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In recent years, people have been bombarded with messages about the dangers of texting while driving. Studies have shown that auto accident risks increase exponentially when a driver tries to use a handheld device to text, surf the web, or perform similar tasks. In fact, such behavior has now been outlawed in 42 states.

But one thing that’s still legal is texting while walking. And believe it or not, this combination is starting to cause problems across the nation.

21st Century Danger: Texting While Walking

According to research from Ohio State University, from 2004 to 2010 the number of pedestrian injuries that involved mobile phones tripled, even while all pedestrian injuries decreased during the same period. A separate study indicates that out of the 41,000 annual pedestrian injuries that require visits to emergency rooms, some 15% of them involve cellphones. Many of these injuries are caused by a motor vehicle striking a texting pedestrian who isn’t paying attention.

Historically, most pedestrian injuries were concentrated in the elderly, child, and intoxicated populations. But with the advent of mobile phones, the demographics of pedestrian injury victims are changing; with many people between the ages of 16 and 25 years of age reporting pedestrian injuries. What’s more, some experts believe that these figures are underreported, since texting while walking can lead to an injury which many people find embarrassing.

The few attempts across the country to outlaw texting while walking have been met with resistance; and practically speaking, it would probably be a difficult law to enforce. Therefore, many safety advocates are finally beginning to raise awareness about this issue. They are encouraging pedestrians to stop walking while sending or reading texts, or to use voice commands to operate their smartphones. There are even some digital apps that can lower the odds of injuries while texting and walking, such as one which utilizes smartphone cameras to help pedestrian watch for obstacles in front of them.Read More »Drivers Beware: Texting While Walking Accidents On the Rise

Auto accidents are a part of the practice of driving. Even the most careful drivers can make a mistake, or simply be at the wrong place at the wrong time when someone else strikes their vehicle. Damages can range anywhere from a dented fender to a totaled car.

That’s why smart drivers always carry ample auto insurance. If they cause an accident, the insurer will pick up the tab for repairs to the victimized vehicle (or property). If their own vehicle is damaged and they’ve purchased the right coverage , their policy will cover repair costs.

Read More »How Insurers Estimate Auto Repair Costs

America is a place where people are encouraged to take chances. Maybe you’re one of these intrepid individuals who starts their own business, tries an exotic food, or faces their fear by doing something daring.

Taking risks is part of what being an American is all about. But being a high-risk driver isn’t. Not only does it put your safety and that of others in jeopardy, but it also makes getting auto insurance pretty expensive — or even nearly impossible.

Defining a High-Risk Driver in California

What exactly is a high-risk driver? In California, this term tends to describe people who have several of the following factors:

• been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• just started driving (like teenagers)
• modified their vehicles for improved performance
• purchased a rare or very fast vehicle
• received multiple moving violations
• been involved in multiple collisions
• filed multiple insurance claims

Read More »7 Tips on Getting High-Risk Auto Insurance in California

These days, drivers in California have more options than ever before when it comes to auto insurance. Not only are there over a hundred companies from which auto insurance can be purchased, but finding insurers, comparing rates and coverage, and signing up for insurance is easier than ever before with rate comparison websites such as AISInsurance.com.

But this “culture of choices” goes both ways. In other words, auto insurance companies can choose whether or not they wish to insure you. Moreover, these insurers can elect to declare your policy null and void under certain conditions — which can sometimes leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.

Read More »10 Things That Could Make Your California Auto Insurance Plan Invalid

Now that you are a well-seasoned individual getting lots of “senior discounts,” you have amassed enough life experience to have earned the right to pay less for auto insurance. So if you think you are paying too much for your coverage, here are eight things you can do about it:

1. Retire. It’s something that you probably want to do anyway. But retirees generally pay less for auto insurance because they don’t have to worry about that stressful daily commute to work anymore. So when you do bid adieu to the workforce, be sure to notify your insurance agent about your new status.

Read More »8 Ways for California Seniors to Lower Their Auto Insurance Rates

People who shop for auto insurance are often looking for fairly different things. Some want insurance against as many types of mishaps as possible. Others want to add a teen driver to their policy. Some even want zero-deductible insurance coverage.

And then there are the people who are burdened with subpar credit records.

In some states a person’s credit score does affect how much he or she pays for auto insurance. That’s because there’s a strong statistical correlation between an individual’s creditworthiness and his or her risk of filing an auto accident claim. Therefore, car insurers often charge higher premiums to policyholders who have lower credit scores.

So if your credit is less than stellar, here are eight suggestions for finding auto insurance that won’t blow up your budget.

Read More »6 Tips for Getting Auto Insurance If You Have Bad Credit