Research Publications

Automobile Injury Claims in Hawaii

This closed claim study examines characteristics of 712 auto injury claims closed in 1990, documenting Hawaii's high attorney involvement and the use of lengthy medical treatments for neck and back sprains to defeat the state's $7,000 no-fault threshold.

Medical Cost Containment in Casualty Claims

Rising medical costs are a major cause of higher insurance costs for workers' compensation, general liability and automobile insurance. This report explores medical cost containment techniques used by insurers of those coverages and offers an assessment of their effectiveness.

Adequacy of Motor Vehicle Records in Evaluating Driver Performance

A survey of 27,627 reportable auto crashes in 40 states found only 40% of them were recorded on reports obtained from state motor vehicle departments, indicating millions of records cannot be obtained by employers and auto insurers to identify high-risk drivers. Results for each state and 26 major cities are reported.

Public Attitude Monitor 1990

Traffic safety issues, including safety equipment (air bags, automatic seat belts, anti-lock brakes, child safety seats, motorcycle helmets), stronger bumpers, speeding and speed limits, alcohol and drugs, trucks and highway safety, motor vehicle records and insurer access to them, cost of auto insurance and actions taken to reduce it, and geographic differences in auto premiums are the focus of this survey. Factors influencing auto purchasing decisions are also examined.

Trends in Auto Bodily Injury Claims

Auto Insurance Reform: Public Views of Ideas for Reducing Costs and Speeding Settlement of Auto Insurance Claims

A countrywide survey conducted by The Gallup Organization, Inc. explores public acceptance of key auto insurance reform ideas being discussed by legislators and other public policy decision-makers. The survey found substantial public support for limiting lawsuits in minor injury cases.

The National Flood Insurance Program: Agency and Insurer Perspectives

Surveys of insurers and agents explore their views and practices regarding National Flood Insurance and Write-Your-Own programs. The study examines reasons for participation/non-participation by providers and property owners, the role of lenders in the sale of flood insurance, growth in policies sold, and views on who is responsible for promoting flood insurance.

Public Attitude Monitor 1989

This survey of 1,484 households reports on public attitudes on cost of auto insurance and ideas for reducing it, seat belt laws, attorney advertising and its effect on the number of claims and cost of auto insurance, what's covered by a homeowners policy, and the incidence of claim fraud.

Surviving the Storm: Building Codes, Compliance, and the Mitigation of Hurricane Damage

The study indicates that good building codes and strong enforcement can reduce hurricane damage to property. But it also shows wide variations in wind codes and code compliance among Gulf and Atlantic coastal states. Included are state-by-state estimates of insured property values exposed to hurricanes, and the added costs of making homes more hurricane-resistant.

Uninsured Motorists (1989)

This report examines the extent of the uninsured motorist problem on a state-by-state basis, the types of laws in effect to encourage financial responsibility of vehicle owners, the effectiveness of these laws, and the provisions of Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist laws that affect claim frequencies and the cost of those coverages.