I was advised that if I will have a loan on my car here in Washington, I need to get gap coverage for it along with my insurance. What exactly is this gap coverage and what does it have to do with having a loan on my car?

Marc

Lakewood, WA

The horrid fall of your new vehicle’s value the moment you drive it away from the seller’s area can have shocking and unwarranted burden on your pocket if your vehicle will be declared a total loss in an accident. In case you are eligible for a payment on your totaled vehicle on your car insurance in Washington, your insurer will give you the actual cash value of your automobile. Then again, the total payment your car insurance provider estimates as the vehicle’s actual cash value could be thousands of dollars further than what you have a loan from the bank or finance company. Because you will be accountable to pay the rest of your loan even if your vehicle is totaled, you may need to produce hundreds, possibly thousands in cash, except if you purchased gap coverage.

Your gap insurance coverage would pay the disparity between the approximation of your car insurance provider’s actual cash value of your vehicle and the money that you still have a loan from the bank or financial company. You may think that when your vehicle is totaled because of an accident, you will recoup the amount you owe on the vehicle or the money you paid for it if it is new enough. Apparently, vehicles do not cling to their value similar to what you think. When you drive away the vehicle, you have immediately lost some of the fees that you paid for.

I want to add my 16-year old son to my car insurance policy here in Lakewood, Washington but I am afraid it will cost me too much. Is there a way that I can still have affordable car insurance with a teenage driver included in it?

Oswald

Lakewood, WA

Driving is one of the most aggressive things that a teenager desires to do. As a responsible parent, you have to take the necessary safety measures in terms of purchasing car insurance for a teen driver. You may talk to your insurance agent in Lakewood, Washington about adding your teen driver to your current car insurance policy. A driver needs to be 18 years of age before they could have their own car insurance so this would be the only way to insure your son. However, be prepared to pay higher insurance rates as much as 50% no matter what the driving history of your son is.

You may think about purchasing an umbrella insurance policy with extra liability. Request your car insurance agent to give you more details about having comprehensive coverage. You may also seek advice from the agent as to how you can reduce your insurance rates and also how to get some discounts. Every insurance provider has different regulations for discounts as well. Most importantly, you need to remind your teenage son that he needs to do well in school. You can have discounts on you insurance rates if his grades are high.

We are preparing for the possible costs that my son has to pay if he gets convicted for his DUI charge here in Washington. What are the things that we can expect to pay for and do you know how much total cost would it be?

Bunny

Lakewood, WA

The national average for costs in relation to a first offense DUI conviction could exceed $20,000. Like some things, that cost could be much higher in the state of Washington. The absolute cost could include posting bail, vehicle towing, car damage (your car and anyone else involved), property damage, DUI fines, lost wages due to jail or prison, attorney fees, hiring expert witnesses to testify at trial, appealing the case if your son receives an unfavorable verdict and higher insurance rates. If your son gets convicted for DUI in Lakewood, Washington, the costs would be any of the aforementioned or it could also be all of them.

The most important thing on that list would be the higher insurance rates because this is a long-term cost. Motorists generally pay high insurance rates after a DUI for at least three years. Let me remind you that your son’s best weapon would be a competent DUI attorney. He needs a DUI attorney who not only knows the game, but also has already perfected his strategy at winning it.

My husband was arrested for DUI in Washington and he failed the blood alcohol test as well as the breath test. He is suffering from GERD and from what I heard, we can use that as a defense. How true that GERD poses problem on the accuracy of breath testing?

Wendy

Lakewood, WA

Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a chronic condition that results from esophagus deterioration from stomach acid eruptions over time. The impact on breath testing is if the alcohol erupting from the stomach into the mouth from gastric reflux poses a problem with accurate breath testing during a 20-minute observation period.

In Washington, the Washington State Patrol studied the issue of GERD and concluded safeguards should be carried out for accurate and fair breath testing. Their conclusions for appropriate breath alcohol testing implied a sound forensic practice should be followed to guarantee the integrity of the breath test and GERD recognition. The safeguards include at least 15-minute pre-sample observation period, instrument detection of mouth alcohol, duplicate testing, visual observations looking for symptoms of GERD and alert operators who ask appropriate questions. Your husband can definitely attack the results of the breath test and use it as a defense on his DUI charge in Lakewood, Washington especially if the safeguards on breath testing are not followed.

Here is the situation; my dad was driving drunk on his way home to our Lakewood’s residence. A police pulled him over and charged him with DUI. Now, he is on trial waiting for his conviction. I want to know what are the possible punishments with regard to DUI in Washington.

Justin

Lakewood WA

Hi ya Justin,

Kinda a sad situation knowing about your dad facing a trial for DUI charges. My mom who loves to drink, was in the same footing with your dad right now. As far as I can remember, the Washington DUI lawyer that my mom hired told us, that the possible punishments that she will be facing will be the following:

1. Jail time (one year for first time offenders)
2. Fines ($5,000 for first time offenders)
3. Suspension or Revocation of Driver’s License
4. Electronic Home Detention
5. Ignition Interlock

A lot is at stake when being charged and convicted of DUI, right here at Washington. Just like my mom, she was a first time offender. She was in jail for a year and even had a fine of $5,000. If your dad is a first time offender, there is a greater chance of having same punishment as my mom did.

Don’t lose hope, your dad had a chance not to be convicted if he has the best Washington DUI lawyer to defend him and make sure to have all the possible remedies and apply the laws into your dad’s side. Winning the case is just a step away only if the Washington DUI lawyer your father hired is a competent one.