Research Publications

Small Business Attitude Monitor 1991

Surveys of small businesses released in 1991 and 1989 explore attitudes and beliefs about insurance-related topics as they apply to U.S. businesses having between 2 and 49 employees. Topics covered include insurance coverages held, shopping patterns, availability/cost of business insurance, and claim satisfaction. The more recent study also reports on perceptions about the relative costs of business insurance and attitudes and beliefs about fraudulent insurance claiming behaviors.

A Comparative Study of Liability Law and Compensation Schemes in Ten Countries and the United States, Werner Pfennigstorf with Donald G. Gifford

This book compares principles and applications of liability law in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Foreign perspectives are provided by Werner Pfennigstorf, who served as research attorney and project director of the American Bar Foundation 1973-86 and now is in private law practice in the Federal Republic of Germany. American perspectives are provided by Donald G. Gifford, Dean of the College of Law, West Virginia University.

Public Attitude Monitor 1991

This survey examines insurance fraud issues including: the acceptability of various activities in which some facts are misrepresented when filling out an auto insurance application or filing a claim, penalties by insurers and courts for various acts, ideas to reduce the number of dishonest claims, claim padding, and fraud in circumstances other than insurance. The survey also addresses public understanding of the workers' compensation system and the likelihood of hiring a lawyer in connection with a workers' compensation claim, acceptability of speeding and effectiveness of driver improvement courses, consumer confidence in the financial stability of a variety of industries, and views on the cost of auto insurance.

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.

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.