Is it true that my car insurance provider here in Washington can increase my auto insurance rates during winter?

Claude

Bellingham, WA
It is quite possible for your auto insurance provider there in Washington to increase your rates during the winter season. And you can’t really blame them, winter is a very perilous time to be on the road. The likelihood of getting involved in a car crashes due too icy, slippery roads, poor visibility due to fog or snowstorms and the freezing temperature causing havoc to your vehicles machinery, and even the danger of getting hit by frozen tree limbs and other kinds of falling debris. All these factors significantly increases your chances of filing a claim with your insurance provider, thus making this season a “high-risk” season, and hence the higher auto insurance rates.

It is not that difficult to prepare your vehicle for the winter, though. What you would want to avoid is to file for a claim, since this really a major reason for your insurance rates to increase. Here are some tip’s on how to prepare driving for the winter season:

1. Pre-Winter Checkup – Do take your car to a trusted auto mechanic and have them check your vehicles level of anti-freeze, transmission and brake fluids as well as its heater and defrosting system.
2. Drive with Discretion – If the weather is really bad, refrain from going out.
3. Use major roads – Stick to major roads and highways that are well plowed from snow so less chances of accidents.
4. Prepare for emergencies – have flashlights, blankets, stored food & water and emergency towing numbers handy.

I need to save money so I may have to cut down on my other expenses. How can I be able to save or lessen the payment for my auto insurance here in Washington?

Niko

Bellingham, WA

The very first thing that you would have to do to save on your auto insurance in Bellingham, Washington is to compare auto insurance from different providers. You may go online and use consumer guides from the state of Washington’s insurance department. These guidelines would give you information on the coverage you need and give you sample auto insurance rates, generally from the largest providers. You need to obtain at least three auto insurance quotes from different companies. Also, in buying a car, consider a low-profile car because cars that cost too much to repair or those which have higher theft rate have higher insurance rates as well.

Asking for higher deductibles could also lower you annual or monthly insurance payments. If in case you file a claim, the deductible is the amount of money that you pay before the auto insurance provider pays for the rest of the damage. If you have higher deductibles, that means you would have lower insurance premium rates. An example is that if you increase you deductible from $200 to $500 on comprehensive and collision coverage, that may lessen your premium by 15 to 30%.

I have a serious charge of DUI here in Washington and one of my biggest concerns is the problem I would have with my auto insurance. What consequence shall I face with regard to my auto insurance after being charged for DUI?

Bruce

Bellingham, WA

The consequence that you would have to face with regard to your auto insurance after your DUI charge in Bellingham, Washington is that you should file an SR22 auto insurance. This is a form for an auto insurance policy that you would have to obtain from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in order get your driver’s license reinstated and legally drive again.

The SR22 auto insurance would essentially become a written agreement between your insurance company and the DMV. The agreement would oblige your insurance company to provide accurate coverage for your specific needs and let the DMV know if your insurance company is no longer providing coverage for you for whatever reason. Generally, the DMV would suspend your driver’s license again after they have received the notice that your insurance company is no longer providing coverage for you. You have to find an auto insurance company that will give you coverage for the SR22 insurance if your current insurance company is not providing this for you. Good news is, an online rate quote for SR22 auto insurance is readily available from this website.

I’ve been keeping myself constantly updated with the latest updates and developments about DUI, especially the defenses because I have once been wrongfully accused of the said offense in Bellingham, Washington but the charge was dismissed. I’ve heard so much about this rising blood alcohol level. What does rising blood alcohol level mean?

Emma

Bellingham, WA

It’s nice to know that your DUI charge in Bellingham, Washington had been dismissed if you were not really driving under the influence. Well, to answer your question, rising blood alcohol level is one the defenses being used in a DUI case. This means that a person suspected of DUI may have different blood alcohol content (BAC) reading that what it really is. For example, a person suspected of DUI can blow a .15 percent at the police station, but have had a .07 percent BAC when he got pulled over. This is because alcohol takes an average of 50 minutes, but can take as long as three hours, to absorb fully into your bloodstream and create the peak blood alcohol level. This is very critical if the DUI traffic stop occurred relatively soon after the person finished drinking.

The BAC was probably still rising when the person blew in the machine which means that even if the BAC was above .08 person when the blood draw or breath test occurred at the police station (or hospital), it may well have been below .08 percent when the person was actually driving. There is no law against having a BAC above .08 percent at a police station; it’s only the BAC level while actually driving that counts for DUI purposes.

Do I have a right to an attorney when I am stopped for a DWI investigation by the Washington police?

Mark

Bellingham, WA

The law in Washington provides that all people brought to a halt for driving with Intoxication initially do not have the privilege to an attorney. In actual fact, you do not have a privilege to even talk to a lawyer until after the primary investigation on the street of Washington is complete and you have been brought to jail. Most citizens of Washington do not comprehend that subsequent to their arrest, in which they are not at liberty to speak to a lawyer when confronted with the decision of taking or refusing a blood, breath or urine test. Keep in mind, that it is still a best to request an attorney when you are first stopped by the police and you want to continue requesting to speak with your lawyer before continuing further with any of the law enforcement officer’s other other requests. Requesting to speak to an attorney is one way of protecting yourself. The hired attorney will help you go through the process while the investigation is on going. The lawyer can help you a great deal with the investigation by representing you in court or just simply to talk to the law enforcements. The attorney can also help clarify and explain the law regarding DWI especially if you don’t know anything.