Travel by automobile is statistically one of the most dangerous forms of transportation.  Yet, driving is such an integral part of our daily lives that we don’t think much about the dangers.  No matter how skilled of a driver you may be, an accident could happen to you.  If you are involved in an accident, remain calm and follow these steps to lessen the stress and protect yourself from potential liability.

1.  STOP!  Stop your vehicle and, if necessary, move it to a safe position near the location of the accident. The law requires that you stop at the accident scene.  Failure to do so could result in a traffic ticket or a warrant for your arrest.
 
2.  Check all involved parties for injuries.  Seriously injured persons should not be moved unless they are in imminent danger from fire, traffic or other hazards.  Everyone who can walk should move to a safe location.  If necessary, call 911 for medical assistance.  If you are injured or think you may be injured, seek medical attention immediately.  If you do not seek it from the scene, do so as soon as possible thereafter and keep all related paperwork for possible reimbursement.

3.  Contact the police. The police will advise you if their response to the scene is necessary. Contact the police if the accident involves a hit and run, if there are injuries to people, or if it is apparent that liability will be disputed. If police are present at the scene of the accident, get the police officer’s name, phone number, and the police report number.

4.  Do NOT admit fault!   It is natural to want say that you are sorry to the other people involved in the accident, but this could be construed as an admission that you were at fault.  Instead, simply give the details of the accident and cooperate with the police in providing answers to their questions.

5.  Exchange contact information.  Exchange names, addresses, and phone numbers with all parties involved in the accident.   Get the year, make, model, license plate number, insurance carrier, and insurance policy number for all vehicles involved.  Identify any witnesses to the accident and gather their contact information as well.

6.  Call your insurance company.  If there is damage to any vehicle or injuries as a result of the accident, immediately report the accident to your insurance company and cooperate in the same manner as with the police.  If you have a camera in your possession, take photos of the damage to the vehicle, accident scene, and people involved.
  
7.  Take care of your vehicle.  If your vehicle isn’t drivable and must be towed, be sure to write down the name, address, and phone number of the towing company and be advised of the towing and storage fees.  Arrange for your vehicle to be repaired as soon as possible.  If it appears your vehicle may not be repaired soon after the accident, make sure you remove it so storage fees don’t accrue.  (You will have to pay the fees up to that point, but seek to get those reimbursed.)  If you vehicle is totaled and cannot be repaired, contact Women’s Automotive Solutions to discuss replacement options.

8.  Find the best repair shop.  Depending on your insurance company and coverage, you may be able to choose any body shop to repair your vehicle, or you may be required to select one that is pre-approved by your insurance company.  Don’t assume that a body shop is good just because your insurance company recommends it.  Research local repair facilities to find the one that is best qualified to fix your type of vehicle and has a solid reputation.  Contact Women’s Automotive Solutions if you need a referral.
    
9.  Consult an attorney.  If you are injured and want to seek compensation for medical bills and pain & suffering from another vehicle’s insurance company, do NOT make the claim or speak to them without consulting with an attorney.  Even if you are making a claim for property damage for your vehicle, consult with an attorney before speaking to the adverse insurance company so you know and can protect your own rights.  If you are contacted by another party involved in the accident or by someone acting on his/her behalf (such as an investigator or representative from his/her insurance company), do NOT speak with him/her unless and until you have contacted an attorney.
 
10.  Take care of yourself.  Give yourself sufficient time to rest and recover after an accident, even if you don’t think you suffered any injuries.  The stress of being in an accident causes a rush of adrenaline in the body, which can mask pain and inflammation.  It can often take 24 hours or longer for aches and pains to surface.  Always follow up with your doctor and/or chiropractor to assess any underlying injury and take corrective action to prevent potential long term damage.  Keep track of all medical expenses and any lost wages and seek to get them reimbursed.

Nearly 6.5 million automobile accidents happen in the United States each year, with a financial cost of over $230 billion, according to the Federal Highway Administration.  If you are involved in an accident, take the steps necessary to protect yourself, your family and your assets.  Of course, prevention is always the best tactic, so DRIVE SAFELY!

(This article was co-written by Justin Lowenberger.  Justin is an attorney with Ted A. Greve & Associates, a law firm that represents clients who have suffered personal injuries or property damage in automobile or truck accidents in North Carolina and South Carolina.   Learn more about how they can help and protect you on the web at www.MyDrTed.com.   Justin can be reached directly at 704-804-7114.)

Do you feel like you are going to be taken advantage of the moment you set foot on a car lot?  In many cases, this is a misconception.  Remember - a car dealership is a business, and even the most honest dealership has interests that are very different from yours.  The goal of a car dealership (and any business) is to sell its products in such a way that maximizes its profits.  You, on the other hand, want to get the best car at the best possible price.  Due to the “haggling” nature of the car buying process, you will eventually have to negotiate those conflicting interests. 

Buying a car is a lot like playing poker, and you need to play your cards close to the vest if you want to “win”.  Here are six “tells” that you should never let slip when you are shopping for a car:

1. “I LOVE this car!” - No matter how beautiful, fast, shiny or perfect the car is, keep your emotions in check.  It’s just like holding a pair of pocket aces - never let on how excited you are.  If you admit that you are smitten, you have essentially told the sales person that you are not likely to walk away from the table.  The sales person, in turn, will tell you that the car is really hot in the market, someone else was seriously looking it that very morning and the manager just won’t take less than sticker price.  Instead, remain calm and pretend you’re looking at a 2-7 off suit, which is the poker equivalent of a Yugo.  The less emotion you show, the cheaper the car will be.  There is no room at the negotiating table for emotions, so keep a poker face!

2. “I need a car today” — There is nothing worse than being in desperate need of a car.  Except letting on that you are in desperate need of a car.  This says to the salesman, “I won’t be applying any brain cells whatsoever to this purchase.”  He knows you won’t be scrutinizing the numbers and doing the math, and you aren’t likely to drive across town to try to get a better price. It also means you are likely to take whatever he happens to have in his inventory, even if it doesn’t fit your needs or is a piece of junk.  If you really do need a car quickly, BLUFF!  Act like you have several weeks to decide and shop for the best deal.  Tell the sales person you would consider buying today, but only if you found the right car at the right price.

3. “I need a monthly payment of $X”– Most car shoppers are “payment shoppers” because most of us have no clue how much car we can afford except by looking at how the payment fits into our monthly budget.  The catch is, there are many different ways to get to a certain monthly payment, and most of them are not to your financial benefit.  For example, you can get a $35,000 car for under $500 a month, but you have to finance it for 7 years!  With the loan terms that are available today, you can get to almost any monthly payment if you drag it out long enough.  So, do the math before you get to the dealership, and understand exactly how much car you can afford based on a realistic interest rate and loan term.

4. “I have my trade with me” - A savvy salesperson will usually want to know up front if you have a vehicle to trade. If you tell him, “Why, yes I do, and it’s parked right outside!”, he’ll ask you for the keys so the used car manager can assess its value while you’re shopping. Sounds good, right?  After all, it will save time!  The problem is, you have just handed the keys to your only means of escape to a person who wants to keep you there until you agree to buy a car.  You have just lost the ability to throw in your cards and leave the table. 

5. “I’m thinking about leasing, but I don’t know much about it” — Leasing is a whole ‘nother game compared to traditional car financing.  Like a friendly game of 5 card draw vs. a Texas Holdem tournament.  If you are considering leasing a vehicle, you must learn the special rules of that game and make sure it’s really the right decision for you.  The monthly payment calculations are very complicated, and the laws governing leasing vary by state.  You need to understand the unique terminology as well as the extra costs and fees involved.  You also need to know how many miles are included in the lease and the penalties for exceeding the mileage limits. 

6. “My credit isn’t very good” - Most people don’t know their exact credit score, much less what interest rate it qualifies them for.  Those are the people who are big moneymakers for car dealers (and anyone else who sells financing).  The dealership makes money on the “yield spread” - the difference between the wholesale interest rate offered by the lending institution and the interest rate the dealer charges you.   If you tell the salesman that your credit is less than perfect, he may be pleased to confirm your belief that you don’t qualify for a low interest rate. To make sure you get the best interest rate, shop for your own financing before you start shopping for the car.  Having a loan secured outside of the dealership gives you added negotiating power.  If the dealership can beat the interest rate - great!  If not, you have an ace in the hole.

The truth is that most car dealers do not “take advantage” of people — they are simply better at playing the sales game.  After all, they get more practice at it than you do.  To win the game, you must educate yourself, play smart and keep your emotions in check or risk losing all your chips.

It’s summer!  For many families, that means making the yearly pilgrimage to the beach or hot vacation spot.  However, record high gas prices are putting a damper on many people’s vacation plans.  But, don’t throw in the beach towel just yet.  Here are ten ways you can improve fuel efficiency and save valuable vacation money at the pump.

1.  Don’t Skimp on the Octane - Some people try to save money by putting regular gas into a vehicle that actually requires premium fuel.  This skimping may save you a few bucks today, but it will cost you much more in the long run.  High-performance vehicles need higher-octane fuel because the combustion chamber environment is much hotter in a performance engine. Using a lower octane fuel reduces fuel efficiency and can damage valves and pistons, which can cost you thousands of dollars in repair costs down the road. 

2.  Take Care of Your Ride – Proper maintenance is crucial to your vehicle’s fuel economy.  Be sure to adhere to the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual.   Dirty air and fuel filters, old spark plugs and low fluid levels can affect engine performance and significantly reduce fuel efficiency. Have these items checked by your mechanic before you go on vacation.  Not only will you get better gas mileage, but you will reduce the chance of a breakdown on the way to the beach. 

3.  Keep Those Tires Inflated - Under-inflated tires increase the amount of friction between your car and the pavement.  This makes it harder for your car to move down the road, which means your engine uses more fuel to maintain speed.  In fact, just one under-inflated tire can increase fuel consumption by one percent or more. Check your owner’s manual for correct inflation levels, and ensure all four tires are properly inflated before setting off on your trip.

4.  Leave the Kitchen Sink at Home – We all like to pack everything we own when we go to the beach.  We load up our with pillows, beach chairs, toys, charcoal grills, coolers, and enough food for the Chinese army until every square millimeter of trunk and cabin space is filled.  However, this pack rat behavior weighs down your vehicle, and heavier vehicles use more fuel.  Roof racks (which I have affectionately termed “hamburger boxes”) on the top of the car make it even worse.  So, put some careful thought into your packing, and only take what you absolutely need for the trip.  Remember – they probably have stores where you are going, and it may be cheaper to buy some items (especially food) once you get to your destination.

5.  Fuel Up in Advance – Statistics have shown that gas prices cheapest on Wednesdays because most people fuel up on the weekends for trips or Monday mornings before work.  So, plan ahead and fuel up for that vacation on Wednesday instead of waiting until Saturday before you leave.  Even if you have to “top off” on Saturday, you will still save a buck or two.

6.  Slow Down – As your speed increases, the aerodynamic drag on your vehicle increases exponentially.  This means that your engine has to work harder, and use more fuel, to maintain your speed.   Adhering to a speed of 55 mph (the most common highway speed limit) will yield 21% better mileage than driving 65 mph.  Driving 62 mph instead of 75 mph can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 15%.  Furthermore, maintaining a consistent speed over long distances saves gas, so use the cruise control as much as possible.   It might also save you from a speeding ticket!

7.  Accelerate and Decelerate Gently - A car uses more fuel under hard acceleration (another bad habit of mine).   Resist the urge to floor it “off the line”, just because you can.  Don’t race up to red lights or stop signs and then slam on the breaks.  Instead, anticipate the need to stop and lift your foot off of the accelerator early, allowing the engine to slow the vehicle before gently applying the break.  This requires patience, but it also saves on gas.

8.  Avoid Idling - Unless you are fortunate enough to own a hybrid, idling wastes fuel.   If you anticipate being stopped for more than one minute, turn off the ignition. Restarting the car actually uses less fuel than letting it idle.  Go into restaurants to purchase food instead of using the drive through when it’s time to refuel the family.  If possible, plan your route to minimize traffic lights and left hand turns, which increase idling time.  Don’t’ laugh – making only right hand turns saves UPS nearly $600 million per year!

9.  Don’t Blast the A/C - The air conditioner puts extra load on a vehicle’s engine, requiring an average of 20% more fuel to be used.   Since cruisin’ without A/C is not really an option in the South, try to keep it set at around 75 degrees.  Don’t blast the air when you first get into your car, even if it is stifling hot.   Instead, open the windows initially to release the stale, hot air.  Once you get moving, close the windows and set the A/C at 75 degrees. Your car will cool down quickly.

10.  Keep the Windows Up - Wide-open windows, especially at highway speeds, significantly increase the aerodynamic drag on your vehicle.  This drag can decrease your fuel economy by as much as 10%.   Run the fan on “outside air” instead, and just crack the window or sunroof for additional ventilation.

The reality is that high gas prices will negatively impact vacation plans for many people this summer.  However, by following these suggestions, you may be able to save enough to pay for that all-you-can-eat seafood buffet!  Have a safe and fun summer vacation!