Wade B. Coye, Attorney at Law

Wade Coye, Accident & Injury Attorney

Night time driving is more dangerous than daytime driving because drivers cannot see each other as well, and may be more likely to have accidents with objects in the road or other drivers. Accidents at night can involve serious personal injury and property damage and drivers should take extra care when driving at night.

Some accidents at night are caused by the lack of proper headlight maintenance. Over time, headlights collect dirt, debris, and substances from precipitation that can build up on them, causing yellow, dingy, or cloudy appearance and affecting visibility. As a driver, when your car’s headlights are not shining properly, you may be less able to see road hazards in front of you, such as objects in the road that can puncture your tires or cause you to swerve and be involved in an accident.

Low headlight visibility can also cause you to be less apparent to other drivers on the road, and in dangerous weather driving conditions such as rain, fog, or snow having low conspicuity can increase your likeliness of being in an accident. When driving at night, in order to stay safe on narrow or extremely busy roads, you might avoid an accident if you keep your headlights well maintained. You have a high chance to be involved in an accident while driving at night with another car, truck, motorcycle, or bicycle if you cannot see well and other drivers cannot see you.

A driver’s ability to be seen is called conspicuity. Conspicuity is “conspicuousness or the state of being conspicuous” (or easily seen) – as opposed to being hidden or stealth. Conspicuity is especially important for large trucks that (by regulation) are supposed to have appropriate reflective markings so they can easily be seen by other drivers at night or under poor visibility conditions. It’s important for other drivers to make sure they can see and be seen by truck drivers in order to avoid accidents. If you’ve been involved in an accident with a large truck there could have been an issue of proper conspicuity. Whether or not they were marked and clearly visible can matter greatly to your claim.

Motorcyclists and bicyclists should also always be concerned about their conspicuity when driving at night to ensure that they are seen in order to avoid accidents. Motorcycles and bicycles come with reflectors at key points on the body frame, and riders should wear helmets and gear with additional reflective patches or tape to alert drivers to their presence. There are many things that motorcycle and bike riders can do to be safe, and if you’re planning to ride at night, it is worth your time to take a look at a few of the most common safety tips. If you are a bike or motorcycle rider who has been involved in an accident at night, make sure you bring up the issue of conspicuity when discussing your claim with your accident attorney.

Headlights are one part of your vehicle that can be simply and easily maintained without paying professional mechanics’ fees, and is worth it if you do a lot of night time driving. Simply washing your car often won’t wash away the build-up that accumulates on your headlights, and it can be worth your time to invest in spending a few dollars for a specific kit designed to clean your headlights so that they are like new. You may have to invest a couple hours over a weekend and a few dollars in these kits, but it is worth it to be conspicuous, have good visibility, and avoid accidents when driving at night.

There are a number of headlight cleaning kits on the market, reviewed by consumers and consumer reporting agencies alike, that can help you avoid accidents. Consider other people’s feedback and comments, or ask a friend who knows about cars or a mechanic you trust for their recommendations. There is plenty of information on the internet available to help you make the decision for which cleaning kit is right for you and your car. No matter what kit you choose to use, cleaning your headlights is well worth it to help keep yourself and your family safe by avoiding accidents when driving at night. If you have been involved in an accident because of night time driving, make sure you discuss all issues of conspicuity with your accident attorney, and find out your rights for personal injury and property damage claims.

Wade Coye, Insurance Attorney

Central Florida is no stranger to wild weather. As Summer approaches, many residents are preparing themselves for what seems like daily afternoon thunderstorms. And before we know it, hurricane season will be here.

Even the most weathered Floridian may be rattled by severe storms, like the ones our area experienced last week. Severe thunderstorms rolled through central Florida and left a wake of downed powerlines, uprooted trees, and damaged property in it’s path. Local news channel WFTV notes on it’s website that the area was put under tornados watches and warnings for multiple days. This isn’t anything new to our climate, but that fact doesn’t make things any easier when storms cause damage to your home.

Tornadoes can shock homeowners or property owners in places that the weather phenomenon wouldn’t be expected, such as upstate New York. My family owns and operates a dairy farm in Georgetown, where a massive storm hit a few years ago. In the video below, a local news station interviews my father on the impact the storm’s damage had on him.

You can imagine what this type of damage does to a business’s bottom line. Property owners protect themselves from the costs of this type of damage by buying insurance for their home or place of business. But simply filing a claim doesn’t guarantee benefits to repair that torn roof, flooded basement, or broken pipe.

Damage to your home can cost a lot of money, which is why some insurance companies decide to diminish or deny the value of your claim. Depending on the terms of your policy, you may be covered for damage done to your home, shed, detached garage, or personal property within the home. Additionally, your policy may include payments for loss of use of the home, such as having to stay in a hotel while repairs are completed. The costs add up quickly.

An insurance dispute can become complicated easily, so it is important to thoroughly understand your policy and keep a copy of it handy in case of an emergency. If your claim is being denied in part or as a whole, a Florida storm damage attorney can help you sort through the details. Having to repair your home’s storm damage can be a financially and emotionally draining experience, but you don’t have to go through it alone.