Each year in the states an auto accident occurs every 10 seconds. This adds up to many thousands of traffic accidents annually in the United States. When a car experiences damage from a crash, the end result is a vehicle that has diminished value. What does this term mean?

Diminished value refers to an automobile having been an accident and suffering either physical damage, structural damage, or cosmetic damage. Even if that vehicle is fixed back to like new condition and it looks and drives no different than it was before the accident it still will not be worth as much as it was before the crash. The difference between what it was worth before the accident and fully fixed after the accident is due to diminished value.

If you doubt that diminish value actually exists try and sell your vehicle after an accident and see what happens. Most states require full disclosure of all accidents that occur to a vehicle. Most buyers want a vehicle that has never been in an accident and if it has it will receive less money simply due to the fact it was in one.

There are 3 main types of diminished value that apply to claims. These consist of the following:

1. Immediate diminished value: this refers to the resale value difference of the vehicle compared to what it was worth before the accident simply because it was involved in a crash.

2. Inherent diminished value: this refers to the loss of the market value of the automobile due to the accident. This is the most recognized and accepted form of diminished value.

3. Repair related diminished value: this refers to the depreciated amount of vehicle due to either improper repairs or those that are incomplete, poor quality repairs, or simply having items that were left unfixed. This diminished value is determined by the overall quality of the repairs or lack thereof.

Nearly all states allow people to file a diminished value claim after an auto accident that was not their fault. Also those who carry uninsured motorist coverage may be able to file this claim under their own policy as well. The 2 types of diminished value insurance claims include first party or third-party insurance claims. First party means that the individual damaged his or her own car and has her own insurance company paying the claim. This coverage depends on what is either included or excluded in the policy. Third-party insurance claims are when the other party was at fault and hence the other insurance company pays the claim. Pretty much all state courts support claims for diminished value.

Numerous factors come into play when looking at a diminished value calculation including the age of the vehicle, the mileage of the vehicle, the undamaged value, the condition of the vehicle before the accident, and whether or not there were previous accidents.

It can be tough to go after a diminished value claims on your own. An experienced personal injury attorney who has experience in diminished value can help you get the money you deserve. Make sure to reach out and hire one prior to the statute of limitations expiring in your state.

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The factors involved in large truck accidents differ significantly from cars when fatalities are involved. In data compiled from the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration, it has been shown that over 16% of car accident fatalities are the result of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In contrast, only 1.4% of truck accident fatalities are the result of drugs or alcohol.

This is most likely a result of the fact that truck driving is more of a professional activity, with drug testing being prevalent and preventative, whereas with autos a lot of accidents result from a night of imbibing. Trucking is more of an employment activity, and most people who are involved take it seriously, which means not working while drinking.

Speeding is the number one fatal factor in automobile accidents, at approximately 19%. It is also the number one factor in trucking accident fatalities, at 7%. It takes considerably longer to stop a truck when speeding than a car at the same speed. The reason is due to size and weight, so a substantially larger cushion is necessary to avoid an accident in an adverse driving situation.

The 2nd and 3rd most common truck accident death factor is staying in the proper lane along with inattentiveness. This may be the result of falling asleep while driving or texting, reading, talking on the phone, working a mobile device, or applying makeup. This combines for a 12% incidence of trucking accident deaths because of inattentiveness or inappropriately switching lanes. Car accidents differ here with over 16% being the cause of death.

Reasons 4 and 5 for trucking are failure to yield right of way and failure to obey traffic signs. This causes over over 5% of trucking deaths and 11% of car fatalities. Drivers may be in a hurry and try to beat another vehicle through a yield sign, or just disregard appropriate caution signs on the highway.

The premise here is that besides alcohol and drugs being more prominent with auto accidents, the reasons for fatal accidents are the same. They are just in varying percentages. After all, people are people. One take away from this is that preventive safety measures for truck and auto safety overlap substantially. Initiatives for decreasing fatalities can therefore serve a dual function.

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When a truck crashes into a smaller vehicle, and let’s face it most vehicles are smaller than trucks, it is not a pretty sight usually. The smaller vehicle often tries to jump into the lane where the truck is without realizing how close they are to the truck, or maybe they do not signal and end up in an accident. Or it may simply be the truck driver’s fault. If that’s the case, a truck accident lawyer should be contacted.

Larger trucks are typically more commonly involved in fatal multiple vehicle accidents than passenger automobiles. The top 5 states for deadly truck crashes include Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania, Georgia, and California.

Over half 1 million large trucks and commercial vehicles ended up in accidents in 2010. In these crashes, over 100,000 people sustained serious injuries, with over 5008 cal resulting. These numbers will most likely continue to elevate as over 20% more trucks are expected to hit the roadways within the next couple of years.

Here are a few reasons for getting in touch with a truck accident attorney:

The driver of a truck ran you off the roadway and your automobile is damaged. If the truck driver maintains insurance, the truck driving company may accept liability and pay for your expenses directly. However, if the trucking company will not pay you or if the truck driver has no insurance, you should definitely contact an attorney to assist.

If your vehicle was damaged by a truck and you have sustained injuries, this could be anything from a ligament or a muscle injury the possibly something more serious such as a broken bone or internal injuries. You may be at risk of getting fired from your job or losing the ability to work in your profession. It would be in your best interest to find a truck accident attorney who is experienced as you may need to file a personal injury claim even with insurance being involved.

Are you involved in a lawsuit between a truck driver and yourself in an accident that was not your fault? This could turn into a “he said she said” situation. An attorney can help you tremendously in this situation as there may be a need to notify insurance companies, contact police officers, contact witnesses, with a personal injury attorney helping you out it might make this easier. The best weapon on your side is innocence, and a lawyer can help you present that in the best way possible.

Hopefully this problem will never become your reality, but you should happen you should maintain a low threshold for getting in touch with a truck accident lawyers. Ask your family and friends for recommendations, and then look at references. In in person meeting should be held with the prospective lawyer, and you should not agree to a meeting with a “contract runner.”

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When classifying commercial motor vehicles, trucks range from small straight trucks up to extremely large oversized trucks. In order to drive the use commercial motor vehicles, individuals in America must maintain a commercial drivers license to get behind the wheel of a truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

Components of a commercial drivers license examination consists of both a general knowledge test along with a skills test. The truck driver needs to maintain expertise in backing up, stopping, turning, driving on both city and highway roads, and also weaving through an obstacle course. Commercial drivers licenses come in classes A, B, C, and only the holders of class A licenses can operate the larger trucks.

The primary safety tip for truck driver safety is satisfactory to maintain a space cushion in all dimensions. Also be sure to keep a visual on the height cushion above the vehicle such as tunnels along with the road surface (e.g. speed bumps, road hazards, and potholes). Along with this, be certain to keep enough rear and forward space available for stopping to be certain of turning radiuses for safety.

Looking at traffic and weather conditions prior to a driving trip may lead to safer driving. This can allow the driver to avoid inclement weather areas or a potential accident. Along with this, increased traffic may lead to bad decisions from impatient driving which may lead to an accident putting one’s truck safety at risk.

Another part of pre-tip planning is inspections. Routinely performing maintenance of tires, fluids, axles, etc will prevent potential issues.

Driving at safe speeds can prevent fatalities. After all, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported speeding as the #1 factor in fatal large truck crashes in 2009. It always takes longer to brake a large truck than a car, so the safe driving speed and cushion is extremely important.

If normal speeds are kept, the truck tires will still have the traction needed to stop. Driving during rain, mountain areas, hilly areas, curvy roads, at night, etc can all make stopping difficult. Total stopping distance is equal to the sum or reaction distance, perception distance, effective braking distance, and brake lag distance. Adverse weather will lengthen the distance needed to stop.

Unlike a typical auto driver, those in a truck need to look farther down the road because of needed stopping time. Also it is not a good idea to rely on simply GPS, as it does not take into account overpass or bridge clearance. If the GPS says its the shortest route, the top of the truck may end up being gone if not careful.

When backing up, remember a truck is not a car. There are significant blind spots with a truck while backing up so the acronym G.O.A.L. is important – Get Out And Look. Having plenty of mirrors on a truck on each side can decrease the size of any blind spots. This may mean 3 to 5 on each side.

Adhering to these elevated safety tips may help substantially to prevent trucking accidents.

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