CT YOURSELF URED DRIVERS
DON’T BE A TURKEY
PIP (Personal Injury Protection)
PIP is no-fault insurance and will cover you regardless of whether you or the other driver was at-fault for the accident. In Texas, there is a mandatory $2,500 PIP requirement which can only be waived in writing. In Texas, most PIP claims cover up to $2,500 in medical bills, lost wages (up to 80%), and certain household duties that can no longer be performed on account of your injury. Many insurance companies also offer up to $10,000 or more in PIP coverage, but this must be requested.
If You’re Tired, Don’t Get Behind the Wheel
Medical Payments (Med Pay)
There’s nothing like a belly full of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing to put us to sleep. But if you feel like you need to put your head down for some quick shut-eye, do it before getting behind the wheel. Many Americans report feeling tired throughout Thanksgiving Day. It can be a busy day, so that feeling of sleepiness while driving might seem perfectly normal. However, drowsy driving is incredibly dangerous and is believed to account for as many as 30% of traffic accidents. Research by the National Sleep Foundation states that drowsy driving can be as dangerous as driving while inebriated. After being awake for 18 hours, drivers exhibit the same responses as those who had a blood alcohol level of 0.05%. When they were awake for 24 hours, it was similar to having a blood alcohol level of 0.10%. For context, a blood alcohol level of 0.08% is considered drunk.
Med Pay provides coverage regardless of fault in an accident. It is important to remember that Med Pay only covers medical bills. Med Pay is offered in Texas but not mandatory.
If you have questions about any of this, don’t hesitate to call us at 915.584.8777. We’re here to not only help you get the compensation you deserve after a car accident, but also help you navigate the fine print of your insurance policy.
GHTS
If you experience any of the following while driving, it’s a good sign that it’s time to pull over:
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• Trouble focusing • Heavy eyelids
As someone who likes to run, it’s been a little hard to keep up on that, but I’ve found other ways to get out and get moving. Golf is a good example. Before I started my law firm about seven years ago, I used to golf fairly frequently. Over the past seven years, I’ve golfed less than 10 times — until recently, anyway. During the pandemic, I decided to take it up again. It’s helped me to get outside more as well as helping improve my mood. When I’m outside and moving, I can clear my thoughts. It gives me something different to focus on. Finally, I’m thankful for our clients and our team. Our clients have been patient with us every step of the way. They’ve been understanding as we’ve worked to adapt while still giving them the highest level of service we’ve always strived to deliver. And our team has done an exceptional job delivering that service. Over the past several months, we’ve delivered some phenomenal results for clients, and I’m so proud of them.
• Constant yawning • Bobbing your head • Drifting from your lane • Missing an exit • Being unable to remember the last stretch of road
When sleep starts to set in, many drivers roll down the window to get a blast of air or turn up the radio extra loud. Unfortunately, these tactics only startle a driver back into alertness for a short period of time, so it’s best to take a few precautions to make sure you and your passengers get home safely. If you feel drowsy while driving, the National Sleep Foundation recommends safely pulling over to take a short nap. Alternatively, drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee, or, if possible, switching drivers can also help. The best ways to prevent drowsy driving are getting enough sleep, avoiding driving when you would typically be in bed, and making sure you don’t have an undiagnosed sleep disorder, which is something not many people consider!
So, thank you for sticking with us this roller coaster of a year. We hope you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
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