If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you’re know that sick feeling that crops up in the pit of your stomach when you realize what happened and the hassle it will cause you. As a personal injury defense attorney for fifteen plus years I offer the following tips on how to handle the minor fender bender.
BE PREPARED
Let’s be just. None of us expect to get into a motor-vehicle accident and most of us don’t really want to believe about it. However, preparation for the occurrence goes a long way in easing tensions in the event it happens.
A DISPOSABLE CAMERA
First, your vehicle should contain a current, disposable camera at all times. Then, if the unthinkable occurs, you can catch photos of the vehicles involved at the scene of the accident. Don’t forget to photograph any pertinent traffic signs or obstructions to visibility, also. Such photos could become critical to your case, whether you are a defendant or a plaintiff.
KEEP INSURANCE CARD AND REGISTRATION HANDY
You should also keep your insurance card and vehicle registration in the car at all times. They should be kept in the same place in a protective plastic baggy and you should check their station several times yearly to make sure they are still where you expect them to be. Many drivers get extremely nervous at the scene of an accident and trying to find a misplaced insurance card only adds to the harm of the event.
DON’T TALK TO THE OTHER DRIVER
After the accident has occurred drivers can exchange insurance information but it may be best to wait for the police to arrive before doing this. If you do exchange insurance information with the other driver, do not discuss the accident with him. I’ve had many a client obliterate their own defense by apologizing to the other driver or worse, admitting to a specific fault. Don’t make this mistake. The best advice I can give you is this: say nothing at the scene to the other driver.
SAY LITTLE TO POLICE
When the police arrive you will be asked for your version of the accident. Keep it simple and do not implicate yourself. Remember, drivers are frequently confused about the event immediately after it has happened and it is better to say nothing instead of something that will defeat your defense even before you get to court.
GET INFO FROM YOUR PASSENGERS
If there are passengers in your vehicle, brand where they were sitting inside the car when the accident occurred and whether they were wearing seatbelts. Also, be aware of any physical complaints they make at the scene and make sure to get their current addresses and phone numbers.
IDENTIFY OFFICERS AT SCENE
While we’re talking about gathering information, remember to get the badge number of
the officer at the scene. In the event of litigation, the officer’s badge number will help to accurately identify him in case you need him to testify.
CIVIC-E
Now, I realize that if the unthinkable does happen, you may not be able to recall any or all of the above suggestions. To make it easier think: CIVIC-E. They are: camera, insurance card, vehicle registration, implicate not (yourself), current addresses/phone numbers of your passengers and exchange insurance information with the other driver.
Needless to say, I hope you never have to grief about CIVIC-E. But if you do, I hope it helps you to remember these important tips.
Filed under Vehicle Liability Insurance by on Feb 21st, 2011. Comment. 
We all need car insurance, the law requires that you have car insurance before you can drive on our highways. What the law doesn’t require, is that you have more insurance than you need. How great Insurance that you purchase is open to interpretation. Let’s hide some of the variables involved in keeping your car properly insured. Here are four things that the insurance company doesn’t want you to know.
1. Car insurance companies know that people usually don’t keep up with the present values of their automobiles. Do you know how grand your car is worth today? It doesn’t matter what you think it’s worth, the insurance company goes by the Book Value. You should know what your car is worth in today’s market. There are guides like Kelly’s and Edmond’s that give accurate appraisals of what your car would fetch. Auto prices are also different in various regions of the country. You can find what your car is worth on the Internet. Just type in used car prices on your accepted search engine. Another thing that you should know is that there are usually three categories of prices in these guides. Insurance companies usually payoff for the lowest two categories. There is no such thing as expedient condition to the insurance company.
2. One thing the insurance company has that you don’t, is statistical data. Basically, insurance companies are betting against you. You are betting that you will have an accident. The car insurance company is betting that you won’t have a claim. Their statistical data is usually in their favor. Mediate back about your past driving history. If you’re an average driver, you don’t have many accidents. If you do have accidents, your insurance company usually drops you. Total up how much you have spent on car insurance over the years and it may make you cry.
3. Now that you know how much your car is worth should you continue to carry collision and comprehensive insurance? If you are quiet making car payments, you have no choice. You have to have the mandatory car insurance. Your lender requires that. If you own your car outright, and it isn’t worth more than a few thousand dollars, you would be better off dropping expensive coverage. A better strategy would be to carry fair liability insurance. You can save the extra towards the purchase of another vehicle in the future. Make sure that you assume the deductible you chose into consideration. Some people wisely choose the deductibles of $500 or more. So having a $2000 car with a $500 deductible and mild carrying collision and comprehensive isn’t practical. Save your money and just get the liability insurance. Effect the savings in the bank.
4. The insurance company knows that people are lazy. They also know that people generally don’t shop around. Here’s where you can outwit them. Look on your insurance policy and rep out when the insurance expires. A month or two before hand start calling other insurance companies. Get bids for your insurance. There can be large differences in prices from company to company. Getting three or four or five competitive bids can save you a lot of money. Obtaining competitive bids should apply to any insurance that you pick. Outfox the insurance company and shop around.
Watch into investigating the various factors concerning your car’s present value and how much you can save by dropping expensive collision and comprehensive coverage. Get competitive bids. Shop around. Take the money that you saved and put it away for your next vehicle. Money not spent on car insurance is money saved.
Filed under Vehicle Liability Insurance by on Dec 19th, 2010. Comment.
