Posts Tagged ‘head on collision’

Will I be covered if involved in an automobile accident while driving someone else’s car?

If the car and owner are uninsured, your policy would apply as long as you had permission to be driving the car. If the owner of the car has coverage, then your responsibility for injuries and damages to other automobiles and their drivers will generally be covered by the insurance company that insures that car and owner.

Can my son or daughter, covered under my policy drive someone else’s car and still be covered by my policy?

Yes, but the policy associated with that car or vehicle is primary and your coverage may not be involved.  As long as he or she has permission to drive the vehicle then they will be covered by that car’s policy. If there is a discrepancy or issue about permission to drive the car then your coverage would apply.

What should I do if I have an automobile or motorcycle accident?

You should immediately report it to the police and your insurance company, no matter how slight or minor the incident is. Both parties involved should receive from each other the name, addresses, license number, plate number, insurer, date and time of accident and the names and addresses of any witnesses. Make sure to notify your insurance company before you authorize repairs to your car.

If you or anyone you know has been killed or suffered a personal injury in Tennessee, please contact Nashville personal injury attorney Phillip Miller and the Tennessee personal injury attorneys at Phillip Miller and Associates at (615) 356-2000, or contact our office online here.

If you have a question about your coverage, don’t rely on a blog like this, or any other internet site for an answer to a legal question. Every situation is different and this information may not accurately reflect your best choices.

One last thing: If you are hurt and have any questions at all, contact our office at (615) 356-2000. Don’t delay. Cases involving personal injury or death in Tennessee must be acted on quickly. Time is running. Call for an appointment, if it’s bad enough that you need to read this far into a website blog, it’s bad enough to get an attorney involved.

When you are involved in a car wreck in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Dickson, Ashland City,  Brentwood, Franklin or anywhere in Tennessee – it’s your insurance policy that may make the difference in what happens.

All insurance policies are contracts between you and the insurance company. The language of your own policy is generally what controls or represents your rights when you file a claim. There are different types of coverage that your individual policy may provide. They include:

Property Damage- This coverage pays for damage to the property of others. It may include someone else’s car or other property damaged in an accident that is your responsibility.

Collision- Collision coverage pays for damage to your car caused by collision (less any deductible). If you have a new car, or an expensive car, collision coverage may be a major part of your insurance cost.

Comprehensive- Comprehensive coverage pays for losses due to theft, fire, vandalism and glass breakage.

Uninsured/Underinsured- This coverage will reimburse you for your losses if someone at fault has no insurance or has less insurance than needed to make you whole.

Bodily Injury Liability- This pays others for losses from an accident that is your fault. This is the most expensive and necessary coverage on most policies.

Medical Payments- This coverage pays for medical expenses you or your family incur as a result of an auto accident. It also covers passengers in any automobile you may be driving, regardless of fault.

Early this past Thursday morning, two people’s lives were cut short in a two vehicle crash in Macon County. The crash was apparently caused by an 18 year old man when he lost control and crossed the center lines, and slammed his Honda into a Camry head on.

It is thought that the 18 year old fell asleep at the wheel. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts, but that obviously wasn’t enough. Officials say they do not believe that drugs or alcohol was a factor in this accident. Our deepest sympaties go out to the family of these two young people. This accident is one of many that could be avoided. Too many drivers are driving while they are too tired to effectively opperate a vehicle. Which, in turn, almost always causes an accident.

To learn more about driving when tired, and preventing accidents, click here.

To read on about more avoidable accidents, go here.

1-800-377-HURT (4878)

www.seriousinjury.com

Car accidents that are head on create a different risk for those involved. A  7 year study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that despite the use of airbags and seat belts, deaths from head on or frontal collisions continue. Head-on crashes have always been very dangerous collisions, but the presence of airbags was expected to almost eliminate the risk of death from these kind of car accidents. The study shows that among other things the size of the occupant may determine how effective an airbag and seat belt system will be in preventing death from a head-on or front collision. Too big or too small and the airbag may not protect you. If the angle of impact is not completely head-on the airbag may not protect you. If the impact is very severe, the airbag may not protect you. Will this study bring about changes in airbag design? Unlikely in my opinion – at least anytime soon, the American auto industry has too much going on and safety improvements are unlikely to be part of their agenda (profits will be). The lesson is for drivers everywhere to not put too much faith in the “safety technology” in their cars. A front end collision in Nashville or anywhere else can result in serious injury even in a car with all the latest safety equipment. To review this study and other information about your rights go to our website, or click here for the details of this NHTSA study.