May 17, 2024

Alameda County’s lead prosecutor, Pamela Price, has filed suit against several auto insurers including Progressive and USAA, software companies, tech developers CCC information Systems and Mitchell International. A 69-page complaint filed in April, alleges these companies have been working hand-in-glove to shortchange California drivers on payouts for totaled cars. These companies have been accused of using rigged software to lowball the value of wrecked vehicles.

Low balling the value of a total loss deals a significant blow to people who depend on their cars for everything, according to a press release from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. “A vehicle is the lynchpin to life in California,” Price said, and fiddling with insurance payouts could lead to missed loan payments, dinged credit scores, job loss, or worse. The complaint lays out the dirty laundry: insurers used the suspect software to churn out “independent” valuations, then strong-armed customers with take-it-or-leave-it settlement offers, leaving many in the lurch.

The Complaint further alleges that once the insured accepts the lowball offer, the insurance companies can resell the same vehicle at auction to minimize its losses further: “Inherent to the Scheme is this loss recoupment opportunity: the [insurance company] would rather total a vehicle than repair it because of the opportunity to recoup…. If [it] pays to repair the vehicle, it has no ability to recoup any of that loss.” The complaint suggests that once insurers get customers to accept the low-ball offer, they can flip the totaled cars at auction, minimizing their cash outlay. This approach allows the company to actually profit while allegedly leaving California’s car owners and businesses high and dry, facing skewed vehicle values and repair shops missing out on business.

The DA’s office is seeking penalties, paybacks for shorted consumers, and an injunction to end these anti-consumer actions. The suit further suggests this takes advantage of disadvantaged groups including seniors and people of color. California law could pile on extra penalties for preying on these protected classes. California residents have a an on-line complaint form if they have reason to believe they were damaged as a result of this behavior.  A link to that complaint form is here: Alameda County District Attorney Consumer Complaint Form.

We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others.  At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We would be honored to represent you!

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INSURANCE COMPANIES KNOW US BECAUSE THEY’VE PAID OUR CLIENTS OVER $130 MILLION DOLLARS.

$2.9

MILLION

CAR ACCIDENT INJURY

Guenard & Bozarth llp obtained a $2,962,903 jury verdict in the Sacramento County Superior Court for plaintiff David Schoonover, who suffered head and neck injuries and fractures in a head-on accident on Roseville Road in Roseville on July 22, 2012

$300

THOUSAND

HAIR SALON INJURY

Guenard & Bozarth LLP recently settled a case for $300,000 involving a hair weave that went terribly wrong. Our client was a young lady, and aspiring model, who experienced pressure necrosis from a tight weave and it changed her life.

$500

THOUSAND

SLIP & FALL INJURY

Guenard & Bozarth LLP recently settled a slip and fall case for $500,000 a couple weeks before trial. The client slipped and fell on a wet piece of cardboard in a grocery store and sustained a serious shoulder injury that required surgery.

$300

THOUSAND

NEGLIGENCE INJURY

On February 13, 2013 Maricela, a Certified Nursing Assistant presented to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Room with complaint of neck and back pain. She was diagnosed with a neck strain and was given Ibuprofen and instructed to return if her symptoms did not subside.

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