Distractions Put Teen Drivers at Higher Risk for Accidents

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One of the most important milestones in a teenager’s life is getting that set of keys to their first car and the freedom that comes along with it. The last thing on a teen driver’s mind is the associated risks of driving and the eye-opening statistics that show that teen driving is risky. The summer months prove to be the most dangerous for young drivers as they have more free time to spend on the road.

Whether it’s due to their novice skills or easily distracted nature, the risk of being in a car crash is four times more likely for drivers between the ages of 16 and 19. Additionally, their chances of a fatal collision are highest within the first six months of obtaining their driver’s license.

Car accidents are the leading cause of deaths for teenagers in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

These risks increase even more when there are teen passengers in the car. Like texting and driving, having other young people in the vehicle serve as an easy distraction that deter teen drivers from focusing on the road.

One tool that is decreasing these risks for teens is Graduated Driver Licensing programs (GDL). This tiered driving program allows new drivers to ease into full driving privileges as they gain experience and driving hours. In Arizona, teens must be at least 15 years and 6 months old to obtain their graduated instruction permit. At age 16 they may apply for their graduated driver’s license after completion of various criteria. To view this information you may visit the Arizona Department of Transportation web site. This program enables teen drivers to learn how to navigate the roads safely under lower risk situations.

AAA offers interactive tools to prepare both parents and teens for driving, including a guide to teen driver safety. Some of these tips include:

• Always wearing a seatbelt
• Not riding with other teens in the vehicle without parental consent
• Being a safe passenger
• Restrict night time driving
• Always remain alert of potentially hazardous situations
• Never drive aggressively- aggressive driving increases chances of a collision drastically

There are many resources available for both parents and teen drivers to educate themselves about safe driving. Remember to practice healthy driving habits in front of your teen.

Do You Need GAP Insurance?

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After much deliberation, you purchase a brand new car. The payments are a little high, but they’re manageable and you have four years to pay it off. If your research pays off, you won’t have to deal with car repairs for a long time. But just six months later, a distracted driver runs a red light and t-bones you. You’re bruised and sore, and your new car is totaled.

After the insurance adjuster confirms your vehicle is a total loss, he offers you $19,500 to settle your property damage claim. But you bought your car just six months ago and you owe the bank $24,000. “The law only requires us to pay market value for a vehicle,” you hear the adjuster tell you. “Do you have GAP insurance?” he asks.

What is GAP insurance?

When a vehicle is totaled in an accident, auto insurance companies typically cover the amount of the car’s actual cash value (ACV), not the amount you owe on the loan, which can be significantly more.

GAP insurance stands for Guaranteed Auto Protection and protects drivers from unforeseen financial losses if their car is totaled in an accident. It provides a financial bridge between what is owed on a car loan and the vehicle’s estimated worth, which, in the state of Arizona, is the market value calculation.

How it works

Once a new car is driven off the lot, it immediately depreciates in value, sometimes as much as 30 percent within the first few months. If a vehicle were totaled in a collision, GAP insurance would cover the difference between what is owed and the vehicle’s estimated worth. This means you won’t be held responsible for paying the difference.

Who should have Gap insurance?

In most cases, GAP insurance is relatively low cost and can ultimately save you thousands of dollars.

People who are leasing cars or who have financed their vehicles should have GAP insurance–especially if the car is a newer, more expensive model that depreciates rapidly.

Others who should consider GAP insurance are people who drive more than the average 15,000 miles annually or who have financed for 60 months or more.

Remember that there are limits on the amount that a GAP insurance policy will cover. You should check with your auto insurance provider for details. Some policies require comprehensive coverage on your personal policy.

This information is provided by Hollingsworth Kelly to help you select the right coverage for your auto insurance needs. All insurance decisions should be discussed with your auto insurance agent so that you can make an informed decision to best suit your needs. This information is not intended to serve as legal advice.

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Selecting a Personal Injury or Medical Malpractice Attorney

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Why is it important to know how well an attorney performs in trial?
Because the insurance companies certainly do. The reality is that the only personal injury and medical malpractice cases pursued are those where there is insurance coverage, absent an individual having substantial personal assets.

Insurance companies are aware of the fact that of the over 2,000 attorneys in a community like Tucson, less than five percent have actual, significant courtroom experience. And of that five percent, even less have consistent, successful jury trial outcomes. When a lawyer doesn’t have a proven track record, insurance companies know they can get away with undervaluing an injured person’s claim.

When insurance companies know that a personal injury lawyer or a medical malpractice attorney is willing to take a case to trial, and has proven time and time again that he or she can obtain excellent results, they are far more likely to pay full value for injuries. This is a basic economic principal involving a risk/exposure analysis.

How do you find out about a lawyer’s track record?
It’s simple. Ask the attorney to show you. There are two ways jury trial results are recorded. The first is a Minute Entry, a document generated by a judge at the conclusion of a trial. A lawyer should have a compilation of minute entries to prove his or her record.

Perhaps a more valuable method of documenting trial results is through the Trial Reporter, a publication that summarizes the history of each trial, along with strategies employed, witness testimony, closing arguments and trial results. Pre-trial negotiations are also included.

By requesting and reviewing these historical accounts, you should easily be able to form an opinion about the skill level of an attorney, which will assist you in making a wise choice when hiring an attorney to represent you in a serious personal injury case due to an auto accident or medical malpractice in the Tucson area.

Why You Need Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

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Purchasing auto insurance is one of those activities that most consumers don’t put much thought into. They know they have buy auto insurance because the law requires it.

Most consumers either call their family insurance agent, or the insurance company with the most clever TV commercial. But not putting much thought into your car insurance purchase could have dire consequences if you are injured in an auto accident. Uninsured auto insurance coverage is something people often overlook.

Typically, consumers buying car insurance tell their insurance agent they want “full coverage.” Their policies will be written so that they are protected should they be at fault for an accident.

However, we frequently see problems when consumers do not request additional coverage in case they are injured in an auto accident by a person who is not insured (uninsured) or does not have adequate insurance (underinsured). Unfortunately, during an economic downturn, this problem is even more pronounced, with more people driving around with little or no insurance coverage.

Uninsured (UM) coverage will protect you if you are injured by someone who does not have insurance; Underinsured (UIM) coverage will protect you if you are injured by someone who does not have enough liability insurance to adequately compensate you for the injuries they caused you in an auto accident.

Your policy should include coverage for UM, UIM, and Medical Payments (Med Pay). The policy limits for UM/UIM will depend on the coverage you selected on your policy. We recommend that you carry as much coverage as you can reasonably afford, but if at all possible, you should request policy limits of no less than $100,000/$300,000. If you can afford higher limits, by all means you should increase these limits. Med Pay should be at minimum $5,000.

Declarations Page

We urge you to review the Declarations Page of your auto insurance policy for UM, UIM and Med Pay coverage. Make an appointment with your insurance agent to add coverage in these three areas if they are not included in your policy.

This information is provided by the Hollingsworth Kelly law firm to help you select the right coverage for your auto insurance needs. All too often, we see people who are injured by someone who does not have adequate insurance coverage. All insurance decisions should be discussed with your auto insurance agent so that you can make an informed decision to best suit your needs. This information is not intended to serve as legal advice.

Who Pays for Medical Treatment After A Car Accident?

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Most people who are injured in motor vehicle accidents do not realize they are responsible for paying for their accident-related medical expenses until their case is settled. Medical treatment for traffic accidents are often necessary and cannot be avoided in many cases.

If you have health insurance coverage and you are injured in an accident, it’s a good idea to use your health insurance to pay for your medical treatment. Any reimbursement requirements related to your health plan can be taken care of at the time your case is settled.

For more information about how your personal auto insurance policy can help protect you if you happen to be involved in a car accident, please see our posts on the following topics:

  • Medical Payments
  • Uninsured Motorists Coverage
  • Underinsured Motorists Coverage

Declarations Page

We urge you to carefully review the Declarations Page of your auto insurance policy for UM, UIM and Medical Payments coverage. Make an appointment with your insurance agent to add coverage in these three areas if they are not presently included in your auto policy.

 

This information is provided Hollingsworth Kelly to help you select the right coverage for your auto insurance needs. All too often, we see people who are injured by someone who does not have adequate insurance coverage. All insurance decisions should be discussed with your auto insurance agent so that you can make an informed decision to best suit your needs. This information is not intended to serve as legal advice.

Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

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You’ve been injured in a car accident and it wasn’t your fault. You’re frustrated because you don’t have a working vehicle, you need medical care, and you’re not sure who is going to pay your medical bills. The insurance company representing the person who caused the accident wants your recorded statement. You just received a letter from the hospital saying they’ve filed a “lien” against you for a bill you thought was already paid by your medical insurance provider.

The problems car accident victims face after they’ve been injured in a motor vehicle collision can be overwhelming. In addition to seeking medical treatment for their injuries, they must make numerous decisions associated with their accident claim, mostly in areas that are unfamiliar to them.

Trying to negotiate your own claim with insurance companies may result in frustration and little success. If you begin communication with the third-party insurance company and before you hire an attorney to represent you, those prior statements may become an impediment to the successful resolution of your case.

A personal injury law firm such as Hollingsworth Kelly Law Firm is comprised of experienced attorneys and staff who can help you if you’ve been injured in an auto accident. They are ready to answer your accident-related questions, and will work closely with you until your case is settled. Firms like Hollingsworth Kelly are also experienced in working on medical liens, and will make sure any liens filed against you are valid, and when possible, they will negotiate reductions of those liens.

The injury lawyers at Hollingsworth Kelly have the experience to recover a fair and just settlement for your injuries. No fee is due until your case is resolved. Please contact us today for a free consultation with a Tucson accident attorney.