LEGAL: CAN WE TALK?

Travels through Property Law by Tom Brodersen, Esq.

CAN WE TALK?

I have a confession to make.  I’m one of those guys who has to hold the remote control at home, in front of the TV.

Truth be told, there are probably several reasons I feel that compulsion, but the main one, the Mac-Daddy of reasons I want that magic wand close at all times is because of – wait for it – IGNORANT COMMERCIALS.  I MUST be ready to kill the audio, or maybe even change the channel, even if only temporarily.

Some commercials make me feel like the companies that spend all those millions of dollars to put their messages in front of you, me and everyone we know, regard Americans as stupid, and they’re willing to treat us that way, all to make a buck.

Another admission here – I’m thinking (these days) of especially ONE commercial.  Hint, the color yellow predominates, it has a very large bird in it (an emu, actually), and a dorky looking guy who sells auto insurance.

The message on its face is that you can save money by “paying only for what you need.”  They don’t let on what insurance coverages you may decide you don’t need, but believe me they’re hoping that you decide not to buy uninsured motorists (UM) coverage.

Let’s say you’re the typical consumer and decide to save that money.  Who do you suppose saves the most money if you don’t buy UM coverage?

The answer is, the insurance company saves big.  You save pennies.

UM coverage only applies if the guy who hits your car in traffic has little or no insurance himself, such as $10,000 / $20,000.  Suppose you (or your spouse) are seriously injured, to the tune of many tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical expenses, and even more in future lost income as well as terrible pain and suffering.  If “that guy” has no insurance, your health insurance covers your medical expenses (exactly how well depends on how good your health coverage is), but you are out in the cold as far as pain and suffering is concerned, as well as future lost income and permanent disability.  

You saved several hundred dollars on insurance premiums over the last year or so (maybe), but the insurance company saves hundreds of thousands, or even millions.

So, who really wins?  You tell me. In the end, who got the bird?

ANDERSON & BRODERSEN, P.A., 350 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, FL  33706 • (727) 363-6100 • www.PropertyLawGroup.com

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