Archive for September 2016

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency says the federal government will reimburse Maryland state and local governments $25.4 million to cover most of their costs related to a January snowstorm. Spokesman Ed McDonough said in an email Thursday that the Federal … Source: Claims Journal

General Motors Co. settled the final two bellwether cases over ignition switch flaws scheduled for trial in federal court in New York, averting one set to begin next week. Terms of the settlements are confidential, according to statements Monday by … Source: Claims Journal

Volkswagen AG’s agreement with California to resolve unfair competition claims tied to the company’s emissions-cheating scandal won final approval from the federal judge overseeing hundreds of lawsuits in the U.S. California’s consent decree is part of VW’s more than $16.5 … Source: Claims Journal

Used incorrectly, laser pointers can damage the retina of the eye and may cause some irreversible vision loss, according to researchers who treated four boys for these injuries. Doctors, teachers and parents should be aware that this can happen, and … Source: Claims Journal

People who gained health coverage following the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act’s coverage expansion sharply increased their use of prescription drugs, while their out-of-pocket spending for medications dropped significantly, according to a new RAND Corp. study. Researchers studying … Source: Claims Journal

Besnia Joins Great American Insurance Group as Divisional Vice President Cincinnati-based Great American Insurance Group named Kerry Besnia divisional vice president within Great American’s Property and Casualty Group. In his new role, Besnia will be focused on developing new distribution … Source: Claims Journal

Critics of the embattled airbag manufacturer Takata Corp. said last week’s deadly explosion of a truck carrying parts to its Mexican factory underscores questions about the safety of the chemical compound at the center of the largest automotive recall in … Source: Claims Journal

It appears that semi-autonomous cars may not always be carrying a driver who’s alert and ready to take over control of the vehicle if necessary, according to a new survey from State Farm. State Farm conducted the survey to examine … Source: Claims Journal

The August downpours that dumped more than 30 inches of rain in two days on parts of Louisiana have left as many as 100,000 cars and trucks damaged – and that’s only counting insured vehicles. The National Insurance Crime Bureau … Source: Claims Journal

After tumultuous eight hurricanes in two years between 2004 and 2005, we haven’t seen a hurricane in Florida for over 10 years. Has the state learned from those storms? Are the insurance companies ready? What about the independent adjusting companies, … Source: Claims Journal