Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-29
J. ALDEN TlFFT
On Hazards Of Motorists

MOTORISTS would do we'll to understand
Wl the hazards Of owning and running
car and take protective measures II 'neH
want to continue enjoying life, liberty ana
the pursuit Of happiness all or wHtrm DcEardinS ir
to J. Alden Tiff, underwriting expert ana
insurance NAM
THE innocent citizen who thinks that the
purchase of a car means one r"und OF Je! Is
due for some rude jolts until he learns from
bitter experience how to protect himselt or
has informed himself Of the pitfalls that lutk
in his path and has armed himself with
knowledge with which to avoid them
"Generally speaking, there are re- 'fsce fsce
classes of hazards that a motorist must lace
theft. accident and fire. OF course, the
insurance man must take these as well as
others. such as moral hazards or inc non
esty Of his client or others who may DC con
Cerned.
"AlthouCh there are 900 900 cars in use
in this country at the present time, the IN
surance OF m0torcars is still in ltS youth
being not more than twenty years old. mus
underwriters have had to feel their way, with
the result that on the whole they have made
little or no money on the proposition.
Theft Problem Big One
THE theft problem in itself is big one.
There are more claims resulting from theft
than from fire. Eternal vigilance is the. price
Of retaining car. Owners should not fondiy
imagine that just because they have lock
on their car it is safe. Most OF the car
thefts are made by experienced men. who
know automobile stealing as business.
They are practical automobile men for the
most part. They know the mechanics of the
car and every thing else of n technical nature
pertaining to their business.
They know the laws of various states and
where and how they can operate to the best
advantage There is every evidence to show
that the business is in the hands OF able
groups of men. who probably understand
.,n how lima S,E
experts. H.. ..-,..,-
Thus many Of them, after approprating
the car. take it to other states where the
laws are not SO strict on this matter. The
southern states are q Mecca Tor those who
appropriate cars. Camps where cars are
rcassembled and disposed Of have been found
in New Jersey by the police and other in
vestigators.
covered with secret elevators and floors of
storerooms, which have been hidden by. what
was apparcntiy II blank wall in building
Not Always Big Cars Taken
"Contrary to general belief it is not
necessarily the big and expensive car that
is most often stolen. The small car, that is
less easily identified and more easily dis
posed Of. j. the favorite
THE tire thief Is always with us. But
one that is less generally known. except to
some unfortunate motorists, is the thief who
calmly proceeds to take necessary parts away
from a car, since lie neCuS tnelH IN MS DuSl-
ness or for his own car.
"But theft Is not the only thing to be
considered. Accidents, as every one knows
are the big problem. And the vagaries of
thOsc mishaps Hre as numerous as they are
sometimes amusing.
| Thus, who would be likely to think that
| an accidental collision, that kills or severely
| Injuries pedestrian or the occupant of an :
| other conveyance, would be so much more
! expensive where ono person is concerned than
| another But experience in the courts has
| proved this quite cmphatiCally. Thus II is
! much more expensive 10 injurc n woman with
| beautiful face or figure than one who is
| not 80 endowed, Juries have rendered many
| yrrdictS that proved the contention that a
| woman'S face il her fortune.
| "If a man or woman were run down . nd
| happened to be dancer. damages are much
greater for injuries To his or her limbs than
! ordinary persons. Similarly, injuries to A
| musicians hands prove very costly. Not So
| long ago an actor injured by n car claimed
| SO 900 damages for engagements which he
| was compelled to cancel, without taking
anything else into consideration. So it goes
| in distinguishing between a wealthy victim
| and n poor one one whose earning capacity
is great and one whose is not There arc
! class distinctions even in auto accidents, and
| they are made by the representatives Of tho
people at large nj that
Some Other Dangers
"Therc are dangers In transit outside o,
! tha ordinary ones. Thus highwaymen have