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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.

When an uninsured motorist hits you, it can be hard to know what to do next. Here's one victim's story.

A common type of injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident is damage to the spine or pelvis. When someone is blindsided because a negligent driver "came out of nowhere" and hit them, there can be life-changing consequences. In this accident victim's story that happened in Bellingham, WA, the at-fault driver caused damage so severe that the victim was not able to return to his job after the accident - ever again. It was critical that he find money to pay for lost wages and damages he received because of the accident. Insult to injury, the motorist who hit him was uninsured. 

This massive semi and car accident demonstrates that size does matter in crash safety

Though engineering and materials are increasingly sophisticated in manufacturing safer cars, certain factors will always favor larger vehicles. For information on the top five safest vehicles in crashes, and what you should do if you are injured in a car accident, click here for this article from Bill Coats Law, a personal injury law firm in Bellingham WA who helps victims of drunk and distracted drivers. 

New or leased vehicle? Read this before you talk to a claims adjuster

Unfortunately, no one can buy insurance to cover an accident that happens before the policy goes into effect. But, if you have a financed or leased vehicle, you'll want to read this article on how to protect yourself in case of a serious wreck.

The top thing to do before discussing your car accident with the insurance adjuster

Since everything you tell them might be used to downplay the accident and reduce your claim, it pays to talk to an attorney before negotiating with the insurance company. So how to choose the right one? Lawyer Bill Coats in Bellingham, WA discusses key characteristics of good lawyers in this article.

Survivors may have to pay back the health insurance company after an auto accident

Bellingham personal injury lawyer Bill Coats recorded a series of videos to discuss common policies and pitfalls of the insurance claims process. One of these is called subrogation, and is an important concept that accident victims and survivors of those who were fatally injured need to know. To learn more about this common insurance policy aspect, click here.

12 facts about drunk driving you should know

Everyone by now knows that drinking and driving is dangerous. Yet more and more facts come out based on current research that highlight this problem even more. From Bellingham car accident and personal injury law firm Bill Coats Law, learn more about the dangers of drinking and driving

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. 

A little known fact on reimbursing your health insurer after your claim is paid

It often comes as a surprise to personal injury victims that after their insurance claim has settled, they may be writing a big check to their health insurance company. I created this video from my blog to talk about the process of reimbursing your health insurance company after your personal injury claim settles and what you need to know.

Every auto insurance policy should have this kind of protection

It's called uninsured/underinsured motorist protection, and all policies in Washington state are by law supposed to include it unless the policy holder specifically opts out. If your injuries and losses are more expensive than the at-fault driver's policy can cover, it's a critical part of your financial recovery after a car accident. Click to learn more.