Worried Your Vehicle May Be Affected by a Safety Recall?

Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 653 vehicle recalls due to manufacturing defects. These defects affected nearly 30 million cars. That is a lot to keep track of to keep you and your family safe.

How Do I Check Safety Recalls for My Vehicle? Once a vehicle is recalled due to a safety defect, the car manufacturer must notify registered owners by mail. However, that is not always reliable. By law, each on-road vehicle has a unique 17-digit number, known as a vehicle identification number (VIN). This number can be found on the bottom, left-hand side of your vehicle’s windshield. The VIN can also be found on your vehicle’s registration card. The VIN search checks for ongoing safety recalls, recalls from the past 15 years, and recalls issued by major vehicle manufacturers.

The VIN search will not cover completed recalls, international vehicles, some small, specialty vehicle brands, older recalls (more than 15 years old), and very recent safety recalls. This is due to NHTSA not having a complete list of affected VINs. NHTSA recommends checking for recalls twice a year. You can also sign up to receive email alerts when there has been a recall for your vehicle.

What Do I Do If My Vehicle Is Under Recall? If you have found that your car has been affected by a safety recall, contact your local authorized dealership. If you have received a letter from the manufacturer, bring it with you. If you do not have a letter, the manufacturer is still required to fix or replace the defect free of charge. NHTSA monitors each manufacturing defect recall to make sure those affected receive safe, free, and practical solutions.

What If I Have Been Injured Due to a Safety Defect in My Vehicle? If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident due to a manufacturing defect, an experienced product liability lawyer could help you seek coverage for your medical bills and/or wage losses. At Mike Love & Associates, LLC, we defend our clients aggressively in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. Call us today at (936) 632-2000 to discuss potential next steps for your injuries.

Attention Parents: Halloween Injuries Happen to Children

Millions of children in the United States are eagerly anticipating Halloween at the end of the month. Halloween is a free-for-all for children to receive free candy. For parents, it is an opportunity to meet neighbors. However, you should be aware that this holiday can also lead to injuries. Common Halloween injuries may include Slips and falls, dog bites, and car accidents.

Slip-and-fall accidents: Broken walkways, clutter, and other hazards can contribute to slips and falls. Brain injuries and broken bones are two examples of injuries that could occur after a slip and fall accident, such as a dog bite. Don’t expect your neighbors to lock up their pets before trick-or-treating begins.

Dog Bites: Dog bites are a possible Halloween hazard. Many owners assume their dogs will be friendly with strangers. Unfortunately, dogs may interpret trick-or-treaters and their parents as intruders.

Car Accidents: Car accidents are more likely to occur on Halloween (and other holidays). There are typically more vehicles on the road. Drunk driving is also more common on Halloween. Unfortunately, this means that pedestrian and car accidents could lead to injuries or even death while trick-or-treating—Halloween decoration injuries.

Believe it or not, Halloween decorations can also contribute to accidents. Heated surfaces, candles, or other types of decorations may pose fire hazards. Halloween costumes made of flammable materials can ignite when they come into contact with fire hazards.

Depending on the circumstances, if you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may need to recover compensation for a Halloween-related injury. For instance, a premises liability claim could be filed for some of the situations described above. It would depend on the specifics of the case. This is why you should consider speaking with an attorney if you or your child suffers harm on Halloween. Mike Love & Associates, LLC is a Texas personal injury law office. To schedule a complimentary consultation, please don't hesitate to contact our office at (936) 632-2000 or complete our online review form.

Five Auto Insurance Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

Come armed with knowledge, and you will get the best auto insurance deal for you and your vehicle. However, go into it with only the slightest grasp of what you should be looking for, and it could cost you. Therefore, you need to know what to look out for.

Avoid Making These Five Common Auto Insurance Mistakes

Some of the most common mistakes that people make when it comes to auto insurance include:

• Not understanding the coverage you need or have already purchased.

As a vehicle owner, you should know what coverage you need and what you already have. You should feel free to shop around for auto insurance. Just be cautious. Insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind. Remember, these companies are first and foremost concerned with making money.

• Mistakenly believing that you are covered for everything.

Not all auto insurance policies are the same. Despite what you might be paying in deductibles and premiums, different policies will cover different things. Make sure you know what is in your policy. For instance, do you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP)? Although it is required in Texas, you can be tricked into signing out of this common protection policy. The same is true of coverage for underinsured or uninsured motorists (UM/UIM coverage).

• You take the minimum coverage required by your state.

The minimum coverage will not cover all potential hazards on roadways. A decent policy can help cover medical bills, funeral costs, and other expenses associated with a motor vehicle accident. For this reason, you must avoid taking a policy with minimum coverage.

• You choose Med Pay instead of PIP.

You should ensure your policy includes PIP coverage. PIP coverage can help pay for many expenses that occur after a motor vehicle accident involving injuries. On the other hand, Med Pay covers hospital bills, but not lost income. Med Pay is also subject to subrogation. This means you will have to repay Med Pay benefits if you obtain a settlement. PIP coverage is not subject to subrogation in Texas.

• You focus only on price.

Do not just go for the lowest deductible. Find the policy that best suits you, even if you have to pay a little more. It will be worth it in the end if something happens. The Texas auto accident lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are dedicated to the community. If you have questions about your insurance policy, we may be able to help you find answers. You may also contact us for a free consultation if you or a loved one was harmed in a car accident.

Are Red Light Cameras Really Decreasing Car Crash Numbers?

Over 438 U.S. municipalities, in 36 of the most populous states, have used red light cameras in the past year. These electronic monitoring programs are designed to stop drivers from speeding, running red lights, and preventing cross-street collisions and other traffic accidents. Red light cameras have been effective at getting drivers to stop at red lights more often.

A study in Virginia found that red lights reduced drivers running red lights by 67 percent. However, in 2014, 36,675 people died in traffic accidents. The preceding year saw 2.3 million people injured in traffic accidents. Clearly, red light cameras have little effect on traffic safety. Are Red Light Cameras Worthless? While red light cameras are likely to stop more drivers from running red (or even yellow) lights, they have not been shown to have much impact on stopping traffic accidents at red lights and intersections. A study in Houston found that when red light cameras were removed, angle accidents (such as lane departure crashes) increased by 26 percent. All other types of accidents decreased by 18 percent, however. Given that a third of Houston’s traffic accidents are angle crashes, it seems that the red light camera program’s drawbacks outweigh its benefits.

Furthermore, the study concluded that there was no evidence that red light cameras reduced traffic accidents. This would seem to indicate that they are not an effective way to make the country’s roadways safer. Different traffic safety measures are called for, such as improving driver education, stiffer penalties for traffic violations, and more awareness of potential traffic hazards and what is likely to cause an accident. Questions about your rights after a car accident? Contact the Texas car accident lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC for a free consultation.

Common Causes of Texas Distracted Driving Accidents

“Supernatural” TV star and Austin native Jensen Ackles recently spoke about the dangers of distracted driving in a PSA for the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT. The ad is part of a new “Heads up, Texas” campaign launched by TxDOT in response to recent distracted-driving accidents in Texas involving mobile phone use. Ackles raised awareness about the dangers of texting while driving and how your phone can cause serious accidents. It’s also now against the law in Texas.

Why Distracted Driving Is Dangerous

A texting-while-driving ban passed the Texas Senate last year. House Bill 62 was passed as a statewide ban on reading and sending electronic messages from a cell phone while operating a vehicle. This ban is in response to alarming statistics relating to distracted driving in Texas. Roughly 100,000 of the reported car accidents in Texas last year, or 19 percent, involved some distracted driving. These distracted driving accidents resulted in 452 deaths statewide. Keep in mind that some Texas cities have different restrictions on phone use while driving. For example, Austin has a stricter ordinance that completely prohibits cell phone use while driving in city limits. If you have been involved in a car accident due to someone else’s distracted driving, you could potentially seek compensation for your injuries. Contact Mike Love & Associates, LLC for a free consultation with a car accident attorney about your situation.