November 19, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ --
Protecting Yourself from Deer-Car Collisions in West Virginia
Article provided by Akers Law Offices, PLLC
Visit us at
www.akerslawoffices.com
Wildlife and Dangerous Road Conditions
Deer present one of the most dangerous road conditions for drivers on West Virginia's winding roadways. According to a report from Fox News, drivers have a 1 in 39 chance of hitting a deer over the course of a year in the state, making West Virginia the riskiest state in the country for car-deer collisions.
The majority of car-deer collisions happen during three months of the year - October through December. The most recent statistics published by the West Virginia Department of Transportation place nearly 45% of the 2000+ deer accidents in the state during these months. A number of factors make this the most deadly time of year, including the intersection of mating season and deer hunting season.
There are steps that drivers can take to reduce their chances of being involved in an accident with a deer, including:
-Lower your speed at night, especially in heavily wooded areas or areas with deer warning signs. Remember, however, deer may be active at all hours
-Use your high beams whenever possible
-If you see one deer there are likely to be more so slow down or stop in a controlled fashion
-Try to maintain control in an emergency; do not swerve if possible
-Limit distractions and stay on alert
Protect Yourself with Proper Insurance Coverage
Having the proper coverages in their automobile insurance policy is one of the most important steps drivers can take to protect themselves from the potential financial loss caused by a deer accident. State Farm estimates that deer-car collisions cost an average of $3050 per accident while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates deer crashes cost over $1 billion total in vehicle damages each year.
Consider buying more coverage than the state minimum. Many people believe that because they have "full coverage" insurance that this means the same as having the most available coverage. But this is not true. For the majority of drivers with full coverage, this simply means that they have insurance coverage that meets the state minimum requirements, which may not be enough to cover all of the losses caused by a deer or other type of accident. Policyholders always have the option of purchasing greater coverages than the state minimums and should consider doing this whenever possible.
For example, in West Virginia the minimum coverage requirement is $20,000 for bodily injury for each person injured per accident; $40,000 maximum for bodily injury per accident; and $10,000 property damage liability, or 20/40/10 coverage. However, the Insurance Information Institute suggests that car owners carry a minimum of 100/300 coverage, or $100,000 bodily injury for each injured person with a $300,000 maximum for each accident.
If someone has been involved in a car accident, whether with a deer or not, and has been seriously injured, his or her medical bills easily could reach the minimum limits, especially if more than one person was injured in the accident and claiming benefits under the same policy.
Collision coverage is not enough. It is important to note that collision coverage generally does not cover any damages or losses caused by hitting a deer. The driver must carry comprehensive coverage, which many drivers drop or do not purchase if their vehicle is older or has a low value.
Do not forgo UM/UIM coverage. West Virginia law requires insurance providers to offer policyholders uninsured motorist insurance, or UM coverage. This type of insurance pays for the policyholder's losses up to policy limits, including property damage, lost wages and medical bills, if they are involved in a hit-and-run or accident caused by an uninsured driver. With an estimated 10-20% of drivers on the road without insurance, UM coverage is not something any driver can afford not to have. State law requires drivers to carry at least 20/40/10 uninsured motorist coverage, but policyholders can purchase up to 100/300/50 or sometimes more.
Additionally, the law also requires insurance companies to offer policyholders the option of purchasing UIM, or underinsured motorist coverage. If a driver is in an accident caused by another driver who does not have enough insurance to pay for all of their losses, like medical expenses, then the driver can seek payment under his or her own UIM policy for the amounts not covered up to the policy limits. Currently, West Virginia does not require drivers to carry underinsured motorist coverage, but it may be added to any auto policy usually for a relatively low cost. We strongly encourage all of our clients to purchase as much UIM coverage as they can afford. If another driver loses control of his car, because of a deer or something else, then you don't want to gamble on him having enough insurance.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Whether you hit a deer or another driver hit you while trying to avoid a collision with a deer, you may be entitled to recover compensation under your own insurance policy or the insurance policy of the other driver. If you are having difficulty receiving payment for the damage to your vehicle, your medical expenses or other losses from the insurance company, an experienced lawyer can help by:
-Negotiating a settlement agreement with your insurance provider
-Negotiating reduced payments to your medical care provider
-Negotiating the payment of claims you may owe others as a result of the accident and your injury
-Pursuing legal action against an insurance company for failing to pay your claim in bad faith
For more information on how an attorney can help you with your car crash claim, contact an experienced lawyer today.
Article provided by Akers Law Offices, PLLC
Visit us at
www.akerslawoffices.com---
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