Annually in the United States a motor vehicle accident occurs every 10 seconds. This adds up to thousands annually of traffic accidents that occur in America. When the vehicle sustains damage during the crash, the end result is one that has diminished value. What does this 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 involves the difference between the resale value of the vehicle what was worth before simply because it was involved in an accident.

2. Inherent diminished value: this applie to the loss of market vehicle this refers of the car due to the accident. With diminished value this is the most widely recognized type.

3. Repair related diminished value: this involves the depreciated value of the vehicle because of either repairs that were done improperly or repairs that are incomplete or just not fixed. This diminished value is determined by looking at the overall quality of the repairs performed on the vehicle.

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.

Several factors determine how diminished value is calculated including the condition of the vehicle before the accident, the vehicle’s age, the undamaged value, the mileage of the vehicle, and whether or not there were previous accidents.

It can be difficult to pursue a diminished value claims by yourself. A personal injury attorney with significant experience can help dramatically in getting you the money you deserve for diminished value. Make sure to get in touch with a personal injury attorney prior to the statute of limitations expiring in your state.

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When deaths are involved, large truck accident factors are very different from cars. It has been shown that over 16% of car accident fatalities result from drug or alcohol influence, according to data produced from the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration. In contrast, alcohol or drugs are responsible for truck accident deaths only 1.4% of the time.

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.

At a 19% incidence, speeding is the number 1 fatal factor in car accidents. It also represents the number one factor in fatal trucking accidents at 7%. It takes a lot longer to stop a truck while speeding than an auto given they are traveling at the same speed. The reason is because of the weight and size, so a considerably larger space cushion is needed to avoid an accident in a difficult 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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In the classification of commercial motor vehicles (CMV’s), trucks range from very large oversized trucks all the way down to small straight trucks. In order to drive these CMV’s, people in the US must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive trucks over 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 1st and foremost safety trip for drivers of trucks a satisfactory it is to maintain space cushion in all directions. Also be certain to keep tabs on the heights above the vehicle such as overpasses along with the road surface itself. (e.g. potholes, speed bumps, road hazards). Along with this, making sure enough forward and rear space is available for stopping is vital along with turning radiuses will enhance safety.

Taking a look at travel conditions (traffic, weather) prior to a trucking trip will lead to safer driving. This may allow one to avoid potential accidents and inclement weather areas. Along with this, increased traffic may lead to impatient drivers and bad decisions which may lead to an accident.

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 maintained, the truck tires can keep traction during a needed stop. Driving on hilly or mountain areas, at night, on curvy roads, or during rain can make stopping tough. Total stopping distance is equivalent to the sum or perception distance, reaction distance, brake lag distance, and effective braking distance. Weather that is adverse will lengthen the total stopping distance necessary.

Unlike a typical auto driver, those in a truck need to look much farther down the road because of the neede stopping distances. It is also not a good idea to rely on just GPS since it does not take into account bridge or overapss clearance. If the GPS says it is the shortest route, the top of the truck may be gone during the trip 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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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.

In 2010 over 500,000 commercial vehicles and large trucks were involved in crashes. Over 100,000 individuals sustained serious injuries in these crashes, with over 5000 people dying as a result of the accident. These numbers will probably continue to rise as over 20% more trucks are expected to be on the roads within the next 2 years.

Here are 3 reasons for contacting a truck accident attorney:

A truck driver ran you off the road and your car is damaged. If the driver has insurance, the company may accept liability and pay directly for your expenses. However, if the company balks at paying or if the driver has no insurance, you should contact an attorney to assist with a lawsuit.

If your vehicle was hit by a truck and you are injured, this may range from muscle or ligament sprain/strain to a serious broken bone or worse. You could be at risk of losing your job and/or lose the ability to work in your chosen profession. It would be wise to locate an experienced truck accident lawyer as you will probably want to sue even if insurance is 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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