New Survey Reveals Uncertainty on How to Respond When Auto Accidents Happen

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- What would you do if you witnessed an accident?  What are you required to do?  According to findings from a recent survey commissioned by State Farm®, how people respond to some of the sticky situations that can surround an automobile accident tend to vary greatly.

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Among the 1,000 Americans (individuals who currently have auto insurance) surveyed, responses showed that there is confusion over what the appropriate response is when they are involved in an automobile accident, either directly or indirectly. Key findings from the survey include:

• Do I have to go through insurance? -  About half of Americans (46%) feel it is against the law to refuse to report an accident to an insurance company, while four in 10 (41%) think it is legal to "not go through insurance."
• What constitutes a witness? - Three fourths (74%) of Americans say they are a witness to an accident if they are within 100 feet and two thirds (66%) say being a witness means not being involved.
• Should I be sorry? - A third of Americans (32%) think that saying "I'm sorry" is more than just an apology and does admit fault and imply legal liability.
• Should I pull over? – 83% of Americans stated they are likely to stop if they witnessed an accident which didn't involve them.  

These questions are complicated and often involve personal evaluations to the situations.  In an effort to provide general information and guidance to the public about auto insurance, State Farm has launched the Auto Learning Center, a one-stop resource for matters related to auto insurance.  While there isn't always an answer, the Auto Learning Center will help to provide clarity for questions like these and promote discussion through blog posts and forums.  The site is now officially live and can be accessed at: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com

"We found that many consumers look online seeking answers about auto insurance, but don't have a resource, outside of the Auto Learning Center, to go to that offers independent, credible information," stated Patty Gaumond, State Farm Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Internet Solutions. "When we designed the Auto Learning Center, we made sure to include perspective and tips from third-party experts and everyday consumers who can give visitors what they need: credible answers to their real-life questions."

"Auto insurance is important, yet can be a complicated topic for many people," added Gaumond.  "The Learning Center gives consumers access to the resources they need, when they need them, from the sources they trust the most.  We're not trying to create insurance experts, but we do want consumers to know enough so that they can make the kinds of decisions that provide peace of mind and maximize value."

The Learning Center is an interactive, online community featuring information about auto insurance, auto care, driving tips and a variety of other topics from knowledgeable third-parties. The site also features discussion forums, polls and a Q&A section for consumers to submit a question or participate in insurance topics related to their specific situation.

For further information on the Auto Learning Center, please visit http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/socialmediarelease.html

About State Farm®:

State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. Our 17,800 agents and more than 68,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®. 

SOURCE State Farm