5 Facts that Inflate Auto Insurance Rates

Though America’s economy is still recovering from the recession that kicked into high gear in 2008, people aren’t in the mood to go around wasting money. Sadly, one of the most necessary bills that people face every month, car insurance payments, can also prove to be one of the most costly. In fact, there are several things that can cause these rates to go up, so it’s important for every driver to recognize some of these factors when hoping to save money every month.

1. Physical Location

Unfortunately, a person’s physical location in America isn’t the easiest thing to change without a stash of money put up somewhere. Being that some auto insurers will increase rates depending on the state a person lives in, this can end up being a costly factor in insurance premiums. Certain states, such as California, Texas and Florida, for instance, have relatively high instances of auto theft; and insurers will sometimes take this into account when deciding their rates.

2. Switching Vehicles

Many people don’t recognize it, but even changing vehicles can result in an increase in auto insurance rates. Newer vehicles, especially rare automobiles or those whose replacement parts are hard to find, cost more to repair than older vehicles. This should always be a consideration when purchasing a vehicle. Many autos from the early 2000s are just as reliable as the ones rolling off the “new” lot today.

3. Auto Accidents

Auto accidents are one of the most common events that can raise auto insurance rates. Insurers see those who have caused an accident as being higher risk. Unfortunately, some people who are involved in accidents are in circumstances that have already raised their rates. A recent story of a Miami woman who was involved in an accident with a police cruiser, for instance, could very likely result in a very high premium for the woman since she lives in Florida, one of the states with high auto theft rates, in combination with being in an accident.

Those who hope to avoid these cost increases would do well to seek out an attorney. An insurance company will have no legitimate reason to raise a person’s rates if another driver was at fault for the collision. In addition to the woman hiring a Miami accident lawyers group, she could’ve preemptively helped herself by seeking out insurance with an “accident forgiveness” clause.

4. Increased Driving

Insurers will also sometimes increase a person’s premium rates if they notice a substantial increase in miles driven. One way to avoid this is by using public transportation or relocating if a new employment or educational opportunity opens up that involves a substantial commute.

5. Age

Sadly, age is also a deciding factor in auto insurance rates. Drivers under the age of 25 can see substantially higher rates, but even mature adults who have hit the age of 50 will see increases. Sadly, the only way to minimize these increases is by staying between the ages of 25 and 50 for as long as possible.

It’s not legally possible for a person to avoid insurance premiums if they’re driving on America’s highways, but a little bit of knowledge can go a long way in keeping these rates down. Though a person can’t control every factor that could influence insurance rates, simply working around the ones they can control can save substantial amounts of money.

Lisa Coleman shares several facts that will naturally increase someone’s insurance premiums, and how a few can be avoided. She recently read online how a Miami accident lawyers firm can help when a client has been involved in an auto collision.

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Business Travels: Tips on Handling an Accident

Traffic accidents can happen at any time, and it is important for you to understand exactly what steps you need to take if you happen to be on the clock or traveling for business when an incident occurs. After all, your employer might be responsible for paying for your medical expenses, and they also have the right to know if something happens to you while you are working.

Steps to Take after a Work-Related Car Accident

Whether you are on the clock or not, you should contact the police to report the accident, and it is also important to call your insurance company unless you are driving a work vehicle. Additionally, you should seek immediate medical attention if you have any obvious injuries, and it is a good idea to get a medical checkup within the first 24 hours even if you do not think that anything is wrong.

Once you have contacted the police, your next call should be to your employer to inform them that you have been involved in an accident. At this point, your employer will have the opportunity to advise you about any specific guidelines that will determine where you should go for medical assistance.

What is My Employer Responsible For?

Every state has its own rules that govern the level of liability that an employer has when one of their employees are injured while driving for work. For example, if you are injured in a car accident while driving through Denver, you will need to follow the Colorado state law that requires you to file a workers’ compensation claim. In fact, according to one Denver car accident lawyer, Colorado workers dealing with this situation do not have the legal right to file a lawsuit against their employer because they are able to utilize workers’ compensation benefits.

Additionally, it is important to note that your claim can be denied for several reasons such as a natural disaster and if you were intoxicated or traveling for a social event that was not part of your work duties.

Can I Sue the Other Driver?

Even though you cannot sue your employer as long as they have the proper workers’ compensation insurance, you do still have the ability to file a third-party liability claim against the responsible driver. Due to this, it is important to hire an accident attorney to help you take legal action if you have suffered from serious injuries. Although your workers’ compensation benefits should cover all of your medical expenses, you will need to file a lawsuit against the other driver if you want to be compensated for pain and suffering.

Keep in mind that your employer is likely to have a specific process that you need to follow if you are injured while driving a work vehicle. However, this should not prevent you from being able to take action if another driver was at fault for the accident. After all, your workers compensation benefits will only go so far, and you should not be stuck dealing with serious issues such as pain and suffering without having the opportunity to receive compensation.

Writer Melanie Fleury has had to travel for work before and was always curious as to what would happen if she was involved in an accident. She found valuable information on the site of a Denver car accident lawyer on the liability involved in an auto accident.

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5 Ways to Cut Red Tape Out of an Accident Claim

One of the biggest problems you will face when you have been in a car accident is dealing with the insurance company. Insurance companies are famous for denying benefits, forgetting types of compensation, and pushing for an early settlement to cut their losses. Ultimately, it seems like they will try their best to exasperate the claim in an effort to get out of paying.

Unfortunately, these insurers get away with this type of behavior because accident victims are already frustrated and stressed out by the car accident itself. They are dealing with injuries, financial losses and even loss of the use of their car. These victims are easy to agitate, and this is why the insurance company will begin to push for a settlement as quickly as possible.

The following tips are ways for a person to cut out some of the red tape and be more successful when filing an accident claim.

1. Hire a Car Accident Attorney

The very first thing that you will need to do is hire an attorney to protect your rights as a victim. Your attorney will know exactly what you are entitled to receive under the law as a form of compensation for your losses. The attorney will not allow the insurance company to “forget” or undercut your compensation.

2. Never Give a Statement

The insurance company is going to try and get you state facts that can be twisted around to suit their needs. They will also try and convince you that you need to settle now or that the process will take years. Never give an oral or written statement without your attorney. When the insurer requests your information, refer them to your lawyer; they must comply with this request.

3. Follow All Medical Advice

The insurance company will look at missed appointments and unfilled prescriptions as a sign that you are not interested in treatment or no longer require medical attention. This can stop your case dead in its tracks. Always follow medical advice and treatments as prescribed.

4. Document Everything

You need to document your expenses due to the accident, including time missed from work, mileage to doctor visits, and any over-the-counter medications purchased to treat the injuries. Keep a diary of your health and injuries and how they are progressing. Everything you track will be beneficial to your case.

5. Avoid Public Statements

Insurance companies now have entire departments monitoring social media. They are looking for anything that you post that could lead to your case being dismissed and your claim denied. If you must talk about the accident or your injuries in any way, keep it very bland. Save the details for when you speak face-to-face. Remember: everything you post is public information and what you post can and will be used against you.

By following these steps and allowing your personal injury attorney to manage the case, you will have a very successful car accident claim and not have to worry about the insurance company making your lie chaotic. It is very important to remember that only your attorney will have your best interest in mind. The insurance company is only watching their profit margin.

Lisa Coleman shares some tips on what a person can do to make for a timelier and successful auto accident claim. She recently viewed online how an injury lawyer could help during the claims process. Click here for more Information about Williams Law Association, an injury attorney in the Tampa area, and how they can help in such a case.

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Holiday Statistics on Winter Roads

With the holidays quickly approaching, there’s no doubt that countless Americans across the nation are making traveling plans for whatever holiday they happen to celebrate. While not everyone travels during these times, the winter months do account for the biggest traveling days of the year. Sadly, the combination of holiday celebrations and countless cars on the road can prove dangerous. This is why it’s so essential for holiday travelers to know what they’re up against.

Facts on Holiday Travel

Whether just going out to see the family or heading up north to get pictures of snow-covered fields, individuals who will be traveling should first know the statistics related to holiday travel. These little tidbits of information alone can make a holiday traveler aware of the care they need to take.

Most Dangerous Travel Days: The most dangerous day to travel will vary greatly depending on what year is looked into. During many years, the deadliest day on the road during the year is New Year’s Day, but this isn’t always the case. In 2008, for instance, Thanksgiving topped the charts as the deadliest day. The main lesson is this: the holidays present significant risks while traveling.

Specific Dangers: There are various dangers on the road during the holidays. Obviously, highways are more congested, but this isn’t the most significant risk.

On average, about 45 individuals die every day during the holiday season in traffic collisions, and sadly, Thanksgiving holds the title of having the most accidents related to drunk driving. This makes alcohol one of the most significant risk factors during holiday travel.

The Cost of Travel: The cost of traveling will obviously vary depending on where a person visits, but when considered as a whole, American travelers spend substantial amounts of money. In fact, recent statistics have shown that American citizens spend about $72 billion during the holiday season just to visit family.

Busiest Travel Days: In a perfect world, knowing the busiest travel days would allow a person to stay off the road. Unfortunately, the holidays don’t often allow this. When looking at the numbers, though, Christmas week is usually the biggest traveling week of the year. In 2011, though, the Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving was the busiest travel day of the year.

Keeping the Holidays Special

The aforementioned statistics make it obvious that certain precautions should be taken to ensure safety and peace of mind during the holiday season. Luckily, there are a few things that every holiday traveler can do to keep the holidays bright.

Travel Early: It would be helpful to a person if they could get an early start on holiday travel. Instead of heading out on the day before Thanksgiving, for instance, an individual can take that Tuesday off as well and minimize the traffic that they run into.

Don’t Drink and Drive: As mentioned, drunk driving is a deadly risk factor when out on the road. Even if a person isn’t in an accident, however, they can still run into problems. A DUI charge can follow a person around forever, so it’s imperative for these individuals to find an attorney to increase their chances of beating the charge. This is especially important during the holidays, though. A driver from South Carolina who gets arrested in Pennsylvania, for instance, will often have to attend court outside of their home state to get everything settled. For anyone involved in an accident or DUI incident it is imperative to contact representation, whether they are a Columbia car accident attorney or a DUI lawyer from Vermont.

Carry Emergency Gear: Winter roads are often dangerous, so being prepared is essential. Always carry flashlights, extra blankets, easily accessible food, a cell phone and cash just in case the car breaks down or another emergency arises.

The holidays are a special time of the year when friends and family come together to remember exactly why they care about each other so much. Unfortunately, the statistics related to holiday traffic make it obvious that traveling can be difficult.

Luckily, there are ways of making life easier during these times, and for those who can manage, following the aforementioned tips can go a long way. Regardless of whether a person celebrates the holidays themselves or not, staying safe on the road will make it a jolly time of the year for all.

Author and single mom, Molly Pearce shares this post in support of concerned parents who may be traveling with kids in winter weather conditions this holiday season. You can search the phrase Columbia car accident attorney online, to learn more about road safety and what to do in the event of a winter weather accident.

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Fault vs. No Fault: What It Means To You

When a car accident occurs, the injured party will want to determine who is at fault so they can make a claim for compensation. This is completely understandable, especially if the person who was injured did not cause the accident. However, if you are in an at-fault state, it could take time to process your case. In an effort to stop this back log of pending accident cases, some states have enacted no-fault law concerning auto accidents.

No Fault Laws

Florida and 11 other states have enacted no-fault accident laws. According to one car accident lawyer Orlando FL based, these laws require insurance providers to offer no-fault coverage in their policies and require all drivers to carry this coverage. With this type of insurance, when an accident occurs, the insurance policy of the injured party will pay all medical bills and medical related expenses and lost wages of the injured party up to the policy limit.

These policies do not, however, cover any expenses above the policy limit, damages to personal property, or damages for pain and suffering. The injured party will have to sue the other drivers insurance for these damages. Each state has limits set for the types of damages that can be sued for under no-fault guidelines. Injured parties will need to consult with an auto accident attorney to find out what their rights are in their state.

Fault Laws

Under the at-fault laws in the remaining 39 states, fault must be established and the injured party must sue for damages. Of course, this usually ends up being a very extensive process because it is a natural reaction of the other party to deny being at fault for the event.

At fault states allow for the fault to be distributed among participants. A review of the accident scene by investigators may determine that there is a 75/25 split in fault for the event, and this impacts the settlement amount the injured party receives. This also can cause lengthy court battles as each party tries to establish that they are 100 percent not at fault for the accident.

When You Are Involved In An Accident

When you have been involved in an accident, it will always be beneficial for you to hire an auto accident attorney, regardless of what type of state you live in at the time. Even in no-fault states, victims of a car accident often find that they are not receiving fair and complete compensation for their damages. Sadly, it is not unusual for insurance providers to “forget” some of the benefits that are available to the injured party.

When you hire an attorney to represent your claim, you are ensuring that your rights are protected. In addition, if you need to file an additional lawsuit to cover additional expenses caused by the accident, the attorney will already be familiar with the case.

It is also very important to remember that when you are involved in a car accident, even in a no-fault state, that you never admit to responsibility at the scene. Let the accident investigators determine how the event occurred. Many times, even when you feel it was your fault, it is discovered that there were mitigating circumstances that really caused the event. This omission of fault will help our case move more smoothly through the claims process.

Having lived in Orlando, Fl for several years, writer Melanie Fleury is intrigued by the differences in Florida law. She searched the website of a car accident lawyer Orlando FL based to learn more about the no fault laws of the sunshine state.

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Bike Messengers Versus Cars: Can We Just Share the Road?

As more cities across the country adopt friendlier attitudes toward bicyclists, drivers now face the challenge of learning to share the roadways with bike messengers. Bike messengers carry out important duties throughout the work days.

They are no different than any other worker who relies on transportation to carry out their work duties, except that they ride bicycles rather than drive cars and trucks. As such, they should be shown the same amount of courtesy and attention as other motorists on the roads today.

However, there have been cases of major hostility between motorist and bike messenger, especially in New York. In a tragic accident that took place at the end of the summer, a road rage incident between a New York taxi cab driver and an irate bike messenger resulted in the maiming of a British tourist. In cases similar to this, victims are encouraged to consult with a New York accident lawyer to help resolve the issue accordingly.

In the meantime, if drivers really have no idea how to share the road with bike messengers, they can take these suggestions into consideration.

a) Give Bicyclists Plenty of Space

So many drivers believe that they can crowd bicyclists and force bike messengers into the curb or up on a sidewalk. They believe that because they are driving cars, they should have first priority over using the road. However, this competitive attitude is in fact all wrong. Most states have laws stating that bicyclists should be given the same amount of space on the road as other cars.

Drivers should follow three seconds behind a bicyclist until it is safe to pass the bike messenger in a legal fashion. With that, drivers are reminded to treat bike messengers as they would another driver in a car or truck and give them plenty of space on the road.

b) Pay Attention to Signals

Bike messengers do not have the convenience of turn signals and horns to let other drivers know what they are doing. Many drivers believe that they do not have to know what hand signals mean or even pay attention to these signals while they are driving. However, this assumption is dead wrong.

Bicyclists are required by law to use hand signals to indicate what direction they are turning or if they need to cross a lane of traffic.The fact that the bike messengers cannot use light signals does not excuse drivers from paying attention to the hand signals shown to them by bike messengers. Drivers who are unfamiliar with these signals would benefit if they brushed up on what the common hand signals mean.

c) Yield the Right of Way

When a bike messenger and a driver approach an intersection, it can be very tempting for the driver to cut off the bicyclist and take his or her turn at the intersection when in fact they should yield to the bike messenger.

As with drivers in other cars, people are reminded to yield the right away to bike messengers and allow them to take their turns proceeding through the intersection safely. Cutting off a bicyclist and refusing to yield the right of way can garner a car driver a ticket.

Sharing the roadways with bike messengers is becoming a frequent experience that most drivers will at some point experience. When they want to make sure that they obey the law in regards to sharing the road with a bicyclist, drivers can remember these important steps. These steps will ensure that they and the bike messenger remain safe and that both avoid getting ticketed for traffic infractions.

Jamica Bell is a blogger and freelance writer. She contributes this article to explore ways for motorist and bike messengers to safely share the road. New York accident lawyer firms see the result of hostile driving between motorist, cyclist and pedestrians on a regular basis. With that in mind, they are dedicated to defending the legal rights of individuals adversely affected by these accidents.

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Reference: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/08/24/taxi-driver-advocate-bike-messenger-to-blame-for-shocking-accident/