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Accidental Injury Attorney: Do You Need One or Can You Do It Alone?

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Tens of millions of non-fatal injuries occur via car accidents every year. Given that massive number, it seems inevitable that eventually, you’ll end up in a vehicle collision.

Since you’re reading this post, you may have already been affected by an accident and are wondering whether or not an accidental injury attorney is worth contacting.

In general, finding an injury lawyer after an accident is always a good idea. To know for sure if seeking representation is worth your time, consider the following questions.

1. Are You Injured?

We get that a fender-bender isn’t likely to lead you to run out and find a lawyer. If your accident was severe enough that you’re in pain, are experiencing reduced mobility, or are in any way inconvenienced by the event, legal assistance may be helpful.

Many times, we find that accident victims don’t feel the full physical effects of their accident until weeks after an event. By contacting an accidental injury attorney proactively, you cover yourself in case your condition worsens.

2. Is Your Ability to Work Likely to Be Affected?

The main reason why people need to receive settlements after an accident is because their injuries prevent them from working. When you think about the damage you incurred as a result of your accident, do you suspect your ability to make money is going to be affected?

If so, to the tune of how much? An injury lawyer can help you come up with that number and seek it in damages from an offending party.

3. Were Other Passengers Involved in Your Accident?

You may walk away from an accident feeling okay, but your passengers might not feel the same way. If those injured passengers can’t collect compensation from the other driver involved in your crash, they could come after you.

Covering yourself from potential damage seekers that you know is an often forgotten yet vital reason to consider contacting an attorney right after a car accident. You never know when and for what purpose you could use their guidance.

4. Was the Offending Motorist Uninsured?

Collecting damages from an opposing driver’s insurance company is easy enough and can be done without a lawyer (although a lawyer could help you receive more). When an offending driver is uninsured, though, things change.

You will need to sue a motorist if you plan on getting compensation and they don’t have coverage. You’ll almost certainly need an attorney’s help to do that effectively.

5. Do You Feel Confident Maximizing Your Settlement Alone?

At the end of the day, the most leading question that can help you decide whether or not to contact a lawyer is if you think you can maximize your accident settlement without legal assistance. Chances are, you can’t and will benefit from the help of a skilled law firm.

An Accidental Injury Attorney Can Provide Game-Changing, No Upfront Cost Services

By this point, you likely understand the value an accidental injury attorney can bring to your case.

What’s better than the value they provide is the fact that accident attorneys work entirely on commission. That means you won’t pay them a dime unless they get your a settlement.

With nothing to lose and everything to gain, we hope you seriously consider getting legal help after an accident and welcome you to read more of our blog content on the subject if you’d like additional guidance.

Vehicle Classification Guide: Passenger Vehicle vs Multipurpose Vehicle

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vehicle types

What’s The Difference Between Passenger Vehicles and Multipurpose Vehicles?

Window tint laws vary from state to state, this means the tint law in each state are different depending on the type of motor vehicle you have. Motor vehicle safety standards are put in place to protect occupants by regulating window tint, braking systems, vehicle lights, tires, and a few others.

Where appropriate, window tinting regulations can be significantly different.

The difference all depends on whether you have a passenger vehicle or a multipurpose vehicle.

Passenger Vehicles (or Passenger Cars) vs Multipurpose Vehicles (MPVs)

Vehicle type is based on federal classification. Your vehicle is likely either a “Passenger Vehicle” or a “Multipurpose Vehicle”

multi purpose vehicle picture
(MPV – Multipurpose Vehicle. As the name suggests, they mostly accommodate 7–8 people. They stand tall with good ground clearance but need not necessarily be as tall as an SUV.)
passenger vehicle picture
(Passenger Vehicle. These vehicles typically accommodate 2-5 people. These are the most commonly identified as sedans or a vehicle that has only 2 rows..)

Identifying a Passenger Vehicle vs Multipurpose Vehicle

The best way to identify whether your vehicle is a passenger vehicle or multipurpose vehicle classification is to look for a Federal ID label.

This is the sticker/label that you see when you open your drivers side door.

This label also features your VIN (vehicle identification number) as well as information manufacturer information.

Which vehicles are “passenger cars”?

Passenger Cars, or Passenger Vehicles, federal vehicle classification includes: sedan, coupe, hatchback, convertible, station wagon, hardtop.

Law defines Passenger Cars as: Passenger car means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a low-speed vehicle, multipurpose passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer, designed for carrying 10 persons or less.

passenger car federal id label
(This is your Federal ID Label. Your vehicle should have a similar one showing your federal vehicle classification. You can see near the top center portion of the label that this vehicle is classified as a “Passenger Car”)

Which vehicles are “multipurpose vehicles”?

Multipurpose vehicles are often also referred to as multi-passenger vehicles (MPV) and multipurpose passenger vehicles.

MPV classification includes: SUVs, recreational vehicles (RV), pickups, panels, vans, campers, minibuses, sport utility vehicles, and similar vehicles.

Law defines MPVs as: Multipurpose passenger vehicle means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a low-speed vehicle or trailer, designed to carry 10 persons or less which is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation. Features of occasional off-road use would be defined as 4-wheel drive, large all-purpose tires, high ground clearance, etc.

mpv bottom right
(Your vehicle should have a similar one showing your federal vehicle classification. You can see near the bottom right portion of the label that this vehicle is classified as a “MPV”)

Determining Minimum Tint Transmittance Standards

nhtsa manufacturer
National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) sets the standards for vehicle manufacturers.

A Minimum of 70% VLT (Visible Light Transmission) is required on vehicle’s windows, as based on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 (Glazing Materials – 49 CFR §571.205). The primary purpose of this requirement is to ensure adequate visibility through the windows, thereby reducing the risk of a motor vehicle crash.

So is having a vehicle with 70% light admittance is legal? This is not always the case. Most states do not permit any aftermarket tint to be installed due to most being factory tinted already meeting those standards. More often than not, tint laws are stricter on the front windshield. This is to meet safety standards and not hinder the drivers sight.

different vehicle tint types
Applying any level of aftermarket tint may put your windows darker than 70% VLT (visible light transmission)

Not sure what your tint percentage is? Use can use a Tint Meter to find out the exact tint percentage. This is our preferrended tint tester, click here. 

It is vital that you know the difference between manufactured/factory tint and aftermarket tinting.

Knowing the different kinds of window tint film is also important, check out this article that covers different tint films.

As stated before, many windows come tinted straight out of the manufacturer, it can be tinted darker than the state’s tinting laws in some cases.

If your vehicle is manufactured that way, your vehicle may be alright; varying from state to state.

Do not forget to read tint laws pertaining to your specific state.

7 benefits of tinted windows for your car

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local window tint specialistDid you know that there were nearly 750,000 motor vehicle theft incidents in 2018 alone? Thieves are more likely to break into a vehicle if they see something valuable inside. How can you prevent that? Well, having tinted windows gives you more privacy and might reduce the likelihood of having your car broken into because malevolent people can’t see what’s inside.

But there are other benefits of window tinting, besides reducing car theft frequency. Tinting your windows is a simple and affordable process that can be done on almost all cars. We highly recommend consulting a local window tint specialist rather than do it yourself because properly tinting your windows is an art-form. If you are unsure of the window tint laws in your specific state we recommend you take advantage of our comprehensive list of all 50 states window tint laws.

Here are 7 reasons that you should get your windows tinted as soon as possible:

1. Block the Damage Done by UV Rays

As you probably already know, the UV rays that come from the sun are a form of electromagnetic radiation. If you’re exposed to UV radiation for a lot of time, your skin might develop burns and aging signs will start to appear quicker. At the same time, UV radiation is also responsible for most skin cancers developed in people all over the world.

The good news is that tinted windows can prevent UV radiation from damaging your skin. Most window tint films designed for car windows block around 99% of UV radiation, so you’re basically safe inside, especially if you drive for many hours every day.

uv-ray-protection-with-tint

2. Window Tinting Offers Protection In Case of Accidents

No one wants to be involved in a car accident, but unfortunately, these happen every day. One of the main sources of injury for passengers consists of shattered glass. If an object hits the car windows and they break, the numerous glass pieces can cause scratches and other terrible injuries.

In this case, window tint can help because it creates a thin film around the glass which keeps the pieces together in case of impact. The glass will still break, but the shards remain together, they don’t spread all over the insides of your car. This is definitely a safety feature all drivers want to take advantage of.

tinted-windows-shattered-glass

3. Tinted Windows Prevent Upholstery Fading

Just as UV rays can affect your skin, it can also affect different other objects. For example, furniture items that are exposed to sunlight every day tend to fade in a couple of years and develop a pale color. The same story goes for your car upholstery as well.

If you’ve recently modified your car and added brand new upholstery, a window tint can protect your investment. The thin film applied on the windows of your car will prevent UV rays from fading your upholstery, so your vehicle will always look brand new!

window-tint-upholstery-fading

4. Get Protection Against Excessive Solar Heat

The sun doesn’t only emit UV radiation, but also a great deal of warmth that will eventually build up inside your car during hot summer days. As a result, you’ll eventually have to use the air conditioner more often. This reduces the performance of your car and drastically affects fuel consumption.

You might be happy to find out that different types of window tint for vehicles prevent solar heat from building up inside your car. Tinted windows act as insulators for your automobile, keeping your car cool in warm seasons. As a result, you will feel much better when you get inside your car and won’t have to pay that much for fuel either.

ceramic-tint-heat-prevention

5. Have A Safer Driving Experience Every Day

When it comes to a car window tint, the list of benefits doesn’t stop here. One of the most annoying things that can happen when you drive is having to deal with glare. Especially if you have forgotten your glasses at home, glare can really deteriorate your driving experience and even make you more prone to accidents.

Luckily, car window tinting is again the solution to this problem. It will stop most of the glare coming from the sun, allowing you to see better while driving. You’ll be able to easily discern traffic signs, oncoming vehicles, and pedestrians. Even if you don’t wear your sunglasses, tinted windows will make your driving experience a lot safer.

safer driving with window tint

6. Enjoy More Privacy While Driving

The window films installed on a vehicle can give you more privacy while driving around town. It might seem like far-fetched, but what if you’re a famous person or you’re shuttling a VIP to a large concert hall or restaurant. You don’t want passersby to be able to recognize you, right? In this case, tinted windows can again save the day.

The beauty of car window films is that they prevent others from seeing what’s inside the vehicle, but not vice-versa. You’ll be able to clearly see the incoming traffic and pedestrians, so your visibility is not blocked in any way. Limo companies use tinted windows as a form of privacy for their customers all the time and because they are a MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) they are allowed to legally tint the back windows with an almost pitch black shade.

privacy with tints

7. Window Tint Allows You to Customize Your Car

There’s yet another benefit of having tinted car windows. For example, did you know that these films come in various colors and shades? This gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to personalizing your vehicle. You can make the tint match the color of your car to create a seamless design.

Think of window tinting as a pair of sunglasses. Some sunglasses have light blue lenses, others might have dark red ones. You can shop around and go for car window tint that matches your preferences and desires. Also, if you’re worried that this might affect the resale price, don’t be. You can safely remove the tinting from the windows of your car before selling it and the process is pretty simple and straightforward.

window tint allows you to customize your car

Now It’s The Right Time To Get Tinted Windows For Your Automobile

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits you can reap if you decide to get tinted windows for your car. Your investment is minimal and the level of comfort behind the steering wheel will definitely increase.

If you’re worried about legislation and what rules apply when it comes to window tinting in your area then don’t hesitate to consult our state specific window tinting guides. We offer law information for other states in America, so make sure that you explore our website thoroughly to find out more!

The information regarding window tinting laws contained on this website should by no means be used as legal advice. The information here should be used as a starting point for your own research and you should always confirm the data you find here with your local and state departments. It is ultimately your final say as to what the best course of action is for your circumstances. We are not lawyers. If you are interested in legal advice regarding window tint laws and traffic citations for your localized area we would be happy to refer you to some law firms. It is crucial that you not only understand the state laws but also your local municipal laws before you tint your car windows. You also must understand that just because a statute may clearly state one thing or another, that doesn't mean that all members of law enforcement will know the current ruling. This goes for lawyers and even judges too at times. The best prevention for a traffic citation is thorough research and although we do our best to keep these pages up to date, we are only human and sometimes miss the updates.

Respectfully, Your friends @windowtintlaws.us

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