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A car accident is a dramatic experience that leaves many people feeling stunned and overwhelmed. After this particular incident, the first action people usually take is to check themselves for any worrying signs of a potential injury. And many tend to think just because they’re not bleeding and don’t show any bothersome symptoms that they are fine. This is actually not true, as some injuries usually take time before they develop and this is also when a person realizes that they could be seriously injured. Pursuing a car accident claim for your injuries is a fantastic option to consider once you find yourself with any injuries. On the other hand, hiring a car accident lawyer is another great way to ensure your claim meets state law requirements.

Different Ways Your Body Can Hide Potential Injuries

Every motorist who’s not keen on the road can easily cause a massive accident that can leave one and other people with substantial body injuries. What started as a smooth and peaceful journey, eventually transitions into a complete mode of shock and panic for everyone. In order to adjust, the body can feign pain by reducing blood flow, stimulating hormones, and increasing heart rate. This is why most healthcare providers advise people to immediately seek treatment after a car accident, even if they may just have mild symptoms or feel fine.

The adrenaline rush that sets in following a car accident tries to cope with the stressful situation by releasing a hormone called adrenaline. The body produces this hormone every time it encounters an abrupt and shocking turn of events, which it tries so hard to escape from.

An adrenaline rush function in the body is as follows:

• Boosts body strength for sometime
• Sharpens one’s focus
• Alters the pain threshold of a person

The rush of adrenaline that a person experience causes them to believe that they didn’t sustain any potential injuries from the accident. This is because the adrenaline rush usually masks these symptoms and thus tricks people into believing they’re not hurt.

Below are some symptoms of an adrenaline rush:

• An increased heart rate
• Increased brain speed
• Shallow breathing because of the relaxation of the airways
• The rerouting of blood toward muscles, resulting in an episode of severely shaking limbs.
• Light entering the eyes, which also subsequently affects the pupils.

An adrenaline rush tries to warn you that danger is imminent, so you should be very careful. Although an adrenaline rush can delay symptoms of your injuries, it doesn’t last that long like many people think. Thus, a person goes into a state of shock as a consequence.

This shock is often coupled with trauma and also leads to a sharp drop in blood flow through the body. Shock also means that the organs are not receiving sufficient oxygen as they should and, therefore, it’s important to seek medical attention straight away. Failure to immediately seek medical treatment could result in severe organ damage or failure and sometimes even death. 

Below are some signs that show a person could be in shock:

• Nausea feeling or vomiting
• A bluish tinge to the fingernails or lips
• Changes in behavior or mental state

Different Kinds of Potential Injuries With No Visible Symptoms

After the adrenaline rush fades away and a person is treated for shock, some injuries may remain hidden in the body. Some of these injuries with delayed symptoms are highlighted below.

Whiplash

This kind of injury occurs mainly due to a rear-end car accident, though it can occur in other types of accidents as well. The rapid movement of the head back and forth can severely attack the neck. In consequence, Whiplash results in torn or stretched muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck. Signs of possible whiplash, like swelling or bruising, may not develop until much later following the accident. While it’s very likely for a person to have a sore neck soon after an accident, the soreness may gradually turn into a severe stiffness over time.

Some frequently reported cases of whiplash may include:

• Muscle spasms and numbness in arms
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitis)
• Blurred vision among other vision problems
• Spinal cord injury may also occur, hence doing an X-ray, MRI, or a CT scan would be advisable for patients.

Concussion

The CDC (The Centers for Disease Control) defines a concussion as a blow, bump, or jolt to the head or penetrating head injury that impairs normal brain function. A person suffering from a concussion may develop mild symptoms that one can easily ignore. Some symptoms may take time before they appear and thus anybody who complains of a headache after a car accident could likely have a concussion. Patients who show possible signs of a concussion after an accident should seek medical treatment straight away to avoid health complications.

Some concussion symptoms may include:

• The patient appears dazed and confused
• The patient may be slow to answer simple questions
• The patient may lose consciousness, even for a short period.

Internal Bleeding

According to research, internal bleeding is among the most dangerous forms of silent injuries in the world. A patient may experience stomach problems, but there’s usually no clear sign that indicates a person is bleeding internally. Therefore, a licensed medical professional should be consulted right way for effective diagnosis and treatment. A physician may order imaging tests, such as a CT scan or X-ray. It’s also important to note that internal bleeding can easily bring more severe health complications in a patient if not treated straight away.

Allowing other people to take you to a hospital from around your area is also a brilliant idea. At least this way you’d receive the best medical care and patient experience possible, as well as have all the valuable evidence you’d need to pursue litigation. If the injuries you’ve sustained are due to the negligence of another motorist, you may be liable for compensation for all the losses incurred. These include, among others, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Otherwise, a car accident attorney could help value your claim and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Some symptoms of internal bleeding may include the following:

• Fatigue or severe weakness
• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Nausea

The Statute of Limitations

Some countries might give you about 2 or 3 years to file a car accident claim or to pursue civil action against the responsible party. Although this may sometimes seem like such a daunting and lengthy process, things can be rushed particularly when you’re dealing with drugs and other procedures. For injuries with delayed symptoms, most states’ legal time limit is usually one year and this time starts the moment these injuries were initially reported. If you’ve sustained injuries due to the negligence of another motorist, make sure you seek medical help right away and also ask a car accident attorney to determine your case in order to receive a high compensation.

Insurance Companies 101

A car insurance provider may issue you a settlement so you may drop your claim fast at competitive rates. Sometimes the amount of cash you’re paid for injury is sufficient enough to cover all the medical treatment you may ever need in the future.  However, it’s important to note that accepting this settlement offer could prevent you from pursuing further legal action later should your health or condition worsen.

This is because insurance company employees are tasked with protecting the company’s best interests above all else. This means if you spend more time at the hospital and, as long as you’ve agreed to the settlement offer, insurance companies won’t bother checking on you after your money gets finished. Also insurance companies are very competent, which means beating them at their own game would be extremely difficult.

Thus, it would be best to hire an experienced car accident attorney to deal with the insurance companies on your behalf and to ensure your financial future doesn’t go to waste. This would also bring you more peace of mind and remove any financial burden caused by the accident, knowing somebody somewhere is taking care of your best interests.

Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer

Many car accident attorneys know very well about the tactics insurance companies usually employ to assign blame, delay, or even to deny a claim. A competent car accident attorney does all they can to ensure they secure a fair deal out-of-court. If the defense doesn’t agree with the new arrangements and to pay you the settlement you deserve, the car accident attorney is always ready to go to trial.

Moreover, car accident lawyers usually represent their clients like their lives depend on it and would treat you with the utmost respect that’s second to none. Whether you wish to know more about the process or about the status of your case, a car accident attorney makes sure you’re aware of every single detail.

 Because each car accident case is different, even in the way they’re determined in court, it’s important to exercise patience in order to be awarded a high compensation. In other words, a car accident attorney guides you on pursuing civil litigation against anyone who’s responsible for your injuries and also aggressively represents you in court so you may get the compensation you’re worth.

Why You Should Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

With the crazy high numbers of licensed drivers around the world, every motorist has a duty to drive safely and to share the road in a responsible way to ensure people don’t get hurt or lose their lives altogether. Unfortunately, many motorists from different parts of the world are usually charged with reckless driving every day. Many frequent causes of accidents are due to distracted driving, drunk driving, drowsy driving, and poor driving habits as well as aggressive driving or road rage.

It only takes a second for a person’s eyes to lose track of the road, or for someone who’s driving while under the influence of alcohol to crash into your vehicle. Pursuing legal action against such drivers would make them be more careful on the road next time and thus the volume of car accident cases reported would drop significantly. Therefore, don’t hesitate to ask an attorney about your options for civil litigation following a car accident. Time is of the essence, which means you should act fast so that the claims process can start straight away. Otherwise, any delays could mean a missed opportunity for possible compensation.

A car accident attorney simply takes care of all your interests, particularly if you sustained delayed injuries from a dramatic road accident. And they ensure you don’t suffer any financial, physical, and emotional pain of any kind due to the negligent behaviors of another motorist. Many car accident attorneys also provide free-case evaluations, which means you have nothing to lose by choosing to visit a lawyer from around your area today.

Benefits of Filing a Legal Claim Early

The benefits of filing a personal injury claim early are many than most people think. Ideally, the sooner you pursue civil action against the responsible party, the more you’d likely increase your chances of getting a high compensation you deserve.

Below are some of the top benefits of filing a claim early:

Credibility

Filing a personal injury claim early is crucial because of the fact that you’d most likely be paid a high compensation you’re worth. The longer you’d take to file a claim, the more you’d cast doubt on people determining your case and thus could affect how much you should be paid for injuries. By acting fast soon after an accident happens, it could make people treat your case seriously and also work towards giving you the compensation you deserve.

Evidence

Evidence plays an important role in determining any car accident injury claim. But sometimes that same evidence may also vanish into oblivion as time goes by. A video footage carrying the evidence can be altered or go missing, and physical evidence can disappear the minute a person leaves the scene. Acting fast gives you and your attorney a good opportunity to collect as much evidence as possible to support your claim.

Witnesses

Eyewitnesses can come in handy when seeking valuable evidence in a legal claim. However, you should approach your witnesses fast as some may forget crucial facts that could make a big difference in your case. The more you act fast, the better the chance of hearing and gathering valuable evidence from witnesses.

How Long After Car Accident Can You Claim Injury?

After an injury, it’s important to find out how long it would actually take to receive the compensation you’re worth. More often than not, the amount of cash a person gets paid is based on a few factors, like how soon a person speaks with a lawyer and how competent an attorney is in representing clients.

This means the sooner a person acts and the more competent an attorney is, the more likely a person would receive the compensation they need. Otherwise, a car accident injury claim can take anywhere between weeks, months, and years to resolve according to a person’s needs and goals.

Some of the financial burdens a person would be compensated for include any financial loss they may have experienced in settling medical bills and dealing with any pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of enjoyment, as well as wrongful death.

Final Thoughts

After a car accident, the next thing you’d be worried about is concerning your recovery. And the financial hardships a person experiences after an accident can make healing particularly difficult. Pursuing a car accident for your injuries could help ease some of that financial burden and also give you more peace of mind as a consequence. It’s also important to be aware of time limits in place to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to get sufficient compensation for your injuries. For more queries about how long after car accident can you claim injury, make sure you contact an experienced car accident lawyer from around your area. The faster you act, the better the chances of being awarded the maximum compensation possible.

Getting car insurance is a very easy and straightforward process than most people think. Unlike other insurance like life or health insurance, it usually takes less than an hour for a person to be fully insured. Although many insurance companies appear to sell the same products with the same terms and conditions, they’re somewhat different in the way they work and operate. Therefore, you should check around carefully to ensure that you walk away with the right coverage every time. But how would you go about choosing the right coverage for you among the many companies around, and which car insurance company would issue you the quickest and most attractive insurance?…Read on to find out.

What Is Car Insurance?

Car insurance is nothing but a simple paper showing that you’ve entered an agreement with a certain insurance company. The insurance vows to protect you by providing financial support after you start paying an insurance premium to them. Insurance companies cover you from any financial loss incurred due to theft, accident, or complete car damage.

How Long Does it Take to Get Car Insurance?

If you have everything ready, you might be given your car insurance on the same date. It’s important to note that purchasing insurance through some agent could take longer than usual. But online is usually a very swift and easy process.

Also, you’ll first be asked for the following information so that your car insurance may be processed.

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Address Proof
• Driving License
• Vehicle Identification Number

Here’s an Easy Way to Get Car Insurance Online

#1 Receive Online Quote

Receiving quotes from different companies is the first step in getting the best car insurance online. This allows you to easily compare rates and find a great deal that’s within your budget every time. Simply submit the required information you’re asked for on-screen to get the online quotes.

#2 Choose the Best Fit for You

Once you’ve submitted all the essential details, a wide array of different results will be fetched and shown on screen so you may pick the quote that best matches your needs and goals.

#3 Get Insured

After you decide on the best quote, the next thing you need to do is proceed with the payment. That’s it, you’ve just paid for your first premium online!

How Long Does it Take to Get an Insurance Check From a Car Accident?

Although buying car insurance is quite a straightforward and easy process, getting an insurance check after someone gets into an accident is sometimes a very tricky affair. There are many factors that go into determining how long it would take for you to get car insurance money after an accident. For instance, if an accident was due to a driver’s negligence, the company is obliged to pay the specified insurance amount.

However, this payment won’t be made until you can actually prove that the accident occurred because of a driver’s negligence. And as you search for substantial evidence, you’d end up wasting a lot of time which would also delay your claim settlement process a great deal.  

In such a situation, it would be best to hire a vehicle accident lawyer. Not only will a car accident lawyer help you in gathering new substantial evidence, but he or she will also ensure that you get a fair settlement from the insurance company. Before you receive any money, you’ll be sent a release form by the insurer for you to sign after which you should send the release to the insurance company in question.

Keep in mind, the insurance company only pays the amount of money that you both have agreed upon and nothing else. And if everything goes well, you’ll have to wait for about 4-6 weeks to collect your claim check.

How Long Does it Take to Get an Insurance Check for a Totaled Vehicle?

A totaled car is a vehicle that has been damaged beyond repair. The insurance company also agrees with this theory and may also decide a vehicle totaled if the cost to do repairs exceeds the value of the car. To get the claim for a totaled vehicle, you should seek both collision coverage and comprehensive coverage. The best thing about these policies is that payment is released within a few days once everything is finalized.

Benefits of having comprehensive and collision coverage:

Comprehensive Coverage

This specific car policy is meant for vehicles that either usually disappears from theft, or get wrecked by any other incident besides a collision. In other words, comprehensive coverage allows you to file a claim when your vehicle is stolen or gets damaged because of some fire, tree fall, and so on.

Collision Coverage

This specific car policy covers you from the damage caused by collision with another vehicle. If your car collides with another vehicle and gets severely damaged, collision coverage is what you’d need to report the claim.

Specific Procedure Followed to Get an Insurance Check for a Totaled Vehicle is as Follows:

#1 First, report a claim.

#2 The insurer determines whether the vehicle is a total loss or could be repaired. If it’s repairable, the company estimates the costing based on repair costs.

#3 Both you and the insurance company finally agree upon the final price.

#4 If everything goes smoothly, all you have to do is fill in some little paperwork after which you should receive payments within a few days.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Vehicle Insurance Card?

Also known as Insurance Identification Card, insurance cards serve as documented proof to show that you actually have vehicle insurance. This card is usually sent to the specified registered address you used when applying for your policy, which can take about 5-10 business days.

An insurance card contains the following details:

• Personal Details
• Vehicle year and make
• Policy renewal dates
• Insurance policy number
• Insurance company name

How Can Someone Get an Insurance Card?

Insurance companies usually send these cards via mail, along with other important insurance details and declaration. You can also obtain this card by visiting the company’s website or contacting customer care.

Final Thoughts

Nowadays, getting car insurance is very easy and it would take less than an hour for a person to be insured. Hopefully, this handy guide has helped answer all the important questions you had about car insurance like—What is car insurance? How long does it take to get car insurance? How long does it take to get an insurance check from a car accident? And much more. We hope this particular article has also played a vital role in solving all your doubts.

If you’re an old driver, it’s very unlikely that you’ve never had a flat tire at some point in life. It happens all the time, and sometimes even after you’ve just checked that everything looks good. Although many motorists usually have a spare tire to make changing easier, some have no other option but to change to a small awkward tire that’s found in the trunk. This small awkward tire is normally called a donut tire, and it might be your only hope when you find yourself with a flat tire. This handy guide seeks to answer questions frequently asked by motorists about the donut tire.

What Is a Donut Tire?

Just like a spare tire, a donut tire is simply a replacement tire that’s stored inside a car to make changing easier when you experience a flat tire but lack the means to change to a regular tire right away. Because a donut tire is much smaller in size than the regular tires on your vehicle, it’s usually stored in the trunk where it can properly fit with no problems. It’s also less durable than other regular tires, which means it can’t cover as many miles or last that long as the ordinary tires would.

Why Shouldn’t You Drive on a Donut Tire?

Driving on a donut tire for a long time isn’t usually safe for both drivers and motorists at all. Here are some top reasons you shouldn’t drive on a donut spare tire.

Hampers the Speed

Donut tires are far less superior than regular vehicle tires. They also don’t usually perform well like the normal tires would. This is why you shouldn’t drive them quite as fast as the usual traditional tires. These tires are much smaller in size than the other tires that fit your vehicle, which means driving them any faster than 50mph is very risky.

Difficulty Braking and Handling

Because the tire is much smaller in size than other regular vehicle tires, the donut tire could likely develop some issues while driving with it in place. More often than not, the spare tire may make the vehicle lose its braking and handling power as well as make it become unstable when cutting sharp corners. The side on which you fix the tire also appears to dip due to its small size. You might experience something like a pull when on the road because of this issue.

All Safety Systems Are Usually Disabled

All the vehicle’s safety controls may not work properly when you’re rolling on a donut tire. The vehicle might become quite unstable and also lose its electronic traction control when you’re driving on a donut tire. All these issues usually go away once you place back the right tire that’s meant for your vehicle nevertheless.

Is a Donut Tire Universal?

Just like the usual regular tires, the donut tire isn’t universal and can’t be used for any vehicle. It’s important to use the donut spare for your specific car make and model in order not to directly affect its performance. These tires are also made to support a specific weight, which means if it’s more or less it could be risky for a person to drive on such wheels.

If you fix the wrong donut tire in your vehicle, you may experience some balancing problems that can easily turn into an ugly mess when cutting sharp corners. Always check that the tire you’re about to use is tailor-made for your vehicle every time to minimize the occurrence of an accident. If you can’t find a specific donut tire that matches the description of your car, seeking a tow service could be a safe bet.

Is it Okay to Place a Donut on the Front Tire?

Motorists shouldn’t place a donut tire in the front part of the vehicle at all. This is because the front weighs more than the back, meaning the tires at the front must support all that weight. A donut spare tire is relatively small and much lighter, so can’t bear all the weight at the front of the vehicle.

Moreover, the front tires also play an important role in ensuring the proper function of braking, steering, and even acceleration. You should take extra caution when you have this thin tire on the front. Make sure you’re driving slow, especially when cutting corners, and don’t get tempted to stop fast at any one time. If the service station you want to take your vehicle is a far distance, make sure you rotate the tires in order to bring a rear tire to the front and push the donut tire a little bit behind.

How Far Car You Drive on a Donut?

A donut tire is only meant to be a temporary fix for a flat tire until a person can safely reach the nearest service station where they can replace the tire. If you’re wondering how many miles can you put on a donut tire, depending on the specific make and model of your vehicle, many times it will range anywhere from 50-70 miles. And this is the maximum distance a person should drive on a donut tire every time. Otherwise, driving longer distances than the one mentioned above can do some serious damage to other vehicle parts, including the transmission if not careful.

How Fast Can You Drive on a Donut?

Because a donut tire is much smaller in size than regular tires, it can’t effectively manage the same stresses that standard tires deal with every day. Donut tires have less than the recommended tread depth of standard tires and are more of a stopgap than anything. This means it would be difficult for a donut tire to keep up with the speed of other tires when a vehicle is moving. For this particular reason, you shouldn’t do more than 50 mph on a donut. Otherwise, driving at higher speeds than this can easily put your life and those around you at risk because the wheel can come loose and cause swerving off the road.

How Much Air Should Be in a Donut Tire?

All donut tires should not exceed the prescribed inflation of more than 60 psi. This is the recommended inflation rate, which should also go hand-in-hand with the recommended speed and distance a vehicle should cover every time. Also bear in mind that a donut tire shouldn’t be used full time, as this would destroy the tire for not using it for its intended purpose. And once the donut tire gets damaged, you’d have no other option but to get a new one since it’s irreparable.

How Much Does a Donut Tire Cost?

The actual cost of a donut tire varies depending on the size, type, and quality. The tire you choose to buy should also match the specific description of your vehicle, or your manufacturer specifications every time. Many new vehicles have a space saver where you can safely store these tires. And donut spare tires are more cost-effective than regular tires and would cost you around $50 and $200, depending on the size, type, quality, and where you purchase them. Online stores many times appear to sell these tires at a cheaper price than your actual local tire retailer.

How Should I Drive With a Donut Tire?

Because donuts are more of a stopgap than anything before a person reaches the nearest service center to have a full-size tire change, your car’s performance may likely be affected when rolling on one. Below are some precautions you should take when driving with a donut every time.

• Drive slowly, at least no more than 50 mph
• Be prepared for compromised braking, handling, and cornering
• Make sure the tire pressure is correct at all times
• Also beware that some of your vehicle’s safety systems won’t be working properly

Final Thoughts

A donut tire is meant to provide a temporary solution when you don’t have the means to hire a tow car or get your tire fixed right away. All motorists are advised not to use it as you would any other ordinary tire since it’s not meant for long-term use. Otherwise, make sure to check that the spare is properly filled and in good condition before using it to ensure optimum road safety every time.

As a token of appreciation, maybe sometime you might find yourself in a happy mood and want to gift somebody else a car. Maybe your child just graduated from college, or your best friend is cash strapped and buying them a vehicle would mean the world to them. Although no money usually trades hands when gifting a car, many people still get confused and ask questions like “how do I transfer a car title to a family member?” This guide will help you get around the bases and also tell you what to do in order to successfully transfer a car title to another person.

#1 Clear Your Car Loan

You won’t be able to transfer a title or gift someone a vehicle if you don’t own it in person. If you have any outstanding balance on your car loan, think of how you can clear the debt and make sure you notify the lender once you do so to ensure everything is cool and you now own the vehicle in full. If a family member is purchasing the vehicle, there are always ways of adjusting the loan. Although if the car is meant to be a gift, the selling price is zero which means no money usually trades hands.

#2 Think About the Other Person’s Financial Situation

If you gift a vehicle to a loved one or family member, they’ll need the cash to pay for gas, insurance, maintenance and repairs. If it’s difficult for them to cover all these vehicle ownership costs and you too don’t want anything to do with these expenses, you should figure a way to gift them a car. It’s important to note that your immediate family member consists of your mother, your dad, your brother, your sister, your child, your partner, your relatives, and even your in-laws. Otherwise, anyone else won’t be considered as an immediate family member. If the new owner bears a different last name, you’ll need to prove the relationship in some way.

#3 Make Sure You Can Afford to Pay Gift Tax

Before you gift someone a vehicle, it’s important to note that you may be liable for paying gift tax on it. Although these requirements may change every year, a gift tax is vital particularly when the fair market value of a vehicle is more than $15,000 for singles or $30,000 for those who might have married. Otherwise, many times a gift tax usually range anywhere from 18%-40%.

#4 What About Sales Tax?

One of the greatest benefits of gifting someone a vehicle is that you don’t have to worry about sales tax if you already own it in person. Although vehicle sales tax varies from state to state, it can make a big difference when gifting a car to another person. For example, let’s say the vehicle sales tax in your country is 10% and you gift a $15,000 car, you can save $1,500 on sales tax. On the other hand, if you purchase a vehicle and then gift it, you would also pay the sales tax on the initial purchase.

#5 Draft a Bill of Sale

A bill of sale is simply a dated, legal document that identifies both the former and new vehicle owner. Without a bill of sale in place, you may still be liable for the vehicle you gifted. Therefore, you should quickly draft a bill of sale to ensure you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle should anything happen. But how do you sign a car title over to someone, or how do you sign over a car title as a gift? These are the kind of questions many people ask when gifting a vehicle. Also how to fill out the car title for a private sale is fairly straightforward than most people think.

In the bill of sale, simply fill in your name as the seller and the family member’s name as the buyer. You should also fill in the odometer reading and the word “gift” in the sale price box. To finalize, make sure that you and the person receiving the gift both sign and date the bill in order to validate the contract you’ve just agreed upon.

A bill of sale should include:

• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Make and Model of the vehicle
• Odometer disclosure statement
• Purchase price of the vehicle

#6 Transfer Your Car Title

After you sign and date the title, the next thing you need to do is transfer your title in order to change vehicle ownership. Transferring a car title to someone else is easy, all you have to do is visit your local DMV, fill out some paperwork, and pay a small fee. After you’ve met and fulfilled all the specified requirements, the department will take care of everything else and give the new owner a temporary registration as well as mail them the new title. Make sure to check your country’s laws to learn more about title transfer laws and any associated fees.

Insure the New Owner

Technically, the new car owner can’t legally drive around as they wish unless they’re covered by some auto insurance. If they already have a policy in their name, all they have to do is check with their insurance agent and add your gifted car to that particular policy. Otherwise, if this is the person’s first car, they will be asked to provide some more information in order to get a new policy.

Final Thoughts

Nowadays, you can easily pass a vehicle on to a loved one or a friend without much hassle and without even paying any sales tax or excise tax as some people call it in some countries. In fact, this is also such an excellent way to give a vehicle a second life and to put a happy smile on another person’s face whom you value much in life. Since transferring a car title varies from state to state, it’s important to check that you’ve met and fulfilled all the specified requirements before another person can own the vehicle outright. Hopefully, this guide on how do I transfer a car title to a family member has helped everyone figure out how they can easily transfer a car title to a loved one or family member.

After the vehicle gets fixed and the insurance company settles all claims, many people would like to continue with their business like nothing ever happened. But car accidents don’t just disappear, they end up on your driving record and usually affect how much you pay for car insurance. You might be wondering, how long does an accident stay on your driving record? Most providers use it for some years to determine whether or not they should insure you and it also helps them set your premium.

Additionally, insurers also review your driving history, where you live, and whether you were at fault among other factors to determine your final car insurance premium. If you’ve somehow managed to drive accident-free for quite long, your previous violations may be scraped off and you can start paying for your normal coverage like before.

How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Driving Record?

An accident can remain on your motor vehicle record for years, even if someone else caused the accident and not you. If you’re the one who’s responsible, any tickets issued appear on this file as well so that everybody can view the history of your driving record. More often than not, accidents and violations stay on your motor vehicle record for about 3-5 years before falling off.

For potential violations, like a DUI or hit-and-run, such offenses can last for about 10 years or even more based on their severity. Also, it’s important to note that the actual length an accident stays on your motor vehicle record varies by company and state in which a person stays. In fact, many countries use a “points” system to fast-track any violations and sometimes you can have your license canceled because of racking up too many points.

For example, in California points for violations, like making an illegal turn or speeding, usually stay on your driving record for about 3 years. More substantial violations, like a DUI or hit-and-run, usually stay on your motor vehicle record for about 13 years. Even if a person is not liable, every accident should be reported right away and should appear on a person’s record if property damage exceeded $1000 or if someone was injured or died, according to the DMV. Make sure you visit your state’s Department of Motor Compare Vehicles website for more details on how different countries deal with violations linked to various accidents.

How Long Does an Accident Affect Your Insurance?

After a violation or accident drops off your DMV record, it doesn’t affect your vehicle’s insurance rates anymore. More often than not, most insurers typically check the past few years of your driving history to determine whether or not they should scrap off your premium increase. Once the reported violations and accidents are dropped from your DMV record, you can start paying for your normal coverage like before without being penalized by insurers.

Most auto insurance companies usually check the past 5 years of your driving record, so if you had a violation or accident like 6 years ago, your rate won’t be affected in any way. For some providers, it could be even a much shorter amount of time, like the past 3 years. Otherwise, if you fear your motor insurance rates could be high as a result of an accident you caused earlier, as long as you maintain a clean record going forward, you should have nothing to worry about. Those high rates will eventually drop before you even know it.

Also, it’s important to note that different countries have different regulations about how they deal with accidents, and how insurers should calculate premiums for certain accidents and violations. Different states also have different laws that govern how far back insurance providers can go in your history to determine whether or not they should drop a premium hike after an accident.

Can Insurance Rates Hike After an Accident?

First, check to see whether your specific coverage provides accident forgiveness for accidents that drivers and motorists cause. Many policies have this option available, although sometimes you have to pay extra to enjoy the benefits of such a policy. Particularly for first-time offenders, they’ll likely be given the option to renew after their very first accident. But if the accident forgiveness option is lacking on their policy, or if they’ve been in more than one accident, then a premium increase should be expected.

Sometimes a person’s rates can rise by around 50% and 100% after an accident. And this depends on a few factors like where a person stays, the severity of the accident, how many claims they’ve filed before, and how long they’ve been with their current insurance company and so on. If the violation is something substantial, like a DUI or somebody had multiple accidents in a short period of time, most insurers might refuse to renew their policy once it expires. Make sure you maintain a clean driving record every time to keep your insurance rates at a minimum.

What Is Accident Forgiveness?

Some insurance companies provide accident forgiveness. Many times this specific package is usually issued to motorists and drivers with clean driving records. Ideally, accident forgiveness ensures your rates won’t rise from a first at-fault accident of which you’re responsible. However, if you get in another at-fault accident within a certain period, that particular second accident usually counts as your first and thus your rates go up as a result.

In order to qualify for accident forgiveness, most insurers require you to stay accident-free for some years. Otherwise, motorists who are found to have been in multiple accidents within a certain period may not qualify for this particular policy nonetheless.

But it Wasn’t My Fault!

It sounds unfair that a person’s rates would actually rise if someone else crashed into them. Whether or not your rates should go up, all this depends on how long you’ve been with a specific insurance company and the state in which you live. Even if you’re dealing with a world-class insurer, doesn’t mean you’re safe from a rate hike as these cases have been reported elsewhere and been experienced by many not-at-fault motorists after an accident.

The good news is that some countries are against this act. Some countries, like Oklahoma and California, have laws in place that prevent providers from increasing rates of other drivers and motorists after being involved in an accident that wasn’t their fault.

Who Decides If Someone Is At Fault?

Every time your car gets in an accident, your provider starts investigation right away based on the data from the police or the collision reporting department. Insurance companies are tasked with finding someone whom they can blame for the accident based on the Fault Determination Rules set by the state.

These rules clearly articulate every possible accident scenario and determine which motorist is at fault based on the final results. Unfortunately, should an insurer find you’re more than 25% at fault, your insurance rate becomes compromised and thus rises like that of someone’s who’s 100% at fault.

 If you’re not satisfied with the final outcome, you can always appeal the verdict to the company’s ombudsman. If you still don’t agree with the decision, you can make a further appeal to the province’s ombudsman. If you’re involved in a fender bender but choose not to report it, it can appear on your motor vehicle record also as an at-fault accident should another person report about it.

How Do Insurers Know About Your At-Fault Accidents?

All insurance companies have a place where they document and file all reported claims. They can also easily retrieve your driver’s abstract with a simple request, which will show all violations and tickets on your motor vehicle record in the last 3 years. Insurance companies can also pull up your record using your driver’s license number.

When you’re hunting for a specific policy to cover your vehicle, the broker will first ask you questions about your driving record before they can find you a quote based on your answers. If you have accidents and other violations you don’t tell your broker about, you may be able to purchase a policy at a fair price. But sometimes the same brokers may also ask for your Autopus record, and the final quote you’re issued will be based on what’s in the system.

Even if your broker doesn’t ask for your Autoplus record, doesn’t mean that you have them fooled. If you happen to report a claim any time in the future and it turns out that you gave the wrong information about your driving history, your claim could easily be denied. Your insurer may also refuse to renew your policy for misrepresentation, which would hurt your insurance rate much more severely than an at-fault accident.

It’s important not to tell lies when you’re shopping for auto insurance or any other policy. Besides, an at-fault accident can easily be dropped off your record if you stay accident-free for several years. Also if your driving record is not that attractive, there’s a good variety of insurance companies out there that would still be happy to insure you.

Tips on How to Lower Your Insurance Rates

If you value your insurance company a lot and would like to continue working with it, your rates might go back to the initial price once all violations and any at-fault accident fall off your driving record. But there are other ways drivers and motorists can save cash on auto insurance while playing the waiting game. First check what discounts you could be eligible for in order to reduce your rates. Checking with your agent would be a good start when you want to know for sure what you might qualify for.

Below are a few ways to save money on auto insurance:

• Pay your premium early and in full
• Take a defensive driving class
• Sign up for electronic statements
• Install anti-theft devices in your vehicle
• Build your home and car insurance
• Shop around for better and more cost-effective quotes

Final Thoughts

If you receive a speeding ticket or experience an accident, this doesn’t usually go away even after a vehicle gets fixed or someone gets compensated from filing a claim. All this data stays on your driving record for some years and usually dramatically affects how much you pay for auto insurance. Luckily, all violations on your driving record don’t last forever like many people think nonetheless. Hopefully, this guide above has helped explain how long does an accident stay on your driving record. And after reading this post, all motorists everywhere will become aware and become more careful on the road next time so that they may continue paying for their coverages at a fair price without risking being penalized.

A rusty vehicle looks ugly and usually lowers the overall value as well as the aesthetics of a car to a great extent. Rust can also make a vehicle fail its safety inspection and become difficult to sell. Every motorist encounters this problem at some point in their lives, so it’s important to find an effective way that would address this issue every time it occurs. Although some rusts can be potentially fatal based on where they are located, more often than not, it’s nothing more than a cosmetic issue. Without further ado, here is a guide on how to fix major rust on a car.

What Causes Rust On Vehicles?

Rust, a yellow-brown or reddish flaky coating of iron oxide, occurs due to a few things—weather being the biggest factor. Long exposure of metal in various weathers may make it start to oxidize. Chrome and metal bumpers frequently get attacked by rust, though scratched or chipped areas of a car are even more vulnerable. Other factors that may cause a vehicle’s body to rust include, among others, long exposure to the sun, rain, and other extreme temperatures.

Vehicles in coastal regions report a higher number of rust cases than cars based in other parts. This is because salty seawater is an arch-enemy and usually accelerates rust in metals. Climates that are extremely hot or cold also have a similar effect. Also issues like improper cleaning of vehicles, long outside exposure, and failing to wax the vehicle could also maximize the risk of body rust. Make sure to keep your car clean every time to significantly minimize the speed with which body rust could occur.

Types of Vehicle Rust

Body rust can ruin your car in many different ways, and the problem may escalate even further if you delay long to fix the issue. What seems like small surface rust to you may eventually start to penetrate deeper into the vehicle’s body parts if not careful. More often than not, most body rusts start from the inside of a panel and work their way outward. Motorists who take too long to fix body rust risk getting their vehicles covered with some serious rust holes over time.

Below are 3 different types of body rust frequently found in vehicles:

Surface Rust

Most Often, surface rust usually affects the top part of a vehicle’s body panels. This kind of rust appears in chips and nicks in the vehicle’s top protective paint coating. Treating rust found in this specific area is a very easy and simple process. You’ll also achieve real and long-term results when you choose to fix the body rust right away and stop it from spreading further.

Keeping a small bottle of automotive paint that matches the color of your vehicle in your garage is an excellent way to address most surface rust issues. At least this would help you quickly touch-up the minor scratches and nicks conspicuous on your vehicle every time they occur.

Scale Rust

Many times scale rust appears when you allow the surface rust to continue spreading further until it starts to pit the vehicle’s body. Chemical reactions that take place cause rust that begins to ruin the metal of the car’s body panel itself. Salt spray and road salt are reported to be the main cause of premature rust in trucks and cars across all Northern states in America. This is because the salts initiate a chemical reaction that further accelerates the corrosion process. As a consequence, scale rust starts to cut through the surface of a vehicle’s body panel and ends up ruining the metal’s overall appearance and integrity.

Penetrating Rust

Penetrating rust is simply the kind of rust that creates holes in a vehicle’s body parts after reaching its peak stage. You’ll need to change the affected parts or replace the entire body panels of your vehicle anew to fix the damage. The best way to prevent penetrating rust is to fix the surface rust immediately before it starts spreading further than usual. Also occasionally applying some fluid film to the undercarriage of your car is another great way to protect the inner body panels and chassis from damage arising from road salts and road debris. The marine industry has been using this versatile liquid for many years to protect their equipment and machines from rust.

Tools and Materials Used in Surface Rust Repair

Removing any surface rust takes about 20 minutes to complete. Other types of rusts like scale rust and penetrating may require more time to repair than small areas. While making repairs, it’s also important to factor in the time it would take for both the paint and finishing coats to dry. Zero Rust, a combination of both a primer and base paint, doesn’t require you to use a separate primer and thus a great way to save time. Other important tools and materials you’ll need before you start the job are highlighted below.

• Painter’s tape
• Plastic sheeting
• Wire brush
• Sandpaper (ranging from 180-grit to 600-grit, or finer)
• Wax and grease remover
• Body filler and applicator
• Lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth
• Automotive paint to match your car or truck

Tip: When working with sanding and auto paint, it’s essential to protect your skin, eyes, and lungs. Make sure to wear a pair of gloves, goggles, and a painting mask to ensure safety at all times.

How to Remove Small Rust on a Vehicle

The process to repair these kinds of rusts, depend on how severe the vehicle’s body has been affected. Surface rust is a simple and easy process, much like fixing a scratch or paint defect in a car. On the other hand, scale rust and any other substantial body rust may require more effort to fix. However, if you have the right tools and materials, the process is fairly straightforward than you think.

As a rule of thumb, it’s important to repair signs of surface rust immediately after you spot them. First, prepare the vehicle and clean the affected part. Next, sand the rust away with a grinding disk or sandpaper until you come across some clean metal. After all the rust comes out, use a base layer like Zero Rust to protect the area from further corrosion.

 This paint is specially made to seal the affected surface from oxygen, making it an excellent product due to its superior resilience when it comes to fighting body rust. After the paint finally dries, you can apply some automotive paint to blend the fixed surface into the rest of your vehicle’s body color.

Here’s an easy way to repair small surface rust on a car or truck:

#1 Prepare the Area

Place plastic sheeting over your car or truck, and make sure to leave a small gap on all sides around the treatment area.

#2 Don Safety Gear

Wear your protective gloves, eyewear, and a dust mask to ensure safety.

#3 Clean the Surface

Grab some wax and grease remover and clean the area that you’re about to sand. Otherwise, you’d risk contaminating the metal if you choose not to clean the area before sanding.

#4 Sand Away the Body Rust

Grab a grinding disc or a piece of sandpaper and sand out the rust spot, along with the paint surrounding the rusted area. Work the area until you come across a shiny metal base.

#5 Clean the Surface Again

Clean the area again with some grease remover and wax in order to apply paint and primer.

#6 Wipe off Dust

Find a tack cloth or lint-free cloth to wipe away any dust and dirt from the area.

#7 Apply Automotive Primer and Paint

You don’t need to find a separate primer if you’re using Zero Rust paint. Depending on which specific primer and paint you use, the material should dry within 30 minutes after application. Both humidity and temperature may affect how long the paint takes to dry as well. Apply another second coat as usual after the first one dries. Once the paint dries again, scuff it and clean it carefully before applying some topcoat automotive paint.

#8 Buff the Finish

Polish the treated surface with a lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth.

#9 Wait for a Wax

Finally, make sure not to wax your car or truck for about a month in order for the finish to completely cure.

Tools and Materials for Scale Rust Repair

Scale rust treatment requires most of the same tools and materials you’d use to fix surface rust. Here are a few items you’ll need to repair scale rust.

• Paint tape
• Plastic sheeting
• Grinding discs and sandpaper
• Wax and grease remover
• Wire brush
• Grinding tool
• Body filler and applicator
• Lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth
• Automotive paint to match your vehicle

Tip: Make sure you protect yourself every time you’re working with sanding and automotive paint. It’s important that you wear some protective gear, such as gloves, goggles, and a painting mask to ensure safety at all times.

How to Fix Scale Rust on a Truck or Vehicle

Scale rust pits the metal and thus does more damage than surface rust. You’ll need to get more creative and aggressive with your techniques in order to repair scale rust. If you don’t treat the issue at hand, the rust could become even more severe and start to cut through the metal completely. Also bear in mind, it will take longer than usual and you’ll burn more energy in order to fix scale rust.

Here’s an easy way to remove scale rust on vehicles:

#1 Prepare the Area

Grab some plastic sheeting and cover the area surrounding the rusty spot. Tape it in place and leave a small gap about 6 inches on all sides around the rusty portion to create sufficient working space.

#2 Don Safety Gear

Protect yourself by wearing some protective gear like gloves, goggles, and a dust mask.

#3 Clean the Surface

Use some grease remover and wax to clean the area you’re about to sand. This will ensure that you don’t contaminate the metal when you begin the sanding process.

#4 Grind the Rust

Find a grinding device with a 2″ or 3″ grinding disc to get rid of the rust. If the scale rust appears heavily concentrated and stuck in place, start with an aggressive grit like 36 and subsequently shift to a less aggressive grit as the rust diminishes into oblivion.

#5 Mix Prep Step

Mix Zero Rust Prep Step with hot water. Find a spray bottle and fill it with this solution. Lastly, spray around the ruined area as usual.

#6 Fill in Depressions

Grab some body filler and fill in dents conspicuous in the pitted metal.

#7 Sand the Area Smooth

Grab a sanding block and sandpaper to smooth out the metal, body filler, and surrounding paint edges. This will also help clear all sanding grooves left from a previous stage.

#8 Clean the Surface Again

Wipe away dirt, dust, and any debris around and clean the area carefully with some grease remover and wax before applying paint and primer. Grab a microfiber cloth and wipe away any dust from the area.

#9 Apply Paint and Primer

After the surface becomes clean, apply 2 coats of Zero Rust Paint or primer to the area you’ve just cleaned. Allow each coat to dry before you apply another. Once the area dries, sand the whole surface again with a 600 grit sandpaper, clean around with grease remover and wax, and subsequently topcoat with some automotive paint that matches the color of your vehicle.

#10 Polish

Polish the dried coating with a microfiber cloth.

#11 Wait for a Wax

Make sure not to wax the freshly restored area for at least 30 days to allow for a complete and effective finish.

Tip: Don’t topcoat over the Zero Rust paint if the area you’re working on is the frame or undercarriage of your vehicle. Use some Fluid Film instead, for a more effective and double chassis protection. This liquid creates a barrier against many rust-causing agents your vehicle may experience on the road.

How to Fix Major Rust on a Car

More often than not, rust that digs deep into the metal or that creates holes may require a new panel. Also for severe body rust that can’t be fixed through the process above, you’ll need to cut out and replace the whole body panel or change a few parts.

While it may seem appropriate to patch only the affected part, it’s often easier to do a full replacement than most people think. Adding a new patch means that you have to first cut out a piece of the original panel that has been severely damaged and subsequently weld the patch in place to get rid of any holes and rust present. The finished appearance is much dependent on a person’s welding skills level and experience. For large areas in which body lines frequently overlap, installing the body panel anew is the best option.

How to Protect Your Car from Rust

Make sure that you always park your vehicle somewhere in a carport or garage. You can also wrap it in a ready-fit car cover if the above option doesn’t work for you. The custom-fit vehicle cover material should be of high quality to ensure minimal scratching of the protective coatings. Keeping the vehicle ultra-clean also goes a long way in reducing the levels of body rust it would have.

Also substances like dirt, dust, and pollen contain harsh abrasives that could leave a vehicle open to body rust. Thus, effective cleaning of vehicles could help address this particular issue a great deal. Finally, make sure not to leave your vehicle outside for a long time and avoid parking your car in areas that are extremely hot or cold to minimize body rust.

Final Thoughts

Any signs of rust on a car should be addressed right away, or else the rust would become more severe and difficult to treat if allowed to further spread. Rust can also greatly reduce the overall value of a car and make it lose its aesthetic appeal a great deal. It could also cause some structural issues that may make the vehicle unsafe to drive and difficult to sell. Hopefully, this handy guide on how to fix major rust on a car has helped every motorist figure a way to eliminate body rust as well as preserve the integrity and appearance of their vehicle.