According to insurance carriers, if you've been in an auto accident, you should call them right away, so they can settle your claim quickly. But when you make that call, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. There are several reasons why an insurer may deny your claim.

Insurance is a business and insurance companies are out to make a profit. The less they pay out in claims, the bigger their profits. Many claims are denied because of mistakes by the policy holder, but don't expect your insurer to help you avoid them.

Inadequate coverage is a common cause of denied claims. Many people try to save on premiums by paying only for liability coverage, which does not cover repairs to the policy holder's car.

Late Payments May Cancel Coverage

If coverage has expired for lack of payment, a claim will be denied. Most companies have a grace period for late payments; after that, there is no coverage.

If someone else is driving your car when an accident happens and your policy doesn't cover that situation, your claim may be denied.

Excessive damage is that which exceeds the limits of your policy. Beyond that, you are responsible for repair costs. If your vehicle requires special repairs, take that into consideration when setting the repair limit of your policy.

New Car Requires New Coverage

If you buy a new car, be sure you know how long you have to add it to your policy. If you wait beyond the specified time and have an accident, you will have no coverage.

Never falsify information on a claim. You may think a little falsehood will save you some time and trouble, but it may only get you a denial, and the trouble of shopping for a new insurer.

If you've been in a traffic accident, call an experienced attorney before you call your insurance carrier. Having an attorney on your side from the start may help you get the settlement you deserve, especially if you have to go to court. Your attorney will also be glad to help you evaluate your needs when choosing your insurance coverage.

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Toyota has recalled an additional 437,000 vehicles worldwide due to potentially faulty anti-lock braking systems and power steering problems. The 2010 Prius and Lexus hybrids are among the cars affected by the most recent Toyota recall.

Since October, a total of 8.4 million vehicles have been recalled due to floor mats, which were said to trap the gas pedal; accelerator problems, which may cause the gas pedal to stick; anti-lock braking glitches, a software problem that could cause the brakes to briefly malfunction; and the power steering hose, which may affect brake tubes.

However, some consumers and safety groups believe the Toyota vehicles' electronic throttle control systems are faulty. There was a significant increase in the number of complaints about uncontrolled acceleration in Toyota cars from model years 2002 to 2007. During this time, the car company increased its use of electronic throttle control systems.

NHTSA Notified of Dangers

Many consumers now question whether the automaker and the National Transportation Safety Administration responded quickly enough to protect the public. In addition to thousands of complaints filed by Toyota drivers, State Farm Insurance representatives say that in 2007 the company informed the NHTSA of a possible tendency for Toyota and Lexus models to accelerate suddenly.

If you or someone you know has been injured by acceleration problems associated with a Toyota or Lexus vehicle, it is important to contact a product liability/personal injury attorney right away. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills or loss of income.

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Motorcycle crash deaths in Texas have increased since 1997, the year the state's legislature did away with helmet requirements for riders 21 and older. A study published in the Southern Medical Journal shows a 15.2 percent increase through 2003; the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says the trend continued through 2008.

The medical journal study covered the years 1994 through 2003. The 15.2 percent increase was based on calculating deaths proportional to the number of motorcycles registered, to compensate for increased ownership. Without the adjustment, the increase was 30 percent.

Deaths Increased As Soon As Law Was Changed

The motorcycle accident study authors say there was a conspicuous increase in crash deaths in September 1997, the month the change became effective.

The TxDOT spokesman said the increase in motorcycle crash deaths from 2004 through 2008 was 32 percent, based on figures compiled by state agencies for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's report on crashes in Texas for that period. He said a slight drop in 2009 deaths corresponded to reduced ridership, possibly the result of the recession.

Helmet use in Texas was at 77 percent in 1996; it dropped to 63 percent in 1997. Current use is estimated at 36 percent.

Helmet Law Changed When Federal Rules Eased

Texas legislators changed the state's motorcycle helmet law when the federal government reversed its policy of withholding some transportation funding from states without a universal helmet law. Since then, only riders under 21 have been required to wear a helmet.

Twenty states and the District of Columbia require universal helmet use. Twenty-eight states require only riders under a specified age to wear a helmet. Three states have no helmet requirement.

Whether or not you wear a helmet, if you've been involved in a motorcycle crash, you need the help of an experienced attorney. You may be facing medical bills, repair bills, loss of income, increased insurance premiums, and other expenses. Your attorney will fight get you the compensation you deserve to meet these challenges and save you from financial distress.

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Toyota Motor Corp. is suspending sales and production of eight models pending resolution of issues related to the possibility that their gas pedals may jam. The action comes less than a week after the company recalled about 2.3 million vehicles to check on their gas pedals.

Dealers have been told to immediately suspend sales of some models of the Camry, Corolla, RAV4, and Avalon, spanning model years from 2005 to 2010. Current production of the affected models at eight North American plants will suspended Monday.

Company Says Move Not Related to November Recall

The company said its latest move was not related to a November recall of 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles over concerns about unintended acceleration. That recall came after several reported incidents, capped by the Aug. 28 death of an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer and three of his family members in a fiery car crash near San Diego. A man calling 911 from the doomed vehicle said it was accelerating out of control and the brakes were not responding.

No Lexus models are involved in the sales and production halt.

Floor Mats Suspected in Acceleration Problem

Speculation in the November recall included the possibility of interference with the gas pedal by a floor mat that was not original equipment, but often substituted in the vehicles. Owners were advised to immediately remove any floor mats that were not original equipment, pending further study.

There was no mention of floor mats in the more recent recall, only the possibility of what the company called a rare mechanical issue. Toyota said owners will be contacted with information and instructions when the problem is resolved.

If you or someone you know has been injured or suffered property damage as a result of a gas pedal or unintended acceleration problem with a Toyota or Lexus, contact an experienced product liability/personal injury attorney right away. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, repair bills, or loss of income.

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Studies have shown that talking on the cell phone while driving can increase your chances of getting in a car accident significantly. Still, concern about the danger of drivers speaking on cell phones and sending text messages varies widely across the country, if judged by states' laws regulating, or not regulating, the practices.

Seven states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) have banned all drivers from speaking on hand-held cell phones; 20 states and D.C. have banned them from texting. In some states, the ban is limited to novice drivers, school bus drivers, or both.

Hands-free Phone Use Allowed in All States but Maine

The use of hands-free cell phones by drivers is less restricted. Some states ban novice drivers, school bus drivers, or both. No state specifically bans them for the general driving population, but Maine bans them as part of a blanket ban on any form of distracted driving, the most comprehensive in the country.

Utah's law on distracted driving bans texting, but using a hand-held cell phone is considered an offense only if it is a factor in a moving violation other than speeding.

How laws are enforced is also variable by state. In some, simply using a hand-held cell phone or texting can result in a citation, a practice referred to as primary enforcement. In others, the offense is only cited when a driver is cited for another concurrent offense, known as secondary enforcement.

Other States with Strict Laws

California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington are the states with total bans on both hand-held cell phoning and texting. All but Washington practice primary enforcement.

An Illinois law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2010, will ban texting, but will limit the ban on speaking on a hand-held unit to school zones and highway construction zones.

Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia ban, or will soon ban, texting, but not hand-held cell phone use.

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An Idaho jury awarded a motorcyclist $1,826,000 for injuries suffered in a 2006 collision with a construction company dump truck.

On Oct. 4, 2006, Levon Babakhanian, of Idaho Falls, crashed into a dump truck that a prosecutor said was driven through a stop sign. Babakhanian suffered a fractured left leg and hip, a fractured pelvis, multiple hand and arm injuries, and facial injuries that required reconstructive surgery.

After deciding that the dump truck driver, an employee of Cedar Point Construction, was 80 percent at fault in the crash, the jury awarded Babakhanian $441,000 for past and future medical expenses, $580,000 for lost earning capacity, $795,000 for past and future pain and suffering, and $10,000 for the loss of his motorcycle. The trial took place in the Bonneville County Courthouse in Idaho Falls.

According to Allen Brown, Babakharian's attorney, his client was unable to walk for a time as a result of the accident and still has difficulty standing for very long. He said that Babakharian's doctors say he may never recover full mobility.

The jury heard testimony that the motorcycle crash ended Babakharian's ambition to study nursing, since he would not longer be able to stand long enough to do the work.

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While riding any motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than driving a four-wheeled vehicle, the class known as sport or supersport motorcycles is by far the most dangerous. These are little more than racing motorcycles equipped to meet the minimum requirements to be legally operated on public streets and highways.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the crash death rate for riders of supersport motorcycles is four times that for all motorcycle types combined. The IIHS blames both the design of supersports and the way they are often ridden.

Supersports Have Most Power Per Pound

As racing-type motorcycles, supersports are designed for maximum acceleration and fast cornering. To achieve this, they have the most horsepower per pound of any motorcycle class. The supersport 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R weighs 404 pounds and puts out 111 horsepower. A 2006 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide touring motorcycle, designed for comfortable long-range riding, weighs in at 788 pounds, but its engine, although larger, produces only 65 horsepower.

The IIHS says many supersports are ridden as though they were on a racetrack, a contention backed up by crash data that show speed is more often a factor in supersport crashes than in those involving other motorcycle classes.

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The most dangerous 2009 model-year vehicles include six sport utility vehicles, six light pickups and three mini-cars, according to a Forbes Magazine analysis of crash test data from the federal government and the insurance industry.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer, Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty SUVs all scored low for side and rear impact results and rollover potential in auto accidents. The Jeep Wrangler was judged less likely to roll over, but its removable doors offer almost no side impact protection. The Hummer H3 and GMC Envoy were also on the list, although the H3 showed better resistance to side impact and the Envoy was judged as stable as a mid-sized sedan in rollover tests.

Like the SUVs, the Ford Ranger, Mazda B series, Nissan Frontier and Suzuki Equator light pickups were also on the list for side and rear impact results and rollover potential. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon were also faulted for impact results, but did slightly better in rollover tests.

The Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio mini-cars made the list primarily because their small size works against them in side impact crashes. Even though the cars are equipped with side air bags or curtains, because occupants sit so much lower than in larger vehicles, they are subject to serious head and upper torso injuries.

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Toyota Motor Company is recalling about 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles after more than 100 incident reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) and a runaway crash that killed an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer and three passengers.

At issue is a removable floor mat that may be interfering with the accelerator pedal, causing it to stick in the full-throttle position. Toyota is working with the NHTSA to determine the extent of the problem and find a solution.

A floor mat is suspected in an August crash near San Diego that killed California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, 45, and three passengers in a Lexus ES 350 sport utility vehicle he was driving. One passenger called police from the car moments before it crashed and reported that its speed was 120 mph and that the brakes were not working.

If you or someone you know suffered personal injury or property damage as the result of a faulty Toyota or Lexus floor mat, you should contact an experienced attorney right away. If you are dealing with medical bills, loss of work, or repair bills, you need someone on your side, to fight for the financial compensation you deserve.

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A Lenawee County Circuit Court jury has awarded nearly $2 million to a man who sustained a brain injury in a car accident four years ago.

Douglas Mayher, of Britton, Michigan was stopped in his sport utility vehicle on Palmer Highway at M-50 when he was struck by a car driven by Jennifer Martin, 17. The teenage girl was driving on M-50 when she attempted to pass a vehicle on the right. After going airborne through a ditch, Martin's car crashed into the driver's side of the victim's vehicle.

Attorney David Christensen of Southfield represented Mayher in the five-day trial. Christensen argued that Mayher's brain injury prevented him from working more than 20 hours a week due to chronic pain and other neurological problems. The jury ruled in Mayher's favor and awarded him nearly $2 million in damages for lifetime lost earnings.

Attorney Richard Moblo of Novi represented the teenage driver and her father, Ronald Martin, the owner of the vehicle. Mr. Moblo argued that the victim should receive no compensation for lost earnings and no more than $50,000 for pain and suffering.

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An Alabama jury has awarded nearly $3.8 million to the family of a man who died from injuries sustained in a hotel swimming pool accident in July 2007. The accident occurred at what used to the King's Inn on West South Boulevard in Montgomery. The hotel is under new management and is now known as a Rodeway Inn.

The nineteen-year old victim, Derrick Marshall, drowned in the deep end of the hotel pool during a family reunion. Although the pool had been shut down by the Montgomery County Health Department, the victim's family claimed that hotel employees gave them permission to use the pool anyway.

Because the pool water was so cloudy, the victim's family was unable to find him for several minutes. The victim was still alive when he was found but was in a vegetative state. He died several months later at Jackson Hospital.

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A Utah jury has awarded almost $4.4 million to the family of a man who died from injuries sustained in a 2006 car accident on Interstate 15. Richard Kunzler, 38, of Payson, crashed his vehicle after swerving to avoid traffic that had backed up due to bridge construction near Spanish Fork. Kunzler died thirteen days after the crash.

Tyler Young, the Provo attorney representing Kunzler's family, argued that the victim was coming up over the crest of a hill and was not aware that traffic had backed up on the other side. The lawsuit, filed against the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the subcontractor working on the project, claimed that the defendants were negligent for failing to post signs that warned motorists about the construction and about potential traffic delays.

The jury found that the Utah Department of Transportation was 35 percent responsible for the accident, the Staker Parson Companies were 45 percent to blame, and Kunzler was 20 percent at fault. Since Utah law limits the amount of damages that can be levied against state agencies, the amount that the UDOT is required to pay will be reduced to about $500,000. Almost $880,000 will also be deducted from the settlement since Kunzler was 20 percent at fault.

The family will end up receiving about $2.4 million of the settlement.

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In an agreement announced earlier this month, a man who lost his leg in an accident at the Foxwood Resort Casino in Connecticut will receive $2.9 million in damages. The operator of the casino, Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises (MPGE), agreed to pay the settlement prior to the case going to trial.

The victim, Richard Murch, 68, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, had traveled to the casino in November of 2006 to celebrate his 45th wedding anniversary with his wife. According to court documents, Murch was retrieving an article of clothing from his truck when he was struck by a vehicle that had been parked two to three car lengths behind him. The vehicle shot forward after a valet reached in from outside the car to start the engine, not realizing that the driver of the vehicle had left the car in first gear without applying the parking brake.

As a result of the accident, Murch's right leg had to be amputated above the knee. He now either wears a prosthetic leg or utilizes a wheelchair.

In addition to the $2.9 million that will be paid by the MPGE and its insurance company, Liberty Mutual, Murch will also receive $100,000 from the insurance company of the driver whose vehicle was responsible for the accident.

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The family of a man who was killed in an auto accident in Wetumpka has been awarded a settlement of $3.5 million by a Chilton County jury. James Sanderson, 56, was killed last January when his van was rear-ended by a logging truck and he was crushed between that truck and another that was stopped in front of him. The accident took place as Sanderson was waiting to take a left at the intersection of Highways 14 and 170.

The logging truck that struck Sanderson was operated by Ken Gorum trucking and driven by Gary Fruge. Experts testified during the trial that Fruge was traveling between fifteen and twenty miles over the speed limit prior to crashing into Sanderson's vehicle. Fruge's truck also had faulty brakes, according to J. Cole Portis, the Sanderson family attorney.

The victim is survived by his wife, Annie M. Sanderson, and their three children, Derek, Josh, and Amy.

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A settlement has been reached in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the mother of a woman who was killed in an automobile accident in May 2009. Tracy S. Smith Cate, 32, of North Naples, was killed when her car was struck by an automobile driven by Riccardo Rivas II, a sixteen-year old driver who had received traffic citations for speeding and careless driving in the weeks prior to the accident.

According to reports from the Sheriff's Office, the accident occurred on Pine Ridge Road near Whippoorwill Lane, where Rivas failed to stop for a red light. He hit six other vehicles that were stopped or slowing down, including the vehicle driven by Cate.

The settlement awards $260,000 directly to Cate's two children, Gilbert M. Juarez, 14, and Alexia H. Liddlelow, who is nine years old. The money will be placed in trust funds, according to court documents. The settlement also included an additional $55,000 that is to be set aside for the estate of Tracy Cate, managed by her mother Nancy Jester.

The lawsuit names the teenage driver, along with his parents Dr. Riccardo Rivas and Cynthia Rivas. The majority of the settlement money came from the Rivas' automobile insurance policy limit.

Collier County Circuit Judge Hugh D. Hayes approved the settlement.

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A settlement has been reached in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a woman who was killed when equipment fell off of a tractor trailer and crushed her vehicle. The defendants in the case included the driver of the tractor trailer, Daniel Armstrong, and Pioneer Drilling Co.

In the police investigation following the accident, it was determined that Armstrong was speeding and that his truck's load was not properly secured. In addition, Armstrong admitted to previous driving infractions including driving under the influence. Because federal law stipulates that drivers who hold a commercial drivers license cannot have a DUI conviction on their records, Armstrong was not legally qualified to drive the tractor-trailer.

Armstrong also testified that he and Pioneer officials had changed and tampered with documents to make it appear as though he met all qualifications.

The company agreed to pay $16 million to the family of the woman who was killed in the September 2008 accident.

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A New York jury has awarded $5 million in damages to a man who suffered a severe head injury in a 2003 car collision with a tour bus. David Goodwick was in the backseat of a car traveling through the Lincoln Tunnel when a bus operated by Northeaster Tour, Inc. struck his vehicle from behind.

Goodwick suffered a closed head trauma that impaired his reasoning and motor skills, according to attorney, Jeff Korek. Korek argued that his client's injuries prevented him from fulfilling his duties as CEO of Leverage Marketing Group, a Connecticut-based company that he had founded. Because he was no longer able to run the business and manage his employees, Goodwick was forced to sell his company.

At the conclusion of the seven-week trial, Goodwick was awarded $1 million for past pain and suffering, $1 million for future pain and suffering, $1 million for past lost earnings, and $2 million for future lost earnings.

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In a verdict reached last month, a jury in Polk County, Iowa has awarded a combined $11.6 million to the victims of a June 2006 helicopter crash. Tony Wilson, a movie producer, was awarded $4.2 million for his injuries. Robert Schlotzhauer, a cameraman, was killed in the crash and his widow was awarded $7.2 million.

Wilson and Schlotzhauer were filming The Final Season, a movie about the 1991 Norway High School state championship baseball team. They were flying in a helicopter piloted by Richard Green of Rital Copter Service during a production shoot. According to the Des Moines Register, the helicopter crashed after hitting power lines along U.S. Highway 151.

Green was found to be completely at fault for Wilson's injuries and is required to pay all of his settlement. The helicopter pilot was found to be 75 percent responsible for Schlotzhauer's death and is required to pay three-fourths of the settlement awarded to his widow. The remaining 25 percent is to be paid by the owners of The Final Season.

The civil trial lasted five weeks and the $11.6 million settlement is believed to be one of the largest in Iowa state history.

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Santa Clara County has agreed to pay $2.3 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of a man who was killed in an accident caused by a sheriff's deputy who had fallen asleep at the wheel of his squad car. Matt Peterson, 29, was riding a bicycle when he was struck and killed by a police vehicle driven by Deputy James Council.

A second bicyclist was also killed in the accident and a third was seriously injured. Deputy Council hit the three bicyclists after falling asleep and crossing the center line into the other lane of the road.

The family members of the other victim killed in the accident have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county, the sheriff's office, and Deputy Council. A personal injury lawsuit has been filed by the surviving bicyclist. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the defendants hope to settle these lawsuits in the near future.

After pleading guilty to two charges of vehicular manslaughter, Deputy Council received 800 hours of community service and was sentenced to four months of jail. He has been demoted to a sheriff's technician and is no longer allowed to drive a police car.

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In an announcement last week by the California attorney general's office, the state will pay $335,000 to settle a lawsuit resulting from a 2007 car accident caused by then-state Senator Carole Migden. The victim, Ellen Butawan, sustained minor injuries after being rear-ended by the Democratic senator and filed a lawsuit in Solano County Superior Court against both the state of California and Migden.

Butawan was slowing down for a red light in Fairfield, California, when she was struck by Migden's state-issued Toyota Highlander. According to 911 calls that were made, the senator had been driving erratically for about thirty miles prior to the accident, speeding and weaving in and out of traffic on Interstate 80 and Highway 12.

Migden claimed that the medication she was taking to treat her leukemia might have caused her erratic driving on the day of the accident. According to the investigation by the California Highway Patrol, a contributing factor in the accident was the senator's use of her cell phone while driving.

After the accident, Migden had pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was fined $710. Her license was also suspended for several months.

Migden lost her seat in the Senate to fellow Democrat Mark Leno in the 2008 elections.

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