It is a fact - collisions are the number one cause of death in the United States for people from 4 to 35 years. There are nearly 20 million car collisions each year, so if you have not been in a collision are still involved, the odds are definitely stacked against you.
It should be noted, I am a practicing personal injury attorney in Seattle, Washington for over 17 years. I invented an online tool that helps organize the people and to their claim, and an infringement claim calculatorfor the Better Business Bureau Video Series. I wrote and co-produced DVD, a national program for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the American Automobile Association (AAA).
Most people do not know their rights when it comes to car accidents. Even worse, many insurers are trying to build their reputations have been charged as little as possible to people who are injured. To be sure, not all insurers are the same. But no insurance adjuster presented awards forPayment plaintiffs more money violated.
Through these 6 articles I will show you how to get the compensation you deserve. We begin with what should be before the accident, you know (ie) your insurance will set apart later articles, what you should know during and after a collision.
What insurance coverage do I have?
It is important to know what your insurance covers now, before you have been in a collision. Most people do not knowYou have read their own auto policy, until in an accident. Until then, it may be too late. Draw your own insurance now, and go, while I explain the joint cover.
A. Liability
Liability, the basic coverage required by many states, offers protection against the property or personal injury cause damage.
Coverage is usually provided not only for you but also for family members who live in your household. People in the drive of yourCar with your permission, may also be covered.
In general, you will be protected even if you have a vehicle you do not even use (for example, if you borrow a friend car).
This part is very important. Your insurance policy has a dollar limit, known as your "political boundaries". For example, Washington state has minimum requirements for liability of $ 25,000, but depending on your assets, you should consider purchasing more protection. Political boundaries of work like this - for example, if your limitsare $ 25,000 and run to the value of U.S. $ 75,000 loss, your company will pay the first 25,000 dollars in damages, and you are personally responsible for the additional 50,000 U.S. dollars. Therefore, it is important to insurance limits, you have to feel with.
These are general guidelines. Make sure your entire policy for any exclusions or situations that your insurance does not cover read.
B. Uninsured Motorist
What happens when you are involved in a car collisionA driver who is at fault but not auto insurance? Under these circumstances, one would be the drivers or UM assured coverage.
Closely related is another form of UM coverage under insured motorist or UIM said. This type of coverage applies in situations when involved in a collision with a driver under-insured. You will usually collect the insurance coverage to the driver is at fault, then you will make a claim against your own UIM coverage. For example,if the other driver's policy limits are $ 25,000, and your $ 100,000 in damages would be paid the UIM coverage on your own policy, the additional $ 75,000 to political, depending on the UIM limits.
UM and UIM rule applies only to personal injuries.
While many states require insurers to offer UIM coverage, you may not be required to buy it.
C. Collision
Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle if you are in a collision with another partyVehicle or object.
Collision coverage is not mandatory. You can choose whether to purchase this coverage, depending on the value of your vehicle. The collision part of your policy will typically include a donation receipt. This is the part that you are responsible for the case of a loss.
D. Comprehensive / Non-Collision
Comprehensive covers damage to your vehicle that are not conflict-related, such as fire, wind, hail, vandalism and theft. Typically, a deductible is applicable to theseCover.
E. Towing
Another point to look in your policy in case of an accident is towing coverage. Immediately after the collision, your car can not be navigable - or you can be injured. If you purchased towing coverage and your vehicle must be towed, your insurance will pay, usually up to a limit of $ 50 - $ 75
F. Rental
If you have Rental Reimbursement coverage, your insurer to make payment for a rental car while your vehicle isrepaired. You should expect a similar vehicle to your rent. Normally there is a daily limit and a maximum total rental expenses. For example, $ 30 per day and $ 900 per incident.
G. Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
A very important part of your insurance company deals with medical care. After an accident, it can an immediate need for medical payments. You need to know what range you have understood - that is, before a collision.
1. If You Have PIP
YourInsurance is required to provide Personal Injury Protection or "PIP" and must receive your written rejection, if you decide to buy it. "PIP" benefits are the payments to you, your family or your passengers for medical bills, lost wages, and home nursing. Your PIP coverage may also provide protection when you ride in a foreign car, or even if you are injured as a pedestrian.
To cause to be placed on the application for PIP, the medical treatment of injuries, by combiningthe collision and the treatment is appropriate, necessary and licensed by a doctor.
You should not hesitate to use your PIP coverage, if you need treatment. However, if you receive compensation for your injuries from the person that caused the collision, you must report your network operator for its PIP costs.
In many countries there is recovered a "rule". That is, if you are not cured of your recovery (for example, you collect the insurance meanspolitical boundaries), can not reimburse you for your insurance or health insurance for medical payments that they have, in your name.
2. If You Do not Have PIP:
If you do not have PIP coverage, look for payment of your medical bills from your own medical insurance. The same principle applies for the refund even if you are able to recover compensation from the at-fault party. Many states have cured the "rule discussed above.
If you do not have healthInsurance, you may be able to find a provider for you on a "lien-treat basis." This means that the provider does not pay for the services until you are able to recover compensation for your injuries. Remember, you owe to the suppliers, even if you never receive compensation.
While it is possible to ask the other party's carrier to pay for your treatment, it would be unusual and should only be done when it is absolutely clear to its insured the full responsibility for theCollision.
If the other party will support and have agreed to pay for your treatment, it may require that you make a recorded statement describing the conflict and make your injuries.
This is extremely important: You should not be a declaration without first consulting with a lawyer. You are cordially invited, via e-mail or call me - it's free.
H. Umbrella Policies
An umbrella policy is sometimes referred to as an "excess" or "catastrophic policy." It is aadditional layer of liability to the protection of the usual insurance.
For example, if you can auto insurance limits of the 100,000 U.S. dollars, you will be able to an umbrella policy that will take you for an additional $ 1 million liability cover to purchase. To buy an umbrella policy, most insurance companies require a minimum of U.S. $ 100,000 in underlying limits - and some even more.
An umbrella policy would not only for car collisions, but also otherCases where you have responsibility. Umbrella policies generally a cover for your primary insurance is exhausted. Be sure to check your umbrella policy for exclusions.
If you are in a serious accident, it is often necessary to sue the other driver, and run discovery written (Questions, answers the other hand, under oath) to find out whether they have an umbrella policy. Most insurance companies will not voluntarily disclose to its insured, the limits or whether itan umbrella policy. I have a number of cases in which we had later discovered (and re-roof) policy for our customers.
I. Political boundaries
Sometimes you can get much higher level of protection to your auto policy for a relatively small increase in premium costs. You should definitely consider, more if you have assets to protect your borders - here the reasons are:
If you cause an accident, you never know what a jury that the injured person that you can forgive. Low liabilityLimits could, a jury simply enter an award that exceeds your limits - leaving your property vulnerable to collection. I personally have experience with collecting money from people about their insurance limits. This is not a pleasant experience for the person who paid out of pocket - most of the time because they do not realize they have to buy minimum liability insurance limits prescribed by law.
The other reason to consider increasing your limits you can to make the payroll toattractive to the victim. If you have someone seriously injured and your limits are U.S. $ 300,000, the injured person (and their lawyers) may be prepared to find this amount to the entire housing solution. Know is a very important secret for you: Your insurance can not pay the victim the 300,000 dollars if the victim agrees to the case is over, and published in full you forever! Since the high limit might incentive enough to keep you from a very large potentialSentence - also a limit on your policy.
On the flip side, if you were injured you want to find out what the other side are the policy limits. If the limits are low enough, you may be able to make a "policy limits demand," its insurance company. If the policy is limited to you and you accept, you will collect the insurance money and the other driver release. Here, too, do please contact me before you call or you accept a policy limitsDemand.
Make downloading with a qualified attorney: If you get into an accident, you should speak to a qualified attorney. It's almost always free. There are many reasons why you should do (see my article titled: Top 10 Reasons for a free conversation with a lawyer first) Make. The key is to ensure that the lawyer is qualified.
If you want, you can call me or email me and I would be glad to help you find the top lawyer in yourRange. The best way to get me via e-mail with your request value by completing the 10 questions in the free entitlement Calculator link below. That will have me both your email address and specific information about your case (amount of property damage, medical bills, wage loss, etc.) I am able to find, to give by trial lawyers association list serves and other means, the top lawyers in all areas of the United States. I communicate directly with the lawyer about your case particulars, and ifHe is willing to meet with you, I would associate with an attorney, so you can make a time schedule or talk about your case.
