Accidents happen. We have your back.
Using your phone’s camera backup Collision Advisors’ contact information just in case. You never know when you may find yourself needing advice at the scene of a collision. As an alternative, you may download this contact card.
Great technical and self-aware digital reconstruction of the Kobe Bryant Animated Crash.
This reconstruction provides non-pilots with a very good idea of what could go wrong with poor weather and the unforgiving land features of Southern California. At 17:45:24, within a minute before the collision, you can hear the pilot respond to air-traffic control. The pilot relayed his intention to climb to over 4,000 ft. The pilot was likely unaware or disoriented within the fog as he was descending at roughly 2,000 ft per minute. Had the pilot been able to see clearly, this accident would have likely been avoided.
The work by the animator to reconstruct the path of the craft and the visibility experienced by the pilot are probably the most sobering, even effective deterrent for those considering the weight and responsibility of earning a helicopter pilot’s license.
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) created “Graham,” a lifelike sculpture that shows what humans would look like if we were designed to survive car crashes. The project aims to show how susceptible humans are to car accidents and to underscore the need to improve safety on roads. Video courtesy of Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Clemenger BBDO.
We are considering using Unreal instead of Blender to simulate vehicle deformation in our efforts to model the most common collisions and the related impact to its passengers. Here is a demo reel of Unreal being used to simulate realtime deformation. Obviously, this is more entertaining and illustrative of the Unreal engine tools than the earlier collision fracturing system. Applications are vastly different.
We are currently modeling various types of collisions for a presentation on how they directly relate to your injuries. For a preview of how detailed these physics and fracture simulations will be generated check out this interesting demo reel by the developers of the Blender plugin.
You may not know or realize this but your insurance company and the insurance company of anyone that is involved in an accident with you is completely controlled by a software program called Colossus. The agent you speak with on the phone has zero latitude to offer you anything outside the lows and highs of the software recommendation. The software does not consider anything about you as a person, rather you are comprised of several hundred data points.
When you are in an accident, everything about this potential claim is captured by Colossus and communicated to the agent. This process is specifically designed to short change you and increase the insurance companies profit. If you thought you could negotiate a settlement yourself, and while the insurance agent may lead you to believe you are capable, the reality is that the demands from a sophisticated party on your behalf in large part has to force both Colossus and the insurance mouth piece into a situation to offer you greater value.
On December 9, 2010, the Consumer Federation of America released a “Consumer Alert” warning Americans who have been injured in auto accidents about Colossus. The CFA offered the following:
Allstate was named the worst company to low ball settlements. McKinsey Consulting in 1996 introduced Colossus which is at the very center of Allstate’s Claims Core Process Review (CCPR) which Allstate and Colossus’s manufacturer touted as “able to reduce bodily injury claims up to 20 percent“.
Allstate operates under many subsidiaries which you should be aware of. The following is a partial list of these companies which you may be a customer of or opposing in a claim.
| Allstate Business Aliases |
|---|
| ALFS, Inc. |
| ALIC Reinsurance Company |
| Allstate Assignment Company |
| Allstate Assurance Company |
| Allstate Bank |
| Allstate County Mutual Insurance Company |
| Allstate Distributors, L.L.C. |
| Allstate Financial Advisors, LLC |
| Allstate Financial Corporation |
| Allstate Financial Services, LLC |
| Allstate Financial, LLC |
| Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company |
| Allstate Floridian Indemnity Company |
| Allstate Floridian Insurance Company |
| Allstate Indemnity Company |
| Allstate Insurance Company |
| Allstate Insurance Company of Canada |
| Allstate International Insurance Holdings, Inc. |
| Allstate Investment Management Company |
| Allstate Investments, LLC |
| Allstate Life Insurance Company |
| Allstate Life Insurance Company of Canada |
| Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York |
| Allstate Motor Club, Inc. |
| Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company |
| Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Company |
| Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings, Inc. |
| Allstate North American Insurance Company |
| Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company |
| Allstate Reinsurance Ltd. |
| Allstate Settlement Corporation |
| Allstate Texas Lloyd’s |
| Allstate Texas Lloyd’s, Inc. |
| American Heritage Life Insurance Company |
| American Heritage Life Investment Corporation |
| American Heritage Service Company |
| Charter National Life Insurance Company |
| Concord Heritage Life Insurance Company, Inc. |
| Deerbrook General Agency, Inc. |
| Deerbrook Insurance Company |
| E.R.J. Insurance Group, Inc. |
| Encompass Floridian Indemnity Company |
| Encompass Floridian Insurance Company |
| Encompass Home and Auto Insurance Company |
| Encompass Indemnity Company |
| Encompass Independent Insurance Company |
| Encompass Insurance Company |
| Encompass Insurance Company of America |
| Encompass Insurance Company of Massachusetts |
| Encompass Insurance Company of New Jersey |
| Encompass Property and Casualty Company |
| Encompass Property and Casualty Insurance Company of New Jersey |
| First Colonial Insurance Company |
| Intramerica Life Insurance Company |
| Ivantage Select Agency, Inc. |
| Kennett Capital, Inc. |
| Keystone State Life Insurance Company |
| Lincoln Benefit Life Company |
| Northbrook Holdings, LLC |
| Northbrook Indemnity Company |
| Northbrook Services, Inc. |
| Northbrook Technology of Northern Ireland, Limited |
| Pafco Insurance Company |
| Pembridge America, Inc. |
| Pembridge Insurance Company |
| Roadway Protection Auto Club, Inc. |
| Sterling Collision Centers, Inc. |
| Surety Life Insurance Company |
| Tech-Cor, LLC |
Go to the nearest hospital emergency room or to your personal physician as soon as possible. An injury, if untreated, may become substantially worse. If you fail to seek treatment, or delay in obtaining medical attention, an insurance adjuster may suspect that you were not genuinely injured, and discount your claim. Even a delay of one week is often too long. Do not assume you will “be okay” – get evaluated!
If someone is seriously injured, call 911 or the police and tell them an ambulance is needed. Make the injured person as comfortable as possible, but do not move him or her unless it’s absolutely necessary to avoid further injury.
In many cases, there are no witnesses and you and the other driver may have conflicting versions of how the accident happened. If you do not request a police investigation, you may seriously damage your chances of obtaining full compensation, or worse, may be blamed for an accident that is not your fault. Thus, if an accident is not your fault, insist that the police are called. This ensures that all involved drivers will be forced to document how the crash occurred before having time for “reflection.” If the “at fault” driver does not want the police called, insist that they write up an admission of fault for you right at the scene which describes how the crash occurred and their responsibility for it. This should be dated and signed by them, and should refer to the location and time of the crash. If they refuse, call the police! In the State of Washington, however, the Police are not required to do a report when there are no injuries and none of the vehicles involved has more than $700 of property damage. They are also not required to prepare a report if the collision occurs on private property, such as in a parking lot.
Unless your vehicle poses an immediate hazard to other traffic, it is important that you leave it in the same position that it came to rest after the accident. Ask the other driver not to move his or her vehicle until the police arrive. The single most important piece of evidence the police use to determine fault is the position of the vehicles after the crash. Car Photos: You should always photograph the damage to your vehicle fully before having repairs done. Carrying an “instant camera” in your glove box allows you to get photos of the other car and the scene, as well.
The first record of your injuries will be contained in the investigating police officer’s report. If you fail to mention to the police officer that you were injured, it may create suspicion in the mind of the insurance adjuster (who will ultimately evaluate your claim) that you were not hurt. Ordinarily, the officer will ask if you are injured. If you are having any symptoms at all, answer “yes” and specify all areas where you are experiencing pain/symptoms, even if you do not believe your injuries to be serious. Injuries and symptoms usually worsen after you leave the scene. If the officer does not ask if you are injured, or assumes that you were not injured, let the officer know immediately of any injuries or pain. If you are in severe pain, and feel you require an ambulance, tell the police officer this, and request that an ambulance be called.
Often by the time a police officer arrives at the scene, witnesses to a collision are gone. Therefore, it is very important for you to identify any witnesses to the crash and that you write down their names, addresses and telephone numbers. In the event that the at-fault driver later attempts to change their version of the accident, these independent witnesses are crucial to proving responsibility for the crash.
In the State of Washington, you are not required to file an accident report when the collision is investigated by a law enforcement officer who files a report. You may, however, file your own report if you wish or if you disagree with the details reported by an officer. Your report, which is filed with the Washington State Patrol in Olympia, must be sent within four days of the accident, although sending it in late is better than not sending it in at all. Always keep a copy of the report sent in by you for later reference.
If you have suffered a serious injury or injuries requiring follow-up medical attention such as physical therapy, MRI or numerous follow-ups with your doctor, you should at least call to consult with, and seriously consider hiring, an attorney to represent you. An experienced personal injury attorney will generally make sure that you receive the compensation that is due to you, usually more than will be offered in settlement by an insurance adjuster, even after attorney’s fees are paid. They will also typically assist you with getting your car repaired or paid for, and also assist in getting your medical bills processed. They will also be able to advise you regarding different medical treatment options, and assist you with gathering proper documentation about the crash.
If you choose to accept a settlement without seeking legal representation, you may receive a settlement that does not fully or fairly compensate you for your injuries. Once a claim is settled, it can never be reopened. The best rule is not to sign a release for at least six months following an injury. If you’re uncertain about whether (and when) to settle, talk to an attorney who handles personal injury cases. Most attorneys handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no fee unless they recover compensation for you. Upon recovery, the attorney gets a percentage of the recovery for his or her fee. You are, however, responsible for out-of-pocket expenses, called “costs”, advanced by your attorney. There is usually no charge for you to meet and discuss your claim with an attorney.
The odds are that a claims adjuster for the other driver will be assigned to your claim before you have been able to retain an attorney. This may happen as soon as a day or two after the accident. The adjuster will usually request permission to take a recorded or written statement from you. Whether or not you are considering hiring an attorney, you should not give a statement to an insurance adjuster for the other driver. Statements made to the other driver’s insurance company can seriously prejudice your claim. This is especially true when a police report was already done. Instead, tell the adjuster that you have decided to hire an attorney and instruct him or her to refer all further questions to your attorney. Proper questions will be responded to by your attorney. You should, however, immediately report the accident to your own insurance company. Tell them what happened, provide them with the names of witnesses and ask that a PIP claim be opened to allow your medical bills to be timely paid.
The claims adjuster may also ask that you sign a medical or employment records authorization to allow them to get your medical or wage/time loss records. Never sign such authorizations before speaking to an attorney! If you do so, the adjuster cannot only obtain your private medical records and bills, but they can also request special reports or even talk to or meet with your own doctor! You must, however, sign a medical authorization for your own insurance company if making a PIP claim. Always keep a copy of the PIP application and authorizations signed, and caution your company not to provide any medical or other information to the other driver’s insurer without your consent.
For every injury or death claim, there is a period of time during which you must file your claim with the court or the claim will be forever barred. This time limit is called a “statute of limitations.” In Washington, the period for bringing an injury or death claim is usually three years from the date of the accident, but there are some exceptions. The period for bringing a claim for injury to a child does not begin to run until the child’s 18th birthday. A claim arising out of the death of a child, however, is usually limited to three years. For accidents which occur in other states, the period may be as short as one year from the accident. Although you may have longer to actually file your claim with the court, generally, the sooner you can consult with a personal injury attorney following the accident, the more that attorney can do to help you on your claim.
When we started looking at the types of accidents in the Northwest and especially the number of hit-and-runs, we believed that there was an opportunity to provide advisory services to individuals involved in accidents such as investigative services, referral to medical professionals and representation. Announcing Collision-Advisors.com an online resource for individuals involved in automobile accidents, legal professionals and medical professions working together to ensure everyone has access to care and legal representation. We are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to the care and representation they deserve.
Insurance companies do not. No matter how fast they come to the table to make an offer. People tell me almost weekly that they are comfortable with negotiating with insurance agents directly. No matter how good or experienced you are with negotiating, stick to your day job and let professionals earn their percentage. They will certainly get you more than you would yourself. The idea that you would pocket the attorney fees is a fallacy. The insurance company will screw you, guaranteed.
Don’t pay medical professionals out of pocket?
No one has infinite resources, even if you have insurance, to pay for medical treatment caused by an accident. Insurance companies will seek to recoup those costs. So be smart with who you treat with and what you pay out of pocket.
Finding a trustworthy attorney is harder that you might think?
Finally, not all lawyers are the same. Some have better reputations than others, larger firms have larger overhead, and other attorneys nickel and dime you by charging 25 cents for every photocopy. Other attorneys will draw out the settlement 2-3 years, who has that kinda of time to wait? A shitty attorney, that’s who.
Why do we care?
Because we have been in your shoes, hit by a uninsured driver who just runs away and stuck with the medical bills, damaged property and not knowing who and where to turn. We also think the data behind accidents is pretty interesting too.
