Fewer cars on the road, increasing accident severity, an uncertain economy—these are just a few of the unprecedented challenges the auto insurance industry has faced in 2020. Now, third party liability insurers are seeking the best method to adapt to this ever-changing situation.

At least a dozen people in New Rochelle and the Bronx were indicted Wednesday in a cunning car fraud scheme to collect insurance by strategically smashing vehicles and submitting big-buck bills while scrimping on the actual repairs, prosecutors said.

The auto insurance industry—and the world at large—has faced no shortage of changes and challenges in 2020. From treatment trends to legislative updates, we’ve had to manage not only a changing business climate, but also industry-altering events that are reshaping auto insurance.

Motor vehicle crashes are often the result of an omission—a missed cue by a driver that leads to an unfortunate outcome. That is why bewildered drivers often say “I didn’t see him” when they deal with the consequences of a mistake on the road.

Drivers fidget with electronics and take both hands off the wheel more often as they develop trust in automated systems, new research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab shows.

Cities across the United States have seen a reduction in motor vehicle traffic and use as a result of COVID-19 and subsequent business closures, work-from-home policies and government emergency orders.

GM announced this week that it will start selling policies directly to drivers through its new OnStar Insurance program. The company will start with its employees in Arizona and plans to expand to the general public by the end of 2021.

A tornado hit the Arlington area Tuesday night as a line of thunderstorms pounded North Texas, leaving damage in Arlington and Grand Prairie, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth and local authorities.

When Helen Witty’s 16-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk and drugged driver, in her grief she found some comfort in a single word: crash. While most of those around her were referring to her daughter’s death as an accident, Witty says that one word—crash—helped her change her perception and heal.

The U.S. is making General Motors recall and repair nearly 6 million pickup trucks and SUVs equipped with potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators.
The decision announced Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will cost the automaker an estimated $1.2 billion, about one third of its net income this year.

CCC on Wednesday estimated repairable auto appraisal counts were down nearly 20 percent in October. The projections come amid November releases of third-quarter same-store sales data from Gerber Collision’s parent company and 3Q frequency data from Allstate and Progressive.

The auto insurance industry has new contender as of Wednesday. General Motors has launched OnStar Insurance, which aims to create a fairer way to insure drivers.

An early morning crash on Highway 99 in Butte County left at least three people dead and two recovering from injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Tropical Storm Eta, which was once a devastating hurricane, is dumping heavy rain on the Carolinas and Virginia. Homes and roads are flooded and bridges have buckled, at least four people are dead and while dozens have been rescued, several remained unaccounted for.

2020 has been a tumultuous time for consumers and businesses alike. The coronavirus crisis led to nearly half of American employees working from home in the spring of this year. Pair that figure with the fact that unemployment rates climbed to nearly 15% in April 2020, and it’s easy to understand why consumers are looking for ways to reduce their expenses and stretch the dollars they have.