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What do auto accident victims need to know about wage loss? [VIDEO]
If you or a loved one has been in an auto accident and experienced wage loss, or you're looking at having to re-train for a lower paying job because your injuries will prevent you from going back to what you used to do, you've got options. Click here to learn about wage loss, future wage loss, and your rights as an auto accident victim.
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.
Lane departure crashes can have devastating consequences
Accidents can happen so fast. Especially at highway speeds, a vehicle can act like a battering ram. And when that vehicle comes straight at you, it’s one of the scariest experiences in the world. One term for this is “lane departure crashes” which doesn’t quite live up to the intensity of the trauma being run off the road(link is external) brings on. If you or a loved one has been run off the road in Bellingham or Whatcom County, you are likely facing extensive damages and are looking ahead at a lengthy process of recovery. Click to learn more.
Before you settle your insurance claim, make sure you're not derailing your chances by not breaking this rule
It's called the Hamilton Rule, and if you don't factor it into your uninsured/underinsured motorist protection policy negotiations, you might put at risk getting any money from your claim. Click to read more by personal injury lawyer Bill Coats in Bellingham, Washington, and watch a video on the Hamilton Rule.
The most important thing you'll need to prove wage loss for your accident claim
If an accident victim's injuries are serious, it will be impossible to go back to work for awhile. Many people in this situation need to file an insurance claim to cover wage loss, and have many questions about this process. Click here for information on what you need to do to show lost wages for your accident injury claim.
An often-overlooked key to winning settlements in personal injury cases
Negotiation, strategy, experience and skill - all of these qualities make a personal injury claim reach a successful verdict or settlement. But here is one key aspect that can easily be overlooked by personal injury attorneys working with injured people. Bill Coats Law, of Bellingham, Washington, is the top car accident law firm in the fourth corner and writes on this basic human quality that wins cases.
The challenges of proving future wage loss to the at-fault driver's insurer
Negotiating with an insurance company about wage loss has unique challenges. I created this video to talk about wage loss, future wage loss, and what you will need to do to prove it.
Being ejected from a vehicle in a crash may change your working life forever after
If you've been in a collision where you were ejected from the vehicle, it's very likely that you're dealing with some severe injuries. Sometimes those injuries prevent accident victims from going back to the same job they used to have. This doesn't mean you are fated to settle for a lower paying job for the rest of your working life. Click here for an article and video about wage loss, future wage loss, and your options.
If your auto accident left you paralyzed, you may be entitled to compensation for future wage loss
Paralysis is a devastating consequence from an auto accident, one of the worst imaginable. Life will be different forever after, and many victims may have to leave a job and be re-trained for another kind that accommodate such a disability, though that may mean less pay. If so, there is a way to be compensated for that wage gap, and it's known as "future wage loss" in personal injury lawyer terms. Click to learn more about what to do if you're facing future wage loss due to paralysis.
Lost wages is one thing, but what if an accident victim can no longer keep up with household chores?
It's easy to take health for granted, but if you are the victim of a car crash, suddenly a lot of things in life that were easy to do are harder - or impossible - to manage. Everyone automatically wonders about if they'll be able to work at the same job enjoyed before the accident - but what about other tasks? Attorney Bill Coats in Bellingham, Washington, talks about a rather obscure-sounding part of personal injury law where you can get money for yard work and other chores. Click here to learn about substitute domestic services in personal injury claims.