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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.

You've got questions. We've got answers.

After an automobile accident, it's natural to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what happens next. Bill Coats Law, in Bellingham Washington, has put together a YouTube Channel to answer some common question in hopes to help accident victims start on the right path to full financial recovery. Click here to get the answers you need.

Studies show those who hire a lawyer recover 3.5 times more money on average than those who do not

If you've been injured in an accident, you might be wondering if it's worth it to hire an attorney. How do you know? The headline of this story alone will tell you that sometimes it makes sense to hire one. One of the reasons lawyers can get their clients so much more money for a claim is that insurance company negotiators often don't look at all the factors that your attorney will. Accounting for things like future wage loss and medical bills usually aren't volunteered by insurers, no matter how much of a "good neighbor" they might seem. Click the link for more tips and answers to frequently asked questions to help you decide to hire a personal injury attorney for your accident claim.

 

Uninsured motorist coverage and wrongful death claims

It can be yet another devastating blow to learn that the person who killed someone you love in a car accident doesn't have a high enough policy to cover the wages your family will lose. But don't despair. There is a way to seek these damages. Click to learn more about uninsured motorist coverage in wrongful death claims

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.

Why do auto insurance rates rise after an accident?

Insurance companies are risk averse and in the business of making money. These are old companies in it for the long run. They have shareholders to consider, and have to pay out major claims if their covered drivers are found to be at-fault. If you file a claim, you likely have found that your premiums increased. You're not alone. Considering that the rates tend to stay high for about three years after each claim is filed, those rate hikes pretty much pay for the damages you’ve been paying your insurance premiums to cover. It’s almost like the car insurance company is giving you a loan to cover your accident losses that you pay them back for over the years. For more information on why car insurance premiums increase after a claim, click here.

FARS Encyclopedia

The Summary page for the FARS Web Encyclopedia is the first thing that visitors will see when visiting this site. This page contains a random statistic drawn from the Traffic Safety Facts published each year by the DOT, a table listing the traffic fatality statistics from this day last year. The left-hand column on the home page contains a random factoid sample from the "Did You Know?" archives. The "Did You Know?" archives contain interesting and relevant statistics drawn from the Traffic Safety Facts, a compilation of motor vehicle crash data collected by the FARS program. These compilations are published every year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The first thing accident victims need to do when the other driver doesn't have insurance

We take to the roads throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County trusting that other drivers will have insurance. But that’s not always the case. You can well imagine the protocol as it’s supposed to happen after an accident: get medical attention for any injuries, file a police report, and exchange insurance information with other motorists involved. What happens if that last step can’t be followed because the driver has no insurance, or a policy that simply doesn’t cover all of the damages that occurred? So quickly, an already a stressful time just became even more worrisome. Click to learn more on what to do if the driver who hits you has no insurance.

Don’t be Afraid to File Claims against Uninsured Drivers

Many insured drivers, when involved in a personal injury accident with an uninsured party, are afraid to file a claim for fear of increased insurance premiums or rates. Luckily, under Tennessee law, this cannot happen. Learn more about these claims here...

Bicyclists who are hit by a hit and run driver still have options for financial recovery

A hit and run accident that happens to a bicycle rider is unconscionable. In most accidents between a car and a bike, the bicyclist is the one with the far greater injuries. On a bicycle, you are much more vulnerable to impact than in a car, even at relatively low speeds. If the driver takes off, added to the pain of the injuries is the frustration and anger at that terrible response. Even if the driver who hit you while you were on bicycle is never found, you have options for recovery. Click to learn what they are.