.png?width=625&name=Louisiana%20Succeeds%20In%20Achieving%20Mandatory%20Auto%20Insurance%20Rate%20Reduction%20(1).png)
Yesterday, in the Senate Chamber, Senator Kirk Talbot succeeded in bringing Louisiana's legal system in line with other states in exchange for mandatory auto insurance rate reduction.
The PIA of Louisiana has been hard at work to address this growing problem, and in fact has been working hard on the problem for a number of years.
Yesterday, was finally a much needed win.
Keep reading for the details and how it will affect your auto-insurance premiums.
Louisiana has the highest jury trial threshold in the nation at $50,000. That means unless your case is valued at $50,000 or higher, a judge rather than a jury, will decide your case. The end result is a trend of cases with higher value, but low enough to avoid a jury in the hopes of landing the right judge. Maryland has the next highest threshold at $15,000 and 32 states have no jury trial threshold.
The current judicially made law prohibits evidence of what was actually paid by a plaintiff in medical bills and allows only evidence of full-price or “sticker price” medical bills to be submitted into evidence, without regard to contractual adjustments for health insurance or limits on reimbursement established by public payors. This allows plaintiffs and their attorneys to recover a windfall that far exceeds both their actual liability for medical care and the costs of health insurance premiums they have paid.
Louisiana is one of only three states where a plaintiff can sue you and your insurance company. Most states recognize that bringing an insurance company into a lawsuit encourages a jury’s tendency to award larger damages. It’s human nature to see a company in a different light than a real person, but in the end it’s a real person paying a very real bill.
A compromise providing the other elements of the bill remain in place.
Seat belt usage is currently hidden from juries according to state law, even though unbelted occupants typically have medical costs three times higher than those wearing seat belts – as required by law.
The bill also establishes a mandatory review of commercial auto insurance to lower rates when actuarially justified. This bill will help rebuild competition in our markets, providing real relief for Louisiana ratepayers.
Andrew Ward : Jan 27, 2021 10:14:29 AM
DID YOU KNOW? You could be overpaying for your car insurance, or at least paying for coverage you no longer need. Rates can vary across insurance...
Levi Kastner : Feb 20, 2020 9:59:26 AM
We all know insurance rates in Louisiana can be high. This is something that is constantly talked about in our office and brought up from clients....
Levi Kastner : May 18, 2020 2:34:13 PM
As you are all very aware, the auto insurance market in Louisiana is in a state of crisis. We currently have the second highest rates in the nation,...