Mass. Body Shops Call for Passage of Bill to Set Fair Repair Rates
Jan 1, 2012 Auto Insurance Leave a comment | Tags: Repair, Repair Rates
A trade group representing the Massachusetts collision repair industry is hoping the third time is a charm in its efforts to get a state law passed that would establish a “fair and reasonable process” for determining the hourly rates shops can charge for fixing insured vehicles.
The bill, which is expected to be considered in January by the state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Financial Services, calls for establishment of a special commission to set minimum hourly rates for auto body, repair and mechanical work in Massachusetts, where representatives of the collision repair business say they are paid the lowest rates nationwide.
The Auto Body Labor Rate Bill, which was first introduced in 2007, calls for the commission to be staffed by 11 membersincluding the state undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, state lawmakers and representatives of the Massachusetts auto insurance and collision repair industriesand to set wages based on average rates across the nation.
Peter Abdelmaseh, executive director of the Massachusetts chapter of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP)—which has lobbied for years for passage of the proposed legislation—said he is confident the bill will be supported this time by lawmakers.
“We believe that the overwhelming majority of legislators agree that the remedies proposed in the bill are a fair and reasonable approach to solving what all agree to be a significant problem,” Abdelmaseh said in an email.
According to Abdelmaseh’s association and other groups that represent collision repair businesses, the hourly amount they are paid has stagnated in recent years because vehicle insurers steer business to only those shops with the lowest hourly rates, including some that use parts that are not up to industry standards.
Auto insurance providers, meanwhile, have countered that the rates should be determined by the market and that establishing minimums would artificially drive up their costs.
A report released in 2008 by a state commission formed to investigate the labor rate issue confirmed that rates have failed to keep pace with increases in wages in similar industries. But the commiss
Technology skids in to prevent accidents
Dec 29, 2011 Insurance Guide Leave a comment
We all take the brakes in our car for granted. We expect them to work perfectly, especially if we need them in an emergency. So it’s no surprise that they’re a part of the vehicle thats overworked the average driver uses their brakes an estimated 75,000 times a year.
Advances in technology through the years have helped to reduce fatal accidents.
These innovations include:
- Cameras to aid in parking and estimate the distance between you and the car behind and in front of you this technology is becoming more common in cars
- Alarms to remind us to put on our seatbelts
- Seat belts became mandatory and resulted in a 50 per cent overall reduction in the number of drivers per 100 vehicles being admitted to hospital.
- Better tires these now provide grip levels, especially in wet weather, and puncture resistance
- ABS brakes, which prevent wheel lockup under heavy braking and allow you to maintain steering control. Many
Car Seats For Overweight Children
Dec 18, 2011 Auto Insurance Leave a comment | Tags: Car Seats, Children
Traditional car seats are made to accommodate children that fall into a healthy weight range. If your child is larger than an average child his age, what can you do to keep him safe in the car? As bigger kids become the rule rather than the exception, there are car seats being made that can keep your larger child safe on the road.
A 2006 study published in the medical journal Pediatrics highlighted the need for car seats with higher weight limits. The study showed that nearly 300,000 children between the ages of one and six were too heavy for traditional car seats, which required their parents to use a seat not approved for their height or body type.
Public liability insurance: who needs it and why
Dec 17, 2011 Insurance Planning Leave a comment | Tags: Insurance, Liability Insurance, Public Liability, Public Liability Insurance
Businesses today must be feeling a bit hard done by: no sooner do they make sure they are covered by the latest type of insurance when another one pops up. The latest is public liability insurance, but what does this relate to and do businesses really need it? Public liability insurance in its simplest terms covers businesses in case anyone hurts themselves on your premises, be they office based, a building site or even your house if you work from home. At this moment in time those who are self employed are not required by law to take out public liability insurance, but they are strongly advised to consider it. Bigger businesses are required to have it.
Conflict of interest insurance for Condominiums in Detroit
Dec 12, 2011 Insurance Planning Leave a comment | Tags: Condominium Insurance
If you are part of a condominium association board in Detroit with important responsibilities, your legal rights should always stay protected in the event of a conflict. For this reason, condominium conflict of interest insurance is readily available. This form of insurance will protect you against any conflicts among the condominium association, such as arguments on decision-making. A simple situation like selecting a plumber may lead to more serious problems than you can imagine.
As part of the condominium association in Detroit, you bear the heavy responsibility of ensuring that the condominium is always safe and secure while making sure that the residence are comfortable at the same time, and always put the condominium’s interests before anything else. Read full article…