If you are involved with a police officer in an auto accident you should be taken care of if the officer is found negligent of causing the accident. This, of course, varies from state to state since many of them practice different auto insurance laws. The unfortunate thing about being involved in an accident with a police officer is that this instantly becomes your word against the cop’s and this can be a bad place to be with certain officers. Negligence of an auto accident is what it is, no matter who is involved; however, police officers do have the ability to bend the truth to fit their needs.
An auto accident in March of 2009, in Florida, saw a 23 year-old woman struck and killed when a cop blew through a red light and slammed into her vehicle in the middle of an intersection. The police officer claims that he was in pursuit of another vehicle, though the officer did not have his lights or sirens on. Miami Dade Police is not taking responsibility because they are getting around the fact that the police officer was the negligent motorist involved in the accident. Who knows what the truth is as of now, but it seems suspicious to say the least. In cases like this, a family should contact a good attorney.
In the end, the determining factor is the negligence and fault laws that are in place in the state the accident happened. Michigan, for example, is a no fault insurance state so this means that, no matter what happens, your insurance pays for your damages and the other person’s insurance does the same thing. There is, of course, a lot of grey area in states like this but it determines how you will need to handle the insurance company.
Other states are going to require someone to be at fault and be responsible for the damage that was caused. This will typically be the negligent driver who gets the ticket and is responsible for the events that follow the accident. In the states where a motorist is held accountable, this applies to anyone whether you are a restaurant manager, off duty police officer, fireman, or truck driver.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
If I Take a Trip in a Rental Car, Should I Opt for Their Insurance Coverage Even if I Currently Maintain a Full Coverage Policy on My Vehicle?
There are many things to consider when you think about getting insurance on a rental car. For the most part, your personal car insurance coverage will take care of anything that might happen to your rental car. If you possess renters or homeowners insurance, this will most likely cover any theft of personal property in the car.
However, car insurance with a rental car is not as cut and dry as we would all like it to be. If you are not paying for collision or comprehensive coverage you are not going to be covered in terms of your rental. This in turn means that, if something were to happen to the rental, you are going to be held responsible.
There are times when a gold or platinum credit card will cover the damage to rental car but this is not something you can rely on unless you are certain this is the case. There will also be many levels of fine print that will need to be understood because there are limits for this coverage as well.
- Some vehicles such as; SUVs, pickups trucks, vans, and luxury cars are usually not covered.
- Long rental periods – a few weeks for example – could not be covered.
- Drivers other than the holder of the credit card will also often not be covered.
- Also if you are in the unlikely event of getting a DUI or take the car out of the specified geographic area you probably will not be covered either.
In the end, the only thing you can do is your research. Find out the lengths of which coverage you have and decipher whether or not you are going to be covered. With the cost of rental cars on the rise, you do not want to be held responsible for damage because they are going to charge you an arm and a leg.
If you are caught in a scenario that sees a rental company trying to get money from you for damages, there is not much even an attorney can do if there is some legal clause stating you are not covered. However, if you take precautionary measures to find out whether or not you are covered with your insurance, you will know if getting their insurance is necessary.
However, car insurance with a rental car is not as cut and dry as we would all like it to be. If you are not paying for collision or comprehensive coverage you are not going to be covered in terms of your rental. This in turn means that, if something were to happen to the rental, you are going to be held responsible.
There are times when a gold or platinum credit card will cover the damage to rental car but this is not something you can rely on unless you are certain this is the case. There will also be many levels of fine print that will need to be understood because there are limits for this coverage as well.
- Some vehicles such as; SUVs, pickups trucks, vans, and luxury cars are usually not covered.
- Long rental periods – a few weeks for example – could not be covered.
- Drivers other than the holder of the credit card will also often not be covered.
- Also if you are in the unlikely event of getting a DUI or take the car out of the specified geographic area you probably will not be covered either.
In the end, the only thing you can do is your research. Find out the lengths of which coverage you have and decipher whether or not you are going to be covered. With the cost of rental cars on the rise, you do not want to be held responsible for damage because they are going to charge you an arm and a leg.
If you are caught in a scenario that sees a rental company trying to get money from you for damages, there is not much even an attorney can do if there is some legal clause stating you are not covered. However, if you take precautionary measures to find out whether or not you are covered with your insurance, you will know if getting their insurance is necessary.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Be Aware When Purchasing Your Next Vehicle
There is a lot that goes into purchasing a car. Before you decide what to buy, you will need to think about who this car will be for and what purpose it will serve. If you are shopping for a new driver or a family vehicle, you will certainly want to make safety a top priority. Knowing which vehicles are not safe should be more important than the price.
Obviously this is common sense more than anything else but there are things that happen to smaller, safer cars which are unforeseen. Some of the new cars have deficiencies, as we see more and more car manufacturers search for a more economical way to make cars.
There are a good number of newer vehicles that are being recalled due to major and minor issues. Knowing what they are can be a good step to take in assuring yourself you are getting the safest vehicle possible if this is one of your primary concerns.
Even cars you would think are safe vehicles can have issues. For example; In November of 2007 a civil trial was opened up against the well known and reliable Toyota car company. A Toyota Corolla was involved in an accident that ultimately ended with Raminder Singh getting trapped in his car and burning to death when his seatbelt was jammed. He was unable to free himself before the car went up in flames.
Issues like this can open our eyes to cars that we all believe to be safe. Sometimes these vehicles can have things wrong that we don’t know about or see when we buy. Toyota is a reputable car manufacturer and has been known for its quality for decades. Yet, now we see this reputation being tainted by Lexus recalls and faulty equipment.
Lexus has recalled over 100,000 vehicles in the last couple of years and General Motors is also recalling countless cars. This goes to show that, no matter what you might hear about a well known car company, you are always better off doing your research first.
Obviously this is common sense more than anything else but there are things that happen to smaller, safer cars which are unforeseen. Some of the new cars have deficiencies, as we see more and more car manufacturers search for a more economical way to make cars.
There are a good number of newer vehicles that are being recalled due to major and minor issues. Knowing what they are can be a good step to take in assuring yourself you are getting the safest vehicle possible if this is one of your primary concerns.
Even cars you would think are safe vehicles can have issues. For example; In November of 2007 a civil trial was opened up against the well known and reliable Toyota car company. A Toyota Corolla was involved in an accident that ultimately ended with Raminder Singh getting trapped in his car and burning to death when his seatbelt was jammed. He was unable to free himself before the car went up in flames.
Issues like this can open our eyes to cars that we all believe to be safe. Sometimes these vehicles can have things wrong that we don’t know about or see when we buy. Toyota is a reputable car manufacturer and has been known for its quality for decades. Yet, now we see this reputation being tainted by Lexus recalls and faulty equipment.
Lexus has recalled over 100,000 vehicles in the last couple of years and General Motors is also recalling countless cars. This goes to show that, no matter what you might hear about a well known car company, you are always better off doing your research first.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
6 Tips for Motorcycle Safety
Driving a Motorcycle is one of the more dangerous activities that you can do, but there are a number of tips that you can keep in mind to help to minimize your risk. Keep these things in mind in order to keep yourself as safe as possible when riding a motorcycle.
1.NEVER ride a motorcycle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We all know how dangerous it is to drink and driver. Every danger of driving a normal car is multiplied when driving a motorcycle, and a vast number of fatal motorcycle crashes involve impairment.
2.Obey posted speed limits. Speed is a very high determining factor in the severity of an injury.
3.Drive as if no one can see you. The number one reason that there are collisions between other vehicles and motorcycles is because the drivers of other vehicles can't see the bike rider. Assume that you are invisible and that you have to watch out for the actions of all other drivers on the road at all times in order to stay your safest.
4.Make yourself as visible as possible. This is the corollary to the last point. That’s because visibility is such an issue for motorcycle riders that you need to make every effort to be visible. Large touring bikes with large windshields and fairings appear more prominent and are missed less often by other drivers on the road.
5.Wear proper safety equipment. The severity of an injury can be reduced greatly by wearing all of the appropriate safety equipment when riding. The most important element of this is obviously an approved helmet, but also a heavy duty leather jacket (or Kevlar), heavy pants or chaps, proper riding boots, and gloves.
6.Ensure your bike is in good working condition. Mechanical failure doesn't account for too many accidents, but tire punctures happen more frequently and can cause bad accidents which are easily avoidable by checking your tires before you ride.
1.NEVER ride a motorcycle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We all know how dangerous it is to drink and driver. Every danger of driving a normal car is multiplied when driving a motorcycle, and a vast number of fatal motorcycle crashes involve impairment.
2.Obey posted speed limits. Speed is a very high determining factor in the severity of an injury.
3.Drive as if no one can see you. The number one reason that there are collisions between other vehicles and motorcycles is because the drivers of other vehicles can't see the bike rider. Assume that you are invisible and that you have to watch out for the actions of all other drivers on the road at all times in order to stay your safest.
4.Make yourself as visible as possible. This is the corollary to the last point. That’s because visibility is such an issue for motorcycle riders that you need to make every effort to be visible. Large touring bikes with large windshields and fairings appear more prominent and are missed less often by other drivers on the road.
5.Wear proper safety equipment. The severity of an injury can be reduced greatly by wearing all of the appropriate safety equipment when riding. The most important element of this is obviously an approved helmet, but also a heavy duty leather jacket (or Kevlar), heavy pants or chaps, proper riding boots, and gloves.
6.Ensure your bike is in good working condition. Mechanical failure doesn't account for too many accidents, but tire punctures happen more frequently and can cause bad accidents which are easily avoidable by checking your tires before you ride.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Traffic Accidents in No-Fault States
Many people are familiar with the traditional model of vehicle insurance where one party is deemed by the system to be at fault and, in turn, has to pay (or rather, their insurance has to pay) for the damages caused by the collision. However, many States are now beginning to leave this model behind and move to an insurance model known as “no-fault”.
The reason this system was implemented was because the old system of insurance was taking up too much time and money in the court system. Parties were suing to find the other at fault and suing for damages. No fault insurance eliminates this problem.
So far, the states which have no-fault insurance include: Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah.
The “no fault” part of the insurance refers to personal injury. Under this type of insurance you can be paid immediately rather than having to establish blame in the accident. However, suing for mental anguish and pain and suffering is not allowed under this type of insurance. Many people frequently attempt to gain extra benefits by suing under the old models of insurance for these types of benefits. The idea of no fault insurance is to provide the immediate healthcare that people need and aid in eliminating, in the eyes of the state, pointless lawsuits.
Different states do have different no-fault laws however. From state to state, there are different regulations and some may still allow you to sue the other party, even under no-fault circumstances, as long as certain criteria are met. These might include either the monetary value of the medical bills you are faced with, or the determined severity of the injury you have suffered. An experienced attorney will be able to discuss your options with you in much more detail and it is always wise to consult with an attorney in these situations.
The reason this system was implemented was because the old system of insurance was taking up too much time and money in the court system. Parties were suing to find the other at fault and suing for damages. No fault insurance eliminates this problem.
So far, the states which have no-fault insurance include: Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah.
The “no fault” part of the insurance refers to personal injury. Under this type of insurance you can be paid immediately rather than having to establish blame in the accident. However, suing for mental anguish and pain and suffering is not allowed under this type of insurance. Many people frequently attempt to gain extra benefits by suing under the old models of insurance for these types of benefits. The idea of no fault insurance is to provide the immediate healthcare that people need and aid in eliminating, in the eyes of the state, pointless lawsuits.
Different states do have different no-fault laws however. From state to state, there are different regulations and some may still allow you to sue the other party, even under no-fault circumstances, as long as certain criteria are met. These might include either the monetary value of the medical bills you are faced with, or the determined severity of the injury you have suffered. An experienced attorney will be able to discuss your options with you in much more detail and it is always wise to consult with an attorney in these situations.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
5 Tips for Auto Safety
Car accidents are always one of the most prevalent causes of injury and death across almost every demographic, but there are many steps which you can take in order to help increase your safety when driving or riding in a vehicle. Keep these tips in mind for the sake of your safety and that of your family.
1.Always wear your seatbelts at all times. Most of the world has caught on to the importance of seatbelts now and seatbelt laws have proven to be large life savers. The seatbelt is definitively one of the easiest things which you can do in order to increase your safety in a vehicle.
2.Ensure that you are driving a well maintained vehicle. Cars that aren't looked after can become increasingly less safe to be on the road, especially when systems like the steering or the brakes are compromised. It is also important to be aware of the level of wear on your tires and to replace them when they require it.
3.Obey speed laws. Too many people treat speed laws as recommendations or as hampers to them completing their day on time. In truth, the likelihood of an accident causing serious injury or death is directly related to the speed at which a collision occurs. So, by minimizing your speed, you also help minimize your risk.
4.Drive defensively. Defensive driving will always be your best tool for keeping safe on the road. Aggressive drivers are in far more accidents and have a much more difficult time avoiding a collision when the possibility of one becomes imminent.
5.Never drive, or be a passenger, in a vehicle being operated by someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Nothing else will raise your risk as much as being in a collision involving chemical impairment.
1.Always wear your seatbelts at all times. Most of the world has caught on to the importance of seatbelts now and seatbelt laws have proven to be large life savers. The seatbelt is definitively one of the easiest things which you can do in order to increase your safety in a vehicle.
2.Ensure that you are driving a well maintained vehicle. Cars that aren't looked after can become increasingly less safe to be on the road, especially when systems like the steering or the brakes are compromised. It is also important to be aware of the level of wear on your tires and to replace them when they require it.
3.Obey speed laws. Too many people treat speed laws as recommendations or as hampers to them completing their day on time. In truth, the likelihood of an accident causing serious injury or death is directly related to the speed at which a collision occurs. So, by minimizing your speed, you also help minimize your risk.
4.Drive defensively. Defensive driving will always be your best tool for keeping safe on the road. Aggressive drivers are in far more accidents and have a much more difficult time avoiding a collision when the possibility of one becomes imminent.
5.Never drive, or be a passenger, in a vehicle being operated by someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Nothing else will raise your risk as much as being in a collision involving chemical impairment.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Who Covers Courier and Delivery Drivers if They Are Hurt in a Job Related Auto Accident?
For someone who works in a bustling industry such as the courier industry, driving is an inescapable part of their work. This type of work unfortunately exposes them to many more possible accidents during the course of their working day than people who don't drive for a living. As such, there are insurance questions that they must think about beforehand, in the case of ever experiencing an accident.
All courier companies, (and most other companies which employee professional drivers) will have insurance policies out on their vehicles and drivers to ensure that they are not held liable in the event of an accident. This situation might be different for a courier company who subcontracts drivers. Those drivers would be responsible for their own insurance on their vehicle, although the courier company might require a minimum amount of coverage. This is the most common type of courier model with smaller companies. It helps protect the employer as it ensures that there is no way they would be held liable in the case of an accident. If they own their vehicles and maintain them, as is the case in many of the larger companies, an accident caused by mechanical failure could leave the courier company held at fault.
Fault is important to note. When injured as a courier driver, the accident will be treated much like any other and is subject to the particular laws of the state you are in. In a no-fault state, it will not matter who caused the accident in regards to auto damages and most medical bills. However, in a state without no-fault insurance, it might be possible that, if the other party is at fault in the accident, you can sue them for a variety of benefits relating to your injury. As mentioned above, the company that you work for might also be held responsible if the accident was due to negligence on their part. It is wise to consult a lawyer to learn the specifics of the possibilities and insurance laws in place within your state.
All courier companies, (and most other companies which employee professional drivers) will have insurance policies out on their vehicles and drivers to ensure that they are not held liable in the event of an accident. This situation might be different for a courier company who subcontracts drivers. Those drivers would be responsible for their own insurance on their vehicle, although the courier company might require a minimum amount of coverage. This is the most common type of courier model with smaller companies. It helps protect the employer as it ensures that there is no way they would be held liable in the case of an accident. If they own their vehicles and maintain them, as is the case in many of the larger companies, an accident caused by mechanical failure could leave the courier company held at fault.
Fault is important to note. When injured as a courier driver, the accident will be treated much like any other and is subject to the particular laws of the state you are in. In a no-fault state, it will not matter who caused the accident in regards to auto damages and most medical bills. However, in a state without no-fault insurance, it might be possible that, if the other party is at fault in the accident, you can sue them for a variety of benefits relating to your injury. As mentioned above, the company that you work for might also be held responsible if the accident was due to negligence on their part. It is wise to consult a lawyer to learn the specifics of the possibilities and insurance laws in place within your state.
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