Automobile Accidents

• Teens Collide Head-On with SUV

  Michael Myers | February 17, 2006 10:41 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  On February 7, an Acura Integra heading northbound on Evergreen Way collided head-on into a Toyota Highlander. The intensity of the collision knocked the SUV backward more than 60 feet and caused it to roll over. The driver of the SUV suffered serious injuries. The four teens in the Acura also suffered injuries. Police believe this was a high-speed collision, but have not yet charged anyone...

• Teens, Alcohol, Crowded Cars Result in Accident Involving 12 Young People

  Michael Myers | February 17, 2006 10:39 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  On February 5 at approximately 2 a.m., a Dodge Ram extended cab struck a Honda Accord. The Dodge Ram contained six people, ranging in age from 22 to 27. The Honda Accord also contained six people, including two 15-year-olds, an 18-year old, two 19-year-olds and the 17-year-old driver. Of the twelve people involved, seven were sent to the hospital. The 19-year-old, who was sitting on the lap...

• Car Crash Kills Teen Driver

  Michael Myers | February 17, 2006 10:20 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  On February 4, a 17-year-old driver from Oak Harbor died while driving southbound on Highway 20. The driver hit a guard rail and spun into an oncoming car. The driver and passenger in the oncoming car suffered non-life-threatening injuries.The majority of people killed in teen driver crashes are people other than the teen driver themselves, according to a recent analysis of 10 years of crash...

• Car Crashes into Queen Anne Condominium Building

  Michael Myers | February 17, 2006 10:19 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA

  On February 4, a car heading North on Aurora Avenue crashed into a Queen Anne condominium building after crossing three lanes of traffic. The driver and passenger in the car suffered serious injuries due to the accident. Both the driver and the government agency responsible for maintaining the roadway may be responsible for any property damage to the condominiums and any injuries suffered. ...

• Drag Racing Car Accident Kills One

  Michael Johnson | February 17, 2006 10:17 AM | 0 CommentsMinneapolis, MN

  A woman was killed earlier this week in what appears to be a drag racing accident in north Minneapolis. Cheresa Sims died when the mini-van she was riding in slammed into a light pole at the intersection of Plymouth and N. James Ave.Sims' boyfriend, Robert Barnes was the driver of the mini-van which was carrying seven passengers. Another passenger was injured in the crash.Barnes fled the scene...

• Why Buy Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

  Andrew Defusco | February 16, 2006 4:43 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  I read an article in the Tucson Weekly recently in which Lanny Hair, executive vice president of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Arizona, estimated that fewer than 20 percent of Arizona motorists are uninsured. If that statistic is accurate, then we should all save money by not purchasing uninsured motorist coverage in our automobile insurance policies, right? WRONG! ! ! Here's...

• "I'd Rather the Kids Drink at My House"

  Ben Glass | February 16, 2006 12:00 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  How many times have you heard some idiot parent say "Oh, well, the kids are going to party anyway, I'd rather them do it at my house. It's safer?" While this particular case, fortunately, did not end up in a drunk driving accident and injury the judge slammed the door shut behind two really irresponsible "parents."The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld a 27-month jail sentence (yes, 27 months! In...

• Insurance Company Says "When Pigs Fly"

  Ben Glass | February 16, 2006 9:50 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Boise personal injury attorney Jeff White has a great post about a $3 million dollar verdict over a big insurance company's refusal to pay valid claims. Some states do a lot to protect policyholders. Virginia, unfortunately, tends to protect the insurance companies from "bad faith" types of lawsuits.

• Scare Tactics Used to Sell Insurance Miss the Point

  Ben Glass | February 16, 2006 9:37 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Here's an article from a local newspaper. It's well intentioned in that insurance of all sorts is important but its often confusing for the consumer. The problem here is that the article resorts to the common scare tactics of "multi million dollar lawsuits are increasing." That's just "noise." The articles misses a very important teaching point.One of the most important insurance policies you...

• Florida Legislature Considering Raising Driver Age Limit

  Joe Saunders | February 16, 2006 9:14 AM | 0 CommentsOrlando, FL

  The Florida Legislature is considering raising the minimum driving age from 16 to 17 years old. Citing the high incidence of crashes for 16 year olds, HB 975 would raise the age one year. Florida became one of the first states to begin placing tougher restrictions on novice drivers when legislators in 1996 passed the "Cinderella bill," establishing phased in licenses that put nighttime...