Gender Equality for Drivers in Massachusetts May Mean Higher Premiums for Some

When it comes to buying auto insurance, many risk factors contribute when setting rates. Common factors considered are age, gender, location, type of vehicle, and driving record, to name a few. Massachusetts car accident lawyers know auto accident statistics show male drivers get in more accidents than female drivers, and therefore females typically have lower premiums due to being less of a risk factor to the insurance company. But for Massachusetts drivers, this is not the case. Although an individual’s driving record and car accident history carry heavy weight in determining Massachusetts car insurance premiums, gender is no longer a risk factor for Massachusetts drivers buying auto insurance. This may mean higher insurance bills for female drivers, who no longer benefit from what typically equates to a lower rate based on their gender, and perhaps lower premiums for males. Whether or not drivers agree with this modification, the Seekonk, Massachusetts car accident attorneys at Tapalian Law know how extremely important, and valuable, good auto insurance is when you get hurt in a car accident.

Focus Moves to Driving Behavior to Determine Car Insurance Rates

Lawmakers and regulators have long been pushing to put more focus on driving behaviors and safe driving records when setting car insurance rates, rather than criteria like gender, that seem less related to risk. Aside from teenage drivers, a category where statistics show year after year male teenagers consistently get in more car accidents than their female counterparts, on a national level gender does not play that big of a role in the price difference for car insurance after the teen and young adult years. Car accident attorneys in Massachusetts continue to see a large number of auto accidents resulting in personal injury caused by distracted driving, drunk driving, and speeding. Lately, insurance companies have become stricter about penalizing reckless driving habits. Negligent driving habits like distracted driving, including use of a hand-held cell phone to talk or text while operating a motor vehicle, are increasing car insurance premiums at a higher rate. For example, a ticket for distracted driving bumped up insurance premiums by nearly 20 percent in 2018, compared to a barely 2 percent increase in premium three years earlier. Factors that increase car insurance premiums even greater than distracted driving are speeding tickets and being arrested for driving under the influence, DUI or DWI. Putting gender aside, car insurance rates have increased across the country says Alyssa Connolly, Director of Market Research for Zebra, an online search engine allowing consumers to price-compare car insurance policies, stating “it’s the highest its ever been nationally. Rates are up this year for 83 percent of Americans.” The average car insurance premium in the U.S. is at $1,470, up 23 percent from 2011. A recent post on the Tapalian Law Rhode Island Accident Lawyer Blog, showed that right over the Massachusetts border, Rhode Island drivers pay the fourth highest car insurance premiums in the U.S.

Proper Car Insurance Coverage is a Necessity for All Massachusetts Drivers

As Seekonk, Massachusetts car accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, we can’t stress enough the importance of adequate car insurance coverage. At Tapalian Law, we see victims injured in car crashes in Seekonk, Taunton, Attleboro, and all over the state. Our personal injury lawyers witness first-hand the huge toll it takes on the injured person and their family, both physically and financially. Proper auto insurance coverage is a necessity not only for you as a driver if you cause an accident, but also if you are the victim of an accident caused by someone else in Massachusetts and suffer from personal injury or other damages. Hospital costs, medical expenses, and repair bills mount up quickly. If you are hurt and unable to work and earn money, this creates a greater financial burden that can be extremely difficult to come back from. If you are hurt in a car accident in Seekonk, Massachusetts, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you recover financial compensation for damages caused by your injuries, including hospital and medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Contact Tapalian Law After a Massachusetts Car Crash

If you have been injured in a car accident in Seekonk, Fall River, Taunton, or elsewhere in MA or RI, seek out the guidance of the Seekonk, Massachusetts car accident attorney’s at Tapalian Law. Dealing with the insurance companies after an accident can be an extremely complex process and difficult to navigate without an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Attorney David Tapalian helps those suffering from personal injury due to car accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, or slip and falls, recover compensation for their losses. Our injury law firm works with a number of insurance companies on behalf of our clients on a daily basis and are skilled in the complexities of Massachusetts car insurance. If you or a loved one have been hurt in any type of accident in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, contact Tapalian Law at 401-552-5000, or use our online contact form.