Washington

What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Insurance Part 4: The Policy You Ought to Have

Posted on Sunday, November 15th, 2020 at 7:24 pm    

The Policy You Ought to Have

If that’s the minimum, what’s a really solid policy look like? It looks like the above, but with these changes:

  • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage: $250,000/$500,000, with a $1 or $2 million “umbrella” on both types of coverage (see below);
  • Property Damage Liability Coverage of $50,000, and;
  • Personal Injury Protection of $100,000.00.

Yeah, the ideal policy is going to cost you some money. But it won’t cost you anything like what a wreck will cost you if you don’t have enough insurance. At the next “bike night” look around. See anyone who has been in a wreck? It happens – and it happens to bikers way more often than it should. Protect yourself. The last thing you need as you are recovering from a wreck is the worry of bill collectors, lawyers, and bankruptcy.

“Umbrella” coverage gives you a lot of extra coverage for not that much more money – talk to your agent about it! You usually have to have pretty high limits on the underlying policy, but it is worth it when you need it.

There are a lot of good insurance companies and good insurance agents out there. Some know bikes and some don’t. Several companies are going out of their way to attract bike owners as customers. Talk to several agents. See if they know what you are talking about when it comes to the special needs of bike owners and riders. But most of all – protect yourself. You don’t know despair until you have been laying in a hospital bed because some idiot ran over your bike and you get a letter telling you that they didn’t have any insurance and/or they just filed bankruptcy. Or until you get sued for way more money than you have coverage for. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will take care of you. Ride to live and live to ride – without the worries of what will happen if you have a bad day.

Taken from: What you Need to Know about Motorcycle Insurance


What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Insurance Part 3: Kinds of Motorcycle Insurance Coverage

Posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 at 7:23 pm    

“I Have Insurance”

The fact that you have “some” insurance doesn’t really mean anything.

A lot of people don’t understand what insurance coverage they have, let alone what  insurance coverage they should have, until it’s too late. Many insurance agents are  unfamiliar with the special needs of bike owners, and some are too interested in getting your business by “saving you money” than by selling you a good policy.

Most people feel pretty comfortable with their insurance. That is because most people have never had a significant claim. Your agent may be your friend – but your agent has nothing to do with your claim should you have a wreck.

Insurance companies are split into two personalities: the “money in” part (your agent) and the “money out” part (the claims adjusting group). If you have anything other than a very minor claim, you will quickly find out that the “money in” door is a lot bigger and a lot friendlier than the “money out” door. The minute you have a substantial claim, most insurance companies treat you with all the respect they would treat an “outside” person who is making a claim: as a stranger, not as a trusted customer.

What you don’t know will hurt you. I write this from the perspective of a lawyer that has represented many, many riders who have been in wrecks only to find out that their “full coverage” policy doesn’t begin to do what they need it to do. I have no financial interest in this advice – I’m not trying to sell you insurance. I am giving you real-world information to protect you against the ruin that will come to you if you are in a wreck and don’t have the kinds of insurance coverage and the amounts of insurance coverage that you need.

Kinds of Motorcycle Insurance Coverage

A typical insurance policy consists of the basic insurance agreement, plus amendments (changes that are usually specific to a state), plus endorsements (changes that are special to your policy). Amendments and endorsements may either add to the basic coverage or subtract from it.

The typical coverages that are available are:

  1. Bodily Injury Liability
  2. Property Damage Liability
  3. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury
  4. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Property Damage
  5. Personal Injury Protection
  6. Collision
  7. Comprehensive 
  8. Towing & Storage

So what is all this stuff??? The first thing you need to know is that there is no such thing as a standardized “full coverage” policy. There is such a thing as a “state minimum” policy, but it is about as worthless as training wheels on a rocket. Insurance policies are like tattoos – no two are alike. So let’s look at what kind of coverages there are, and what amounts of coverage you need.

We’ll work from the perspective of three typical wrecks.

Wreck A is nobody’s fault. You are coming home from Bike Night somewhere when a damn deer jumps out in front of you. You lay it down, skin up your bike, and break your leg (never mind what happens to the deer).

Wreck B is your fault. You are enjoying a beautiful day, and you fail to yield when you should have. You plow into the side of a minivan full of mom and dad and three kids. You aren’t hurt, but your new bike is toast. Unfortunately, the real problem is that the minivan has a big dent in the side and everyone in it is yelling “whiplash.” The next day, you get a letter from a lawyer you’ve seen on TV who says he’s going to sue you.

Wreck C is the monster. You are riding along minding your own business and some fool on his cell phone in an SUV “doesn’t see you.” As he changes lanes, he grinds you into the guard rail. The bike you just spent six months customizing is a mess, and you are hurt bad enough that you have to be taken by helicopter to the nearest trauma center. There you undergo four hours of surgery, four days in intensive care, a second surgery, six more days in the step-down unit, and go home to several months of physical therapy and rehab – all while you are off work. You’re going to have scars and a limp for the rest of your life. But best of all, the SUV driver “forgot” to make his insurance payment, so his insurance was cancelled, and his personal net worth is whatever cash he has in his wallet that day.

Let’s start with what the State of Washington requires you to have. If you want to “be legal,” you only need to have coverages in the amount of:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident;
  • $50,000 for bodily injury or death of any two persons in any one accident;
  • $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

That’s all. Beyond that, if you have a loan on your bike, the almighty bank will probably require that you have enough Collision Coverage to pay off the loan if the bike is totaled. All the rest is up to you.

Now let’s look at Wreck A. With the “state minimum” policy + standard Collision Coverage, the only thing that will apply is the Collision Coverage. Hope you have health insurance! Hope it pays in the event of an accident! If your bike is damaged, but not totaled, be prepared to be without it for a long time; worse, if it is “totaled,” I hope your idea of what the bike’s “fair market value” is matches the insurance company’s idea of the FMV (more about this below).

Wreck B: With the “state minimum” policy + standard Collision Coverage, you have all the problems of Wreck A, but now you have a couple of nasty new problems. Your Liability Coverage now kicks in. BUT – the estimate to fix the minivan is $13,000, plus the cost of the rental car while the mini is in the shop – another $1,000. The estimate to “fix” the personal injury claims of the five people in the van is $18,000 each. Since you have Property Damage Liability limits of only $10,000, you get a bill for the extra $4,000 on the van. Ouch. But you have Bodily Injury Liability Coverage, right? Yes, but – you only have $25,000/$50,000 limits. Here, that means that any one person in the van can get a maximum of $25,000. So you’re good, right? No. Because five times $18,000 equals $90,000. So you get a bill for $90,000 minus your maximum limits of $50,000. You are personally on the hook for $40,000 (plus the $4,000 for the property damage). Know a good bankruptcy lawyer???

Wreck C: Here, with the “state minimum” policy + standard Collision Coverage, you are really, really screwed. Your bike loan will get paid off, maybe, but that won’t matter because you are on the one-way road to bankruptcy, whether you know a lawyer or not. That cellphone-talkin’ idiot has just cost you anywhere from $100,000+ in medical bills and $15,000+ in lost wages – and NO ONE is going to pay you ANYTHING.

You say “that can’t be right!” But the fact is, the idiot will never pay you a dime, because he will just go file bankruptcy himself! And with a “state minimum” policy you don’t have ANY coverage that helps you! If you don’t have health insurance, YOU are going to get a bill for that $100,000+, and if you do have health insurance, your deductibles and co-pays may leave you with balances you can’t begin to pay. Yes, you may lose your home and your car and everything else because you couldn’t make the payments while you had no income. No, there is no magic “fund” out there to pick up the slack. And all the money and time you put into making your bike beautiful is just g-o-n-e.

Now, really, did your friendly insurance agent explain all that to you while he was trying to save you 15% in 15 minutes?

Taken from: What you Need to Know about Motorcycle Insurance


Did Your Lawyer Commit Malpractice?

Posted on Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at 10:01 am    

We wrote recently about the Top Five Tips for Hiring an Attorney and What to Watch Out for When Hiring an Attorney.  We hope those helped you make the important decision about who to hire.  But what happens if you already hired an attorney and they made a mistake that hurt your case?  What can you do?  Do you have any recourse?  The answer is – that depends.  Attorneys are allowed to exercise their discretion about how to handle a particular case.  Some case results aren’t what either the client or the attorney hoped for, but make sense under the circumstances.  Some results, however, are caused by actual errors made by the attorney and you may be entitled to seek compensation from the attorney in those cases.  Here are some of the most common areas where attorneys make mistakes:

1. Missing a Statute of Limitations. 

There are time limits, called statutes of limitation, for when a lawsuit has to be filed with the clerk of the court for the lawsuit to be effective.  If the lawsuit isn’t filed by those deadlines, then any right to make a claim can be lost forever.  How these time periods are calculated is a very complicated issue.  First, the time periods are different in different types of cases.  Also, in some types of cases, it not only matters when an event happened, but when the injured person discovered that an event happened.  Sometimes lawyers calculate these time periods wrong, and the client’s rights are lost.

2. Not getting the right person or company served with lawsuit papers in the time allowed. 

In addition for the time limit for filing a lawsuit, there are time limits for when the necessary suit papers have to served (delivered) to the defendants in the lawsuit. If the right papers are not served on the right people in the right timeframe, it is as if the lawsuit was never filed. Unfortunately, there are cases where the lawyer serves the wrong people or serves them too late, and the lawsuit gets dismissed.

3. Having a conflict of interest with the client. 

Not all lawyers can represent all the clients who come to them with potential cases under all conditions.  A lawyer has a duty to any one client that cannot be compromised by adding other clients.  For example, a lawyer can only represent one side in a divorce case.  Another example is that a lawyer can represent only one person in a car wreck if there isn’t enough insurance to fully compensate everyone who might deserve compensation. A conflict is a serious matter and lawyers should avoid them.

4. Filing a frivolous lawsuit. 

Despite all the urban legends, and fortunately for us all, there are very few frivolous lawsuits filed.  However, the law is clear that if you hire a lawyer who files a frivolous lawsuit, you and the lawyer can be punished for doing so.  If you are counting on and following your lawyer’s advice (as you should be) and you are unexpectedly hit with sanctions, your lawyer may be accountable to you for the harm caused by filing such a lawsuit.

5. Stealing your money. 

Lawyers have to handle client matters, and client funds, with a high degree of responsibility.  This “fiduciary relationship” means that the lawyer cannot, ever, take funds that belong or may belong to a client without strict accounting and the client’s approval.  Sadly, sometimes lawyers take a client’s money when they shouldn’t.  That is always wrong, even if they make up for it later.  A lawyer should be and is strictly accountable to a client for all funds.

At Nelson Boyd, we represent clients whose previous lawyers have harmed them by committing legal malpractice.  If you think you may have a claim, please contact us at (206) 971-7601 and see our website at www.nelsonboydlaw.com.

Download Nelson Boyd Law’s “Did Your Lawyer Commit Legal Malpractice” Article as a PDF


Yes, You Can Afford a Lawyer!

Posted on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 at 6:00 am    

Most of the work our law firm does is done on a “contingency fee basis.”  And, yet, people still call us and say that they can’t afford a lawyer. We often hear “I don’t have any money to pay you right now” or “I wasn’t expecting to need a lawyer.”  Fortunately, with the “contingency fee,” you don’t have to worry about that.

A “contingency fee” is generally used on cases involving personal injuries where a person has been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence and they are entitled to a lump sum of money to compensate them. These cases often take 2-3 years to resolve and sometimes require hundreds or even thousands of hours of legal work before they are ready to resolve, regardless of whether the resolution results from a settlement or a jury verdict. Obviously, paying a lawyer for years of legal work would be extremely expensive and most people couldn’t afford it.

The contingency fee provides payment to the lawyer at the end of the case— if they win the case for you and recover money on your behalf. The contingent fee starts at 1/3 of the case and can increase depending on whether the case goes to trial or is appealed, as well as the subject matter of the case. More complex cases often require a higher fee. If the lawyer does not win your case, they don’t get paid anything for their time.

Obviously, lawyers must be choosy about the cases they accept under this system because they are committing to work for you for years without being paid and they are risking not getting paid at all if they don’t win. For that reason, lawyers are generally very careful about getting lots of details about your case, as well as about the party who harmed you. After all, if the person who harmed you doesn’t have sufficient (or any) insurance or assets, it doesn’t matter if they can win the case because there will be no money to recover or to pay the lawyers or you in the end.

The law requires that contingency fees be reasonable and that they be in writing.  You should feel comfortable enough with the lawyer you hire to make sure that you understand the employment contract (“fee agreement”) you sign with them and that they answer any questions you have about it.

The contingency fee is a benefit to injured consumers. It enables them to afford a lawyer to represent them, and results in the lawyer and the client being partners in the case because it benefits both of them. They should truly be working as a team.

At Nelson Boyd, we believe in teamwork. Not just amongst ourselves, but also with you. We consider ourselves partners with you in your case– to achieve the very best result for your case. If you have been injured, please give us a call at (206) 971-7601 and let us see if we can help you


What You Need to Know About Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance

Posted on Saturday, March 7th, 2020 at 4:04 pm    

Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) insurance is one of the cheapest and most important types of insurance you can purchase.  Everyone should have PIP insurance.  It is as simple as that.

PIP insurance protects you and the passengers in your car if you are injured in a collision.  It doesn’t matter who is at fault for the collision.  PIP insurance should cover you even if you cause the collision.  It also covers you if you are a pedestrian, a passenger in someone else’s vehicle or if you are riding a bicycle.  PIP insurance is one of the most comprehensive and important types of coverage you can buy – and, if you don’t have it, you will be sorry that you didn’t purchase it.

Here is what PIP insurance will do for you – it will pay benefits for:

  • Medical treatment you seek for injuries you suffer as a result of the collision
  • Limited wage loss benefits
  • “Loss of Services” benefits for things that you are unable to do due to your injuries
  • Funeral benefits

There are, of course, limitations and fine print.  Here are some of the limitations that generally apply to most PIP insurance policies:

  • Medical care must be received within 3 years from the date of the collision
  • Medical care must be “necessary” to treat injuries you suffered
  • The cost of the medical care you receive must be “reasonable”
  • The medical care must be provided by a licensed healthcare provider
  • You must be out of work for two continuous weeks as a result of your injuries before you are eligible for PIP wage loss benefits
  • Wage loss benefits last for only 52 weeks
  • Wage loss is payable at only 85% of your regular wage with a limit of $200.00 maximum payable per week
  • You must be able to prove that you were receiving wages before the collision and the amount of those wages
  • The person who performs the “services” you are unable to do may not be a member of your household
  • The daily limit on the amount you may be reimbursed for “services” is a maximum of $200.00 per week up to a maximum limit of $5,000.
  • You must provide the name, address, phone number, and Social Security Number for the person who performs your “services”
  • You may need to have a doctor’s note verifying that you are unable to perform the “services” yourself as a result of your injuries
  • Funeral benefits are limited to a maximum of $2,000.00

You may be thinking “But I have health insurance, why do I need PIP?”  The simple fact is that PIP insurance has many important benefits that you simply can’t get from your health insurance policy.  Here are some of the benefits of PIP insurance:

  • No preauthorization requirement
  • No co-pays
  • No deductible
  • PIP insurance pays 100% of the medical bill
  • You may see any healthcare provider you want
  • You do not need a prescription in order to see a massage therapist, physical therapist, etc.

So – how much PIP insurance do you need?  There are three basic levels of PIP insurance sold in Washington.  The lowest level is $10,000.  This means that PIP insurance will pay up to $10,000 per person who is injured.  The second level is $35,000.  The third level is $100,000.

We think you should have at least $35,000 in PIP coverage.  The cost of healthcare is rising.  What if you were seriously injured in a collision and were transported to the hospital by ambulance and you had an MRI at the hospital and then needed to see your doctor and possibly have surgery afterwards?  If you had only $10,000 in PIP coverage, it probably would have run out while you were at your doctor’s office, leaving you to find a way to pay for the surgery yourself.  Even if you have health insurance which will start paying after your PIP is exhausted, you will still have a deductible, co-pays, preauthorization delays, and may be limited in the choice of your doctor or hospital.

One more important thing for you to know – if someone else caused the collision, neither that person nor their insurance company will pay you one dime until you are ready to settle your claim!  This means that they will not pay any of your medical bills while you are getting treatment, regardless of how badly you are injured, how little money you have, how much money or insurance coverage the other person has, or how much at fault the other person is.  In other words, you could be seriously injured by a drunk driver who has a $1 million insurance policy and need surgery, but that drunk driver won’t have to pay you a dime until you are ready to settle your case.  If you don’t have PIP insurance and cannot afford medical treatment, you will end up settling your case for far less than it is worth and you won’t be able to ask for more money if you later realize that your injuries are not fully healed.

The system may not seem fair to you, but this is the stark reality of the insurance world.  It isn’t fair and you have to protect yourself.

We strongly urge you to contact your insurance agent and purchase PIP insurance today.  It is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your family.

The attorneys at Nelson Boyd have over 50 years of combined legal experience in representing injured people and fighting insurance companies.  If you have been injured, if you have an insurance claim, or if you just have questions about insurance coverage, please contact us at (206) 971-7601Nelson Boyd – We Care.  We Can Help.  www.nelsonboydlaw.com


Are You Safe On The Slopes? Skiing And Boarding.

Posted on Thursday, December 5th, 2019 at 12:00 pm    

If you ski, you have seen the bumper sticker:

“A bad day on the slopes beats a good day in the office.”

Skiing makes me a little kid again, flying through the air (well, sort of) through the prettiest scenery on earth. But no one can deny that there is more to getting down the slope than the “flying” part. No one wants to end up in that sled being guided down the hill by the Ski Patrol – and no one wants to hurt anyone else, either.

In fact, safe skiing is more than a good idea, it is the law. Washington (and most other skiing states) has laws in place specifically geared toward safety on the slopes. Although there are details, the core values are:

“. . . all persons using the ski hill shall exercise reasonable care for their own safety.” and “Every person shall maintain control of his or her speed and course at all times. . .”

Also, did you know that leaving the scene of a ski accident without providing personal identification is a crime, just like leaving the scene of a car wreck? It is! If you are involved in a collision, or cause one even if you are not hit, stop, look after the injured, and call 911 or the ski report immediately.

Revised Code of Washington 79A.45.030,

“Standard of conduct–Prohibited acts—Responsibility” states:

(1) In addition to the specific requirements of this section, all skiers shall conduct themselves within the limits of their individual ability and shall not act in a manner that may contribute to the injury of themselves or any other person.

(2) No person shall:

(a) Embark or disembark upon a ski lift except at a designated area;

(b) Throw or expel any object from any tramway, ski lift, commercial skimobile, or other similar device while riding on the device;

(c) Act in any manner while riding on a rope tow, wire rope tow, j-bar, t-bar, ski lift, or similar device that may interfere with the proper or safe operation of the lift or tow;

(d) Willfully engage in any type of conduct which may injure any person, or place any object in the uphill ski track which may cause another to fall, while traveling uphill on a ski lift; or

(e) Cross the uphill track of a j-bar, t-bar, rope tow, wire rope tow, or other similar device except at designated locations.

(3) Every person shall maintain control of his or her speed and course at all times, and shall stay clear of any snow grooming equipment, any vehicle, any lift tower, and any other equipment on the mountain.

(4) A person shall be the sole judge of his or her ability to negotiate any trail, run, or uphill track and no action shall be maintained against any operator by reason of the condition of the track, trail, or run unless the condition results from the negligence of the operator.

(5) Any person who boards a rope tow, wire rope tow, j-bar, t-bar, ski lift, or other similar device shall be presumed to have sufficient abilities to use the device. No liability shall attach to any operator or attendant for failure to instruct the person on the use of the device, but a person shall follow any written or verbal instructions that are given regarding the use.

(6) Because of the inherent risks in the sport of skiing all persons using the ski hill shall exercise reasonable care for their own safety. However, the primary duty shall be on the person skiing downhill to avoid any collision with any person or object below him or her.

(7) Any person skiing outside the confines of trails open for skiing or runs open for skiing within the ski area boundary shall be responsible for any injuries or losses resulting from his or her action.

(8) Any person on foot or on any type of sliding device shall be responsible for any collision whether the collision is with another person or with an object.

(9) A person embarking on a lift or tow without authority shall be considered to be a trespasser.

We hope you never need a lawyer.

But if you are in a crash this winter, call Nelson Boyd at 206-971-7601.


Deborah Nelson and Jeffrey Boyd named to 2018 Super Lawyers List

Posted on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 at 4:23 pm    

The team at Nelson Boyd Attorneys is pleased to announce that Deborah Nelson and Jeffrey Boyd have been named Washington 2018 Super Lawyers. Only five percent of lawyers in the state receive this honor each year.

This is not the first time that the attorneys at the firm have been recognized nationally by Super Lawyers for their work on behalf of their clients. Attorney Deborah Nelson was the first lawyer on the North Olympic Peninsula to receive the Super Lawyers honor and has earned this selective award every year since the first designation in 2003. Attorney Jeffrey Boyd has also received the Super Lawyer honor every year since 2012.

About the Super Lawyers Award

Super Lawyers (a Thompson Reuters business) recognizes outstanding lawyers across more than seventy practice areas. Only candidates who have attained a high degree of professional achievement and recognition among their peers in the legal community qualify for this designation.

 


2017 #SafetySaturday Recap

Posted on Tuesday, December 12th, 2017 at 10:00 am    

And just like that another year has gone. It is our goal to keep you as safe as possible, therefore we have been diligently offering up tips every Saturday, from swimming in open water, to safely sharing the trail with wheelchair users. As we bring 2017 to a close, we are offering you a recap of our articles from earliest to most recent. Thanks for reading!

Click each photo for its article to enjoy…and remember…

If you’re in need of a lawyer, call Nelson Boyd at 206-971-7601.


Deborah Nelson & Jeff Boyd named 2017 Super Lawyers

Posted on Friday, June 16th, 2017 at 5:14 pm    

Attorneys Deborah Nelson and Jeffrey Boyd have been named Washington 2017 Super Lawyers. Each year, only 5 percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor.

The selections for this esteemed list are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters, Legal Division based in Eagan, Minnesota. Each year, that team undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check.

In 2003, Ms. Nelson was the first lawyer on the North Olympic Peninsula to receive the Super Lawyer honor. She has received this prestigious award every year since 2003. She is a past president of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (now the Washington State Association for Justice) and a past president of the Council of Presidents of the American Association for Justice. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the Clallam Pro Bono Lawyers, was twice selected as “Best Attorney in Clallam County” by a Peninsula Daily News readers’ poll, and has been named a “Woman of Distinction” by Soroptimist International Noon Club. She is a frequent speaker and author on insurance coverage.

Ms. Nelson received her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia and her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Mr. Boyd is a member of the Board of Governors of the Washington State Association for Justice. He is licensed to practice law in both Ohio and Washington. He is also national trial consultant and owner of Boyd Trial Consulting. He received his undergraduate degree at Kent State University and his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law. Mr. Boyd moved to Washington in 2009 and has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2012.

Ms. Nelson and Mr. Boyd are based in Seattle and also practice law in Clallam and Jefferson counties. They focus their law practice in the areas of personal injury, insurance coverage, consumer class actions, and legal malpractice.


You are Driving Distracted

Posted on Friday, January 13th, 2017 at 10:37 pm    

…and probably don’t even know.

When people hear the term, “distracted driver,” they often assume that if they are not using their cell phone, they are not “distracted.”

This is not the case – there are dozens of distractions that can cause a crash resulting in injury to you or others.  

Being tired

The effects of driving sleepy have recently been compared to those of driving while intoxicated. Falling asleep at the wheel is a sure way to cause a crash. Sleepy driving tips:

    1. Do not drive when you are too tired!  If you are tired when you start your journey, you will become even more tired during the journey; endangering yourself and others.  Don’t do it!
    2. Down some caffeine – have a cup or two of your favorite brew
    3. Keep it cool – if it’s winter, crack the window and let the cool air keep you from getting overly comfortable, in the summertime, turn up the AC
    4. Buddy system – if possible, drive with a passenger who can engage you in conversation to keep your mind stimulated

GPS

Directions are a great way to get to your destination, but not if the driver is constantly referring to a screen instead of the road. GPS tips:

    1. Co-pilot – if you have one, delegate navigational responsibilities to your passenger
    2. Set it and forget it – set your route ahead of time, before hitting the road. If you need to change anything, pull over and adjust your information rather than attempt the risk of doing it while driving
    3. Old school – as hard as it is for us to let go of our technology, busy roads and highways are still full of signage, dictating which lanes and routes necessary to reach popular towns

Music

Music is a wonderful accompaniment to a long drive, or a busy traffic jam, but remember, anytime your focus is taken off of the road, you are by definition, distracted; even if you’re just quickly searching for your favorite radio station. If your steering wheel has the controls, use them, otherwise resist the temptation to channel surf while driving.  Also keep in mind that if your music is too loud, you won’t be able to perceive problems on the road or sirens near you.

Window Shopping

This could mean literal window shopping as you drive through a busy boutique-lined city, or even just trying to see what’s going on at the rally on the corner, or craning your neck to check on the car wreck you just passed. Of course it’s tempting – our eyes are drawn to bright colors and flashing lights, but do try to avoid this nasty habit – causing a crash of your own is not worth it to temporarily satisfy your curiosity.

In a Rush

Although it may be hard to recognize, being in a rush can distract a driver. Their mind is no longer just on the road, but perhaps is focused on the side-effects of their tardiness, keeping their mind from focusing on the present task of safe driving. Set out early enough to avoid this risk.

Remember, being late is better than being rushed to the ER for causing a wreck.

Eating

Eating while driving is okay, as long as both hands are on the wheel and your attention is focused on the road and your surroundings.  A potato chip or two is probably fine, but a burrito is not.  Use common sense and avoid the distractions (and mess) that accompany driving and eating.

Children

Kids tend to be distracting anyway, but be sure to use extra caution when driving with children.  Turning around to answer a question or discipline a child can take your eyes and attention off the road and your surroundings before you know it!

Remember, you’re not the only one out there on the road.

Please make wise driving decisions for yourself and others.

If you’re in need of a lawyer, call Nelson Boyd at 206-971-7601.