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Every auto insurance policy should have this kind of protection(link is external)
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(link is external). Click to learn more.
If you witnessed a fatal accident, how would you react?
How to prevent Christmas tree fires in the home(link is external)
Even though most of the news is about holiday cheer (and sales) now and then we see stories about families coming home to a burned up house. The holiday season is not without its perils, and a dry tree and faulty strings of Christmas lights, plus luminaria and Menorrah candles can all present added dangers. Here's a story about preventing house fires(link is external) during the holiday season.
And now for a little holiday humor, aka what not to do with a car + Christmas tree(link is external)
Don't be like this driver(link is external), with a tree strapped to the roof that is larger than the car carrying it.
And now, for other tips on holiday safety(link is external), visit Bellingham lawyer Bill Coats' blog...
[VIDEO] A guide to using your uninsured/underinsured motorist protection(link is external)
It's a step not everyone will have to take, but using your uninsured/underinsured motorist protection means some fairly complicated fine print can affect your claim. Insurers are skilled at looking for ways to reduce your compensation, as it saves their bottom line. Click here for a video series from Bill Coats Law on what you need to know about using your uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.(link is external)
How to protect troopers helping disabled vehicles on highways(link is external)
In Washington State, there is a law written to help protect State Troopers who stop to help disabled vehicles. Bill Coats, a personal injury and car collision attorney(link is external) in Bellingham, writes about the Move Over Law and results of a recent "emphasis patrol" campaign that ticketed violators of the law.
Here's one way Washington is trying to make roads safer for highway troopers(link is external)
It's called the Move Over Law, and has recently been the muscle behind an emphasis campaign conducted by Washington State troopers. That's a fancy way of saying that they pulled over and ticketed a lot of violators of this law. Many people don't know there is a requirement to change lanes when approaching the scene of an accident or traffic stop, so read this post by Bill Coats Law (link is external)of Bellingham, Washington about a traffic law you might not know you're breaking.
A law you might not know you're breaking in construction zones(link is external)
Not every state has one, and not every driver in those states is aware of it. In Washington, it's called the Move Over Law, and is designed to help ensure the safety of people who work alongside active roadways, especially highways. Bill Coats, a personal injury lawyer in Bellingham, Washington who specializes in highway car accidents(link is external) writes about a recent campaign state troopers conducted to raise awareness about this law.
The best way to merge in cone zones(link is external)
It raises most drivers' blood pressure when a car tries to eek out every inch of a lane that's closed ahead. But the quickest way to get through a lane closure is something called the zipper merge. Bill Coats, an attorney in Bellingham, Washington, writes about why the zipper merge is the least stressful way to get through a lane closure and avoid an accident (link is external)inspired by road rage.