BAD WEATHER/ BAD DAY – WHAT IF A TREE FALLS ON MY CAR OR IN MY YARD OR BAD WEATHER CAUSES A CAR ACCIDENT
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Bad weather can cause more than a bad hair day or a dirty car. Strong winds, heavy rains and blowing debris can cause trees to fall and roads to become unsafe causing accidents to happen. When conditions are less than ideal, accidents occur. The most common cause of vehicle related accidents due to weather is a loss of traction. When weather conditions become inclement and the roads become wet, muddy and sandy, vehicle traction is reduced and cars have a significantly increased chance of slipping and losing control. The best way to reduce your chance of losing traction on wet roads and in windy weather conditions is to drive slower and more smoothly. Try not to follow cars too closely and avoid jamming on the gas and brakes or making sudden and violent maneuvers with the steering wheel. The best way to think of this is if you had to cross a wet floor or a skating ring in your tennis shoes, you would tread in a slow and controlled manner and very carefully. Use those principles when driving in windy and wet road conditions.
The best option is always to try and stay home in bad weather. Unfortunately, today’s reality just does not allow for that. Work, school activities and responsibilities take us out on the roads in bad weather. When you cannot avoid taking the risk, there is some important information that you should know if you are involved in an accident due to the loss of traction because of wet, muddy, snowy or icy roads in Henderson Nevada or if you are involved in an accident or cause property damage as a result of bad weather due to falling trees or debris as a result of bad weather in Henderson Nevada. I’ll take these topics in two sections.
First what if I lose control of my car due to bad weather
If you find your car starting to skid or lose traction or what we call “hydroplane” on wet roads, don’t panic. Hydroplaning is when a layer of water prevents direct contact between your tires and the road. Take your foot off the gas and look in front of the vehicle. Look where you want to go and gently and carefully steer the vehicle in that direction. Apply very light brake pressure only if it is needed. Once the vehicle is traveling in the direction that you intend to go, you can lightly apply the gas as you regain control. This is a difficult driving situation and your skill will improve with experience. If it is possible, it is best to learn these skills by practicing in a parking lot that is empty and the conditions are controlled. I would recommend having an experienced driver teach you how to recover from a skid. The most important thing to remember in these situations is not to panic and look in front of the vehicle and continue to steer the vehicle where you want to go.
Drivers sometimes have a natural inclination to look at objects they don’t want to hit and steer towards them and end up hitting the objects instead of maintaining their path. If you are able to continue looking where you want to go when you’ve lost control of a moving vehicle, you will be better able to regain control. It is possible to regain control of the vehicle. However, if an accident occurs as a result of bad weather conditions in Henderson Nevada, the most important thing in any accident that occurs for any reason is to make sure that everyone in your vehicle is OK. You should immediately call 911 to reach police and emergency medical personnel after any accident. Regardless of whether or not anyone appears severely injured, emergency personnel should be summoned to the scene. Head injuries or internal injuries often cannot be observed immediately, and medical personnel are trained to detect these life-threatening injuries. It is important not to panic, but to be calm and controlled and assist others. Speak clearly when contacting emergency personnel to give them your location and the information that they need.
People often ask who pays for my damages if I am the only one involved in the accident
If you are the only car involved in the accident, you should call your insurance company as soon as you have arrived at safety and the parties in your vehicle have been treated and are safe. Use your cell phone to take pictures of your vehicle, the roadway and the surrounding areas. You will have to make a claim for the damage to your vehicle on your collision insurance. Unfortunately, you will be responsible for your deductible even though bad weather conditions caused you to lose control of your car. An experienced attorney can help you fully recover your vehicle damage, and often there is coverage available for your injuries. With 8 years experience working for insurance companies, and the past 8 years spent helping victims of accidents recover their property damage and money for their injuries, I can help you if you have an accident as a result of bad weather conditions.
If a Tree Falls on My House or Car, Am I Covered?
Sometimes it takes just one good storm to topple what was once a sturdy tree in your yard or at a business. Once the storm is over, a lawyer can assist you to determine which insurance will help pay for the cost of removing the branches and repairing damage if the tree fell on your home or car.
Whether your homeowners insurance policy includes coverage for fallen trees typically depends on a number of factors, such as what caused the tree to fall and what kind of damage resulted. Which coverage will cover your car will depend on whose tree fell on your vehicle and why.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about trees and insurance.
If the tree was otherwise healthy and toppled due to wind, a typical homeowners insurance policy will likely pay to repair damage to your home or other structure on your property, the Insurance Information Institute (III) says. Be aware of deductibles.
Q: If a tree falls on my own property, will my own homeowner’s policy pay the damages?
A: This question depends on the facts. A homeowner’s insurance policy generally protects your home against stated causes of loss, defined as perils. “Covered perils” are generally inclusive of wind damage. Therefore, the reason that the tree to fell is important. If the tree was in good condition at the time of the storm and fell due to wind, a standard homeowner’s insurance policy will likely cover the damages to your home or other structure on your property, the Insurance Information Institute (III) says.
If the tree was rotting before the accident, the homeowners insurance usually won’t cover the damage because they will claim it is a maintenance issue. If you have sustained a large loss and the insurance company claims it is a maintenance issue, you should call a lawyer before the tree is removed and take a large number of photos of the downed tree including roots.
Q: What if my tree fell on my neighbor’s car?
A: Generally, the owner of the fallen tree is not responsible for the damage unless he negligently maintained the tree. If your tree falls on your neighbor’s vehicle, your neighbor’s vehicle auto insurance should pay the claim if your neighbor carries comprehensive coverage. If your neighbor’s tree falls on your car, your comprehensive coverage applies.
Q: What happens if the tree was on someone else’s property?
A: If you have damage because of someone else’s tree, the Insurance Information Institute (III) states your homeowners insurance will likely cover the damage to covered property.
Q: Am I responsible if my tree falls on my neighbor’s property?
A: You are only responsible if the tree was negligently maintained usually meaning rotting and not previously removed. That would make you a contributing factor to the tree falling down and negligent. Otherwise, your neighbor will have to file a claim through their own insurance.
Q: Does homeowners’ insurance cover removing tree after it has fallen?
A. Usually, only if the tree damaged property. If the tree fell without causing damage to a
structure on your property, insurance won’t likely cover the cost of removing the debris. Insurance Information Institute (III) says.
At the Law Offices of Laura Payne-Hunt, TheOneLawyer, we provide professional and personal service to each and every one of our clients on various legal matters and have over 15 years of experience in reviewing insurance policies and in Nevada insurance law. If you have a question regarding any type of personal injury or paying your medical bills from an accident, please don’t hesitate to call the offices of TheOneLawyer.com and speak directly to attorney Laura Marie Payne-Hunt, Esq. a Henderson Injury Attorney for over 15 years. Laura is recognized as one of Nevada’s Top 100 Lawyers. She has the experience and knowledge to obtain the maximum settlement you deserve. Please call our office if you or a loved one is injured. We can make sure that you receive the care you need and deserve and advise on how to preserve evidence.
At our office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation they are entitled to. Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities. They want to pay as little on every claim as possible. Having worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening my boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I have reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.
At the Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury law offices of TheOneLaweyer.com, Laura Marie Payne-Hunt and her staff are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury offices. TheOneLawyer.com is a boutique, family owned law firm that specializes in helping injured people and the community of Las Vegas and Henderson Nevada with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, product liability claims, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-(HUNT) 4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.
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