For example, if you are involved in a car accident, there are important issues stemming from the type of car insurance you purchased. In no-fault states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you will have medical benefits coverage under you car insurance policy that covers medical bills for you and your family. Your health insurance will only cover you or your family after the medical benefits under the car insurance policy are exhausted. Moreover, you would have selected a lawsuit option under your policy. In Pennsylvania, you selected either full tort or limited tort. In New Jersey, you had to select the lawsuit limitation or zero limitation. Oddly enough, your selection of a lawsuit option affects whether you may bring a personal injury claim against the person who caused the accident. There are exceptions, however. For example, you will be deemed to have selected the full tort option in Pennsylvania if the accident is caused by an intoxicated driver, whether from alcohol or medication.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident with a tractor-trailer, there are state and federal regulations governing the operation of the vehicle including the number of hours the operator is permitted to drive daily. Here is a brief listing of some of the federal regulations: Title 49 CFR Part 391 – Qualifications of Drivers, Title 49 CFR Part 392 – Driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles, Title 49 CFR Part 393 – Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation, Title 49 CFR Part 395 – Hours of Service of Drivers and Title 49 CFR Part 396 – Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance.

In addition, most current day trucks including tractor-trailers have data recording devices or “black boxes” that may obtain critical information about your accident. This data needs to be preserved immediately. If the data is favorable to you or your family, the owner of the tractor-trailer may well be disinterested in its preservation. The data can be easily written over once the tractor is put back on the road.

Here is a checklist of what steps you should take after being involved in a motor vehicle accident.

* Call police immediately at 911 if you or anyone is hurt and/or if there is damage to vehicles or property. It is important that a police report be filed of record.

* Keep calm. Make no statements to anyone about the accident, or who might have been at fault. Do not answer questions about the accident for anyone except the police or medical personnel.

* If possible, write down the date, time and place of the accident. Or do so as soon as you can afterwards.

* If possible, exchange driver’s license and vehicle registration and insurance information with other parties involved.

* If possible, get names and addresses of witnesses.

* Write down the name, badge number and jurisdiction (i.e., Philadelphia, Cherry Hill) of the police officer taking your accident report.

* If possible, take photographs of the scene and vehicles involved.

* Describe the accident to the police as simply as possible. Do not assess or accept blame.

* If another party’s insurance company or investigator asks you to sign any papers or provide a written or recorded statement, do not do so without first consulting with an attorney.

Finally, keep in mind that you should make objective decisions about fault for the accident including who is responsible for paying to have the vehicles repaired. Important decisions may also be needed regarding medical care. Try to keep your emotions from clouding your judgment. http://www.josephmonacotriallawyer.com

Joseph monaco
Personal Injury lawyer
Pennsylvania and New Jersey

http://www.josephmonacotriallawyer.com

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Once you have accident and you know you caused it, it can be shocking. If you are injured, it might be a good idea to stay where you are until the police arrive. If you can shout to the other driver, if there is one to see if they are alright, do that instead of getting out. Of course, if you smell gas or smoke, you should o ahead and get out if you can. If you do not seem to be injured and there is another car involved, check on the other drivers or any passengers in either vehicle right away. Make sure the police have been called by you or anyone passing by.

Hopefully, the accident will not be serious, but unfortunately they sometimes are. It will be a hard thing to live with if you seriously injure or kill someone when you were at fault. Wait for the police to arrive and do not move the vehicles unless it is necessary. Wait until the police have arrived and they will give you any instructions you need to follow. Get out your license, registration, and insurance card. If you are able to cooperate with them and the other driver is alright, they will want to see these things right away. Always have these items in your possession when you are driving.

Whether the accident was your fault or not, you should contact your insurance agency as soon as possible. Your insurance might have to cover you in any event if the other driver was at fault and he is not insured. It can all become very complicated easily. Know your insurance company well and you agent. Learn all about the policy you are taking out so you will have no surprises in store when you are in an accident of any kind. Never settle you insurance claim right away. Take the time to know every expense possible is covered and if necessary, seek legal advice if you have any questions at all.

Michael Affleck is a writer and you can visit their websites at shopalu and quartz infrared heaters.

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While younger drivers need only about two seconds to adjust their focus, drivers over 40 years old may take three seconds or more. As we age, the amount of time needed to change focus steadily increases. This condition makes it more difficult to judge distances and speed.

To drive safely with a decline in vision, you must recognize your limitations in order to avoid an auto accident. The following practices may help:

* Have regular eye exams – some eye problems can be corrected, especially if caught early.
* Avoid tinted windshields, and wear sunglasses when glare is a problem.
* If possible, avoid driving at night, during rush hours, and in inclement weather.
* Avoid wearing glasses that restrict your side vision.
* Avoid driving vehicles with large blind spots.
* Keep your headlights and windshield clean and properly maintained.
* Look ahead to anticipate oncoming obstacles before approaching them.
* If you require glasses, always wear them while driving, during day and night.

If the time has come for you or a loved one to stop driving, there are many alternative modes of transportation that work as a substitute for operating your own personal vehicle.

* Senior citizen transportation services.
* Municipal buses.
* Vehicles driven by friends, family members, church members, home health aides, or volunteers.
* Transportation operated by senior citizen centers, hospitals, or retirement communities.
* Taxi services.

If you are involved in a Michigan car accident, protect your legal rights by contacting an experienced Michigan car accident attorney immediately.

Our team of extraordinary Michigan accident lawyers at the Sam Bernstein Law Firm has a combined total of over 250 years of legal experience protecting the legal rights of Michigan accident victims.

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The statistics speak for themselves. According to numbers released by the California Highway Patrol published in The Bakersfield Californian, the number of car accidents have dropped by at least 14 percent since the same period last year. That’s a whopping decrease, no matter what the reason. Last year, Bakersfield witnessed a total of more than 6,000 car accidents. This year sees a markedly improved scenario. Apparently, the rising prices of gas have discouraged people from getting behind the steering wheel unless absolutely essential. There is a lesser amount of driving and consequently, fewer accidents. Fewer vehicles on the road generally tend to make for fewer car crashes.

It’s not just auto accidents that have dropped dramatically. There has also been a drop in the number of drunk driving accident across Kern County. The drop in drunk driving accidents is almost the same as the drop in auto accidents in general. According to CHP statistics for Bakersfield, the number of drunk driving accidents have dropped by as much as 13 percent over the same period last year. The numbers are falling not just in the urban areas, but also in the outskirts, CHP officials say.

The happy story doesn’t end at the borders of Kern County. Reports indicate that all over California, there has been a remarkable decrease in the number of automobile accidents that we have seen this year. Some experts maintain that high gas prices are only partly-responsible for this drop in auto accidents state-wide. There is also something to be said for the kind of vigilant law enforcement that our men and women in the CHP have been putting up. The CHP has done a commendable job of raising awareness levels about traffic safety, and educating motorists about their rights and privileges, as well as their responsibilities. Plus, there has been a stricter crack down on drunk driving, and speeding. There has been a zero tolerance policy towards drunk driving that is resulting in more drivers being arrested before they cause serious damage to themselves or others.

Not that everything is hunky dory on the streets, however. While the number of motor vehicle accidents has gone down substantially, the same can’t be said for motorcycle crashes in the area. Motorcycle accidents this year in Bakersfield and the surrounding areas, have been the highest ever in a long time.

The California personal injury lawyers at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California. Our firm has been in existence for over twenty years and has won top results for thousands of injured clients. We have a team of successful trial lawyers committed to personal attention, fast action and aggressive representation.

http://www.TheReevesLawGroup.com

Call (800) 644-8000 for a free consultation.

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