Personal Injury Archives

5 Car Maintenance Tips to Prevent Car Accidents

June 12, 2019/in Personal Injury /by AggAdmin

Prevent Car Accidents in Colorado Springs

Car accidents happen in Colorado Springs, Colorado for a variety of reasons, but the most prominent reason is human error. If you fail to keep up with maintenance on your car, you put yourself and the people in Colorado at a greater risk of an accident when you end up on the road.

Other factors like distracted driving or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are leading causes of motor vehicle collisions across the United States. There are a handful of things that should be regularly maintained on your vehicle in order to help prevent accidents while driving. Also, if you do sustain a personal injury from a car accident that wasn’t your fault, contact our office today to see how we can help.

The following are the best maintenance tips to help avoid car accidents and personal injury if you live in Colorado spring, Colorado.

1. Always keep an eye out on your tires

If you haven’t checked your tires recently, you should. Badly worn, misaligned or damaged tires is an accident waiting to happen.

The part of a tire that is in contact with the road is called the tread, and this tread wears down over time. When a tire’s tread is completely worn down to the wears bar, you have a bald tire.

Balding tires are known to cause longer stopping times and increased risk of hydroplaning when moisture is present on the road.

Here’s how you can properly maintain your tires:

Ensure you keep your tires properly inflated. Driving on tires not properly inflated can cause it to wear faster and unevenly and can even cause the vehicle to lose control. Also, check the tires’ inflation pressure at least once a month before long trips. Low tire air pressure puts you at higher risk of a tire blowout.
Inspect the tire tread. You can do this by inserting a penny into the tread. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, you have very little tread left and your tires should be replaced.

2. Check your brakes

Along with your tires, brakes are vital to vehicle safety. This is especially true in the wet, icy or snowy weather of Colorado. Worn brake pads can damage rotors, leading to expensive repairs. Fluid and other problems could result in catastrophic brake failure and a potentially deadly accident.

Knowing the key warning signs when brakes require maintenance will go a long way towards keeping you safe and it’ll help avoid car accidents.

Every driver is faced with situations where it is necessary to slam on the brakes. Defective brakes reduce your ability to stop and prevent a collision with another car, property or pedestrian.

Screeching, clicking and grinding brakes are all signs of aging breaks in need of repair or replacement. If you’re hearing these sounds, check brake fluid levels as well as the condition of brake hoses.

3. Engine oil

The oil in your car is not only what fuels your engine but also what protects it from wear-and-tear.

Dirty oil and transmission fluids will cause excess wear on your engine and transmission, leading to potentially costly repairs down the road. Make sure your car is properly lubricated by changing your oil every 3 months.

4. Don’t forget about your battery

A bad battery can leave you stranded, and a faulty electrical system can cause your car to stall or operate incorrectly when driving. The average battery lasts about three and a half years, but in extreme weather conditions, batteries can die much sooner.

Check your battery and battery cables regularly for corrosion or cracks and clean or replace if necessary. This can help avoid car accidents, prevent personal injury and the need for a car accident lawyer or attorney.

5. Working Lights

Hazards, blinkers, and brake lights are especially important for your safety and other vehicles. Other vehicles need to know when you’re turning, braking or stopped somewhere on the road or off to the side.

If you’re not confident in your ability to perform maintenance checks on your vehicle, schedule an appointment with an auto shop or dealer. Safe vehicles can save your life.

If you or someone you love has sustained a personal injury in a car crash in Colorado Springs, Colorado due to poor vehicle maintenance or driver negligence, contact Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden Law Firm and speak to our professional car accident lawyers to discuss your legal rights.

Remember, regular car maintenance ensures maximum car performance, prevents personal injury and helps to avoid car accidents.

4 Common Causes of Car Accidents and How to Avoid Them

June 5, 2019/in Personal Injury /by AggAdmin

How to Avoid a Car Accident

Car accidents are unfortunately quite common in Pueblo, Colorado and the majority of these road crashes are caused by human error. While some are relatively minor, thousands of lives are taken every year by these horrible car crashes. Your life can be at risk if you drive in an unsafe manner, so it’s important to drive carefully and follow all traffic laws.

If you happen to be involved in a car crash caused by the negligence or mistakes of other drivers in Pueblo, Colorado, you should consider seeing a trusted car accident lawyer or attorney and call our office to discuss your case.

The following reasons are the major causes of personal injury car accidents in Pueblo, Colorado.

1. Distracted driving

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking, or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system. Basically, distracted driving is anything and everything that takes away your attention from the road ahead.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. If you’re driving at a speed of let’s say 55 mph, you’ll have driven the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed. You not paying attention for that long is very dangerous.

You can’t drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

How to avoid getting distracted while driving

Fully focus on driving, do not let anything divert your attention. Actively scan the road, use your mirrors and watch out for pedestrian and cyclists
Eat meals or snacks before or after your trip, not while driving. On the road, avoid messy foods that can be difficult to manage.
Put aside any electronic distractions. Don’t use cell phones while driving except in absolute emergencies. Never use text messaging, email functions, video games or the internet with a wireless device, including those built into the vehicle while driving.

If you’re hit by a distracted driver, contact our seasoned car accident attorneys.

2. Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is a major cause of road accidents and it is especially deadly.

Alcohol is a substance that reduces the function of the brain, unpairing thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination. All these abilities are essential to operating a vehicle safely. Drunk driving is deadly and yet, it continues to happen. If you drive while impaired, you can easily be involved in a car crash that causes serious personal injury or death.

How to avoid drunk driving

Plan your safe ride home before you start the party, choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver
If someone you know as been drinking, do not let the person get behind the wheel
If you drink, do not drive for any reason, call a taxi, ride-sharing service or a sober friend

Being a responsible driver is simple: if you’re drinking, do not drive.

If you have been hit by a drunk driver, it is important that you seek legal representation immediately to ensure your rights are protected and you get the maximum compensation you deserve. Call our office today to schedule a free, no obligation consultation. You don’t pay us anything until we recovery money for you!

3. Speeding

For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. Speeding not only endangers the life of the driver but the lives of all the people on the road around them. Speeding is a form of aggressive driving behavior and several factors contribute to a rise in aggressive driving.

Traffic

Traffic congestion is one of the contributing factors to speeding.

Running late

Most people speed because they have too much to do and they are running late, either for work, school, their next meeting, lesson, soccer game or other appointments

Anonymity

A motor vehicle separates the driver from the world. Shielded from the outside environment, a driver can develop a sense of detachment, as if an observer of their surroundings, rather than a participant.

This can lead to some people feeling less constrained in their behavior when they cannot be seen by others and/or when it is unlikely they will ever again be seen by those who witness their behaviors.

4. Night Driving

Lack of visibility makes hazards more difficult to see at night. Make sure that you’re extra alert on the road at night in Pueblo, Colorado and use your full lights when on an abandoned road without street lights.

If you’re ever involved in a car accident in Pueblo, CO get in touch with our a car accident attorneys to understand your legal rights and how to best deal with these serious accidents. Contact AGG Law Firm at 720-487-1050.

Has your Automobile Been Damaged in an Accident?

November 1, 2018/in Personal Injury /by AggAdmin

Being involved in an auto accident can lead to many issues few are equipped to deal with. To name a few, the trauma of the experience, the potential medical issues that can last for months or even years, and of course, the damage your vehicle suffers. A damaged vehicle is no small issue for individuals who rely on their vehicle to get to work every day, or who use it for work. Although property damage insurance covers the costs associated with damage to your vehicle, the amount of coverage you’ll receive to repair or replace your vehicle depends on the automobile policy you have.

What you should do immediately following a car accident

Immediately following the accident, contact the police to report the accident and wait for them to arrive at the scene. Once the police arrive, they will take your statement, the other driver’s statement (if present), and any witnesses that were present during the accident. All this information will go into the police report that the attending officer will file. If the other party is still present at the scene, make sure to exchange contact and insurance information with them. If there is a witness that is willing to make a statement in your favor, take their contact information as well.

Second, document all evidence at the scene of the accident. This includes taking multiples picture of the damage to both vehicles from various angles, taking pictures of the stop lights or traffic signs, and pictures of the intersection. This type of documentation is extremely important, as it may be used in the future to prove fault to the insurance company or in the event the case is not settled, it can be used in court.

After the accident, you should expect to hear from the other driver’s insurance company. It is important to consult the experienced personal injury attorneys at Alhasoon, Glidden, and Glidden as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Demand Fair Compensation!

In Colorado, victims who are injured in an automobile accident can recover damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If this is the case, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company for compensation to repair the damage to your vehicle. Because Colorado drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance to cover physical injuries and property damage, you should make a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company for compensation.

If the other driver does not have insurance coverage and was at fault, then you may still recover from your insurance company for your bodily injuries if you have an uninsured motorist policy coverage. As an alternative, you can also take the driver to court to seek compensation for damages. If you have collision coverage and you were at fault, your insurance company should cover your vehicle damage, regardless of fault.

In Colorado, each driver is required to purchase an insurance policy with a minimum of $15,000 for damage coverage. Many drivers opt to purchase a higher policy limit as it provides huge benefits in the event of an accident.

Get the Care and Attention You Deserve!

Our attorneys have years of experience representing clients in a variety of personal injury and property damage cases and understand the severity and challenges you may be facing. You deserve to be compensated and made whole after an accident, contact the attorneys at the Denver-based firm of Alhasoon, Glidden and Glidden to help you fight to recover every dollar you are owed.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Why You Need Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

October 10, 2018/in Personal Injury /by AggAdmin

In Colorado, all drivers are required to carry auto insurance by law. However, having auto insurance does not guarantee that you will be compensated for your injuries and damages if you are involved in an auto accident, especially if the other driver is an uninsured or underinsured motorist. On January 1, 2018, Colorado adopted new laws regarding uninsured and underinsured insurance policies. The following describes what you should know about the Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage portion of your insurance policy.

What is Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

UM/UIM coverage is a supplemental insurance policy that kicks in when you are involved in an auto accident with someone who does not have insurance coverage, or who has insufficient auto insurance to cover any medical bills or costs of the accident. If the other driver is at-fault for the accident, your insurance company will step in and cover any medical or accident-related expenses that the driver at-fault is unable to cover.

UM/UIM coverage is offered in addition to your primary automobile insurance policy and is not a stand-alone policy. In Colorado, insurance companies are required to provide UM/UIM coverage that equals the limits of your bodily injury liability policy. For example, if your bodily injury liability coverage is $250,000.00, then your UM/UIM will also cover $250,000.00.

Another great advantage of UM/UIM coverage is that such policy covers injuries even if you are a pedestrian, cyclist, or passenger in another vehicle, and the at-fault party does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your expenses resulting from the accident.

So What’s Changed Since 2008?

The first change to the law is that “setoff” by your insurance company is no longer allowed. Let’s say your injuries and damages total $250,000.00. If your UM/UIM policy covers $200,000, and the underinsured motorist’s insurance only pays up to $50,000.00, then the total compensation of your policy and the other driver’s policy is the combination of both policies, or $250,000.00. The insurance company can no longer setoff the underinsured motorists sum from your policy coverage.

The second change to the law is that you are allowed to purchase more than one policy per household, and “stack” the policies to cover your damages. For example, if you own three insurance policies with UM/UIM coverage of $100,000.00 each, Colorado law will allow you to apply up to $300,000.00 of your UM/UIM coverage towards the expenses resulting from the accident.

How Long Do I Have to File a UM/UIM Claim?

In Colorado, an injured party has three years from the date of the injury to file an UM/UIM claim with their insurance company. If the injured party receives a payment for any of their injuries within three years, the injured party is granted an additional two years to file a claim for underinsured coverage with their insurance company, to cover any additional expenses the injured party may incur in the future as a result of the accident. Any injured party should ensure that underinsured claims are filed before the three years expire to be certain they will receive compensation for their claims.

Contact us if your claim has been denied

If you don’t have UM/UIM you should certainly consider adding it to your policy, as it can provide significant monetary coverage in the event of an accident.

If you have been injured in an automobile, truck, pedestrian/auto, or bicycle accident, contact the experienced Denver attorneys at Alhasoon, Glidden and Glidden for a free consultation to evaluate your case.

Why You Should Know What Med Pay Is and Why It Matters

October 10, 2018/in Personal Injury /by AggAdmin

If you’ve never heard of “med pay” in the context of auto insurance, please read carefully, as this supplemental coverage for auto insurance policies provides major benefits if you are ever involved in an auto accident.

Med Pay is short for medical payment coverage and is supplemental insurance coverage that provides a certain level of reimbursement for medical expenses you and any passengers in your vehicle may suffer from because of an auto accident. Med pay provides medical coverage benefits regardless of fault and provides many other additional benefits.

Med pay coverage

Med pay allows you to submit your medical bills under the med pay provisions of your auto insurance policy to be paid directly by your insurance company. Most policies only cover up to $25,000.00 intended to cover immediate medical expenses.

Keep in mind, adding med pay coverage to your existing policy can be as inexpensive as a couple of extra dollars per month and can provide significant benefit if you are injured in an auto accident. Med pay should not be confused with health insurance. Whereas med pay does cover medical bills in most scenarios, health insurance should be your primary insurance policy should you need extensive medical care in connection with an auto accident. It is important to have a health insurance policy for your everyday medical care and not confuse the two types of policies.

Does Med Pay cover multiple vehicles?

No. Med pay is coverage that needs to be purchased for each vehicle. However, med pay does follow the policy holder, so regardless of whether you are involved in an accident as a passenger in another car, you will be covered by your policy. Med pay can also be beneficial for individuals driving for ride-sharing companies, as your med pay coverage can cover your passengers, if and when necessary.

How is Med Pay different than Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?

Med pay and PIP may seem to provide the same coverage, however, they are very distinct policies. Where med pay solely covers medical related expenses, PIP is a more comprehensive policy, and therefore costlier. PIP policies provide coverage for medical expenses, rehabilitative and psychiatric services, as well as documented losses such as lost wages. In “no-fault” states, PIP is mandatory. As of 2003, Colorado is no longer a no-fault state and therefore, PIP coverage is no longer mandatory.

The bottom line

If your auto insurance policy is not already equipped with med pay, consider contacting your auto insurance agent about adding this coverage to your policy. More importantly, if your policy does include med pay, and you’ve recently been injured in an auto accident, contact Alhasoon, Glidden and Glidden top personal injury lawyers in Denver. Request a comprehensive review of your auto coverage and insurance benefits to make sure the insurance companies are paying you what you are owed!