The Rather Wimp-ish, Soccermom Society of America.

[Sublight]

@World Eater

What the hell are you talking about? I can’t get pissed because some asshole slips on a curb and sues the closest homeowner for 5 million?

I overheard a lady talking to my manager at a job a few years ago. She was a local, and would stop by and shoot the shit every once in awhile. One day she came in with a bandage on her nose, and was telling him that she went to visit a friend, and when entering the building walked into the glass door and broke her nose. She said she didn’t see it, and how they should have a sticker on it, and yep, that she was suing. I went up and asked her how could she not see a glass door? I explained to her that there is a big difference between a glass door and an invisble door (which would look like no door). Didn’t she wonder why the doorknob was floating 3 feet off the ground? :rolleyes:

Since you’re ranting about multimillion dollar lawsuits, did the jury find in her favor, and if so, how much was she awarded (after adjustment by the judge, of course)?

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@Fear Itself

The fact that you admit to having insurance puts you in that lot with the rest of us. By paying money to someone else to assume the risks of modern life, you are passing that responsibility to someone else. When the insurance company refuses to pay for losses caused by policyholders, the claimant is forced to take it to court. Why is it when I refuse to pay my bills, I am a deadbeat, but when an insurance company refuses to pay its bills, they are just looking out for their policyholders? Double standards, anyone?

I don’t know where you live but automobile insurance is a legal requirement in more or less the entire English-speaking world. Is following the law an attempt to pass off personal responsiblity?

[World_Eater]

@Sublight

Since you’re ranting about multimillion dollar lawsuits, did the jury find in her favor, and if so, how much was she awarded (after adjustment by the judge, of course)?

You know to be honest, I don’t know how it ended up.

[Fear_Itself]

@dutchboy208

I don’t know where you live but automobile insurance is a legal requirement in more or less the entire English-speaking world. Is following the law an attempt to pass off personal responsiblity?

Yes, it is, even if it is a legal requirement. I am not saying that contracting with an insurance company to assume your risks is a bad thing. What is screwy is to pass the risk to an insurance company, and then bitch when someone sues them to collect damages! That is what they are there for, and it is solely up to the courts to determine whether or not the claim is valid (or frivolous). Calls to ban frivolous lawsuits are a figleaf for insurance companies who want to collect premiums, but not pay claims. If it were otherwise, they would not object to a cap on premiums at the same time; after all, that’s the whole point of capping awards, right? Do you see any “Tort Reformists” calling for a cap on premiums? Why is that, hmmm?

[htns]

@Fear Itself

The fact that you admit to having insurance puts you in that lot with the rest of us. By paying money to someone else to assume the risks of modern life, you are passing that responsibility to someone else. When the insurance company refuses to pay for losses caused by policyholders, the claimant is forced to take it to court. Why is it when I refuse to pay my bills, I am a deadbeat, but when an insurance company refuses to pay its bills, they are just looking out for their policyholders? Double standards, anyone?

Lemme give you a real world example from my own life. Some weeks ago, I was backing out of a parking space, right next to a pillar (this was an underground garage). I turned the wheel a bit too soon, and wound up putting a pretty good dent in my fender when I hit the pillar. Not only did I not sue anyone, I didn’t even make an insurance claim. I paid for a new fender out of my pocket, and resolved to be more careful in the future.

Could I have sued and won? Probably. Would my insurance have paid for my fender? Again, probably. Thing is, I didn’t want to be a part of the problem. I didn’t want to be a part of the pass-the-buck fad. So I took my lumps and moved on.

I understand that a LOT of unethical insurers refuse to pay legit claims. But when they’re bombarded with claims from morons who refuse to accept personal responsibility, can you really blame them? Doesn’t make it right, but it is understandable.

Just my two cents.