Would my car insurance rates here in Maryland, still increase even for minor traffic violations where the most that I got is a ticket?

Suzanne

Dundalk, MD

Although minor traffic violations themselves may not be enough to cause your insurance rates to significantly rise, accumulating traffic violations will and if this particular driving violation becomes one too many, you’re insurance rates can definitely increase and that’s aside from the possibility of your driver’s license getting revoked as well as heavy fines and penalties. What you don’t want to happen here is to allow your car insurance provider there in Maryland to file your record under ‘High-Risk” and repeatedly getting points against your driver’s license wouldn’t help you much in accomplishing that.

Here are some additional tips to help you keep auto insurance rates in check:

Maintain Continuous Coverage
Don’t allow your car insurance policy to get canceled. It will be much harder for you, not to mention a lot more expensive, to get reinstate one again.

Drive Safely and Responsibly
Be a safe driver. You really can’t afford to add anymore violations. This will be in your records for years and it will years of hard work to get these cleared up and the same amount of time before your insurance rates goes further down.

Enroll in Defensive Driving Classes
Not only will you learn additional skills in keeping yourself and your passengers safe, taking defensive diving classes will also qualify you for additional discounts towards your insurance premiums as well.

This is the first time ever that I am shopping for my very own auto insurance here in Dundalk, Maryland. I was advised that I should get higher deductible to save money and that I may opt not to have collision coverage since I have an older car, what do these things mean?

Carolyn

Dundalk, MD

You could get a lot of savings on your auto insurance in Maryland if you have higher deductible. The deductible on your auto insurance would be the cost that you have to shell out from you own pocket before your auto insurance provider starts paying the remainder. So this means that you pay a small amount in case of an accident and your auto insurance provider pay for the weighty bumps. For instance, if the deductible on your auto insurance is $500 and the damage of an accident you are involved is $2000, you would have to pay $500 and our insurance provider would have to pay $1,500. But you can have a deductible of $1,000 because this could nonetheless protect you from great losses, but it could lessen you premiums by as big as 30%.

Collision insurance would pay for the damage on your vehicle from any collision such as with another vehicle, light post or even a mailbox. Since you have an older car and if it is not that valuable, you may choose not to have collision coverage. If your vehicle’s value is less than $200, you will likely pay out more having a collision coverage that its value. After all, you are driving an older vehicle to save some money, right?

How do I choose the right auto insurance company after I have been dropped by my previous provider because of my DUI charge here in Dundalk, Maryland?

Jason

Dundalk, MD

Choosing the right auto insurance company after you have been dropped by your previous insurer because of your DUI charge in Dundalk, Maryland can be a challenging task. There are some points that you have to remember when selecting an auto insurance company. The first thing that you have to make sure is that the insurance company is licensed in the state of Maryland because not every company is licensed to operate in each state. If the insurance company is licensed in Maryland, you can then rely on the state insurance department to help if there is a problem.

The other thing that you would have to consider is the price because there are a lot of companies that sell auto insurance policies and their prices vary greatly from one another. It would pay to shop around and get at least three price quotes from agents, companies and Internet. You may start your search for the right auto insurance company by getting free online premium quotes from this website.

My husband and I don’t have any record for DUI, my husband being a social drinker and I don’t drink at all. What I don’t understand is that my teenage son got so early into drinking and what’s even worse is that he usually drives himself home after a party. What could be the reason for teens to get into drinking and driving? I’m afraid that my son would cause or be in an accident and be charged for DUI here in Dundalk, Maryland.

Carol

Dundalk, MD

During the phase of a teenage life, teens usually get excited and have fun by starting to explore the world without noticing that they are still a little teenager of probably the age near thirteen to sixteen. Drinking and driving seems to be a new activity that teenagers have begun to explore and for them, this sounds very exciting. You may be aware of the statistics on teenage drunk driving so it’s understandable that your son might just be in an accident in Dundalk, Maryland that is caused by drinking and driving.

Teenagers are so anxious to drink alcohol but majority of them have poor driving skills. The main reason why teens are so eager to drink in this early stage of their lives could be blamed on getting tempted to do so since their friends are into it as well. By being ‘in,’ they think that they could look cool and funky; and even look cooler if they drive after consuming alcohol. Drunk driving is an activity that could be related to excitement but yet so dangerous that can even take one’s life away forever. I know that you are concerned about your son being in an accident and be charged with DUI so you can talk to him and tell him the consequences that he is facing with drunk driving.

My daughter has just been charged with her first DUI Offense in Maryland. I know she’s starting to cause too much trouble for the family, but still we want to do everything to get her out of this. What are the possible defenses that we can use on her DUI case?

Hailey

Dundalk, MD

Maryland DUI cases are defensible despite what many people say. The prosecution’s case against your daughter’s DUI charge in Dundalk, Maryland will consist of evidence such as erratic operation of the vehicle, an odor of intoxicants coming from her or her vehicle, poor performance on the road side sobriety tests and most importantly, the results of the blood or breath tests.

One basic defense for a DUI case is if the police officer failed to read your daughter her Miranda Rights. When she was arrested, the officer must advise her of her Miranda Rights in a Maryland DUI case if she is in custody and they question her seeking to illicit an incriminating response. If the officers asked her questions after placing her in custody for DUI, and did not first read her the Miranda rights, any statements she made may be excluded from evidence. Another possible defense is if the field sobriety tests were improperly administered. If this is the case, then the results of the officer’s investigation can be attacked in several ways. Not every possible DUI defense applies in every case, but at least it would give you an idea on how to attack the police evidence.

My father has just been recently convicted of DUI here in Maryland. We fully understand the effects of this on our lives, especially on his. Is there a way that we can be able to clear his DUI record?

Matt

Dundalk, MD

You may have some options available to clear your father’s DUI record in Maryland. After a DUI conviction, your father can seek a new trial from the court. His DUI lawyer can ask the court for a new trial if there was an error in the admission of evidence at his trial or some other procedural problems. Your father would be allowed to present his entire case again if the judge grants his request for a new trial, and with a new jury this time. Your father’s record will be cleared if he is found not guilty after the second trial. The legal effect of this is that as if he was never convicted.

Your father may be eligible to appeal his DUI conviction if the judge refuses to grant him a new trial or he loses at his second trial. If there is an error of law at his trial, or the jury completely disregarded the facts, he may have grounds for an appeal. This would involve filing briefs with the court and an oral argument. Your father will not be required to appear or participate in the appeal. If his appeal is successful, his DUI conviction will be reversed, and his record will be cleared.