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According to the U.S. Coast Guard, nationally, from 2013 to 2014, deaths increased from 560 to 610, an 8.9% increase, injuries increased from 2,620 to 2,678, a 2.2% increase and the total number of accidents increased from 4,062 to 4,064, a 0.05% increase. Where the cause of death was known, 78% of fatal boating accident victims drowned; of those drowning victims, 84% were not wearing a life jacket.
Despite safety improvements, bicycle accidents are common in Savannah
Savannah is a great town for bicycling, with level terrain, great weather, and beautiful tree-lined streets. But poorly maintained bikeways, lack of appropriate parking, and aggressive motorists can make biking a dangerous activity.
What is PIP and how does it work? [VIDEO]
Many industries have a litany of acronyms and insurance is no exception. If you've been in a car accident, PIP might be a new one for you. It stands for Personal Injury Protection and will be a key piece to your peace of mind. For an explanation of what PIP is and how it works, click to watch this video by Bill Coats Law in Bellingham, WA.
If fault is disputed, are medical bills still covered if someone is hurt?
Regardless of who is at fault, if there are injured people in a car accident, those people will deserve medical care. So who pays for those bills? Auto insurance policies have an option called Personal Injury Protection offered to many US drivers; in Washington, for example, the coverage is required by state law to be offered to all drivers licensed in the state. This is the coverage you'll count on to pay medical bills, and sometimes wage loss. Bill Coats Law in Bellingham, WA describes more about what Personal Injury Protection is for and how it works to cover people hurt in an accident, no matter who caused it.
Required to pay back your insurer for its help with your medical bills? Here's one big reason to hire a lawyer
The thought can be quite shocking to accident victims when they first learn it. "Why would someone hurt in an accident have to pay back their insurance company for covering medical bills?" Most people believe this coverage is already compensated through years of paying premiums. However, many insurance companies will seek reimbursement once they have paid medical bills. Bill Coats Law hosts a YouTube channel with a video about what to do if you are in this situation, and sometimes, a legal advocate is your best bet for arguing a fair claim when things get complicated in auto accident claims.
Lost wages? PIP to the rescue
PIP stands for Personal Injury Protection and is automatically included with many auto insurance policies. Though individual policies vary, it may include $10,000 towards wage loss. But there are some important things to know about PIP and what it means to put it into action. Bill Coats Law in Bellingham, WA put together this article and video to help consumers understand auto insurance policies and what next steps to take in the unfortunate event of a car accident.
Austrian Marcel Hirscher, currently considered the best alpine skier in the world, recently competed in a World Cup event in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. A few seconds into his second slalom run, he was a split second away from being crushed by a falling camera drone.
Key things to consider when finding legal help for your insurance claim settlement
Insurance law is a complex system, full of loopholes and obscure rules that can derail any consumer who files a car insurance claim. If you're fed up with the process and are ready to fight fire with fire, you're probably considering whether or not to hire a lawyer. From one personal injury attorney in Bellingham, WA, here are some things to look for in finding the best person to help you on your car accident case.
The benefits to hiring a lawyer who focuses in car accident cases
It takes a lot of knowledge of the loopholes insurance companies will use to try to get out of paying on claims. To get the maximum settlement, you need someone who can outsmart these corporations' teams of lawyers. However, not all lawyers are equipped to give you the best legal advice. In this post, Bellingham, Washington personal injury attorney Bill Coats writes about the importance of choosing a lawyer for your personal injury case who specializes in those types of cases.
Does your attorney specialize? Here's one major reason why they should
Many attorneys specialize in just one type of law, but not all adhere to this best practice. Choosing a lawyer who works with one type of case and does personal injury on the side is like hiring someone who is fluent in English to be your translator in Spanish because they've taken some courses on it in school. And when you really get into the complexities of tort cases, it's all Greek to most consumers who didn't spend years in law school. Bellingham, Washington personal injury attorney Bill Coats writes on some things to consider if you're thinking of hiring an attorney to help you with your car accident claim.