Car Insurance

There is no stupid car accident out there. They happen all the time. Yet, thousands of people decline to file an insurance claim because they feel embarrassed. People also know that filing a claim that is of “lower” amount will only increase their rates. They decide that it is better to pay out of pocket and call it good.

Is this a good approach? The reasoning is definitely sound. However, there are certain things you should be aware before making this decision.

You have an affirmative duty to report a loss to your insurance company. It does not matter that it is a “stupid car accident” or one with minimal damages. Your insurance policy spells out your duty to call in and report what happened. You only have “a reasonable” time to call in. What is a reasonable time? That is up to debate, but more than twelve months will probably leave you with no coverage.

The repercussions of not filing a claim are severe. The insurance company can decline payment for your damages or damages to any third party making claims against you. If you backed up into your garage door, then you are safe. However, if you hit a pole, the pole owner can come back and suit you two years later (depending the statute of limitations in your state). If you were more concern with you own vehicle and declined to at least call the insurance company, then you will have to provide for you own defense.

Does this happen? Yes it does! People will try to sue you if they think they can get 5 bucks. Not reporting a stupid car accident can end up costing you a bundle in attorney fees.

In reality the “pole” damage is not a very big concern. However, if you touch another vehicle, then you could have a claim for bodily injuries. It could be from the person in the other vehicle or even your own passenger. It does not matter that the lawsuit is ludicrous. You will have to defend yourself. Hiring an attorney is not cheap, and if you failed to call in the claim, then the insurance company will not provide a defense for you.

Do you think there are frivolous lawsuits out there? Yep, everyday, and it just seems like there are attorneys willing to sue just about everyone. Do not become their victim for a “stupid car accident”, report the claim.

Most of the time calling your agent is not enough. Make sure you call the actual insurance company claims department. Some agents never get around filing a claim. They believe that the claim not a big deal and never file. If this occurs, the insurance company could still decline to defend you and you would have to go after the agents’ Error and Omissions insurance policy (a big pain you know where).

Be aware of some agents out there. Most of them are very good and very honest, but there are some that will lie to sell you a policy or to discourage your form filing a claim. Insurance agents get their cut by selling insurance policies. They also get extra incentives by selling policies that result in no claims. The agent has vested interest in discouraging you from filling that stupid car accident.

You can always call the insurance company and report the claim to protect your coverage. Then you can tell them that you will deal the claim yourself. If you truly have a stupid car accident, then your claim adjuster will note the claim and then close your file. Now you will be fully protected even if a frivolous lawsuit ever arises against you.

Car accident statistics indicate that at least four people involved in car accidents die every hour. These accidents could be due to the fault of the driver, the other driver, or due to a faulty vehicle. The important thing to consider is the number of deaths occurring every day, excluding the people involved in car accidents and sustaining severe personal injuries.

The main causes for car accidents are reckless and negligent driving and alcohol. Teenagers, according to the statistics, cause most car accidents Inexperience coupled with irresponsible behavior and a lack of respect for the safety precautions are the main causes for such a high number of teenage car accidents.

Another reason is the inattentiveness of the driver. Many people talk while driving, which might prove to be fatal because it distracts the driver from the road. Even though hands free mobile phones are the latest craze, the driver would be unable to concentrate on the road while on the phone. The best option would be to park and then take the call, or not take the call at all while driving. These rules have already been implemented in a number of states.

Inattentiveness can also be caused due to alcohol, drugs, or the driver being distracted by music in the car. This might prove to be perilous to other drivers on the road and might result in either distracting them with reckless driving or causing side or rear end collisions due to inattentiveness. Such negligence can even cause pileups in highways and must be avoided at all costs.

Car accidents can be very traumatic, sometimes affecting the person for the rest of their life. Other than the physical injuries that may result due to the accident, mental pressure might also result. A few precautions can eliminate the prospect of accidents on the roads and provide a safety net. It is advised to follow the safety road rules and not drive while on the phone or while on drugs or alcohol.

Car accidents are also considered as a personal injury case. You can either file a case against the car manufacturer or against the other party involved to settle your claim. You may not be aware of the legal procedures involved in an accident case. It is, thus, important to hire a car accident attorney to ensure that the process is carried out smoothly.

A car accident attorney is the one who is specialized in this field and is aware of the procedures as well as the loopholes involved in an accident case. An attorney who is specialized in such a field will be of immense help in such situations. These lawyers are licensed to deal with such cases. The details required to file the accident case can be witnesses, details of the guilty party, filing of a police report and other relevant information.

Car owners are usually covered by insurance. Insurance covers personal as well as property damage and the party involved gets the settlement. The cover usually takes care of all the damages but in times where the damage is huge, the car accident attorney plays an important role in getting the desired reimbursement for his client. The lawyer is invaluable, as he is well aware of the legal rules and checks all the options for the best solution.

The reimbursements that a lawyer can fetch for his clients include medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, disability claims, compensation for fractures and also loss of income due to the accident.

Tips

* Have a personal injury lawyer who is competent enough in getting your compensation and negotiating the maximum with your insurer as well as with the opposite party’s insurer
* Choose your lawyer based on his past records so that he can offer you immediate legal guidance
* The attorney should also have good rapport and communication skills to have comfortable and effective interactions with you and the defendant’s lawyer
* The car accident lawyer should be a licensed member of the State Bar association

A car accident can take place as a result of any person’s fault. It is important to be honest and open with your attorney in order to get justice for your case. If you do not have an attorney, you can end up making wrong decisions and this can cost heavily on your pocket.

Some personal injury lawyers are listed online. You need to do a thorough check on their reputation and if there are any recommendation for the listed lawyers. Do not hesitate to go for the best personal injury attorney. You will see that he will turn out to be a blessing for you and take you comfortably through the claim process.

Buying auto insurance can seem like an overwhelming task. There are many things to consider that can potentially save or cost you a lot of money and stress over the years. Here are three car accident insurance tips that can make this task much easier.

Tip #1: Drive A Low Profile Vehicle

Some cars carry high insurance costs based upon the perceived risks associated with those cars. For example, if you drive a sports car, most insurance companies will presume there is a higher inherent risk and assign a higher rate on your insurance policy. For much lower rates, drive a low-profile vehicle that does not raise any red flags with your insurance carrier.

Tip #2: Keep Your Credit Report Clean

Your credit report is often used by the insurance carrier to determine the amount of risk they assume to offer you a policy. Though most insurance carriers won’t proactively tell you that your credit report is used to determine your car insurance rates, there is a strong correlation between a person’s credit rating and the risk an insurance carrier assumes in offering that person a policy. Pay your bills on time and review your credit reports annually to ensure they are clean of errors.

Tip #3: Install A Car Alarm Or Anti-Theft System

Often, you can save money on your car insurance rates if you install a anti-theft device. Your rates are largely a result of the perceived risk that a car insurance company assumes in carrying your policy. Installing a car alarm in your vehicle lowers this perceived risk. As a result, your rates may be lowered.

The car accident insurance buying tips you have discovered above should save you some time and money in the near future. One other thing you should always do is shop around. Try to get quotes from as many car insurance companies as you possibly can before you choose your insurance policy.

One of the most common questions that people have as far as the auto insurance industry is concerned has to do with rates and accidents. Most people want to know if their auto insurance rates are going to increase due to an accident. Even though you would think that there would be a cut and dry answer to this question, the fact of the matter is that there is not. This all depends on your current situation, as well as the auto insurance company that you are dealing with.

Generally speaking, if you have an accident that is deemed to be your fault, your auto insurance rates are going to increase the next time that they come due. This is just the way that the industry works, and you should expect this to happen if you have an accident that is your fault. In addition to this, if your past driving history is not the greatest, you should definitely be aware that an accident is going to increase your rates.

On the other side of things, if you had an accident that was not your fault you should not be subject to a rate increase. The reason for this is quite simple. When you are not at fault for an accident, your insurer does not pay for the repairs. In turn, your rates should not rise. If you notice that your auto insurance rates went up due to an accident that was not your fault, you should definitely ask why. There is a good chance that you will be able to resolve this problem, and save a decent amount of money every month.

If you have an at fault accident, it will usually stay on your record for up to three years. By law, this is how long an auto insurance company can legally charge you for an accident. If you notice that you are still paying for an accident that happened in the past, you should look into getting this taken care of.