Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-15

q total loss. The other driver
was convicted Of reckless driv-
ing. but that didn't help pay
the bills. To this day. none Of
the VICTIMS has received q cent.
The guilty driver had no money
and no liability insurance.
The Virginia General Assem-
bly, next month will consider
what should be done TO help
such victims Of financially ir-
responsible drivers. II Is a
knotty problem. There is gen.
eral agreement that persons
who are injured through no
fault Of their own are due some
consideration. but there are
several opinions as TO how this
should be accomplished.
Three Plans Proposed
Three distinct plans have
emerged thus far:
The unsatisfied judgment
fund. The Virginia Advisory
Legislative Council has recon-
mended that the State create
o fund TO pay unsatisfied judg-
ments for accident victims.
The VALC Ia the legislative
study group Of the General
Assembly. An unsatified judy
ment bill already has been
drafted by the vALc for In
PRODUCTION ct the coming As
sembly session.
Money for the fund would be
raised by an annual $40 charge
against drivers who do not
carry liability insurance. plus
contributions from insurance
companies doing business In
the State. The contributions
of the insurance companies
would be equivalent 10 one
half Of one per cent Of their
annual premium collections in
the State.
Payment Of the $40 fee would
not relieve the uninsured mo-
torist Of paying judgments
awarded against him. But II
he could not pay. the victim
could collect through the fund.
Maryland Adopted Plan
The Maryland General As
sembly adopted a similar plan
last year. Maryland win begin
making payments from the new
fund after June /. 1859.
Admittedly. the insured driver
is apt to feel part Of the cost Of
this plan. The contributions
Of insurance companies and
administrative costs involved
are likely to be reflected in
insurance premiums and taxes.
But according to the VALc
report. the main charge viii be
placed where II belongs-on
the person who buys q license
for q motor vehicle without
having liability insurance on
it."
Uninsured motorists would
not be entitled TO collect from
the fund. Thus. the vALC be-
lieves. the plan would encourage
motorists to carry insurance.
The American Automobile
Association and the Virginia
Association Of Insurance
Agents opposed the vALc plan.
Disadvantages Are Stressed
According 70 AAA. the plan
would give drivers the impress
sion they were buying insurance.
Another disadvantage cited by
AAA is that injured persons
would have to get a Judgment
to collect from the fund. and
in some cases the circumstances
Of an accident might make this
impossible.
AAA also fears fraud and
collision might be encouraged
by the existance Of o State
fund. INSCRIPTIONS motorists
might claim they were injured
by q hit-run driver when they
really know the identity Of the
other driver. Or. they may get
together with garage owners
to boost damage claims and
split the profit.
c. II. Flintoh Of Suffolk.
president OF the insurance
agents group. and Ray M. Paul
of Richmond. chairman Of the
organizations legislation COM
mittee. say the VALC plan is
"socialistic" and would add to
the cost Of premiums paid by