By: Jeffrey Lapin
Legal news for the week ending February 1, 2013, from around the United States and the world that you might have missed:
› How Social Media Is Changing The Way Car Defects And Complaints Are Discovered
(By: Jonathon Ramsey via Autoblog)
Social media can allow direct and faster access to a person, a group or discussion of an issue, and that has led to wide ranging players in the automotive world figuring out how to use it in order to improve performance. Dealers encourage customers to use sites like Google+ and DealerRater.com for reviews, automakers like Hyundai and Chrysler have someone dedicated to watching Twitter for complaints, and federal agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey forums and websites for hints about possible defects … (Click on the headline above to read the entire article)
› Consumer Fraud Liability Study – 2013
(By: CardHub)
Payments fraud is an ever-changing beast, with fraudsters and law enforcement officials effectively playing a game of personal finance one-upmanship. Not only do consumers feel the need to worry about the traditional means by which criminals might gain access to their funds – such as shoulder surfing at ATMs, technology that makes it easy to copy one’s physical credit card, and pickpocketing – but we must also consider the likes of computer and database hacking. …
More specifically, we will answer the following three major questions:1. When are consumers shielded from fraud liability?
2. Which payment vehicles best protect consumers from fraud liability?
3. What is required of consumers in order to benefit from fraud liability safeguards?
Main Findings:
- Credit cards offer the best fraud liability protection for consumers.
- Discover and American Express offer the best fraud liability protection, as they are the only major card networks whose $0 fraud liability guarantees apply across the board to credit card transactions, signature debit card transactions, PIN debit card transactions, and ATM transactions.
- With the exception of non-reloadable provisional prepaid cards, consumers do not need to take any proactive steps (such as registration) in order to qualify for fraud liability protection. However, consumers must report fraudulent or suspicious account activity to their card’s issuer in order to benefit.
(Click on the headline above to read the entire article)
› Largest Auto Insurers Frequently Charge Higher Premiums To Safe Drivers Than To Those Responsible For Accidents
(By: The Consumer Federation of America)
In its third report on auto insurance premiums charged by the largest auto insurers, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) found that these insurers frequently charge higher premiums to safe drivers than to those who recently caused an accident. In two-thirds of the 60 cases studied, large auto insurers quoted higher premiums to safe drivers than to those responsible for an accident. And in more than three-fifths of the cases with these higher premiums, the premium quoted the safe driver exceeded the premium quoted the unsafe driver by at least 25 percent.
These higher prices for “good drivers” mainly reflect insurer use of rating factors such as education and occupation that, in a 2012 nationwide survey, over two-thirds of Americans said were unfair. … (Click on the headline above to read the entire article)
› Court Rules That Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer Even Though Scientists Say No
(By: Richard Alleyne of The Telegraph, via Business Insider)
A landmark court case has ruled there is a link between using a mobile phone and brain tumours, paving the way for a flood of legal actions.Innocente Marcolini, 60, an Italian businessman, fell ill after using a handset at work for up to six hours every day for 12 years.Now Italy’s Supreme Court in Rome has blamed his phone saying there is a “causal link” between his illness and phone use … (Click on the headline above to read the entire article)
That’s it for this week. If you find something interesting you would like us to post email it to Lapin Law Offices. If we post it we will give you credit, if you want, for sending it to us. Please do not send any copyrighted material or anything else you do not have the rights to send.
OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING
- Going Beyond No Texting and Driving: Huron, South Dakota
- AMEX Changing the Rules: Arbitration Instead of Court
- NHTSA Wants Hybrid and Electric Vehicles To Get Louder
- The ABC’s Of Safe Winter Weather Driving
- Consumers: 11 Ways To Protect Yourself From Scams
ABOUT LAPIN LAW OFFICES
Lapin Law Offices represents drivers, passengers and pedestrians and their families that are injured or killed by distracted drivers. You can learn more about us by calling us anytime (24/7) at 402-421-8033 (Lincoln), 888-525-8819 (Toll Free) or submitting your case online (Contact Us). We offer a free initial consultation and do not collect a fee unless we get money for you.
