2009-05-02

Buying car insurance for younger drivers

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Motoring costs have soared in 2008 with increases in the cost of fuel, tax and insurance premiums; meaning that keeping a car on the road has never been more expensive. For younger drivers, it gets worse. New plans by the government to increase the tuition period before a learner driver can pass their test means that the cost of getting your licence is also set to increase.

For younger motorists, higher costs will sadly come as no surprise as this age group has been paying higher insurance premiums for years. A lack of driving experience means that they are not eligible for the no-claims discounts that more experienced drivers may be entitled to and they are likely to have higher policy excesses.

As well as a lack of driving experience, younger drivers are also penalised by the insurance industry because of their reputation. This is because young drivers are statistically more likely to have an accident. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) , young men aged 21 are 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads than those aged 35 or over. Statistics also show that every day, four people are killed or seriously injured in accidents involving younger drivers.

While insurance will always look expensive to new drivers, there are things that can be done to help keep premiums at a low:

- Avoid modifications: Avoid vehicles with any modifications from the standard manufacture. Even if it’s a second hand car and a modification has been made by a previous owner, drivers will still need to declare this on their motor insurance policy. Adding items such as roof racks or luggage boxes will not generally be considered as modifications by insurance companies. However, with any changes to your vehicle, drivers should call their insurer direct to check whether or not this affects their policy.
- Smaller is better: Choose your car carefully and try to avoid cars with engines over 1200cc; the lower the engine capacity of the vehicle, the lower the premium.
- Shop around for your insurance: don’t accept the first quote that you are given and always try to compare as many quotes as possible. Insurance comparison sites mean that you can now compare more insurance premiums than ever before, and in a fraction of the time. The beauty of using a comparison site as a younger driver is that the insurance companies who are not competitive for younger motorists will automatically be filtered out.
- Do you need a comprehensive policy? Depending on the value of your vehicle, you may want to consider a third party fire and theft policy, rather than a fully comprehensive policy. Drivers will need to be aware though that this type of policy will not cover you if your car is affected by flooding, or if you are involved in an accident where you are at fault.
- Consider your excess: If you increase the amount of excess that you have on a comprehensive motor insurance policy, you can bring your premiums down even further. However, an excess amount is made up of both a compulsory and a voluntary excess. The compulsory excess is set by the insurance company and this amount will vary depending on your circumstances. For example, drivers under the age of 25, drivers with protected no claims bonus or with performance vehicles will find that their compulsory excess will be higher. The voluntary excess is the amount that you choose to contribute towards a claim and by increasing this, you can often lower your overall premium. However, before committing to a policy always check the total excess amount (voluntary plus compulsory) that you will have to pay should you need to make a claim.
- Obtain a Passplus certificate: A PassPlus course can also help to reduce your premiums– this is a course that can be taken once you have passed your test and takes a minimum of six hours. This will generally cover risks such as driving at night, on country roads, on dual carriageways and motorways, and driving in different weather conditions. As well as increasing your confidence as a driver, these courses can help to reduce premiums for younger drivers.
- Add an older driver: Consider adding another older, more experienced driver to your insurance. In some cases, adding a second driver who is over 25 and has a clean licence to the policy can help to reduce premiums if you are a younger driver. However, this will depend on the underwriting criteria for each individual insurer. Some insurance companies will charge for the highest risk driver named on the policy, and it will not matter who drives the vehicle and when.

There are ways to keep insurance costs down but don’t be tempted to alter or omit key information to try and lower your premiums. Being honest with your insurer when you are applying for an insurance policy is essential.

Auto Refinancing

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Written and sponsored by rateGenius Auto RefinancingAuto Refinancing is like mortgage refinancing, but with distinct differences. One is that a house appreciates in value, cars do not appreciate, therefore, you cannot extract cash from your auto loan. In fact, most people are upside down when they refinance. Auto refinance is basically paying off your current high interest auto loan with a better, lower interest loan.
The Auto Refinance ProcessYou want lower payments, a lower interest rate, and maybe a short payoff term, but what does the process entail? The steps in the auto refinancing process include:
Auto Refinance Application - sending the information about your financial and auto situation
Identifying the lender that best matches your refinance needs
Talking to a loan specialist, who will explain everything from loan changes to your approximate savings
Getting you to complete the loan forms and mail them back
The title transfer, loan payoff, and warranty and insurance paperwork is completed
There is no cost to you. Any fees by the state, extended warranties, and/or GAP insurance are added into the loan balance.
BenefitsRefinancing not only frees up money in your pocket, but can also have a positive impact on your credit.
Some other benefits to refinancing your car loan include:
Car loan monthly payment savings
Interest rate savings on current loan
Up to 60 days of deferred payments - take a break from paying!
Opportunity to purchase GAP insurance and an extended warranty, all added into your loan for long term savings
The service should be completely free!
Things You'll Need
18 years of age or older
Car Info
Make, Model, and Year (no more than 5-7 years old)
Mileage (no more than 80K miles)
Packages and Options
VIN (if you have it)
Loan Info
Current Lender Name and eventually the Account Number
Current Payoff Amount (must be over $10K for most lenders)
Current Interest Rate
Current Monthly Payment
Financial Info
Monthly Income (must be over $1800 per month)
Monthly Debts
Employment Background
Social Security Number

Auto Insurance Quotes

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For Years I was one of those drivers who just paid for my auto insuranceautomatically without ever thinking about the growing costs. It makes me shudder to think about how much money I've paid out over the years... which is why I want to share with you a fast way to potentially save big time on your annual motoring insurance bills and to let you in on a SECRET that your insurance company doesn't want you to learn. Using this easy but potent method enabled me to literally 'Half' my annual auto insurance bill and you could quickly do it too.
When I first stated using this technique I was astounded and confused why some car Insurance companies were so much less than my normal insurance provider for the same type of cover. I even confronted my previous insurance provider to ask why, as you may expect, they couldn't give me a reasonable answer... Then it suddenly hit me!
Have you also found this... Your auto insurance costs rise each year even if you have never claimed. Statistics show the longer you are with an insurance company and have not claimed the less risk you should pose to the company and so your insurance costs should, theoretically, be REDUCED every year. It would seem that insurance companies only apply statistics when it helps to increase the cost of the policy.
Imagine if you could really SLASH your annual insurance bill. What could you do with that extra money? In my case the extra savings goes on our annual family vacation and believe me it's a significant contribution. We actually managed to nearly half the insurance costs of both our cars which amounts to a tidy sum. I have to say it's quite a good feeling lieing on a relaxing sunny beach watching the kids playing in the water knowing that my insurance company has made a nice contribution to the cost of our vacation.
As I mentioned previously about my original insurance company not willing to give me an reason for why my insurance costs were increasing instead of getting less. It's not really that they couldn't give me an answer; it's more like they didn't want me to know the real reason.
This is what I had discovered... Insurance providers are always looking for NEW customers, their main focus is on obtaining a bigger market share at almost any cost in an attempt to beat the other insurance providers, and they go out of their way to attract NEW customers.

They even offer massive discounts to NEW clients, discounts that they would never normally give to their current clients. This is why YOUR annual costs increase every year rather than drop, you are covering the costs of the special offers passed on to NEW customers. Does that make you angry? I'm sorry if it does it was not my intention to get you all worked up. I just wanted you to realize what was going on and to understand why your insurance bills are continually growing. The great news is that you can also now begin to take advantage of those special discounts and get low cost auto insurance, just as I have done and you could save massively on your motoring insurance renewal costs.

The secret to acquiring low cost auto insurance is to beat the insurance companies at their own game. Each time you need to renew your auto insurance you need to put yourself out there as a potential NEW client and attract the best discounted auto insurance deals available.

It takes a little extra work, but there are web sites out there that make it easy to find the best offers.
Now you know the secret you will never have to pay max rates for auto insurance again.

2009-04-28

What to do after you've been hurt in an accident

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After you’ve been hurt of injured in an accident, there are a few important things to be certain of:

Consult a lawyer who specializes in accident claims immediately. There is a limitation period in Ontario to sue. This limitation varies, depending on the facts of your case and the sort of accident. But, generally, you have 2 years to sue from the date of the accident. There are all sorts of other limitation periods which you need to be aware of, which is important to consult a lawyer immediately to ensure that your right to sue is protected.

See your family doctor immediately after the accident. Hospitals generally rush their patients out to make room for more patients because they’re so busy. Sometimes people are discharged from hospitals with poor follow up instructions or improper treatment or medications. See your family doctor. They know you best. If you don’t have a family doctor, ask around.

Make sure you bring your lawyer all the documents you have in your possession relating to your claim. Documents you might not think to be relevant, might be very relevant. Let a lawyer be the judge of that.

Be careful of surveillance. After you’ve commenced an action, sometimes insurance companies hire private investigators to conduct surveillance on you. They may wait outside of your home in a van and videotape you. This is allowed. They will use this surveillance evidence to show that you are able to carry the trash, if you say that you cannot. Or show that you are walking perfectly well, when you’re saying that you walk with a limp after the accident. Be careful.

Make sure you tell your lawyer exactly where the accident happened, and who was involved. This is important so your lawyer knows exactly who to sue. If your lawyer doesn’t have all of the information, your lawyer might sue the wrong party, which will effect your case.

The laws for car accidents, and personal injury claims are complicated and constantly changing. This is why you need an experienced lawyer to point you in the right direction and help you with your claim from start to finish. Brian Goldfinger of Goldfinger Personal Injury Law is a Canadian trained lawyer who only represents accident victims. Do not see somebody who does not specialize in personal injury. This may likely impact your case. Call Brian today for your free consultation.

THIS ARTICLE IS NOT INTENTED TO BE RELIED UPON AS LEGAL ADVICE; NOR SHOULD IT BE CONSTRUED TO CREATE A SOLICITOR-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.

Insurance Litigation in Latin America

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Insurance Litigation in Latin America: What lawyers need to know?
When industries suffer large-scale accidents and the production losses are estimated in hundreds of millions of dollars the insurance market is seen as the remedy when an event of this nature takes place. Learning about how insurance mechanisms operate is increasingly important, not only for the companies involved in the claim but also for the public, press and the companies’ advisers: including, of course, the attorneys of all of those involved in the accident.
Attorneys can face questions on the sense and scope of exclusions in policies, limits and sub-limits of coverage, how the reinsurance sales systems work and particularly the content of the contracts between the insurer, assignor and reinsurer – as well as the implications that these contracts may have for the company and for the claim which they may eventually face.
The expansion of the Latin American economy over the last years has been driven by the strong demand for raw materials, especially from Asian countries.
It is well known that since 2004, China in particular has become the exporting countries of Latin –America’s biggest customer. The increase in demand from such a large country has driven the price of some raw material to prices never seen before. As the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL in Spanish) has pointed out, world economic growth and the increasing participation of China, India and other Asian economies has boosted trade for South American countries by 31 per cent since the 1990s.
The same organisation has also pointed out that manufactured goods coming from some Latin American countries have shown a sustained growth reaching almost 20 per cent in 2005. For example, in Brazil, exports of manufactured goods currently represent 56 per cent of the country’s total.
Many of these Latin American companies, either private or state, are coping with this high demand by working at the top of their productive capacity. Some trade on their future assets and most sell practically all the commodities – unimproved raw materials which require short transformation processes as metals, energy, food and consumables – they produce daily.
With companies producing high commercial value goods at a pace never seen before, with a secured demand and sales with amazing profit margins, it’s not hard to imagine how catastrophic any event which might totally or partially paralyse this production would be.
Thus, in the case of a mining company which produces three million dollars in copper a day, or in the case of an oil company which could produce twice that, interrupting their operations could cost them several hundred million dollars. In high price periods such as now, two or three months of discontinuance would have a severe impact on a company, even when all necessary measures have been taken to mitigate the losses.
It is then that all thoughts turn to insurance, particularly those policies which cover loss for business interruption and which indemnify damages for discontinuance of production. Increasingly, insurance programmes to protect physical goods and contracting are just a small chapter in the complex insurance process of big businesses. Precisely due to the high daily production level, insurance for protection from loss for damages for business interruption has become these businesses’ risk managers’ greatest worry nowadays.
The policy Contract
The value of the amounts insured and the technicality of their structure make these policies especially complex, not only in their design but also in their interpretation. This complexity is added to by the re-sale mechanism of insurance companies, which is often unfamiliar not only to the companies but also to their lawyers. This re-sale occurs because in business interruption insurance for big companies in mining, oil, energy, manufacture and even in-bond assembly of various goods, the insured amounts are usually so huge that it is impossible for the local insurance companies to take the risk by themselves. They must resort to the coinsurance mechanism, through which they share the risk with other local insurance companies, and more importantly they resort to reinsurance, a mechanism through which they assign part of the risk to foreign reinsurance companies which generally operate from the sophisticated European and American markets.
The participation of these entities in the insurance chain makes insurance contracts more complicated for the companies’ legal counsel, especially when clauses which establish deductibles, sub limits, exclusions, coverage conditions and specific mechanisms for the calculation of loss are incorporated in these contracts. If a serious event affects the operation of such a mega-business, not only are the insured company’s own mechanisms for these contingencies activated, but also the mechanisms of local insurance companies. Legal counsel will also quite certainly be expected to consider the procedures that the reinsurer in London, Zurich or New York has established for such great claims of policyholders with operations in Latin American countries.
The risks are usually so big that the number of reinsurers intervening in the sale of reinsurance of just one company can add up to 10 or even more. Each one has not only its own contingency policy and specific procedures but also its own language and ruling law, making claim management many times more difficult than at first may seem.
Once a claim of this kind occurs, it is not only the law firms advising the insured companies for whom the scenario is particularly complex. Reinsurers’ lawyers often lack knowledge of the regulation of Latin American markets, and this ignorance of insurance law of each country can mislead them. For example, when interpreting local insurance contracts, it is natural for reinsurers’ lawyers to apply reasoning using their own legislation, which sometimes opposes the regulatory processes of the local markets.
There is another layer of dissociation between the company making the claim and the reinsurers. The local insurance companies which take this kind of risk are usually international companies, with strong technical support and well constituted procedures. They are cautious in selling on reinsurance contracts, since the seriousness and solvency of the reinsurer is their guarantee of payment. Many productive companies trust this process, and contract their insurance through brokers or examine only the primary policy without worrying very much about what happens further on in the reinsurance contract. However, this may be where the final fate of their claim will be seen.
Negotiating the maze
What should a lawyer focus on when faced with a difference of opinion between policyholder and insurer, and the negotiations this kind of problem implies, or a possible insurance lawsuit?
First, it is fundamental to know and completely understand the insurance policy under which the claimed risk is covered. This, which at the beginning seems elementary, does not turn out to be simple when there are differences in the interpretation of a word, a number, a paragraph or exclusion. Such a difference could mean the policy is no longer self-sufficient, and lawyers will need to go back to its history, to its underwriting process and to the record of negotiation among those who participated in its emission and contracting. In this regard, the broker’s responsibility turns out to be particularly relevant since, especially in Latin American countries, they usually act as sole connection between insurer and policyholder.
In such cases, lawyers must also be apprised of the particular laws on insurance contracts, as well as some special civil laws of each country which go further than insurance matters and which regulate, for example, the way to construe contracts. Familiarity with local insurance regulators’ administrative regulations, many of which monitor the detail of contracts and the mechanisms for entering into an insurance contract, is also essential.. But this analysis of these layers of regulation related to the link between policyholder and insurer does not end in the direct insurance contract when dealing with million-dollar claims and great risks. The terms of the reinsurance contracts between the local insurer and the reinsurer will be the determining factor in deciding the claim. Every lawyer for a claimant in such a case must know the laws regulating the contracting of reinsurances, as well as the reinsurance mechanism applied to the specific risk about which the law firm is advising.
In general, in Latin American countries, reinsurance does not alter anything in the contract the direct insurer and the policyholder, and the claim payment may not be deferred because of reinsurance. Strictly speaking, reinsurance keeps obligations between local insurer and policyholder inalterable. However, modern reinsurance contracting practices often makes the role of the reinsurer in the claim payment decision fundamental - and even beyond that which local legislation allows. This is mainly due to the inclusion of Claim Control Clauses and Claim Cooperation Clauses in reinsurance contracts.
The Claim Control Clause establishes as a precondition to coverage that the local insurer get written authorisation from the reinsurer to make any payment or to even reach any agreement regarding a payment which may affect its responsibility. For this reason, if there is a complaint on the policy, the direct insurer must usually submit to the guidelines the reinsurer lays down regarding the adjustment and payment process of the claim.
The Claim Cooperation Clauses are less restrictive for the direct insurers. They do not impose direct control over the pay-off process, since the condition of requiring written authorisation is eliminated. Simple notices or information relay is all that is required. Some clauses are stricter than others, depending on the requirements imposed by the reinsurer.
Both of these clauses, which are part of every modern reinsurance contract, force the local insurer to be very careful in managing the claim. Reinsurers can refuse indemnification payment, and this has a direct effect on the policyholder. This situation is even more complex for the insurance company and its lawyers when, for the same risk, there are two or more different reinsurers, or when foreign legislations and jurisdictions come into play - or even a mix of both.
Neither the lawyer of a policyholder nor the lawyer who in each country is advising the reinsurers should or may remain indifferent to the contracting mechanisms of reinsurance. Much less can they disregard the reinsured-reinsurer conflict or its effects on the company which has contracted the insurance and which has suffered the claim. There is absolutely no doubt that some of the insurance mechanisms and the reinsurers’ support allow these productive Latin American companies to concentrate their effort on the development of their business, knowing that their assets and products are backed by sound and well structured insurance contracts. Equally, it is important to accept that just as the world of business in general is not exempt from conflicts; neither does the world of insurance lack them. Quite often lawyers are required to guide their clients through these difficulties in the best way possible.
Whether your client is in the energy, mining, or agriculture sectors, or one whose line of business is to award insurance or reinsurance, the lawyer who defends a client in an insurance conflict will sooner rather than later realise that it’s an exciting world where there also is a lot lo learn.

Insurance Needs in Retirement

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Your goals and priorities will probably change as you plan to retire. Along with them, your insurance needs may change as well. Retirement is typically a good time to review the different parts of your insurance program and make any changes that might be needed.Stay well with good health insurance


After you retire, you'll probably focus more on your health than ever before. Staying healthy is your goal, and that may require more visits to the doctor for preventive tests and routine checkups. There's also a chance that your health will decline as you grow older, increasing your need for costly prescription drugs and medical treatments. All of this can add up to substantial medical bills after you've left the workforce (and probably lost your employer's health benefits). You need health insurance that meets both your needs and your budget.Fortunately, you'll get some help from Uncle Sam. You typically become eligible for Medicare coverage at the same time you become eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. Premium-free Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care, while Medicare Part B (for which you'll pay a premium) covers physician care, laboratory tests, physical therapy, and other medical expenses. But don't expect Medicare to cover everything after you retire. For instance, you'll have to pay a large deductible and make co-payments for certain types of care. Medicare prescription drug coverage is only available through a managed care plan (a Medicare Advantage plan), or through a Medicare prescription drug plan offered by a private company or insurer (premiums apply).To supplement Medicare, you may want to purchase a Medigap policy. These policies are specifically designed to fill the holes in Medicare's coverage. Though Medigap policies are sold by private insurance companies, they're regulated by the federal government. There are 12 standard Medigap plans, but not all of them are offered in every state. All of these plans provide certain core benefits, and all but one offer combinations of additional benefits. Be sure to look at both cost and benefits when choosing a plan.What if you're retiring early and won't be eligible for Medicare for a number of years? If you're lucky, your employer may give you a retirement package that includes health benefits at least until Medicare kicks in. If not, you may be able to continue your employer's coverage at your own expense through COBRA. But this is only a short-term solution, because COBRA coverage typically lasts only 18 months. Another option is to buy an individual policy, though you may not be insurable if you're in poor health. Even if you are insurable, the coverage may be very expensive.Don't overlook long-term care insuranceIf you're able to stay healthy and active throughout your life, you may never need to enter a nursing home or receive at-home care. But the fact is, many people aged 65 and older will require some type of long-term care during their lives. And that number is likely to go up in future years because people are increasingly living longer. On top of that, long-term care is expensive. You should be prepared in case you do need long-term care at some point.Unfortunately, Medicare provides very limited coverage for long-term care. You may be covered for a short-term nursing home stay immediately following hospitalization, but that's about it. Other government and military-sponsored programs may help foot the bill, but generally only if you meet strict eligibility requirements. For example, Medicaid requires that you exhaust most of your assets before you can qualify for long-term care benefits. Even a good private health insurance policy will not offer much coverage for long-term care. But most long-term care insurance (LTCI) policies will.LTCI is sold by private insurance companies and typically covers skilled, intermediate, and custodial care in a nursing home. Most policies also cover home care services and care in a community-based setting (e.g., an assisted-living facility). This type of insurance can be a cost-effective way to protect yourself against long-term care costs--the key is to buy a policy when you're still relatively young (most companies won't sell you a policy if you're under age 40). If you wait until you're older or ill, LTCI may be unavailable or much more expensive.Weigh your need for life insuranceIf you're married, you want to make sure that your spouse will have enough money when you die. You may also have children and other heirs you want to take care of. Life insurance can be one way to accomplish these goals, but several questions arise as you near retirement. Should you keep that existing policy in place? If so, should you change the coverage amount? What if you don't have any life insurance because you lost your group coverage at work (though some employers let you keep the coverage at your own expense)? Should you go out and buy some? The answers depend largely on your particular circumstances.Your life insurance needs may not be as great during retirement because your financial picture may have improved. When you're working and raising a family, the loss of your job income could be devastating. You often need life insurance to replace that income, meet your outstanding debts (e.g., your mortgage, car loans, credit cards), and fund your kids' college education in case something happens to you. But after you retire, there's usually no significant job income to protect. Plus, your kids may be grown and most of your debts paid off. You may even be financially secure enough to provide for your loved ones without insurance.It may make sense to go without life insurance in these cases, especially if you have term life insurance and your premium has increased dramatically. But what if you still have financial obligations and few assets of your own? Or what if you're looking for a way to pay your estate tax bill? Then you may want to keep your coverage in force (or buy coverage, if you have none). If you need life insurance but not as much as you have now, you can always lower your coverage amount. It's best to talk to a professional before making any decisions. He or she can help you weigh your needs against the cost of coverage.Take a look at your auto and homeowners policiesIf you stay in your home after you retire, your homeowners insurance needs may not change much. But you should still review your liability coverage to make sure it's sufficient to protect your assets. If you're liable for an accident on or off your premises, claims against you for medical bills and other expenses can be substantial. For additional protection, you might consider buying an umbrella liability policy. It's also a good idea to review the coverage you have on your home itself and the property inside it. Finally, if you plan to buy a second home, find out if your insurer will cover both homes and give you a discount on your premium.Auto insurance raises some similar issues. Review your policy to make sure your coverage limits are high enough in each area. Again, having the right amount of liability coverage is especially important--you don't want your assets to be put at risk if you cause an auto accident that injures other people or damages property. Weigh your need for any coverages that are optional in your state. Finally, look into ways to save on your premium now that you're retired (e.g., discounts for low annual mileage or senior driving courses).



Risk Factors and its Effects on Car Insurance Premiums

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The premium that drivers pay for auto insurance depends on certain factors, specifically called risk factors. Based on previous driving records, miles driven per year, age, etc, a driver’s risk factor is evaluated and is directly proportional to the insurance premium he or she must pay. To make sure you pay the lowest premiums possible, think about these factors and what you can do to make them advantageous for your situation:Driving Violations and AccidentsInsurance companies have one thing in mind: a significant number of accidents or moving violations equals to greater accident risk. Some insurance companies even penalize drivers with a bad record, which usually lasts for a number of years. Bottom line is, the more driving violations you have, the higher the premium. If you want your premiums to decrease, keep your record clean. Vehicle TypeThis is where insurance companies and car owners understand each other’s demands. Car owners of the latest, most expensive models usually get insurance with better coverage, which means higher premiums. Cheap cars cost less to insure because car owners have the option to disregard other types of coverage that are not applicable to their vehicles. OccupationNo, they don’t check your salary. Not yet, at least. For insurance companies, a significant relationship exists between the business use of your vehicle and the premium you must pay. If your job description includes long hours of driving such as being a door-to-door salesman, expect a higher premium. Credit RatingA better credit rating will save most drivers from higher premiums since many insurance companies believe that poor credit history is susceptible to higher risks. GeographyThe place where you reside can also dictate your insurance premiums. Living in congested cities or areas with a lot of traffic prone to vehicular accidents raises the risk factor of drivers. High crime rate, specifically of vehicle thefts, also leads insurance companies to charge higher premiums. EducationDrivers with higher educational attainment are charged with lower premiums. OthersYears of driving experience, lower miles driven each year, theft protection devices and multiple cars and drivers also offer opportunity for premium discounts. Some factors which cannot be adjusted, such as age, gender, and marital status can also affect a driver’s risk factor. Most insurance companies see drivers under the age of 25 with higher potential risk of being in an accident. Women are also considered as safer drivers than men, while a married person has lower premiums compared to a single one with the same driving record. By calculating your risk factors, you can easily get lower premiums which could save you a lot for the years to come. Just remember though, each insurance company has a different take on insurance premiums, so it’s always best to compare the rates of multiple companies for your particular situation.

Car Accident: Should you give a recorded statement?

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Usually, several days after a car accident, an insurance adjuster representing the other driver’s insurance company will contact you by phone. The adjuster will ask you to consent to a recorded statement where she will ask you questions over the phone, record it and then type up the questions and answers for later use. If you consent, they will proceed to ask you about the circumstances surrounding the wreck, your injuries, the medical care you received and the nature of your claim. Frankly, there is no limit to what they may ask. While it may seem harmless at the time, these questions have been developed by large insurance companies with years of claims handling experience. They are designed to minimize their exposure (i.e. financial risk) and consequently reduce your recovery (i.e. financial settlement). They are not designed to help you and often cause considerable damage to your claim.

In most states, the insurance company for the opposing driver does not have the right to require a recorded statement from you and you are under no duty or obligation to provide one. Our firm usually declines to make our clients available for recorded statements except under certain conditions. You should do the same until you have consulted with an attorney. The reasons for this are simple. The risk of harm from a recorded statement far outweighs any potential benefit. You may inadvertently leave out an important detail; you may forget to mention some injury that you are suffering from; or, your injury may not have manifested itself as of yet; you may even accidentally agree with some fact that is incorrect. That is why some preparation is required and you can only adequately prepare with a professional who knows what they are likely to ask and the best way to answer. Your attorney will also force the adjuster to stay on track, politely interrupting and refusing to allow you to answer when the questions veer off topic. Don’t forget, the purpose of this statement is so the insurance company can use it against you later—be careful.

Another consideration is this: if you are going to voluntarily give a recorded statement to the other insurance company, isn’t it only fair that your lawyers be allowed the same courtesy? Sometimes, we will agree to a recorded statement but only if the insurance company reciprocates by making their insured available so we can question him/her also. After all, if the whole purpose of the statement is to get the facts so the claim can be properly evaluated—as the insurance company is prone to suggest—then isn’t it important for you to do the same? For example, what if the truck driver that hit you fell asleep at the wheel because his company forced him to drive well in excess of the hours permitted by DOT? That could bring punitive damages into play; isn’t that something you should know before you settle? The insurance companies usually decline this offer of reciprocal good faith—a telling tribute to just how harmful these statements can be. Information is a two way street—get a lawyer, get prepared and insist on a reciprocal statement.

Don’t be confused, however, about who is asking for information. Typically, you do have a duty to cooperate with your own insurance carrier. After an automobile accident, you should immediately contact your agent or your insurance company and report the accident. Your insurance company has a right to investigate the accident, which investigation may include obtaining a recorded statement from you concerning the circumstances surrounding the accident. Your insurance policy, which is a contract between you and your insurance company, obligates you to cooperate with them in a reasonable manner. Read it and see what is required of you.

DISCLAIMER: Every automobile wreck presents a unique set of facts and circumstances. These suggestions, on the other hand, are very general in nature and may or may not be appropriate in your particular case. Therefore, these suggestions are not intended as legal advice for your case and should not be relied upon as such.

Car Accidents In New York - When To Sue, Who To Sue, Why Sue At All

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Don't you just hate it when you see those tacky TV ads about accident lawyers? How about that obnoxious billboard you just passed on the highway showing a crashed car and someone being taken away by ambulance? Or what about those endless yellow page ads where they show a car driving off a cliff, and someone smiling in the foreground holding a nice big fat check with lots of numbers on it? It all makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it?
Not. It makes me sick. Don't get me wrong. Every lawyer in New York is permitted to advertise according to the Court rules. However, there is something to be said for tasteful ads, and ads that are trying to sell you something.
When you're in a car accident, the last thing you think about is finding a lawyer to sue the driver of the car that caused your accident. The first thing on your mind should be how to get better. You need to recuperate, regenerate and get your strength back. You need to worry about the important things in your life like putting food on your family's table, and going back to work.
Well, how can you go back to work if you're still in the hospital after weeks of surgery and rehabilitation? Can you go on disability? Who will pay your medical bills? What if you don't have medical insurance? How can you feed and clothe your family if you can't work? These are all very important questions that often arise after a car accident.
In New York, your own car insurance will pay your medical bills- up to a maximum of $50,000. This is known as no-fault insurance. Once the details of the accident are resolved, to figure out who really caused the accident, the insurance companies settle up on their own regarding the medical expenses they had to pay.
But what about that often-heard phrase, "Pain & Suffering"? Aren't you entitled to that as well? The answer is yes. However, in order to obtain compensation for your pain and suffering you will probably need to start a lawsuit against the owner(s) and driver(s) involved in your car accident.
How much time do you have to start a lawsuit for your injuries arising from a car accident? In New York, you generally have only THREE (3) years from the date of the accident within which to start a lawsuit for your injuries. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE ONLY 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT TO FILE A CLAIM WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET THEM TO PAY FOR YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES! If you do not file a "no-fault" claim within 30 days of your accident, "No-fault" will deny your medical bills.
A car accident is traumatic- no question about it. Your road to recovery is the most important part of events after the accident. Whether you have a valid and meritorious case hinges on many facts that only an attorney should be evaluating. Don't rely on good-hearted friends and family to tell you their tales of woe when they were involved in an accident years ago. You need an experienced attorney who has handled cases like yours.
You need someone who has experience in Court and isn't afraid to go to trial if the insurance company refuses to settle for an appropriate amount of compensation. You need a lawyer who can guide you through the minefield of litigation. Hopefully, with good legal counsel you'll be able to make the right choices that will help you recover both emotionally and monetarily.

Travel Insurance

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What is travel insurance?Travel insurance is the general term for an insurance policy, which can be purchased for the length of your trip, that covers travel-related risks such as:
Trip Cancellation
Baggage loss, theft, or damage
Medical emergencies
Dental emergencies
Emergency evacuations
Baggage delays
Travel delay
Accidental death coverage
and more, depending on the company.
The essential purpose of a travel insurance policy is to cover unexpected financial losses while traveling. You have homeowners insurance to cover home-related financial losses, and auto insurance to cover car-related financial losses. The same holds true for travel insurance.There are a variety of situations you can encounter while traveling that result in financial loss, from an unexpected trip to the hospital with a sprained ankle to a digital camera snatched by a thief.
For example: You have been planning an African safari for over a year, but a week before you leave your husband becomes ill and is unable to travel. Canceling your trip at the last minute could result in lost airfare, tour expenses, or lodging costs. For a trip like this, it could easily total $10,000.

What are the different types of travel insurance?Travel insurance can include a wide variety of insurance products, from the general purpose package policy to a specialized coverage policy. Insurance companies have designed specialized policies for several types of trips, and for several types of traveler. Here are a few examples:
Package Policy, aka Travel Insurance- This is the most common type, and covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, lost/stolen/damaged baggage, emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, missed flights, and delayed baggage. Some package policies have additional coverage for damaged rental cars, identity theft, flight accident coverage, and more. This type of insurance covers most travelers' needs, and is a good overall plan. It includes comprehensive coverage for the full variety of risks. The following plans are more specialized, usually focusing on 1 or a few specific coverages. Travel Medical- This is a temporary medical insurance policy for those traveling abroad. This type of plan typically does not include trip cancellation, delayed flights, baggage, and the other coverage seen above in the Package Plan. Travel medical policies are intended for medical emergencies and medical evacuations. This type of plan is for travelers staying abroad for extended periods of time and have the need for medical insurance. It is also purchased by travelers who are fairly certain they do not need the other coverages, and simply need medical coverage while overseas.Multi-Trip Annual- These policies provide annual medical coverage for multiple trips throughout the year. It is typically used by a traveler who will be abroad several times a year, and does not need the trip cancellation, baggage, and other basic coverages of a package policy. Annual policies usually have a trip length restriction of either 15, 30 or 70 days. Furthermore, some annual plans include coverage for evacuation, flight, accidental death, limited baggage, and trip interruption (but it's no substitution for a package plan)Business Package Policy- These policies are designed for individual business travelers, or even companies with traveling employees. These policies provide coverage for multiple business trips throughout the year or a single business trip. They typically offer coverage similar to a package plan, but they can also provide for baggage and business-related items including the costs of trade shows and business conferences as well as the expense of lost, stolen and /or damaged laptops, cell phones and booth exhibits.Medical Evacuation-These specialized policies provide protection for travelers in the event they become seriously ill or injured while traveling, and need to be transported to the nearest appropriate care facility or, on some plans, to your hospital of choice. The expense of moving an injured person can be quite high, which accounts for the use of a medical evacuation policy. They can also include coverage for repatriation of mortal remains.Major Medical-These are designed for travelers who are going abroad for a longer period of time, usually at least 6 months, and require more permanent insurance. These plans provide comprehensive medical protection including emergency medical treatment, wellness care and optional prescription drug coverage. It is designed to replicate the coverage you receive at home. Like most major medical policies, these plans contain both in and out of network coverage, deductibles and co-payments and have the added travel benefits of accidental death and emergency medical evacuation protection. Flight Accident- These policies are designed for travelers going on a single trip, and it provides coverage for flight accident insurance which is a form of accidental death coverage while flying (see below).Accidental Death-AD & D policies (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) are designed for travelers going on a single trip, or can be written on an annual basis for individuals, businesses or groups. These policies provide protection in the event of a loss of life, or a dismemberment injury sustained while traveling.
Who needs travel insurance?As you see from the variety of policy types listed above, there is a travel insurance plan for every type of trip and traveler. But, who really needs to purchase travel insurance?For 90% of travelers, you can start with two important questions:
Can you afford to lose your non-refundable trip expenses in the event of a loss?
If you are leaving your home country, does your medical insurance follow you? Answering the two questions above will provide a good starting point to determine if you need travel insurance for your next trip. Even though there are many aspects to deciding if you need trip insurance, the answers to these two questions can help guide you to the right decision.1. Can you afford to lose your non-refundable trip expenses in the event of a loss?If you answered "No", you should consider trip cancellation/interruption coverage, available with a package plan. Even though there are several "side benefits" to a package plan such as coverage for lost baggage or identity theft protection, the primary expenses for your trip are airfare, hotel, and tour costs. If you are unable to take your trip, you are at risk of losing your pre-paid, non-refundable expenses.2. If you are leaving your home country, does your medical insurance follow you?If you answered "No" to this question, you should look into travel medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage, available both by itself or within a package policy. Most health insurance plans, including Medicare, don't cover you while traveling abroad. If you have a medical emergency like a broken leg or sudden illness, you will need medical care in a foreign country. A travel insurance plan with medical coverage would provide payment for medical treatment expenses and any evacuation expenses as well.Both of the above situations are covered with a package policy, which is why these types of travel insurance plans are so popular.
What are the different travel insurance companies?These are the major travel insurance companies; including providers of package policies, emergency evacuation plans, and travel medical plans. (Listed in alphabetical order)
Access AmericaAccess America is the travel insurance brand of World Access Service Corp. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, World Access was founded in 1983 with a mission to provide access to American-style healthcare to those traveling abroad. Their product line features a variety of plans, including standard package plans, a "last minute trip" plan and rental car protection plan, and a medical evacuation only plan. They work with some of the best brands in the business like AAA, Orbitz, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Disney Cruise Line, and Best Western.
AIG Travel Guard
With more than 20 years of industry experience, AIG Travel Guard is America's leading travel insurance plan provider. We specialize in providing innovative travel insurance, assistance and emergency travel service plans for millions of travelers and thousands of companies throughout the world. Our industry-leading, comprehensive travel insurance plans are distributed by more than 12,000 travel companies through virtually every distribution channel in the travel industry. AIG Travel Guard is a subsidiary of AIG Travel, Inc., a member company of American International Group, Inc.
American ExpressWhen you insure your trip with Global Travel Shield, you get the added peace of mind of knowing you have first-rate insurance coverage that is offered by American Express Travel Related Services Company. American Express has been one of the world's most trusted providers of travel services, with an enduring commitment to outstanding customer service.
CSA Travel ProtectionCSA Travel Protection provides consumer-focused travel insurance, 24-hour emergency assistance services, and convenient concierge services. Since 1991, domestic and worldwide travelers have entrusted CSA to safeguard them against unexpected events. Whether you're traveling domestic or abroad, CSA protects your travel investment with exceptional customer service & product performance.
Global Alert!Global Alert! offers two levels of travel protection allowing travelers to select the specific coverages, depending on needs. Their Preferred product provides Medical Expense/Emergency Assistance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption, Travel Delay, Baggage and Baggage Delay and Cancel For Any Reason Benefit. The Preferred Plus plan adds increased levels of protection and Rental Car Damage coverage.
Global Underwriters
Global Underwriters has become an industry leader in the development, administration, and marketing of international life and health insurance products. Their portfolio of international insurance plans provide peace of mind and security to thousands of travelers and international businesses.
The Diplomat series of international health insurance policies was custom designed to provide the benefits most important to international travelers at competitive prices. Beyond their exceptional medical coverage, they also provide generous benefits for medical evacuation, emergency reunion, and accidental death or dismemberment.
HTH Worldwide
HTH Worldwide applies expertise to bring innovative healthcare services and insurance to international travel, study and commerce. Each year hundreds of thousands of leisure and business travelers as well as international students and scholars protect themselves, their families and their travel plans with HTH. Their programs combine comprehensive, competitively priced insurance products with critical travel health information, security information and unique medical assistance services.
International Medical Group (IMG)International Medical Group (IMG) is a worldwide leader in designing, distributing and administering global healthcare benefits. Their clients include international vacationers, business executives and consultants, missionary groups, expatriates, professional entertainers and athletes, government entities, schools and universities, professional marine captains and crew, and local and third country nationals.
M.H.Ross (Travel Insurance Services)M.H. Ross Travel Insurance Services is pleased to bring you Enhanced Travel Protection. When you select M.H. Ross Travel Insurance Services as your travel insurance provider, you have a team of experienced specialists and technical experts in the travel industry working together to provide you with prompt and professional service. They strive to anticipate your needs and solve your problems before they occur.
MEDEXFor more than a quarter of a century, MEDEX has been dedicated to serving the needs of international travelers and expatriates. Over this span, MEDEX has grown to become a recognized leader in the travel assistance and international medical insurance marketplace. Operating from a centralized operations center in the United States, MEDEX has worldwide coverage, global medical assistance expertise, and an unsurpassed network of more than 350,000 providers... including its Physician Advisors, International Centers of Excellence, credentialed air ambulance resources, specialized security providers, and preferred provider organizations.
MedjetAssistMedjetAssist is a privately held company, backed by a powerful and reputable investment team with strong ties to the world of aviation, finance, government, and real estate. In operation since 1991, MedjetAssist is responsible for more than 95,000 lives within its membership program and maintains a global presence with ICU-equipped air ambulance affiliates around the world. The program is backed by Lloyds of London.
MultiNational UnderwritersMultiNational Underwriters, Inc. (MNU) was established in 1998. It quickly became a recognized leader in the field of international health insurance, offering a complete portfolio of health and life insurance products to customers in over 130 countries. Sensing the increasing acceptance of the Internet as a medium for commercial transactions, MNU was among the first to make insurance products and services available via the World Wide Web. This innovation has continued to evolve and, at present, MNU customers can review coverage options, obtain quotes, purchase insurance and receive their insurance documents - all electronically, without human intervention, 24 hours a day. Today, many thousands of international insurance professionals host MNU's electronic tools on their websites, and this number continues to grow.
On Call InternationalOn Call International is the premier travel assistance provider in North America. On duty for more than seven million North Americans traveling worldwide, On Call performs more emergency medical transportations within the leisure travel market than any other company in North America.
RBC Travel ProtectionRBC Insurance is the insurance specialist of RBC Financial Group, one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies. Through RBC Travel Insurance Company, millions of travelers have benefited from trip cancellation, comprehensive medical and other protection for over 35 years. Our products are some of the most highly recognized and progressive in the travel insurance industry. We're also proud to offer you access to one of North America's largest and most experienced travel emergency assistance networks - guaranteeing 24/7 personal, multilingual service from anywhere in the world. In fact, we receive over 500 calls a day, every day of the year. And each day, we handle about 70 interventions, from all around the world, helping customers solve emergencies and get home safely.
Seven Corners
Seven Corners, Inc. began offering international medical insurance to the worldwide community in 1993. The company was founded by international insurance professionals with a strong commitment to customer service and a belief that the public deserved reliability when purchasing international insurance. Travel, whether it is domestic or international, brings with it a certain degree of risk. Regardless of where in the world you intend to venture, Seven Corners, Inc. will be there to support and assist you. From issuing ID Cards the same day to providing 24-hour multilingual assistance services, Seven Corners, Inc. is dedicated to the service and travels of our clientele.
Travel Insured International
Travel Insured Internationalis one of today's most recognized full service travel insurance companies, serving the traveling public since 1994. Our goal is to protect our customers with high quality products that meet their needs. Travel Insured customers travel with confidence knowing that we provide the very best customer service, 24 hours a day, every day, all year long. Today's traveler must be equipped with the finest travel protection whether traveling at home or abroad. The Worldwide Trip Protector program is our primary product that consists of a competitive package of benefits which includes trip cancellation/interruption/delay, baggage, emergency medical/evacuation/repatriation, optional flight accident, and pre-existing condition waiver. Travel Insured International provides a full range of services for its customers. Our proprietary agency management, premium accounting, policy issue, and claim systems are all integrated, which allows us to rapidly add new products and services, and manage claims. We support our distributors with a dedicated sales team, in-house marketing, and professional and courteous claims and customer service representatives.
Travelex
Travelex Insurance Services is a leading provider of retail travel insurance in North America. Travelex offers a variety of travel protection plans that provide comprehensive coverage to travelers through more than 7,000 independent travel agencies across the U.S., in airports and online. Our core protection plans are Travel Plus and TraveLite. Travel Plus is a comprehensive package offering the most popular features and benefits including trip cancellation/ interruption, bankruptcy and terrorism protection. It offers superior coverage levels for all-inclusive or FIT vacations. TraveLite offers comprehensive protection with lower benefit limits for the price-conscious traveler. Travel Health and Baggage is available through both Travel Plus and TraveLite, offering key protection at a lower cost. Travelex also offers Flight Plus and Annual Travel Protection Plans - which provide single and multi-trip coverage respectively, Wholesale Programs, Professional Liability (E & O) Coverage, Automatic Flight Insurance and the online ordering of Foreign Travel Cash through My Travel Wallet.
TravelSafe
TravelSafe Insurance, a division of the Chester Perfetto Agency, Inc. has become the gold standard in travel insurance products through innovation, experience and excellent customer service. Since 1971, we have marketed and administered the most comprehensive policies available in the industry and are leading the way in developing new solutions for the insurance needs of individuals and families throughout the United States and Canada. Our products are underwritten by the most reputable and respected insurance companies in the business. Whether you are traveling close to home or around the world, TravelSafe will provide the security and peace of mind you need to enjoy your trip.
TruTravel Insurance
Why do Americans purchase travel protection? According to the US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA): Peace of mind, protection against the unexpected, and concern over losing the financial investment in a trip. TruTravel Insurance's products address these three concerns. The portfolio of travel insurance and services products is designed to offer innovative coverage allowing travelers to buy the plan that fits their budget.

Construction Site Accidents

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Construction Site Accidents
Construction is by nature a dangerous job. There are many variables involved in carrying out a construction project that combine to make it a dangerous environment to work in. According to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry accounts for the highest number of worker fatalities of any industry. This means that safety for workers and bystanders needs to be a top priority.
What kind of accidents can occur on a construction site?

There are many types of accidents that can occur on a construction site. Heavy objects can fall from several stories up, equipment can malfunction and corrosive chemicals can cause severe injury. Wet or damaged power cords can cause electric shock and explosions can happen if fuel or other flammable substances are not properly stored. Construction sites are very often LOUD environments and eardrum damage can happen. Furthermore, many construction workers use very dangerous industrial tools that can cause serious injury or even death.

What do I do if I’m injured on a construction site?

If you are injured on a construction site and need to file a claim, there are several people who should be notified. First and foremost, you should approach your direct supervisor and let them know that you are filing a claim. After that, you must contact your health care provider. OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ) is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation. You should notify them immediately following a workplace injury. Their website is http://www.osha.gov/.

How do I determine who is at fault?
When a construction worker is injured on the job, how can we determine who is at fault? There are several people in the chain of command who are responsible for the safety of the employees. Often, there are several contractors and sub-contractors working on the job, so it can be difficult to find out whom—if anyone—is at fault. That is just one reason why it may be wise to consult a personal injury attorney.

So how can an attorney help me if I’ve been involved in a construction site accident?
First of all, it is important to realize that large corporations and insurance companies may not have your best interest at heart. These are big businesses whose primary interest is making money. As such, when you have a claim they will invariably try to get to you settle for the least amount of money possible. A personal injury attorney can protect your rights against large corporate lawyers who may try to sway you into a substantially smaller settlement. A personal injury attorney often has years of experience defending clients who have been injured on the job. They will ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve.


Buying car insurance for younger drivers

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Motoring costs have soared in 2008 with increases in the cost of fuel, tax and insurance premiums; meaning that keeping a car on the road has never been more expensive. For younger drivers, it gets worse. New plans by the government to increase the tuition period before a learner driver can pass their test means that the cost of getting your licence is also set to increase.

For younger motorists, higher costs will sadly come as no surprise as this age group has been paying higher insurance premiums for years. A lack of driving experience means that they are not eligible for the no-claims discounts that more experienced drivers may be entitled to and they are likely to have higher policy excesses.

As well as a lack of driving experience, younger drivers are also penalised by the insurance industry because of their reputation. This is because young drivers are statistically more likely to have an accident. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) http://www.abi.org.uk/, young men aged 21 are 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads than those aged 35 or over. Statistics also show that every day, four people are killed or seriously injured in accidents involving younger drivers.

While insurance will always look expensive to new drivers, there are things that can be done to help keep premiums at a low:

- Avoid modifications: Avoid vehicles with any modifications from the standard manufacture. Even if it’s a second hand car and a modification has been made by a previous owner, drivers will still need to declare this on their motor insurance policy. Adding items such as roof racks or luggage boxes will not generally be considered as modifications by insurance companies. However, with any changes to your vehicle, drivers should call their insurer direct to check whether or not this affects their policy.
- Smaller is better: Choose your car carefully and try to avoid cars with engines over 1200cc; the lower the engine capacity of the vehicle, the lower the premium.
- Shop around for your insurance: don’t accept the first quote that you are given and always try to compare as many quotes as possible. Insurance comparison sites mean that you can now compare more insurance premiums than ever before, and in a fraction of the time. The beauty of using a comparison site as a younger driver is that the insurance companies who are not competitive for younger motorists will automatically be filtered out.
- Do you need a comprehensive policy? Depending on the value of your vehicle, you may want to consider a third party fire and theft policy, rather than a fully comprehensive policy. Drivers will need to be aware though that this type of policy will not cover you if your car is affected by flooding, or if you are involved in an accident where you are at fault.
- Consider your excess: If you increase the amount of excess that you have on a comprehensive motor insurance policy, you can bring your premiums down even further. However, an excess amount is made up of both a compulsory and a voluntary excess. The compulsory excess is set by the insurance company and this amount will vary depending on your circumstances. For example, drivers under the age of 25, drivers with protected no claims bonus or with performance vehicles will find that their compulsory excess will be higher. The voluntary excess is the amount that you choose to contribute towards a claim and by increasing this, you can often lower your overall premium. However, before committing to a policy always check the total excess amount (voluntary plus compulsory) that you will have to pay should you need to make a claim.
- Obtain a Passplus certificate: A PassPlus course can also help to reduce your premiums– this is a course that can be taken once you have passed your test and takes a minimum of six hours. This will generally cover risks such as driving at night, on country roads, on dual carriageways and motorways, and driving in different weather conditions. As well as increasing your confidence as a driver, these courses can help to reduce premiums for younger drivers.
- Add an older driver: Consider adding another older, more experienced driver to your insurance. In some cases, adding a second driver who is over 25 and has a clean licence to the policy can help to reduce premiums if you are a younger driver. However, this will depend on the underwriting criteria for each individual insurer. Some insurance companies will charge for the highest risk driver named on the policy, and it will not matter who drives the vehicle and when.

There are ways to keep insurance costs down but don’t be tempted to alter or omit key information to try and lower your premiums. Being honest with your insurer when you are applying for an insurance policy is essential.

Limited Tort and Full Tort Auto Insurance

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When it comes to your auto insurance policy, selecting the right coverage plan can be confusing. In states that require tort coverage, such as Pennsylvania, choosing between limited tort and full tort can be a difficult decision that raises many questions. If you're having trouble deciding between limited or full tort, here's some important information that will make the choice a little bit easier.
Limited Tort
What Does Limited Tort Mean?
By selecting limited tort coverage, you curb your right to sue for "non-economic detriment" in exchange for a slightly less expensive monthly premium. Limited tort essentially means you give up your right to obtain compensation for any pain and suffering you experience due to car accident injuries.
While an auto accident may seem unlikely, it can happen when you least expect it. Injuries sustained in car crashes and other motor vehicle accidents often have side effects that last for months or even years. Most people rationalize their choice of limited tort over full tort by believing that they will still be covered by their insurance policy if they sustain "serious" injuries.

What Does Limited Tort Cover?
Under Pennsylvania law, however, only "death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement" is covered under limited tort insurance. Additionally, many people do not realize that the insurance company is in charge of determining the severity of your car crash injuries and may not share your definition of "serious."
For example, if you're hurt in an accident, have to miss a month of work, and suffer severe headaches and neck pain, your injuries wouldn't qualify as serious. If you fracture your leg and are in a cast for three months, you car crash injuries still wouldn't qualify as serious. If you endure more than a year of treatment and painful limping after a sprain and strain, your life-changing injuries still won't be deemed serious. These are just a few examples of limited tort horror stories told by injured car accident victims.

Is Limited Tort for You?
The reality is that when you choose limited tort, you and the family members covered under your car insurance policy lose full protection. Limited tort puts you and your loved ones at risk, and this even applies when you or your children are hurt as passengers in another person's car or as pedestrians.

Full Tort
What Does Full Tort Cover?
By selecting full tort coverage, you retain the right to sue for all non-reimbursed economic losses as well as any pain and suffering resulting from your car, motorcycle, or truck accident. With this selection, you will be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering due to any injury, provided that someone else is at fault for the auto accident.

Is Full Tort for You?
While full tort costs a little more than limited tort, it could save you thousands of dollars in the long run. It's a decision you'll be glad you made if you are ever injured in a car accident, as full tort coverage will largely relieve you of financial burdens during your difficult time.

Other Resources
Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Guide
State-by-State Car Insurance Laws
Car Accident FAQs

What does "no-fault" insurance mean for car accidents in Ontario?

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If you've been hurt or injured in a car accident in Ontario; there's a complicated set of rules that you need to follow if you're planning on making a claim for your injuries, lost wages, damages for pain & suffering or just getting the insurance company to fix your car. Keep in mind that insurance companies won't pay for any of these things if you don't report the accident. So if you plan on collecting from the insurance company, you will need to report the accident to them. If you don't; you're risking losing out on valuable benefits described in greater detail below; not to mention any monetary damages which you might be entitled to.

Ontario has what's called a "no-fault" set of rules for car accidents. What this means is regardless whose fault the accident is, you're entitled to a wide variety of benefits to assist you when you need it most. These benefits are generally paid for by your own car insurance company. If you didn't have car insurance at the time of the accident, the Insurance Act provides a series of priority rules to set out who is responsible for paying for your benefits.

The benefits which are paid out under Ontario's "no-fault" system are called "accident benefits". Accident benefits are a wide variety of benefits which cover a wide variety of categories. These categories include such things as:

Medical/Rehabilitative Benefits
Income Replacement Benefits
Caregiver Benefits
Housekeeping/Homemaintenance Benefits
Attendant Care Benefits

Medical/Rehabilitative Benefits cover such things as the costs of physiotherapy treatment, chiropractic treatment, massage therapy treatment, gym memberships, assistive devices, aquafit clases, and any other medica/rehabilitative treatment, or devices which are found to be reasonable and necessary for your post accident care. Other devices may include therapeutic beds, wheelchairs, canes, ramps and even modified vehicles to accomodate accident victims. In order to recover these benefits, a health care professional like a physiotherapist, massage therapist or a doctor will have to fill out a "treatment plan". This is a standard form which is submitted to the insurance company, and it's up to them whether they approve or deny the treatment plan. These benefits are NOT unlimited. For what are called "non-catastrophic" cases, you are entitled to $100,000 in benefits over 10 years in med/rehab benefits. In "catastrophic cases", you are entitled to $1,000,000 over the course of your lifetime.

Income replacement benefits are supposed to do exactly what their name says; replace your income if you're unable to work following an accident. You're entitled to 80% of your net pre-accident income which is averaged from your last year's pre-accident earnings, or 26 of the 52 weeks before your accident. The maximum income replacement benefit under a standard auto policy in Ontario is $400/week. Some people chose to pay higher premiums to increase this amount. The problem which most people have in claiming income replacement benefits is that they problems showing that they were working before the accident, or they have problems quantifying their pre-accident income. Claiming these benefits can get particularly tricky if you have access to a private short term or long term disability policy which is designed to supplement your income.

Caregiver benefits are for people who, at the time of the accident were the primary caregiver for a dependant, such as a young child, elderly person or sick person. As a result of the accident, these people are no longer able to care for their dependants. To claim these benefits, you don't have to show that you made any income before the accident. You just have to show that you were a primary caregiver. Caregiver benefits are $250/week, with an additional $50 for each extra dependant.

Housekeeping/Homemaintenance benefits are benefits to replace the accident victim's ability to do chores, housekeeping or homemaintenance. These benefits are for assistance with such things as cleaning the dishes, preparing meals, dusting, mopping, taking out the garbage etc. These benefits are $100/week. In order to be claimed, you need to submit reciepts or invoices to your insurance company. If you don't submit the reciepts, you won't get these benefits, regardless of how hurt you are.

Attendant Care Benefits provide compensation for people, often family members, who perform attendant care services for accident victims after they are injured. These benefits are desinged to pay people for their services in caring for accident victims in activities like grooming, bathing, grocery shopping, brusing hair, putting on clotes, brushing teeth etc, when the accident victim is no longer able to do so as a result of their injuries. In order to recover these benefits, you will need to have a health care professional like an occupational therapist complete what's called a "Form 1" which shows exactly how much attendant care an accident victim requires following their accident. Not all accident victims require the same levels of care. Some accident victims require minimal amounts of care; others require 24hr care. It all depends on the extent of the injuries sustained in the accident and the specific facts of each case.

This "no-fault" system of insurance was introduced for a wide variety of reasons. One of those reasons was to provide accident victims a wide variety of benefits to foster their rehabilitation. Another reason was to reduce the amount of claims being litigated against insurers. Whether or not this system has worked depends on who you ask.

These accident benefits DO NOT cover damages for pain & suffering, or your future loss of income. In order to make a claim for these things, you will have to retain a personal lawyer to bring a tort action. This tort action is advanced against the other driver who might have caused the accident. In order to advance a tort claim, your injuries will need to be "serious and permanent". If your injuries are not found to be "serious and permanent", then you will not be able to advance a claim. This barrier to claiming in tort is called the "threshold". The threshold is subject to judicial interpretation and is defined by the courts. Because courts hear threshold cases on a frequent basis, the judicial interpretation of the threshold is changing, and it all depends on the facts of the case and the way the case is presented. The threshold was implemented by your government. Most accident victims do not know that it exists, until they need a lawyer.

Each accident victim in a motor vehicle claim has 2 cases; a no-fault case against his/her own insurance company; and a tort case against the person/insurance company for the driver who may have caused the accident. Sometimes there's an accident benefit claim and no tort claim; sometimes there's a tort claim and no accident benefits claim; sometimes there's both an accident benefits claim and a tort claim. It all depends on the facts of the case, and the extent of the injuries.

This article is NOT intended on to be legal advice. Consult a lawyer for legal advice. If you need a lawyer, call Brian Goldfinger of Goldfinger Personal Injury Law at 416-730-1777 for your free consultation. This article does NOT create a solicitor-client relationship.

Brian Goldfinger is the directing lawyer of Goldfinger Personal Injury Law. Goldfinger Personal Injury Law is Ontario's premier personal injury law firm, dedicated to assisting Ontario's accident victims and their families.

Truck Driving Questions: How To Find A Job After An Accident

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Often times a new driver will make a mistake. I should say all the time all drivers make mistakes. But if you have limited experience and you get in an accident or get a couple of tickets, you may find it especially difficult to find a job right away. Well, don't sweat it! If you get a DUI, fail a drug test, of get a reckless driving ticket you may be in big trouble. It may be time to look for a different career for a while. But an accident or a couple of tickets is certainly not the end of the world - or of your career. Here is a question from a driver trainee:Hello Brett,My name is David and I have a major dilema with finding a truck driving job. I have a class A cdl and I graduated from National Tractor Trailer School in Buffalo, NY and was hired as a company driver for Werner Enterprises and I have recently been terminated by Werner for an unsatisfactory safety record due to an accident and four citations which are ; 40mph in a 30mph zone,while my trainer was sleeping ; overwidth ; failing to obey traffic signals, and as a result of my accident failure to maintain a safe lookout. My accident occured when I was merging from the center lane to the right lane and there was a car to my right in my blind spot which caused my tractor to bump the car resulting in minor damage to the car. There were no injuries. Now I am having a hard time finding a job. I feel like this is unfair because Werner did not properly train me, for example while I was in training my trainer was in the sleeper sleeping while I was driving due to Werner running us like a team, not like a student and trainer, I feel very strongly that if I had been properly trained I would not be in my current situation. I mean, I got a speeding ticket while I was in training! I am really hoping that you know of some trucking companies that will consider me for employment. I am also open to any advice you may have for me in my hunt for a job. Thank you for your time. I am anxious to hear from you.Thanks,DavidAnswer:Hi David. You would not believe how common it is for a new driver to have a minor accident within a few months of coming out of school. Happens all the time. And every time it does, they have a bit of trouble finding a new job. But fear not - you'll be back out there before you know it.Now the citations are going to be as big a concern for the companies you apply to as the accident. So your situation is a bit sticky, but can certainly be overcome. Getting a DUI, failing a drug test, getting in a major accident with injuries, or getting tickets for reckless driving are nearly impossible to overcome. But yours are not. First, understand that many companies - especially the larger ones like Werner, have minimum hiring guidelines that they absolutely can not, and will not break. So if their criteria states 'no accidents within the past 6 months' then you might as well beat your head against the wall as try to get a job there. Not only will their safety department not allow it, but often times neither will their insurance company. So goal number one - find a company with more lenient hiring standards. Unfortunately that will likely mean a company of a slightly lower quality than others that are out there. But hey, you've gotta do what you've gotta do to get back out there and get rolling again. So goal number two - once you're out there rollin again, stay at whatever company you are at for one year and do everything possible to keep a clean record. If you can stay at a company for one year with a clean record, you will pretty much be free to go anywhere you like at that point. So even if you have to settle for a company that is less than ideal for now, you do it. That's what it's going to take. So now the question is how do you find a company that will hire you? Well, nobody knows more about the different companies out there and the requirements each one has than a driver referral service that has been around for a long time. I always recommend 1-800-drivers because that's the one I always used and they did an excellent job for me. If you look on my site you'll notice there are not any advertisements or promotions for their company. I have no affiliation with them and I do not know anyone there personally. They have done a great job for me in the past and I believe they will for you too. They have very long-standing relationships with a broad range of companies all over the country and will be able to find you a job I'm rather certain. Their service is free to use and they are incredibly helpful. They get paid to get drivers hired - so its in their best interest to find you a job. That's how they make their money so they're going to do everything in their power to help you out. Give them a call and they'll get you going.Also, here are two links to trucking jobs that we currently have listed on our site:Here is our list of truck driving jobs in New York State Here is our list of truck driving Jobs in Buffalo, NY specifically. While 1-800-drivers is working on your application for you, rifle off some quick applications to any companies that sound like they might work for you on these pages. The key here is getting a bunch of applications out there - the more places you apply, the better your chances of getting out there sooner - pretty simple.Next, I would write a letter to submit with any application you put in explaining the circumstances. If you feel the trainer wasn't watching over you closely enough, then tell them that. Be very thorough with your explanation of the circumstances, and be honest. These companies have heard every lie a billion times and they will see through it right away. I have been fired from a number of different companies, mostly for too many logbook violations, and was always honest with companies I was applying to about what had happened. One time I even had a recruiter tell me that they weren't happy with the fact that I had been terminated from a previous job, but they checked with the previous company and saw that I had been honest and up front with what had happened and so they were willing to give me a chance. She said if I had lied about it, they wouldn't have hired me. I was pleasantly surprised by that for sure - a good learning experience.Not all companies will feel that way, but none of them will take being lied to very well at all. So be honest. Also, make sure the letter is well-written. If you are not confident in your writing skills, have someone write it for you. It needs to look and sound professional. These recruiters are not dock workers or ditch diggers. They are used to dealing in a professional environment and a sloppy letter will not look good for you at all. Lastly, I would do all of this as quickly as possible. The busy season is soon coming to an end. Right now these companies have a lot of freight because Christmas is coming. But by mid-December, a combination of a slow economy and the normal seasonal slowdown will make it much, much more difficult to find a job. So take advantage of the current busy season and get those applications out there. Call 1-800-drivers and apply to jobs on our site ASAP and get the ball rollin. Best of luck to you. Stay positive, keep firing off those applications, and be persistent. You'll be back out there before you know it. It may take a bunch of applications, it may not. But stay at it, and hurry. The busy season is your friend right now. Don't let it pass you by. Look forward to hearing from you soon.Sincerely, Brett AquilaComments,ratings, and reviews on this knol sure would be greatly appreciated!!!