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From Consumers Union Washington, D.C. Office
March 27, 1998
Letters to the Editor
Washington Post
1150 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20071-0070
To the Editor:
Although Robert Samuelson's analysis of problems with auto insurance ("Accidental Insurance," Wash Post, March 25, 1998) is mostly right, his analysis stumbles by concluding drivers will be better off under so-called "Auto Choice" legislation (HR 2021 and S. 625). We believe closer analysis of this scheme reveals a false choice that puts auto insurance consumers at risk. In fact, "Auto Choice" would force consumers to choose between the right to go to court in case of injury and what its supporters are calling "personal protection insurance." Drivers opting for PPI would save a small amount on their premiums - but would lose big if they had a serious accident. In exchange for a modest savings, a driver agrees to give up the right to recover for non-economic damages ahead of time - loss of limb an arm, leg, eyesight, etc. and other "pain and suffering" not covered by medical bills or lost wages.
Samuelson's attack on the current system's failure to fairly compensate those with serious injuries, while too often overcompensating those with more minor ones, is on target. Consumers Union believes that good no-fault laws, like Michigan's for example, responds to those concerns without forcing drivers to forfeit their right to recover for injuries they cannot predict in advance. Michigan's legislature had it right when it designed its no fault legislation: you can get into court only when you have a serious injury. Because minor injuries are handled outside the courts by the driver's own insurance company, auto insurance premiums in that state have remained stable. At the same time, those with life altering injuries can receive full medical and rehabilitation damages and never need to choose ahead of time to give up the right to go to court. We urge other states to follow the Michigan model. Meanwhile, no driver should be forced to accept one of the two poor choices offered in the current "Auto Choice" bills in Congress.
Sincerely,
Sally Greenberg,
Senior Product Safety Counsel
Consumers Union
