Car Insurance

As of January 2003 it was determined that in the good ole‘ US of A, there were approximately 12.3 million motor vehicle accidents involving over 21 million vehicles last year. This amounts to a little over one crash per second. Let’s take a look at four of the most common of these gazillion impacts and the typical injuries they cause.

#1. LOW SPEED IMPACTS - - ESPECIALLY REAR-ENDERS: These are crashes that are considered to be any collision that takes place at speeds under 10 MPH. While there is absolutely no justification to call it a “Low Speed” impact that’s what the insurance industry loves to identify them as. Why ? Because a moniker like that is supposed to indicate that the, “so-called impact”, you were subjected to could not possibly have caused an injury.

It’s true that when such a crash does take place there’s often not a lot of damage done to the motor vehicle and yet, in most cases, people involved in these types of accidents more often than not suffer injuries - - neck injuries especially!

Although the insurance industry would like to have those making a claim think differently an injury can and absolutely does occur when a low impact collision takes place. The most common is identified as the “Whiplash”. This takes place when the occupants don’t have the slightest idea about the impending collision so they can’t brace themselves by forcing their back and/or neck against the seat or headrest. Because of this their body gets whipped and snapped about something fierce.

Automobile bumpers are built to withstand up to a 5 MPH crash without damage. This is not done to insure the safety of the occupant but rather to protect and limit the damage to the bumpers, keeping the cost of repair to a minimum. Many times vehicle to vehicle impacts can sustain an impact of 8 to 9 MPH before there’s recognizable damage to the motor vehicle. However, when the bumper doesn’t crumble and absorb the force of the impact, more of that crash is felt by the occupants. IMMEDIATE INJURIES: The individual that’s been crashed into by another (even at only 5 MPH) is thrown forward with a severe jerking motion - - causing necks to snap and backs to twist. Because of this many “Soft Tissue” styled injuries take place, including multiple body bruises, plus chest and rib injuries. In most cases adjusters attempt to deny the possibility of injuries in a low speed impact but research substantiates just the opposite! Sure, the motor vehicle will show little damage but the velocity and accompanying force have to be transferred somewhere, and that’s to those sitting in that vehicle. Cars are built to withstand such minor impacts - - the human body is not!

#2. FRONTAL COLLISIONS: In most frontal impacts the occupant’s can generally brace themselves because they’re usually aware of the collision they’re about to be subjected to. In Frontal Collisions the speed and weight of the vehicle play a role in the injuries of the occupant. (The more the vehicle crumbles at impact the less severe the injuries to the occupants. Many times airbags will deploy). In frontal impact collisions the speed and size of the vehicle determines the injuries that can take place. (And - - getting back to rear-end collisions for just a moment - - the striking vehicle not only undergoes a collapse, but transfers momentum to the car that’s been struck by pushing it forward. The airbag may or may not explode. This depends upon the rigidity of the vehicle that’s been struck).IMMEDIATE INJURIES: Head and neck, back, spine, rib and clavicle, arms and legs, concussions, soft tissue, internal, dislocations, abrasions, cuts and bruises.48 to 72 hours later: Headache, blurred vision, dizziness and loss of taste, smell or hearing. Also, difficulty breathing, blood in urine or stool, swelling, loss of motion and visualized bruising take place.

#3. SIDE IMPACT: Many times the occupants head will hit the side window and bounce off of it. There are no air bags nor bumpers, engines, etc., to help protect ones body or absorb the force of the impact. IMMEDIATE INJURIES: Head and neck, arms & legs, soft tissue, dislocations, scrapes and bruises. 48 to 72 hours later: Pain, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, loss of taste, smell or hearing, numbness or tingling (and basically the same as those listed above) so, at the risk of being repetitious but because it’s so important, I must say once again: It’s of major importance that the individual exposed to impact - - no matter how slight it may seem to have been - - should immediately be examined by a medical professional.

#4. ROLL-OVER ACCIDENTS: The typical roll-over accident is very serious. The most common factors in single vehicle accidents are approaching a curve at too high a speed, leaving the pavement or highway, or over-correcting the steering wheel - - particularly in vehicles with a short wheel base. The severity of injuries to the occupants generally depends on the beginning velocity of speed, the number of rolls, condition of the vehicle, and what your motor vehicle rolled through, over and into! Damage to the vehicle is generally extensive. It has been determined that 60% of the economic costs from roll-overs resulted from occupant ejection, and that the initial roll-over speed was between 40 to 60 MPH. (A recent study reported that restrained occupants showed a higher proportion of neck injuries than the unrestrained).

IMMEDIATE INJURIES: The whole nine yards - all of those as detailed above.

The bottom line is that in all motor vehicle accidents - - no matter how minor the damage it’s of the greatest importance that each and every individual immediately visit a medical professional for a physical examination and/or consultation. So, should you find yourself at the scene of an accident and somebody asks if you think they should see a doctor, your answer should always be, “ABSOLUTELY ” ! Stare straight into their eyeballs and tell them, “It’s your body. There’s only one to a customer. You should do whatever you can to take care of it and protect it”.

DISCLAIMER: This article ~ CAR ACCIDENT INSURANCE CLAIM ~ REGARDING IMPACTS AND INJURIES is intended for background information only. Its purpose is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Thomas Brown nor ARTICLE CITY make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever NOR purports to engage in rendering any professional or legal service, substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. where such professional help is desired IT IS THE INDIVIDUAL’ RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN IT.

Auto accident personal injury settlements offer the compensation amount for the injured victim in an auto accident when the claim is handled through insurance. The increasing rate in the amount of more motor vehicle accidents in the United States makes auto accident insurance settlements one of the most prolific types amongst the insurance settlements. Settlement offers you negotiation for personal injury claims.

According to Bureau of Transportation statistics, at least five million motor vehicle accidents are recorded every year on the nation’s roadways, two million people are injured, and at least 20,000 people die. Auto accident personal injury settlements are also possible in various injury and property damage auto accident situations.

Other statistics, however, report that over 40,000 people die in car accidents every year, every minute there are 5 deaths and 5 serious injuries caused by the motor vehicle crash. Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for people under 30. Approximately 6,000 pedestrian deaths and 100,000 pedestrian injuries are recorded every year. More importantly, one third of Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic accident. Collisions with motor vehicles result in about 800 deaths of people riding bicycles every year.

A professional attorney can help you with auto accident personal injury settlements by ensuring the victim’s claim. The victim’s rights are protected through proper negotiations. The first step of an auto accident settlement is to file the claim with the insurance company, which should be done soon after the accident. A claim adjuster then verifies the facts in order to determine the liability and the incurred amount of damages. The verification provides you the amount of the personal injury which can be claimed.

Through auto accident personal injury settlements, it is possible that you can receive reparations for the medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering awards, and property damages. A legal professional can help you in receiving legal and fair compensation for your injuries in an auto accident settlement.

Getting a fair car accident settlement can be difficult. Insurance companies are savvy, and their adjusters are trained to negotiate and settle with you for the lowest amount possible. Every state has different regulations and laws that are targeted to supervise the business of insurance (the department of insurance or the office of the insurance commissioner). Unfortunately, most states do not have car accident settlement regulations that truly protect the consumer since most settlements are reached out of court.

Insurance companies leverage the vehicle damages (and the total loss process) against you. For example, they will try to settle with you as soon as they talk to you. They will tell you that they will fix the car and “take care” of you if you settle for any/and all claims. They will offer you anywhere from $50 to $500. They will try to “cut of” the rental car as soon as they can so you are put in a weaker position and you settle faster. These techniques are unfair, but yet they are legal.

The problem with accepting an early settlement is that you can potentially lose all your negotiation leverage. A car accident settlement due to a bodily injury is substantially more powerful than a total loss settlement. A bodily injury claim will take into account subjective values (i.e. pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of business income, etc.) The total loss settlement will only include “objective values.” The insurance company will find the value of other similar vehicles in your local market and determine what is the most the can offer you.

If you settle your injury claim, then you have no leverage. The insurance company will fix the car however they want to (i.e. they will fix your car with used parts). Having the power to argue that you were injured could make the adjuster be much more likely to settle with you for what you are owed. If you do not have an injury claim, trying to get your vehicle fixed or totaled can be a very difficult task. Click here to learn how to negotiate a total loss.

Insurance adjusters know that you can leverage an injury to get a better treatment in the vehicle claim. They usually “split” adjusters so you deal with two different people. The liability adjuster will tell you that the injury does not have anything with your vehicle repairs and that you have to talk with Joe Smith for that, to please call 1-800… When you talk to Joe Smith, Joe Smith will tell you that the vehicle damages do not relate to the injury. They will play “musical chairs” with you so they do not have to give you a straight answer.

If you are in a wreck, your accident medical bills car add up quick. In most states , your accident medical bills will be paid by the insurance carrier that provides coverage on that specific vehicle. This means that if you are a passenger in your neighbor’s car, your medical bills will be covered by her auto insurance policy. Equally, any passenger in your vehicle that is injured will be covered by your insurance carrier.

Remember that your medical bills will not paid unless you carry Personal Injury Protection (commonly know as PIP) in your auto policy. Most states require you to have this coverage, however some do not. Also, some states allow you to waive this coverage. Insurance agents will try to get you to “waive” this coverage to reduce your monthly premium. If your state does not require this coverage, then the agent can simply not “quote” you about it. Make sure you carry this coverage. It is the first step for getting your accident medical bills paid. Saving a few bucks in your monthly premium will save you thousands if you have to go the emergency room.

Personal Injury Protection is a “no fault coverage”. This means the adjuster can pay your medical bills as soon as coverage is clear. Coverage is clear once they can establish that it was a car accident and that you paid your monthly premium. In most auto accidents, the insurance adjuster is able to determine coverage the day the claim was filed.

The person paying your accident medical bills will be a “PIP adjuster.” This person is always (ok 99% of the time) different from the adjuster that determines fault and coverage. The PIP adjuster will ask you to sign a Medical Authorization Form. This form is what gives the insurance company the authority to call your providers and get the medical bills and records. These authorization forms have very broad language. It authorizes the insurance company to see all your medical history. You can restrict this language by simply typing a letter to you insurance company giving permission to request your accident medical bills that related to such and such date, or that only relate to your lower back injury. Your PIP coverage does require you to do certain things in order to protect you. Getting the Medical Authorization form back to your insurance company is simply crucial. You can now ask them to fax it or send it via email. You must send it back by mail.

The mistake most people make is to delay getting that form back to their PIP adjuster. They think that they have protection for all related accident medical bills. This is true, but only when you have fully complied with your policy terms.

The second mistake most people make is turning in the form and never double checking if the insurance company actually paid 100% of the medical expenses. Many insurance companies pay only a portion of the bill because, they argue anyway, that they only cover reasonable and necessary treatment. If the bill is too expensive, they will only send what they think should be owed. Some medical providers take the reduce rate, but some others won’t. They will in turn send you to collections.

To make sure you get your accident medical bills paid on time, make sure you return the medical authorization from to your insurance company. Also, double check with the PIP adjuster and the medical provider that the entire amount was paid in full. If you have problems contact the department of insurance and file a complaint, this usually solves the problem.

It is important to know what travel accident insurance coverage includes to avoid paying for expenses that are covered by insurance or purchasing other insurance products unknowingly that you are already covered by your travel accident insurance coverage.

Travel accident insurance products are important because, as anyone who travels frequently can tell you, you never know what can happen during a trip. When you are not familiar with the place you are going there are many perils that you would otherwise have to be worried about and you may fail to enjoy your trip.

For instance, knowing that your insurance covers the costs will make you ask for the services of a doctor if you are feeling ill right away instead of waiting till you get home. Basically, all travel insurances provide coverage for the following:

Trip Problems

Often, trips are cancelled or interrupted by unexpected events like acts of fanatics or activists that tend to target airports even with false threats just to disrupt tourist and business activities. Also, a sudden illness can imply the cancellation of a trip on your behalf.

It is a pity to lose all you have invested in the trip because you suddenly went ill. Fortunately, travel accident insurance will cover for all the costs generated by situations like the above reimbursing you all the expenses you incurred in because of them.

Baggage Problems

If your luggage gets stolen or is lost and cannot be find soon enough, travel accident insurance policies will also cover for this. Remember that often you need to declare the value of the things that you are transporting in order to claim the reimbursement.

Therefore if you didn’t state that you were traveling with an expensive laptop computer and you have no means of proving it, don’t expect to be fully reimbursed for the amounts you need to purchase a new one. Nevertheless, each policy is different and you should read them thoroughly to know how to act in order to be protected all the time.

Accidents

Accidental events can always happen and will cause many problems on a trip. Recent events show proof of this statement: tropical storms, tsunami, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. If your policy is good enough it will also cover for car accidents in case you rent a car while you are abroad or on another state. However, if it doesn’t, you can always purchase separate insurances. And chances are that the car rent company will also require you to pay for insurance.

Medical Expenses

Last, but no means least, all the medical expenses that you incur in while you are on another country and not covered by your health insurance company, will also be covered by these travel accident insurance policies. It covers the fees of the physicians, medical and surgical procedures, medications, nursing services and so on.