The Los Angeles Police Department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) are warning motorists of a growing problem with unauthorized tow truck operators in the LA area.
These “bandit” tow truck operators monitor police radios and respond to accidents seeking to hook up vehicles and tow them to body shops or storage facilities where they are held hostage until the motorists and their insurance companies pay inflated towing, storage and possibly repair charges to get the vehicle back.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/70506514-nicb-lapd-bandit-tow-truck-scams/
Celebrate My Drive, powered by State Farm,® is proud to announce winners of the campaign designed to raise awareness and promote teen driver safety. One hundred high schools will share in a total of $3.28 million in grants connected to their participation in the program.
Over 3,200 high schools across North America participated, generating more than 6.1 million online safe driving commitments. Winning high schools generated the most commitments, while amplifying conversations around teen driver safety and addressing the leading cause of death for teens.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7271031-state-farm-celebrate-my-drive-2014/
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) today released a national analysis of vehicle theft which compares annual statistics for thefts, population and vehicle registrations from 1960 through 2013. Just released FBI crime figures for 2013 show that 699,594 vehicles were reported stolen last year–a 58 percent reduction–from 1991 when vehicle theft reached an all-time high of 1,661,738.
Over the years, the single-vehicle family–long the norm in America–became the exception as it gave way to families with multiple vehicles. In 1960, there were 74,159,209 vehicles registered across the nation whose population that year was 180,671,158. Registrations as a percentage of that population stood at 41 percent. In 2012, that figure increased to 80.8 percent as registrations climbed to 253,639,386 distributed within the nation’s 313,873,685 in population.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/70506513-national-insurance-crime-bureau-historical-look-at-vehicle-theft-in-united-states/
Planning a holiday road trip? For some handy hints, watch whitewater kayaker Jim as he prepares to hit the road.
Jim's Road Trip Essentials
• Maps or a GPS
• Mobile phone & charger
• Water and food
• Car Insurance details
• First aid kit and torch
For safety tips on domestic or international travel click here:
http://www.nrma.com.au/travel-insurance/domestic-travel-insurance
http://www.nrma.com.au/travel-insurance/international-travel-insurance
If you are planning to visit a beach on holiday then follow some simple tips to protect your belongings.
Sam's Beach Security Tips
• Take as few valuables as you can
• Keep belongings out of sight
• Watch your things while you unload
• Carry your key in a secure pocket
• Consider a waterproof wallet
• Take turns to keep guard
If you are travelling interstate or overseas, visit NRMA Insurance Australia (http://www.nrma.com.au) for safety tips on domestic or international travel: http://www.nrma.com.au/travel-insurance
A group of four minivans recently tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for protection in small overlap front crashes shows some of the worst possible outcomes for this type of crash, with only one vehicle performing acceptably.
The Nissan Quest, the Chrysler Town & Country and its twin, the Dodge Grand Caravan, all earn poor ratings. The exception to the disappointing pattern is the 2015 Toyota Sienna, which earns an acceptable rating. It joins the Honda Odyssey, which last year earned a good rating in the test, in the ranks of TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners.
Knowing what is important in life became clear to Michael and Kim Jones after Michael was diagnosed with terminal neck cancer. “It changed us dramatically,” Kim said of the diagnosis and the ensuing five-year journey that followed.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7100755-northwestern-mutual-client-stories-life-insurance/
Non-profit Enroll America, the nation’s largest health care enrollment coalition, is working with the Ad Council to encourage women to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act during the next open enrollment period, which runs from November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015.
To raise awareness, Enroll America is working with the Ad Council to continue its successful “Take Care, People” integrated public service advertising (PSA) campaign encouraging the uninsured, particularly women, to enroll. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make 80% of the health care decisions for their families. Women are also 47% more likely than their male counterparts to share information about health care with their friends, family and community. Lack of awareness is a critical issue among women, however, with 79% of those in the Enroll America study saying they do not know enough about the new law.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7368551-enroll-america-ad-council-second-affordable-care-act-open-enrollment-period-begins/
The ranks of top-rated booster seats continue to grow as manufacturers design models to earn high marks in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s annual booster seat evaluations, plus offer the style and convenience parents look for when it’s time to pick a safe seat for their booster-age children.
Among the 41 models new for 2014, there are 27 BEST BET seats — more than in any prior year — and three GOOD BETs. Eight boosters are in a category the Institute calls “Check Fit,” and there are three new models that the Institute doesn’t recommend using as boosters. Prices for BEST BET boosters start around $25 and go up to about $370, depending on features, and several models are LATCH compatible.
During the month of November, VPI, a Nationwide company, will donate $5 to the Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF), up to $10,000, for every photo, story or statistic shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #CurePetCancer. For more information, visit www.curepetcancer.com. To date, VPI has raised nearly $200,000 to benefit the ACF.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7361751-veterinary-pet-insurance-teams-with-animal-cancer-foundation-for-national-pet-cancer-awareness-month/
John Peden was one of those larger-than-life personalities. “When he would walk into a room, it was like all the attention was on him,” said his stepdaughter, Jenna Peden. “He just had this power emanating out of him.”
The 6-foot, 4-inch former U.S. Air Force captain was a respected dental surgeon in Nashville. He was active in his church and made many mission trips to provide dental care in Central America through Health Talents International.
That’s why it was such a shock to his family and friends when an MRI revealed a brain tumor the size of a golf ball. “Life as we knew it was no more,” said his wife, Vicki Peden. “John never worked another day in his life.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7100754-northwestern-mutual-client-stories-planning-preparation-pay-off/
Today, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) launched Access Better Coverage.org, a new website designed to educate consumers about the ABCs of health coverage and access to prescription medicines.
The new site introduces important resources to help people better understand how health insurance works and what to expect from their coverage, including a series of white board videos explaining basic insurance terms like deductibles, copays and coinsurance, and how formularies and tiers work.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7350551-phrma-health-insurance-access-better-coverage/
