Consumer Watchdog News

California Lawmakers May Limit Liability of Autonomous Carmakers

California regulators are embracing a General Motors recommendation that would help makers of self-driving cars avoid paying for accidents and other trouble, raising concerns that the proposal will put an unfair burden on vehicle owners. If adopted, the regulations drafted …

Does Consumer Watchdog Founder Want Asimov-like Rules for Robot Cars?

A virtual grin arose on the face of Harvey Rosenfield with the mention of Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics. The mention was made during a phone call, but the overwhelming satisfaction of a smile was easily detectible in his …

Watchdog Group Wants California to Look into Claims in ProPublica Report

Consumer Watchdog, a California-based advocacy group, is asking the state’s insurance commissioner to open an investigation into the alleged redlining uncovered by a ProPublica report that claims that four auto insurance companies in California mark up prices by as much …

California Commissioner Asks Consumer Watchdog to Retract News Release

California Commissioner Dave Jones on Wednesday asked Consumer Watchdog to retract a news release about State Farm that he said “includes inaccurate statements and is misleading.” The Consumer Watchdog news release issued on Tuesday was picked up by media outlets, …

California Watchdog Group Wants State Farm to Reduce Rates by 40%

Consumer Watchdog filed a petition in California challenging State Farm’s proposed rates for its homeowners insurance and wants the insurers to cut its rates by as much as 40 percent. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based consumer group said insurer will be …

California Consumer Group Wants State Farm Homeowners Rate Reduction

State Farm has overcharged its customers roughly $78 million since at least July 2015, and should be required to refund that money, Consumer Watchdog told the California Department of Insurance last week. The group wants State Farm to cut its …

Google Takes Partial Blame After Self-Driving Car Hit Bus

Alphabet Inc.’s Google said on Monday it bears “some responsibility” after one of its self-driving cars struck a municipal bus in a minor crash earlier this month. The crash may be the first case of one of its autonomous cars …

Self-Driving Cars Getting Hit in California

Four of the nearly 50 self-driving cars now rolling around California have gotten into accidents since September, when the state began issuing permits for companies to test them on public roads. Two accidents happened while the cars were in control; …

California Voters Reelect Jones, Soundly Reject Props. 45 and 46

Californians voted against two measures opposed by the insurance industry, and reelected incumbent Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Election results from Tuesday show the Democrat Jones won reelection with 56.3 percent of the vote. He defeated Republican challenger Ted Gaines, who …

California Malpractice Proposition Hit by Polls, Studies, Spending

Two recent studies say a proposition on California’s November ballot to raise the pain and suffering cap for medical malpractice lawsuits will increase medical costs and malpractice premiums. The studies and heavy advertising by the opposition to Proposition 46, the …