2011 March Archive

Researchers at the University of California at San Diego recently received a $100,000 grant from NFL Charities to study traumatic brain injury (TBI) in military personnel and will ultimately expand the study to include high school and college athletes.

The grant represents part of a total grant package to 16 different research institutions across the country totalling over $1.6 million for sports-related medical research.  More than $1 million of this research focuses on concussion prevention and treatment.

The National Football League has recently made a conscious decision to research and develop ways to prevent and treat the longterm effects of brain injuries‚ including dementia ad mentall illness.

Amongst other matters being researched by UCSD researchers are using Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging to diagnose traumatic brain injury.  Mild traumatic brain injury does not typically show up on CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).  However‚ UCSD researchers believe that MEG scans can demonstrate slower brain waves and thereby diagnose MTBI.

Most of the participants in the UCSD study will be Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton.

Not only is the NFL concerned about head injuries‚ but the California Interscholastic Foundation has adopted rules to help protect its’ athletes from brain injuries.  Amongst these rules is one mandating that an athlete suspecting of suffering a concussion must be removed from practice and competition until the concussion is resolved and the player is cleared by a medical professional.

Last year‚ we wrote about a story where an insurance agent failed to sell an auto insurance policy upgrade to a client of Northern Virginia personal injury attorney Ben Glass.  The result?  It cost his client $900‚000 in underinsured settlement funds while an increase in the policy limits up to the $1‚000‚000 case value would have only cost $7.49.

Failing to advise insurance customers of UM/UIM benefits and cheap additional coverage happens every day.  In fact‚ it just happened to me!

I try to reshop my insurance policies every year.  This year‚ when I called GEICO insurance to determine how much uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage I could purchase‚ I found out that I could increase my coverage from $100‚000 per person and $300‚000 per accident to $500‚000 per accident for an additional $48.80!  That is it–just slightly over $4 per month would increase my UM/UIM coverage by $400‚000.  Just so we’re clear‚ this also included increasing my third party bodily injury coverage (the coverage that applies if I am the at-fault driver and I injure another person) from $300‚000 to $500‚000 per accident.

Think about that.  My $4 per month saved could have cost me $400‚000!  That is a huge resource and could mean the difference between being able to provide for my medical care and loss of earnings due to prolonged careif I am involved in an auto accident in San Diego.  Without this additional coverage‚ I might be forced to file bankruptcy from not paying my bills.

What are insurance companies and their agents doing?  Isn’t it their job to sell additional coverage and to increase coverage limits to the most that their customers can afford?  Isn’t that good business?

Apparently not.  Apparently agents are not supposed to sell affordable coverages that truly protect their customers.  And‚ make no mistake about it‚ UM/UIM coverage is the most valuable insurance coverage you can purchase.