Harmonson Law Firm - March 2020

NS CLAIMS

Would you let the insurance company track your driving? In 2019, the New York Times reported on the “safest driver in Los Angeles”: Deborra Sarei, an LA resident who participated in an experiment sponsored by USAA and the City of Los Angeles to promote safer driving. But how do you determine one person is the safest? The answer was an app on her smartphone. Sarei let the app track her daily driving, including her speed, braking, acceleration, and cornering. It could even track distractions tied to the phone, such as texting or making/ taking phone calls. Essentially, if Sarei was driving, she was being tracked. She says she did everything by the book and became an extra careful driver, monitoring her driving behavior far more than she did before being tracked. Sarei was part of a group of 11,500 other drivers who all had opted to share their location data with the mobile app. The experiment was part of a contest sponsored by USAA and promoted by LA’s mayor, Eric Garcetti. Whoever was dubbed “safest driving in Los Angeles” also received a $20,000 prize. USAA already offers discounts to policy owners who sign up for the mobile tracking app and use it according to USAA’s terms of service. Policyholders can see up to 20% discounts on their premium. Other insurance companies offer similar discounts in exchange for tracking data. They say the tracking is meant to promote safer driving and that users will not be penalized with higher premiums if they drive poorly; they just won’t receive a discount on their policy. INSURERS OFFER DISCOUNTS TO TRACK YOU Are You Willing to Trade Privacy for a Lower Premium?

3. DISPUTES OVER LIABILITY

Disputed liability is a common reason for insurance companies to

deny a claim. If an insurance company can demonstrate doubt over who is at fault for an accident, they will most likely deny a claim. This is another reason why consulting with a personal injury attorney before communicating with an insurance company is beneficial. An attorney can help you demonstrate the facts of your case and protect your rights to a fair settlement. There are a few ways that injured parties can avoid the pitfalls of denied claims associated with preexisting conditions. First, victims should know that they have rights to compensation if a car accident aggravated an existing condition. Second, general medical authorizations that give adjusters unfettered access to medical records should not be signed. If you feel like your medical history, or any of the above, could affect your rights to fair compensation, we recommend speaking with an attorney as soon as possible.

This article comes direct from the blog at clarkharmonsonattorney.com/blog. Be sure to visit the blog for more insight from Clark!

GREEN VELVET CHEESECAKE BARS

INSPIRED BY ABOUTAMOM.COM

This St. Paddy’s Day, try taking a festive spin on a classic staple. If you have red velvet lovers in your family, they’re sure to love this equally decadent treat.

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 eggs

1 cup chocolate graham cracker crumbs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 stick butter, melted

Some states prohibit insurers from offering policies based on driving habits. In California, however, there is talk of changing those restrictions to make it easier for insurers to charge based on driving habits. Right now, these are opt-in programs, so you don’t have to worry about being tracked by your insurer. Are you willing to share your driving habits with your insurer? Some people question how the data may be used and how they are being tracked. It all comes down to a question of privacy. If you’re willing to let go of your privacy, you might see a small discount on your premiums. If not, nothing changes, at least, for now.

Green sprinkles, optional

1 oz green food coloring (gel works best)

3 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 F, and line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. 2. In a large bowl, combine crumbs, butter, and food coloring. Press into the baking pan. 3. In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar together.

4. Add eggs one at a time and stir in vanilla. 5. Pour mixture over the packed crumbs. 6. Bake for 40 minutes or until the center is set. 7. Let cool completely before adding sprinkles and slicing.

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