Chicago Personal Injury Law Blog

There is a new TV commercial out from Allstate that pitches people on the idea that they should have their insurance reviewed by an Allstate agent to make sure that they have enough coverage. The plotline of the commercial involves a couple of guys who need to dress as cheerleaders to sneak into a football game because one of them lost the season tickets in a lawsuit.

The idea that you should get your insurance reviewed by an agent is a good one. Insurance is important to protect you and your family. It also serves to compensate people you might accidentally injure, such in a car accident. Having an agent review your coverage is a good idea.

The good message is undermined by the subtext of the commercial. The subtext of the commercial is that there are greedy people out there with frivolous lawsuits who are going to take your season football tickets, given the opportunity. That subtext helps underline the basic Corporate America theme that the civil justice system is something which is being abused by the undeserving. This is part of the systematic poisoning of the well which makes it so hard for deserving to get fair compensation from juries today.

The truly infuriating part of the commercial is the suggestion is that Allstate is the one who will keep your valuables, including your season football tickets, safe. As has been widely documented, Allstate was named by AAJ as the worst insurance company in America. Their claims practices are notorious for causing cases to come to trial which really should be settled. When cases go to trial and there is an excess verdict, your assets (such as your season football tickets) are what is at risk. Allstate's claims practices place too many of their policy holders' assets at risk -- the exact opposite of the message Allstate is selling in this commercial.

Allstate should be embarrassed, but they are too busy counting their money.

Labels: Allstate, Car crashes