Teen Drivers And Auto Crashes, The Risk Is Real.

Are You Ready for Back to School?

After a hopefully long summer of enjoying time with family, vacations, and beautiful weather, at the end of August most of North Carolina and South Carolina gears up for the dreaded back to school routine.  If you have children, you are going to be back to getting them to school, to their after school activities, and yourself to work.   Even if you don’t have children, you are going to be dealing with extra traffic on the road as thousands and thousands of people are adjusting to new routines both during rush hour and the afternoon commute home.

So do yourself a favor, and leave earlier than normal to ensure that you will not be hurrying and possibly making a bad judgment call that results in you being responsible for an automobile accident.  Also, be aware of school buses as both North Carolina and South Carolina levy heavy points on your drivers’ license if you pass a stopped school bus with its signal lights flashing and caution arm engaged.  Take note of any school bus stops on your commute route, and make a mental note to proceed with extra caution when passing them as they will be filled with children of all ages who may not be paying attention to where they are standing, and what they are doing.

Don’t forget that joining you on the road will be thousands of new, inexperienced drivers who either just got their learners’ permits and are driving with their parents or guardians supervising them, or those teens that just got their drivers’ licenses, and are on the road for the first time all by themselves.  Young drivers can be impulsive, make poor judgments, or simply freeze, or panic when an unexpected traffic circumstance occurs.  It is best to be alert and patient all at the same time.  For example, if you see an obviously teen driver trying to merge into your lane, wave them in and slow down thus avoiding any potential disaster from the get go.  Things usually settle down a little bit once a month or two has passed, and everyone is used to where they are now going.  So keep it safe out there!  The attorneys of Tippens & Zurosky wish you the best for a happy and prosperous new school year.  

Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in auto accidents in North Carolina and South Carolina for nearly twenty years.  Let us answer any of your questions regarding any automobile accident.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a free consultation so that we may assist you.  

Do I Need To Talk To An Attorney About My Car Accident?

Signing Can Be Hazardous to Your Case

When you are in an automobile accident and the liability insurance company has accepted responsibility, it is easy to think that they will do “the right thing” and it is perfectly harmless to sign any documents that they send you.  Often, you will speak with a friendly and seemingly helpful insurance adjuster that assures you that the liability insurance company will take care of everything, and that they are just going to put some documents in the mail for you to sign to move your case forward.  But, be warned—signing can be hazardous to your case!

Routinely liability insurance companies will send out for your signature open ended medical authorizations that let them acquire your entire medical history, including past or present treatment that has nothing to do with your case, past or present treatment that might be highly personal in nature, or past or present treatment that could be used by the liability insurance company as a reason for why they are paying you very little or nothing at all.

Another document that people who are injured in an automobile accident sign without really knowing the consequences of what they are signing is called a scheduled release. This document is often explained as a way the liability insurance company is paying your medical bills, but in actuality it acts to only pay your medical treatment to a certain threshold amount, and compensates you with a very minimal number for your pain and suffering.

Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in auto accidents in North Carolina and South Carolina for nearly twenty years.  Let us answer any of your questions regarding your automobile accident before you sign your name to any document the liability insurance company sends you.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you.  

What Does Fair Market Value Mean In A Car Accident?

When someone is in an automobile accident in North Carolina or South Carolina and their vehicle is deemed a total loss, questions arise as to what the liability insurance company has to pay.  Common misconceptions are that the liability insurance company has to find and purchase you a new car, or pay off the loan of your totaled vehicle.  Neither one of these things are true.

The liability insurance company has to pay the fair market value of your vehicle, which can be simply explained as the price you could have sold the vehicle for right before the accident happened.  Because automobile loans are typically front loaded with interest, if your car has been recently purchased there is often a gap between the value of the car and the amount of your car loan.  The best way to protect yourself is to purchase “GAP” coverage when you buy your car, which will play off the difference between what the liability insurance company pays the bank or lien holder where you financed the car and the car loan itself.

The attorneys at Tippens& Zurosky have represented people involved in auto accidents in North Carolina and South Carolina for nearly twenty years.  Let us answer any of your questions regarding your automobile accident.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you.