenses for employee injuries without regard for who was at fault for the accidents.

In a complicated commercial venture like a construction project, the interrelationships of the parties can make it difficult to say which employer is responsible for covering an injury for workers' compensation purposes. In Virginia, two particular concepts in workers' compensation law help answer this question:
- First, the "borrowed employee doctrine" provides that when one employer (the "special master") "borrows" an employee from another employer (the "general master"), the special employer that is using the borrowed employee for a work task is the entity responsible for workers' compensation purposes should that employee be injured, even if he or she is still on the general master's payroll.
- Second, the Virginia workers' compensation "statutory employer" statute requires that when a contractor or owner contracts with a subcontractor to perform work, if an employee of the subcontractor is injured in the course of that job, the responsible employer or "statutory employer" is the original contractor or owner, as if "the worker had been immediately employed by" the general contractor.

Borrowed-Employee Factors

Virginia courts decide on a case-by-case basis whether a borrowed employee arrangement exists. The most important factor is "control" -- that it is logical for the employer most immediately or directly guiding the worker's activity at the time of an injury to be liable for workers' compensation coverage.

After control, several less important but still relevant factors may be considered:
- Which employer's work was getting done
- Agreements between the employers
- Employee willingness to work for either
- General employer termination of employment relationship
- Who provided tools and work space, and maintained working conditions
- Length of the relationship
- Which employer could terminate the worker
- Which employer paid the employee's wages

Liberty Mutual Insurance Corporation v. Herndon

In February 2012, the Court of Appeals of Virginia sitting in Salem decided a multiple-employer workers' compensation case to which the borrowed servant doctrine applied.

Gary Herndon was a laborer working on a residential construction site when he fell through a hole on the second floor of the house all the way to the basement. The resulting injuries to his head, spinal cord and ribs put him in the hospital for almost two months, after which he emerged a paraplegic.

The question of who was responsible for his workers' compensation claim was a difficult one. The court commented that the relationships between the parties were "convoluted" because they were so informal. The potential employers were:
- CAC, the general contractor on the building site
- SCHI, the subcontractor hired to clean the work site and frame the house
- David Clark, the subcontractor hired by SCHI to frame the house

Herndon was a cousin of Clark's. SCHI was owned by Clark's wife, Sherry. Some of the business functions between SCHI and Clark's framing business overlapped. For example, Sherry at SCHI hired her husband Clark to do the framing work; Sherry did the "paperwork" and paid Clark's crew after SCHI was paid by CAC.

Affirming the findings of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, the court agreed that there was sufficient evidence that Herndon was a borrowed employee of David Clark (the house-framer subcontractor) at the time of the injury, mainly because Clark -- not SCHI -- was in control of Herndon's work tasks. The court also concurred with the commission that CAC and its workers' compensation insurer were liable for the workers' compensation claim because CAC as the general contractor was the statutory employer.

If you face a complicated employment picture in your quest for workers' compensation, an experienced workers' compensation attorney can help you sort out the facts and options in your claim.

Article provided by Gammon & Grange, P.C.
Visit us at www.gg-legal.com

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Polaris Launches Intellect Claims...Quick, Accurate and Easy End-to-End Claims Processing Solution with Role-Based Workstations Providing Superior Customer Experience

New York Construction Accident Lawyer from The Perecman Firm Reflects on the Dangerous Work Environment for Ironworkers as Union Recruits Apprentices

Tracy de Nys Recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for Excellence in Business Management

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    AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, May 4, 2012 /Worldwide Who's Who/ -- Tracy de Nys, Business Management Services Contractor, has been recognized by Worldwide Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in business management.

With twenty two years of experience in a variety of business management roles, Tracy de Nys specializes in the areas of strategic planning, performance measurement, change management, and customer service. She is responsible for completing customer research and business process reviews, and consulting with her clients in the areas of business planning, performance reporting and business change, in a variety of industries. Tracy de Nys is presently contracting as the change manager at Lumley Insurance Group, where she is working as part of a project team who are responsible for introducing a new computer system. She is leading and managing the associated change activities. She attributes her success to her ability to think strategically and deliver at an operational level. She can see what needs to be done in order to achieve the results necessary to complete projects successfully.

Tracy de Nys received an MBA in marketing and service management from Massey University in 1996, and received a Bachelor of Arts in management and education from Auckland University in 1993. In the next few years, she plans to become an expert in change management and performance measurement.

For more information about Tracy de Nys, visit http://www.tracydenys.com.

About Worldwide Who's Who
With over 500,000 members representing every major industry, Worldwide Who's Who is a powerful networking resource that enables professionals to outshine their competition, in part through effective branding and marketing. Worldwide Who's Who employs similar public relations techniques to those utilized by Fortune 500 companies, making them cost-effective for members who seek to take advantage of its career enhancement and business advancement services.

Worldwide Who's Who membership provides individuals with a valuable third-party endorsement of their accomplishments, and gives them the tools needed to brand themselves and their businesses effectively. In addition to publishing biographies in print and electronic form, it offers an online networking platform where members can establish new professional relationships.

For more information, please visit http://www.worldwidewhoswho.com.

Contact:
Ellen Campbell
Director, Media Relations
mediarelations@wwregistry.com

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Total i Repair Launches Extended Warranty Service Backed by McCusker and Company

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    COLLEYVILLE, TX, May 09, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Total i Repair, a leading online source for iPhone, iPad and iPod repair, is proud to now offer its customers extended warranty for all of their "i Devices" powered by McCusker and Company, a leading worldwide provider of extended warranty services for the consumer electronics industry.

"We are excited to be selected by Total i Repair to provide our years of consumer electronics extended warranty knowledge and expertise to their brand new program," said McCusker and Company Chief Executive Officer Will L. McCusker. "Our strength resides in being the back office provider of these services for consumer electronics repair firms, retailers and manufacturers. We look forward to powering many more of these extended warranty programs in the near future."

For Total i Repair, it means an additional value added product to provide to their technology savvy customers as well as an additional stream of income for the business. Best of all, McCusker and Company simplifies the product offering for the business by handling the entire administration and claims process.

"Now we can offer this important extended warranty product to our customers without having to handle the administration and service claims," said Luke Rippy, Principal with Total i Repair. "We enjoy the financial benefits of being able to offer the service like many of our competitors, but we have the true competitive advantage by working with McCusker and Company to handle all the back office work of the service. We can rest assured knowing that our customers will be well taken care of when they choose the extended warranty protection."

If your firm doesn't offer extended warranty protection for the consumer electronics products that you sell, repair or manufacture, McCusker and Company has the perfect solution for you. The company takes care of the entire product administration for your firm, while allowing you to brand the product as your own as well as generate more income for your company. For more information about our private branded extended warranty solutions, please call 800-734-0819 or check out our website at www.mccuskerco.com.

Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Its international division, known as McCusker and Company of the Caribbean is headquartered in St. George's, Grenada and has an office in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

It specializes in the extended warranty service contract industry providing consulting, extended warranty programs, service programs, management and support for your warranty call center and on-site service needs. McCusker and Company also functions as litigation consulting experts on complex litigation projects, technology sales, and arbitration and industry disputes.

The firm also founded and developed WarrantyKits.com and WarrantyGiftCard.com. For more information call 800-734-0819.

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mccusker and company, mccusker & company, total i repair, totalirepair.com, warranty, ipad, iphone, i devices, service contracts, warranty, extended warranty.Read more Press Releases from Will McCusker J.D.:

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Lack of Life Insurance Cover Creates GBP2.4 Trillion Protection Gap in the UK

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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, May 05, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Research highlighted by Barclays raises concerns that nearly two thirds (60 per cent) of adults in the UK do not have life insurance, which could mean that Britain is facing a protection gap in the UK insurance market of GBP2.4 trillion.[1]

According to new research by Barclays, the main reasons for not taking out life insurance were the increasing pressures on household expenditure and needing to cut back (42 per cent), separating from a partner (27 per cent) and a quarter believing it's a waste of money.

To help customers better protect themselves financially, should the worst happen, Barclays is encouraging customers to review their protection needs and is offering three months cash back to customers who purchase a life insurance policy between 21 April and 1 June 2012*.

Kieran Murphy, Managing Director, Barclays Insurance said: "Many people have a natural blind spot regarding the financial security of their dependents should they unexpectedly not be here tomorrow. However, it's really important people consider how their dependents would cope financially should the worst happen.

"Life insurance and knowing your family are protected is really valuable and obtaining the right level of cover needn't be too costly. We know that household budgets are really tight at the moment, but it's important that protection needs don't slip down the list of priorities."

Barclays Life Insurance provided by Aviva is a comprehensive policy, providing customers with affordable and reliable cover, with a number of additional features:
- Simple, great value life insurance from Aviva pays a lump sum of up to GBP500,000
- 16 per cent discount when you buy online, in addition to the three months cash back offer - apply online and be covered in just 15 minutes
- Choose either level term or decreasing term cover
- Monthly premiums from only GBP5 a month (just 17p per day)
- A 35-year-old non-smoking woman could pay GBP13.18 a month for GBP250,000 of level term cover for 25 years
- Your monthly premiums stay the same throughout the life insurance policy term

Barclays Life Insurance provided by Aviva policies can be purchased at any Barclays branch, telephone banking and via www.barclays.co.uk/insurance

Notes to Editors:

[1] Swiss Re 2009
Methodology: Opinion Matters survey of 1267 UK adults (3-10 April 2012)

*Three Months Cashback : Customers who complete an application for life insurance policy provided by Aviva during the offer period (21 April and 1 June 2012) and where both the policy is still current after three months and all policy premiums have been paid to date will qualify for a rebate (refund) of their first three months premiums paid.

From GBP5 per month a 35 year old male nonsmoker could get circa GBP30,000 worth of cover (20 years level term cover) with Barclays Life Insurance. But if that individual earns GBP20,000 a year this could only provide enough to support general living expenses (bills, food, car, etc) and any existing commitments (mortgage, credit cards or loans) for no more than two years, without putting more pressure onto the family's lifestyle. However, for an extra pound a month the same 35 year old individual could more than double their level of cover (GBP78,000).

About Barclays

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in personal banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.

With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 140,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.co.uk

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Direct Response TV Agency InfoWorx Wins 5 DRTV Awards

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WorldFest Houston 2012 Gold Remi Winner
InfoWorx Direct
    BOCA RATON, FL, May 07, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Infomercial company and DRTV Agency, InfoWorx Direct (www.InfoWorx.com) found gold at the WorldFest Film Festival in Houston this year. They won a gold Remi for the short form DRTV spot, "Wagic's Resolve Multi Tool" and another gold Remi for the long-form infomercial, "Leg Medic Vapor Disc".

"The Houston WorldFest Film Festival is the longest running Independent Film Festival in the world, and it has maintained a reputation of selectivity for over 45 years. We are honored to receive the Gold Remi's because we know that the competition at this film festival is excellent.", Ron Perlstein, Executive Producer of InfoWorx Direct, said. "We always relentlessly strive to give our clients the best work possible, and when we receive awards like these, it proves that our creative product is outstanding."

Since 1992, direct response television agency and infomercial production company, InfoWorx Direct, has established itself as a successful, award winning producer of both short-form DRTV commercials and long-form infomercials. InfoWorx has developed the most affordable turnkey infomercial model in the industry that offers clients award winning television and radio infomercial production as well as TV and Radio infomercial media buying services.

Recently, InfoWorx added their robust Media Management System (MMS) and developed their proprietary, pioneering Advanced IVR Lead Tracking Technology to enhance tracking and overall media intelligence. InfoWorx Direct provides clients free in house market research that includes market profile and lifestyle analysis reports.

"At InfoWorx, we always want to stay ahead of the curve with the most advanced and effective production, media buying, and tracking technology. We are very proud of our award winning creative spots and when we can optimize their effectiveness with cutting-edge media buying technology, our clients always come out ahead.",Perlstein explained. "We devote ourselves to creating measurable strategies that deliver a positive and lucrative ROI whether it's a long-form infomercial, short-form DRTV spot, or radio campaign."

Perlstein added, "The role of the direct response commercial agency has evolved from infomercial production to infomarketing. It is now our goal to secure the largest market share in the shortest period of time putting the least amount of money at risk. We make the telephone ring and drive traffic and customers to our websites in order to generate orders and leads for our clients from day one."

For 20 years, InfoWorx has established itself as a pioneer in direct response advertising, and has generated billions of dollars of major "as seen on TV success" for its DRTV clients including infofree, Emerson Electric, InventTech, SnorEnz, Rubbermaid, and iRobot's Roomba. For additional information on InfoWorx, contact Ron Perlstein, or visit www.InfoWorx.com.

InfoWorx Direct, LLC, is a full service direct response agency with an evolving infomarketing business philosophy. The InfoWorx scientific approach has led to profitable results and success for established companies and newcomers alike.

Infomercial Producer, TV Infomercial Production, DRTV, Direct Response Television, DRTV Media Agency, Direct Response Radio. For further information contact us at 561 852 1818.

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siaa, direct response, direct response agency, dr agency, tv media agency, media buyer, infomercial production, drtv production, direct response commercial, dr advertising, direct response advertising, ron perlstein, long form tv infomercial, ronald perlstein, infomercial producer, drtv, tv infomercial productionRead more Press Releases from Ron Perlstein:

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Gov. Scott Signs No-Fault Bill, But Don't Expect Your Premiums to Decrease

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MIAMI, FL, May 14, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Gov. Rick Scott has signed the no-fault insurance bill into law, as Brendan Farrington reports for the Associated Press. With Scott's signature, auto insurance premiums are likely to stay exactly where they are now: high.

But there are other changes, changes that don't benefit consumers. For instance, if you get into a car accident in Miami, you'll have more hoops to jump through to get no-fault benefits, such as a $2,500 cap that can only be increased if you have a qualifying "emergency medical condition."

This emergency medical condition can only be identified and vouched for by health care professionals like doctors, dentists and nurse practitioners; no longer can chiropractors vouch for the condition. Likewise, acupuncture and massage therapy are completely off the table for coverage.

Scott's motivation is "rampant fraud," as Farrington writes. Scott said, "This was an issue that was costing our citizens a lot of money. This is an opportunity to reduce the cost of living if we've done this right. If not, we're going to keep focusing on it."

The Miami area is said to be a "hotbed" of staged accidents that allow people to take advantage of no-fault benefits. Scott must be referring to these types of staged accidents. But one expense that contributes to the cost of living is certainly the auto premium itself, which is mandatory, and is an expense every Florida driver pays.

Therefore, it makes sense to reduce the premium itself, but Florida lawmakers gave insurance companies an "out" from the mandated 10 percent reduction in the cost of premiums: all the insurance companies must do is "explain" why they can't reduce the cost.

So there you have it. Florida consumers and drivers actually get less out of mandatory no-fault coverage, including less access to medical care after an accident, while the insurance industry gets to protect its bottom line.

The attorneys at Ferrer Shane, PL, are Miami injury lawyers who assist clients throughout south Florida with a variety of legal services. For more information about their Miami law firm, visit their Web site, http://www.ferrerlaw.com/ or call us at (305) 262-2728.

Our Location:
Ferrer Shane, PL
North Kendall Drive, Suite 260
Miami, FL 33176
Phone: 305-929-8684
Toll-free: (888) 609-5947

Additional Resources:
Personal Injury Legal Blog: http://www.ferrerlaw.com/blog/
Auto Accident Blog: http://www.miamimotorvehicleaccidentsattorney.com/
DUI & Traffic Ticket Blog: http://www.miami-dui-defense-attorney.com/

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