Gap insurance coverage pays for the difference between your automobile loan payoff amount and the value of a vehicle at the time it is totaled in an accident or stolen.  This insurance coverage guarantees that if your vehicle is not worth (at current retail value) as much as the amount of your auto loan payoff the insuring company will pay the difference between the two amounts, and leave the insured whole, with no out-of-pocket loss.   Most standard auto liability or comprehensive insurance policies only cover what a car is worth at the time of loss, and with insurance carriers no longer using the NADA or Kelley Blue Books for valuation as in the past, and now using services that value vehicles much lower than blue book in some instances, gap insurance has become more valuable than ever.  Gap insurance coverage costs very little, and is normally a wise purchase for new or expensive vehicle purchases.

There are three ways to purchase Gap insurance:

• From a car dealership at the time of your vehicle purchase which can be included in your loan payments;
• Through your own auto insurance after you purchase your vehicle; and
• Through another insurance company that sells stand-alone gap coverage after your buy your vehicle, thru a monthly or one-time premium.

Why should you buy it?

• If you are making a small down payment on a new vehicle purchase. or purchasing a higher-priced, pre-owned vehicle over $10,000.00;
• If your loan is longer than 48 months.

Not all drivers need Gap insurance coverage.  Your decision to buy gap coverage should depend on your level of risk tolerance, and your financial ability to write what could be a 4-figure check to your auto loan company if your vehicle is totaled in an accident, EVEN IF THE WRECK IS NOT YOUR FAULT.  If you decide to purchase gap insurance coverage it is a good idea to check with your insurance agent to find out the cost in comparison with the offered coverage from the dealership before your finalize the purchase. If you have any questions about your needs for gap insurance, feel free to call the Team at Inserra/Kelley/Sewell, Injury Attorneys.

Medtronic is recalling over 322,000 if its insulin pumps because of a missing or faulty component that can lead to over or under delivery of insulin.  This can cause hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia in diabetics. The FDA has initiated a Class I Recall which means there may be significant or immediate danger of death or other serious injury from the product being recalled.

There have been over 26,000 complaints about the devices malfunctioning and one confirmed death.  Over 2,175 injuries to diabetics that have used the MiniMed pump have occurred since the recall.

The recalled products are:

• MiniMed 600 Series Insulin Pumps
• Model 630G(MMT-1715) – all lots before October 2019
• Model 670G (MMT-1780) – all lots before August 2019

Consumers who have questions about this recall should call the 24-hour Medtronic hotline at 800-646-4633.  

If you or a loved one has suffered from symptoms and/or injuries from using the Medtronic MiniMed insulin pumps, please call the experts at Inserra Kelley Sewell to see whether you might be entitled to compensation.