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Ace Tow Truck Insights

Information on and insights into issues that we run into in the course of working with motorists and the public at large. Ace in the Hole Towing is fortunate to have lots friends in businesses that rub up against the towing business, and they often share important information with us. So, we try and bring some of that to our customers here.

What Not to do After a car accident

From Attorney Jeff Ricard

I have represented hundreds of individuals who were in car accidents and I have seen how the legal process plays out. There are at least three things you should avoid saying:

"It was my fault."
Do not accept or admit fault at the scene of a car accident. When it comes to sorting out fault for an accident, leave it to the police, the insurance companies and your car accident attorneys.

"I'm sorry."
Apologizing at the scene of an accident can create legal headaches later. Drivers involved in a crash can impulsively offer an apology more as a courtesy or a way to relieve tension than anything else. Sadly, the reality is an apology may later be construed as evidence of fault. Avoid the words, "I'm sorry."

"I'm okay."
While it is understandable to want. to assure others that you are okay, such a a statement can or will be used by an insurance company or defense attorney later to minimize or question any injury claim you may make. Bottom line: do not say you are "okay"if there is any chance you are not.

Check the weather Report before getting on the road

From Ace in the Hole Towing

When the calendar turns to the Fall season, it's time to pay attention to the weather and make sure your vehicle is in good shape to handle any inclement weather you might encounter. As often as not, when one of our tow truck drivers responds to a roadside assistance call in bad weather, the cause is either the customer's vehicle was not ready to handle bad weather, or the customer was stuck because another driver was not prepared for the bad weather.

With that in mind, here are five things to do before you head out on a roadtrip in bad weather months:

1) Check on the weather before you leave. Know what you are getting into, and make sure you and all your passengers are dressed in clothing that is warm enough to allow you to exit the vehicle, if necessary

2) Check your tires. Are they isn good shape and properly inflated? If you might encounter snow, do you have four wheel/all wheel drive with mud and snow rated tires? If not, do you have a good set of tire chains? Note: in some cases you may need chains even if you have four wheel/all wheel drive.

3) Check your washer fluid level and your windshield wipers. You need to be able to see clearly when other vehicles kick up up water and dirt onto your windshield.

4) Start with a full tank of gas. If there is a problem on the road, you may need to run your engine to stay warm while the problem holding up traffic is resolved.

5) Be sure your cell phone is fully charged. Additionally, it's a good idea to take along a remote battery charger just in case you are stuck for an extended period.

Now, go enjoy your travels and remember, if you run into any problems just give us a call.

about uninsured/under insured insurance coverage

From Jeff Rickard

Part 1 of a three part series on Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance (UM/UIM)Coverage.

Under California law, it is mandatory for every driver to purchase and maintain liability insurance coverage. If a driver causes a car accident, his or her insurance company will work to settle any injury claim made. If not settled the claim will go through legal channels. When the claim is finally settled, the insurance company will pay for the damage caused, but only up to the stated limits of the at fault drivers coverage.

This is where it gets scary. California only requires the following minimum coverage:
$15,000 per person for injury/death
$30,000 per collision for injury/death
$5,000 in property damage

These limits don't provide adequate coverage in most cases if the accident involves injuries, and given that one in six drivers in California have no insurance at all, it's wise to look for a solution to protect you and your family. Your insurance carrier can offer an optional coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. It's generally affordable to add this coverage, sometimes called UM/UIM coverage, to make sure there is adequate coverage to pay for medical and collision repair cost in the event of a serious accident.

Contact your insurance carrier to get information on UM/UIM coverage options and costs.

More on Uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage

From Jeff Rickard

Part 2 of a three part series on Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance (UM/UIM) Coverage.

The benefits of UN/UIM coverage go beyond covering you and your family when you are involved in a collision with an uninsured driver while driving your vehicle. It also covers your family when you are pedestrians, when you or one of your children is a passenger in a friend's car or your child is on a school outing, and when one of your children is struck by an uninsured driver while riding a bike.

The above are examples of when UM/UIM coverage will likely be your best, and often your only recourse collecting for damages when the at fault driver has little or no insurance. The peace of mind likely provided by adding robust UM/UIM coverage to your auto insurance coverage will grow, the more you learn about the situations it covers. In short, buy as much UM/UIM coverage as you can afford to protect you, your family and, in some situations, your friends.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Jeff Rickard is a Personal Injury attorney working with the law firm of Habbas & Associates out of his Rocklin office. Jeff has been practicing law in California for over 30 years, handling personal injury cases including wrongful death, catastrophic injury, motor vehicle, medical malpractice, dog bite, premises liability and product liability and just about any kind of claim related to personal injury. Much of Jeff's work is related to automobile, motorcycle and tractor trailer accidents, which is why we asked him to weigh in on vehicle related issues when he has something interesting to share. To see Jeff's full resume, click here.