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Gary Doehling P.C. a personal injury law firm will be opening a new office in the Aspen, CO area September 1, 2010.  Attorney Gary Doehling has been practicing law for over 27 years and  has the experience to help you pursue auto and motorcycle related injuries. 

You are invited to call Mr. Doehling at 970-241-9370 for your free consultation.

Gary Doehling  is proud to support the “Rider Down Assistance Network”

Rider Down Assistance Network

Any one of us, at anytime, under any circumstances, can become a Rider Down —there is no discrimination.

Most motorcycle groups/clubs take care of their own, but what if the need was beyond their ability or the downed rider did not belong to a group/club?

Answer: A Rider Down Assistance Network (RDAN) throughout the valley encompassing the entire rider community.

Who: Any downed rider regardless of anything else —period. There would be no questions asked and no judgments made. The focus would be the need, nothing else.

What: A need could be short term financial, physical assistance, chores around the house, retrieving the bike, or any number of things.

How: Someone in need would call the RDAN coordinator with a description of the need. The coordinator would call established network contacts that would rally their group/club to the need.

To Make This Work: We need to establish a Rider Down Assistance Network consisting of contact names , email address, and phone numbers for each group/club in the valley as well as any businesses or people wishing to participate. Call the RDAN coordinator today with your contact information.

We also need to spread the word throughout the valley so that downed riders or families of riders can receive the assistance they need.

The Rider Down Assistance Network is coordinated by the Band of Brothers Motorcycle Ministry http://www.bandofbrothersmm.com/.
Call Gordon at 970-250-5849 or Brian at 970-260-5940

Rider Down Assistance Network

It can be quite nerve racking when driving after hours or knowing that your children are out and about when other people fail to limit their drinking and worse, get behind the steering wheel of a car after doing so. The Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm P.C. encourages all persons to avoid drinking and driving and to prevent others who you know have been drinking from driving.

The newspapers in Grand Junction, Montrose, Durango, Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Aspen all have endless stories of persons killed or seriously injured because of a drunk driver. Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm sues drunk drivers. Attorney Gary Doehling helps those who have been injured or suffered the death of a loved one because of a drunk driver .

Call Attorney Gary Doehling toll free 866-941-9370 if you have been injured or suffered the loss of a loved one because of a drunk driver.

In the following post

http://doehlinglaw.com/blog/uninsured-motorist-coverage/motorcycle-accidents-in-colorado

I discussed the importance of proper insurance coverage for street legal motorcycles.  I will now discuss interesting points of consideration for dirt bikes and atv’s or any other “toy” that you may have that is not intended for use on a public road and is not subject to title and licensing.

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE POLICIES USUALLY CONTAIN LIABILITY EXCLUSIONS FOR MOTORCYCLES, ATV’S, BOATS, AIRPLANES.

Again, my experience as a claims manager for an insurance company for many years brought to my attention (on several occasions) the trouble people get themselves into because of their lack of follow through to obtain proper insurance for a dirt bike,  atv or other “toy” they own. I will discuss more particulars regarding Boats and airplanes in a future writing.

You need to automatically assume that you DO NOT HAVE ANY INSURANCE COVERAGE (liability or physical damage) for any toy you buy, own or control unless and until you have a meeting with your insurance agent and he or the company your insured with gives you something in writing that says otherwise.

YOU need to address the following steps if YOU are buying an dirt bike, atv, boat, airplane or any other “toy” that you may have that is not intended for use on a public road and is not subject to title and licensing.

1) DISCLOSE TO YOUR INSURANCE AGENT ALL MOTORIZED “TOYS”  THAT YOU OWN.  For your own protection it is best if you submit a written list of those motorized toys to the agent with

Name of actual owner (individual, commercial entity etc…)

Make

Model

Horsepower or size of engine

Year

Use (i.e. recreation, farm, commercial)

Lien (do you owe money on it if so to who?)

Value (replacement and current market value)

Likely Operators of the unit (you, spouse, children, friends relatives etc…)

2) Have your agent or agents secretary acknowledge receipt of your list in writing for your records.

3) Sit down and discuss with your agent your wishes to be protected for liability arising out of the use of any toy that you may own or control.

4) Sit down and discuss with your agent your desire to have physical damage coverage for the toy(s) if indeed you want to compensated for the value of same if damaged.

5) Ask your agent if their is MEDICAL PAYMENTS coverage available if you or another operator is injured while operating the toy. This is very important coverage for you and any passenger that may be on the vehicle.

6) Ask your agent if the liability coverage extends “off premise“. Can you take the toy away from your residence premises and still have the same liability and physical damage coverage that you may have at your resident premises?

7) Discuss with your agent if indeed the toy has  a “multi purpose“.   Is it used for farming or commercial work as well as recreation? The agent needs to know this and you need to stress that you want liability coverage for all uses.

Review your list of “toys” with your agent each and every year or sooner if you acquire or sell a new toy.

As an insurance claims manager, I witnessed the failure of the toy owner to report to his agent that he/she even had a “toy”. This was a problem for the owner as a denial was usually sent in quick order when there was no liability endorsement or other liability coverage specifically listing that unit involved in an accident.

I also worked and reviewed several personal injury insurance claims where the children of an atv or dirt bike allowed others to ride with them or allowed others to operate the toy. Sure enough that person or all involved are injured and again there is no coverage because the owner simply failed to sit down and discuss the toys with his/her insurance agent.

You are invited and encouraged to contact Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm P.C. in Grand Junction, CO and schedule a free consultation with Gary should you or a loved one been injured in a motorcycle accident in Colorado or Utah.

Toll Free 866-941-9370

Scott Krug, CPCU

Claims Manger

Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm P.C.

www.doehlinglaw.com

I had previously blogged about ATV accidents and the necessity to have the proper insurance if you own or operate an ATV. I would now like to discuss motorcycle accidents and the importance of reviewing your insurance coverage prior to operating the motorcycle. I will focus on street legal motorcyles in this blog. Dirt bikes or other motorized bikes not licensed for use on public highways can be discussed in a future blog.

My experience as a former claims manager for an insurance company in handling bodily injury claims arising out of motorcycle accidents revealed that the injuries incurred by the motorcyclist and passenger are usually quite serious. The medical expenses are large, the lost wages are painful to the pocketbook, the at-fault party usually had very little insurance and the motorcyclist did not have the proper insurance coverage as well.

Again, having worked motorcycle accident bodily injury claims as an insurance claims manager, I can tell you that it is very important to review the following coverage(s) with your insurance agent and buy as much of the coverage(s) as possible. The coverage(s) are MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE & UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST BODILY INJURY COVERAGE . These coverage(s) protects you and your passenger should the at-fault party be uninsured or UNDERINSURED. Medical Payments coverage will pay your medical bills arising out of the accident up to the limit purchased by you regardless of who was at fault. These coverages are highly recommended even if you have health insurance. You may have health insurance, does your passenger?

You are invited and encouraged to contact Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm P.C. in Grand Junction, CO and schedule a free consultation with Gary should you or a loved one been injured in a motorcycle accident in Colorado or Utah.

Toll Free 866-941-9370

Scott Krug, CPCU

Claims Manger

Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm P.C.

www.doehlinglaw.com