Earlier this month, the mayor of Quincy, Massachusetts signed an ordinance to bill insurance companies if you’re at fault in an motor vehicle accident and the fire fighters respond. The insurance company would be billed for the cost of the fire department’s response.
Mayor Thomas Koch says the city needs to find cost-effective ways to provide the services that people expect. He adds that if your vehicle hits a light pole insurance companies already gets billed for the cost of replacing the light pole, so this measure is an extension of that.
Not surprisingly, this decision is unpopular among car insurance companies, who say it adds an unnecessary fee which could get passed onto Massachusetts motorists in the form of higher premiums. Huntington Beach, California has adopted a similar law.
Sources: Quincy will bill for car crashes, NECN.com, August 20, 2010
First California, Now Massachusetts, Accident Taxes Appear Nationwide, Out of the Storm News, August 23, 2010
Injured on the road? Our Massachusetts auto accident lawyers can help guide you the through the accident claims process and explain your legal options.