How would I know if a lawyer can represent my cousin well on his DUI case here in Los Angeles?

Carinne

Los Angeles, CA

You would know if a lawyer could represent your cousin well on his DUI case in Los Angeles if the lawyer specializes in defending DUI cases only. Keep in mind that being charged with DUI should be taken seriously and you have to give special attention to the DUI laws. If your cousin gets a lawyer who does not specialize in handling DUI cases, he may not be represented well. Make sure that the lawyer is an expert when it comes to defending DUI cases or a huge percentage of the cases he or she has handled are in connection to DUI. Perhaps, this is the only means for you to determine that you are working with a DUI expert.

Your cousin may also want to find out the ranking of the DUI attorney he would hire against other attorneys. Aside from that, he also has to do a background check on the DUI attorney. Try to find out if he or she comes from a respectable law school. Your cousin has to work with a lawyer who knows technical expert witnesses to aid him on his defense. These witnesses could aid in investigating if you have undergone the appropriate police procedures, in accordance to DUI laws and if the chemical test/s were properly administered. Little technicalities like this could be a basis for your cousin to be found guilty or not.

What is SR22 auto insurance and why does someone who has DUI has to get it here in Los Angeles?

Gary

Los Angeles, CA

SR22 auto insurance is a kind of insurance policy that is mandated by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the courts for motorists after an incident related to Driving Under the Influence (DUI). If a driver has a DUI conviction, he/she would be considered as high risk that’s why there is a need for him/her to get SR22 auto insurance. In the state of California, a driver will be required to have SR22 auto insurance for at least three years after a DUI conviction.

The main purpose of getting SR22 certificate in Los Angeles is to prove to the DMV that a high risk driver has the proper coverage for auto insurance. This would serve as an arrangement between the DMV and the car insurance company that orders the insurer to inform the DMV right away if the insurer no longer provides coverage for the motorist. The reasons that an insurance company would no longer provide insurance include: lapse in coverage that may be caused by a missed payment, cancellation of coverage or switching car insurance companies.

Normally, the bigger car insurance providers do not offer SR22 insurance because they don’t want to take on the risk that it involves and they wouldn’t like to go through the added paperwork and requirements of insurance companies that carry out SR22 auto insurance.

Tags: car insurance, drunk driver insurance, DUI, SR22 insurance

I have an auto insurance provider here in Los Angeles, California, and I was wondering if In the event I got myself hurt inside my vehicle, but not necessarily while the vehicle was on the road or being driven, would my auto insurance still cover me?

Smith

Los Angeles, CA

This is a very interesting question, whether or not your auto insurance provider there in Los Angeles, California would cover you for treatment of injuries while you were inside your vehicle, and your vehicle was just parked in the driveway or otherwise not being driven on the road, all depends on exactly how you got injured. If you look under your auto insurance agreement you will see that injuries arising from operation of your vehicle, use and maintenance would normally be covered under your insurance coverage. This particular coverage would normally be stipulated under the auto medical, Personal Injury Protection or No Fault Insurance coverage of your policy.

If the injury was self-inflicted, was not related to, or did not occur while operating or performing maintenance on the insured vehicle as determined by further investigations done by the auto insurance company, you probably won’t get covered by your auto insurance but you may be able to get coverage from a medical insurance policy, if you have one.

It may also be interesting to note that the same policies discussed above might not be the same should someone injures him or herself while inside your vehicle. If you manage to get someone injured while inside your vehicle and it was due to the operation or maintenance of your insured vehicle, the auto insurance provider may be able to give compensation or pay for treatment under the liability insurance coverage of your auto insurance agreement.

Tags: advice, auto insurance, auto insurance claims, car insurance, car insurance company

I’m new here in Los Angeles, California and just got my first car. What should I look into for my first car insurance?

Julian

Los Angeles, CA

Congratulations for buying your first car. You must be very excited to take it around already. It will be to your advantage to have the necessary information about car insurance so you can get the best car insurance for your need. Before you go out and buy any car insurance you must first be knowledgeable about the minimum liability insurance coverage required by the financial responsibility laws in your state.

Liability insurance, by the way, is a type of coverage that pays anyone you may have injured in a car accident for any medical, hospitalization, economic loss as well as any legal fees or any other monetary obligations you may be required to pay in damages. In Los Angeles, California the minimum liability coverages would be 15/30/5. Up to $15,000 to be paid to each injured person per accident up to a maximum of $30,000 for all injured person per accident and then $5,000 for property damages per accident. It is recommended that you get a policy that would provide higher coverages since you can be sued for amounts far exceeding the state minimums.

Next, you would want to get Personal Injury Protection that pays for your medical expenses and treatment of your injuries, regardless who is at-fault in an accident. Collision insurance will pay for damages that your vehicle may have incurred. Comprehensive insurance is actually optional since it only covers loss due to non-car crash related damages.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance premium, auto insurance quotes, car insurance

Just got a new car for my hubby here in Los Angeles, California and I’m on the prowl for my car insurance. Do you have any suggestions on how to pick the best insurance provider out there?

Luisita

Los Angeles, CA

Dear Luisita. Congratulations on the new car! Now let us help you find a suitable car insurance policy for it. Please note that the best car insurance provider is not necessarily the biggest or cheapest, but how well they can provide you insurance options based on the type of car you have and the type of coverage you will need. So you have to be upfront with what you want to get from the start. Here are a few tips on how to spot car insurance provider that best suits your requirements.

Reputation
You’ll be investing both time and money to make sure your vehicle is financially protected. You have to make sure the company you’ll be choosing has a good track record of doing business. Consult California’s State Insurance Department or the BBB (Better Business Bureau) to get an idea of who you’ll be dealing with, insurance wise.

General or Specialist Insurance
This depends on what kind of car you own. If you have a classic, luxury or high-end performance vehicle then you may save more by getting insurance from a niche market or specialist insurance provider which can provide better rates and coverage options as compared to the general public insurance companies.

Compare and Compare Some More
The internet is a rich resource of information, more so in comparing insurance quotes online. Get at least five to seven quotes online before choosing a car insurance company to call up.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance company, car insurance discounts, car insurance quotes

What’s the cheapest car insurance price range that is generally available? We have a car here in Los Angeles, California that we really wont be using much so we don’t want to spend too much on car insurance. Thanks!

Samantha

Los Angeles, CA

Hi Samantha, your question is very interesting. Regarding the lowest price range for car insurance, you may find insurance companies offering coverage for as low as $25 (but this probably has very limited coverage and for rural areas only). What you would want to know though is that the price of car insurance is not fixed. Auto Insurance rates differ based on factors such as where you live, your age, gender, the type of car you own, your credit and driving history and each insurance provider has their own way of determining price ranges based on who’s looking for insurance.

The best way to get the cheapest rate would be to compare quotes Online from four or five different insurance providers using the same information (running the same zip code etc.,). Most Online insurance portals will give you the best rates available since they come direct from the insurers (they wont have to pay commissions to insurance agents).

Please do understand that even if you feel that you don’t have to spend so much on insurance coverage for your vehicle there in Los Angeles, California you may still wish to get reasonable comprehensive insurance coverage to cover against loss due to events such as calamities, natural disasters, theft or vandalism. Your car is still an asset, you paid for it, so you want to protect at least the amount of money you paid for it.

Tags: car insurance

What are the things I should do to minimize my car insurance rates here in Los Angeles, California?

Kim

Los Angeles, CA

There are a number of ways that one can minimize or lower the cost of maintaining car insurance. Note that every car insurance company is different but there are general approaches that you can take to get savings, regardless of who your provider is. Here are a few tips to start saving on your car insurance:

Multiple Car Policies

If you or your family own more than one vehicle then it may be a good idea to put all of your vehicles under one policy. See if this kind of car insurance is available with your current provider there in Los Angeles, California. Under this policy you can get discounts on your rates and the added benefit of being able to renew your insurance with one go.

Do Away With Extra Coverages

Would you really need car rental insurance if your existing policy already cover you while driving a rented vehicle? Do you think you can avoid towing services with just a little bit of planning and car maintenance foresight? Try to eliminate those not-so-essential coverages, the extra bucks saved are worth it.

Be A Smart And Safer Driver

You can get discounts, as well as learn skills to drive safer, on your car insurance premiums by completing state accredited defensive driving classes. Avoid after-market customizations since they wouldn’t really be covered on a claim. A higher deductible would also mean lower premiums.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance quotes, auto warranty, car insurance rate

My husband and I have a business at home here in Los Angeles , California and we use car for its operations. Sometimes, we also use the same car for personal use. Which automotive insurance coverage should I get – commercial or personal – that guarantees an affordable insurance policy?

Eva

Los Angeles, CA

You are actually sharing the same dilemma with many home-based business owners in Los Angeles , California and even in other states who utilize automobiles in their business operations. While most home-based business owners choose to protect their entrepreneurial assets and they consequently subscribe for personal automotive insurance, affordability and security should be your topmost considerations. Your choice between commercial and personal insurance coverage have to depend largely on the chief function of your car in your home-based business. By doing so will guarantee you an affordable insurance policy.

If you often use your automobile for delivery services, you better insure your car with commercial automotive insurance coverage so that your business assets can be protected every time you will be involved in roadway collisions. This is beneficial to your business especially when you are at-fault in the accident. But when you are in a real estate business and you often drive your clients to distant estates chances are you will be compelled to get a personal insurance coverage.

Either of these insurance coverage, remember that insurance providers typically determine policy premiums on the travel distance your vehicle takes and the age, sex, driving records and claim history of the driver.

Tags: auto insurance

My friend in Los Angeles , California , who is now a college student, would like to add his new car to his current insurance policy. She knew that the insurance company will consider her driving record if she will change her insurance policy coverage. In this case, what are the possible consequences of taking into account my driving record?

Matt

Los Angeles, CA

Most vehicle insurance companies there in Los Angeles , California find their chances to re-examine their clients’ driving records at times when these clients request to renew or change the coverage of their vehicle insurance policies. In your friend’s case, her driving record has direct effects on her premium rate. The point system that her insurer is using will be used to assess the points garnered by your friend from her previous traffic infractions. Consistent with the corresponding number of points assigned to each traffic violation, take note that the higher number of points compared to the points she has during her last update on her policy will mean a premium increase. If she never committed any traffic violation since her last renewal or change of vehicle insurance policy, there is nothing to worry about, so to speak.

If previously your friend has always been reprimanded because of, say for instance, drunk driving, she may be considered a high-risk client. Hence, she might be issued instead with drunk driver insurance, which is relatively an expensive premium. The key idea here is that the worse your record is, the higher the premium rate you may have.

Tags: auto insurance

My mom got arrested for drunk driving in Los Angeles, California and we are being asked for a large amount to pay for bail. We cannot afford such amount for her release, are there any other options?

Cherry

Los Angeles, CA

There several options should an arrested person for DUI cannot afford to pay the bail for temporary release. One option is what they call a “Bond”. This is implied as a substitute of full amount payment. It is a written agreement that the entire bail amount will be paid if the arrested person fails to appear on court proceedings. You may consult a Bond Agency in Los Angeles, California, but some bond agencies may require collateral before posting the bond because they will be responsible in paying the entire amount if the arrested person jumps out of bail or fails to appear as agreed.

Another option is “Own Recognizance Release”. This may be granted by the court and no bond is needed. The arrested person may be released after signing an agreement promising appearance in court for upcoming proceedings. The court may impose certain conditions and considerations when granting own recognizance release such as the person’s DUI record and/or criminal history, gravity of the DUI offense and ties of the arrested person to family, community and employment. Failure to appear in court after own recognizance release on the other hand may lead to an immediate arrest thus revoking any chances for bail. Getting arrested for DUI is a serious matter as the local government of Los Angeles, California imposes stricter DUI laws. I also suggest that you seek for an attorney knowledgeable in DUI cases to defend your mom. Once everything gets better, I suggest you also try to check out appropriate auto insurance after DUI.

Tags: auto insurance, DUI, DUI arrest, DUI lawyer