Tuesday, January 4, 2011

What To Do If Injured in a Car Accident

Vehicle accidents transpire very often, and frequently result in injuries for those involved. frequently injuries from a car accident will make working unlikely for a while, cause costly medical expenses, and can cause emotional trauma. If you were injured in an automobile accident, you can sue for monetary damages incurred as a result of your injuries.

It is important to speak with an accomplished Vancouver car accident attorney to ensure that you receive all the compensation you are owed. Immediately after an accident, call the police and get the accident on record by filing a report. Document everything that happened. Keep track of any medical treatment you receive, and make sure to take note of how much work you miss because of your injuries.

Having the correct information about the collision and the aftermath, an auto accident lawyer in Vancouver will be able to effectively pursue your case. Your lawyer will be capable of putting a value to your injuries, and work to get the compensation you are owed. The amount paid in compensation ought to cover all present and future medical bills, as well as any income lost due to days of work that were missed because of the injury.

While this compensation covers expenses due to your injuries, the compensation does not cover expenses to fix your vehicle. Damages to your car are handled through the usual process of exchanging insurance information. In order to get full injury and car repairs compensation, it is essential to be able to prove who was at fault for causing the collision.

Car accident injuries can be a serious event in one’s life, causing large amounts of stress and trauma for the victim, and expenses due to the injury. Insurance companies can be hazardous to your case, as they might even create doubt about your injuries because they typically want to pay you as little as possible. You would be wise to talk with a trusted attorney before speaking with your insurance company, and review Consumer Action's insurance tips.

Vancouver car accident attorneys work for you, providing assistance through this difficult time. Dealing with insurance companies and injury laws can be complicated, and an experienced attorney should understand the laws and how they apply to your particular issues. To get the compensation for your injuries that you deserve, and reduce your stress, get experienced legal assistance from an accomplished lawyer, such as Kevin Staples.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Stopping Teens from Driving & Texting


Commercial vehicle drivers may be banned from using cell phones while behind the wheel, and the majority of states might have laws against texting and driving, but teens still do not perceive it to be as serious a risk as they should. When car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, it's extremely important that the youth of this country understand why they should never risk driving distracted. Yet, in a recent study by State Farm Insurance, teenagers still do not preceive it to be as dangerous as they should.

This summer in Vancouver, Washington, a head-on collision occurred that was caused by - guess what- a teenager texting while behind the wheel. Just past 1 p.m. on a Tuesday, Michael Titeiu was texting when he failed to notice that his sedan had crossed into the opposing traffics' lane, and crashed into an oncoming pickup truck. Luckily, both drivers were able to walk away after a brief stay at the hospital.

Titeiu thought little of the risk involved with texting and driving. In fact, in addition to a citation for negligent driving, Titeiu was also cited for driving without insurance and with a suspended license. Surely Titeiu was more worried about driving with these other infractions, and thought little of sending a few text message, yet texting while driving should have been precieved as a far more serious risk. Even with the most successful Vancouver injury lawyer, Titeiu will have a hard time defending his foolish actions in court.

According to State Farm's study, 55% of Americans 14- to 17-year-olds who are aspiring or current drivers think they could be killed if they drink and drive, while only 36% feel the same about texting and driving.
Fewer teenagers also believe they could get into an accident while texting and driving when compared with how many believe they could crash if driving under the influence. Yet, a report by the U.S. Transportation Department this week said 5,474 people died in 4,898 crashes linked to distracted driving last year, and of those, about 1,000 involved cell phones. Cell phones were a factor in 22% of fatal crashes involving distracted drivers younger than 20. Only one group, drivers ages 30 to 39, were more likely to be involved in a fatal crash where a cell phone was a distraction.

There are strong programs out to try and make the dangers of driving and texting present in teenagers' minds. The government site, Distraction.gov was created solely to inform people about these dangers. When teens are so involved with their social lives that they would risk serious injury or death to send a quick text, that's a clear of where to begin fighting this problem. Teenagers have to have it made strikingly clear that they should not, and cannot risk texting while driving. Passing laws and creating public announcements help, but the real change will have to come as a kind of awareness from teenagers themselves. When teens start accepting that it's not okay to text and drive, and nag on one another when doing it, that's when the change will come, and our roads will begin to be a little safer.