Wrongful Death ClaimsShould You Settle Or Go To Court

Your primary goal during the claims process phase of a wrongful death case is to build your case by collecting and evaluating all evidence that can help you secure a fair and reasonable settlement. Together with an experienced attorney, you will prepare your case as if it is going to go to trial. Even an experienced attorney can never know which cases will settle and which will go to trial, so it is important to be prepared to take your case all the way through trial, if necessary.

Even so, there are many benefits and advantages to settling a case. These advantages include:
- Avoiding the risk of trial. Litigation is risky because juries are unpredictable. It doesn't matter how strong you think the case may be, a jury can always come up with arguments or reasons to justify a lower verdict, or to side with the insurance company. Going to trial is always going to be a gamble to a certain extent.
- Avoiding the expense of litigation and trial. Wrongful death cases are expensive to pursue. A single case can require thousands of dollars and sometimes the expense can easily exceed six figures. Attorney ethics rules require that the expense of litigation must be borne by the client, although the attorney may advance these costs. It is important to keep in mind that most of the expenses can come from hiring a number of experts, paying for depositions, and creating trial exhibits.
- Achieving final resolution of the claim and gaining peace of mind. There is a significant emotional toll on family members who have to participate in the litigation of a wrongful death case. These cases also impose time requirements on family members. Various family members may have to take time off work to attend a deposition and/or sit through trial.
- Avoiding further emotional pain. It can be difficult for family members to "re-live" the circumstances surrounding the death of their loved one. The litigation experience can delay closure and may bring up painful feelings of grief and sorrow. The grieving process may continue until the wrongful death case has concluded.

The disadvantage to a settlement is that you don't know what the jury would have done. Many times, it comes down to whether or not you want to take a chance at going to trial. At some point,. you will have a very candid conversation with your attorney about your expectations and the estimated value of the case. The pros and cons of litigation and trial must be carefully weighed so that you can make the best decision for your family. Since each wrongful death case is different and may involve different legal questions, your decision must be based on the specific facts involved.

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Why Age is an Important Factor in Getting Car Insurance in Nova Scotia

Its common knowledge that auto insurance policies for young drivers are very expensive. Their lack of experience makes them a high accident risk. Thankfully, they can still find an affordable rate due to an insurance price comparison tool that offers a way for consumers to compare the cost of getting car insurance in Nova Scotia across a range of age groups.

A universal rule in the auto industry is that car insurance premiums decrease as drivers age. For example, a driver under 25-years old appears to pay double what those aged between 25-30 years old pay. Consumers aged 46-50 years old pay even less for car insurance premiums, and more senior drivers aged 56-60 years old pay as low as $74 per month.

Auto insurers factor in a number of considerations before establishing the cost of a single car insurance policy in Nova Scotia. Obviously one of the major factors is a driver's personal history, combined with the demographic group the driver fits into. When these factors are considered, it results in high insurance costs for young drivers.

Why is Car Insurance Expensive for Young People in Nova Scotia?

Statistically drivers under 25-years old have more auto accidents that tend to be more severe than those of older drivers, thus their auto insurance claims are higher than the average. Since they are a greater risk to car insurance companies to insure, this equates to higher insurance prices.

Although the group demographic doesn't represent each individual driver and how safely they drive, most auto insurance companies use information obtained from wide-ranging demographics when they calculate insurance premium rates.

However, when a car insurance company looks at drivers individually, they focus their review on the driver's personal driving history. They use traffic tickets and prior claims to get an idea of how safely they operate vehicles. It's most beneficial when they can observe a driving history over a long period of time.

Time is the key factor used to reduce car insurance premiums for young drivers, but it can't be rushed. The age of 25 years old is usually associated with lower insurance premiums, but this is not a rule. If a young driver gets their license later in life they will probably pay higher premiums until they have a driving history, regardless of their age.

How Can a Young Driver Keep Car Insurance Costs Down?

With all these factors working against a young driver, planning is needed to get the lowest premium possible. Thus, how soon a young driver gets their drivers license and a car insurance policy in Nova Scotia is important. The sooner they do it, the better.

Even drivers with a G1 license should be on their parent's car insurance policy. Insurance companies don't charge for G1 drivers because of the limits this level imposes. Using this strategy means a young driver could have an insurance history starting at 16 years old.

Another way to save money on car insurance is for a young driver is to complete an approved driver training program. Auto insurance carriers often give insurance discounts, but it's important to note that insurers will only accept training certified by the Ministry of Transportation when they offer discounts, and not all insurers offer it.

Additionally some insurance companies recognize honour students because of how responsible they appear. A young driver who maintains high grades in high school might be eligible for more discounts. However, not all companies offer this.

If there is more than one insured vehicle in a household, a young driver should be put on the lowest premium vehicle. An older SUV or sedan costs less to insure than a new sports car, for example.

When a young driver goes away from home, the auto insurance company must be informed. The driver should not be taken off the policy but when the insurer knows the young driver has limited vehicle access, they might offer a price break.

Declaring a Young Drivers Status Accurately

The above money saving tips do not require proof. However, if there is a claim made, the insurance company will investigate and find out if false information was provided. This is why the insurance company needs to be informed. If you were not truthful upfront, not only will the insurance company reject the claim, they might have grounds to cancel your policy entirely, making the young motorist and insured driver at a higher risk for future insurance.

Compare Policies for the Lowest Rates

Some car insurance companies offer better rates than their competition for young drivers. Every auto insurer has its own underwriting rules, so no two insurance companies charge the exact same premium for identical types of coverage. To find the best rate, aggressive research is required. Thankfully, this can be done quickly online.

InsurEye Inc. is a Canadian company that offers many online tools for consumers to research insurance options and prices in the Canadian market place. Our insurance price comparison tool is based on aggregated consumer data and covers most auto insurers across the country. Currently, only auto insurance data is available for Nova Scotia, but InsurEye plans to launch the same service for the provinces home and life insurance soon.

Author's Bio: 

I'm a passionate writer, who is deeply involved with financial and medical topics.

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What You Should Look for during House Viewing

One of the most important steps when buying a house is to visit it at least once with the real estate agent. This is the right moment when you can ask all the questions about the property that is of interest to you. In most cases, the property owner will also be at the location during the visit so you can get answers for some specific questions firsthand. A great tip is to make a list with questions in advance, because there is always a chance to forget something, especially if you have to visit two, three or more properties on that day. Check out some important questions, which describe the basics of that you should look for during house viewing.

1) How many floors foes the building have, and on which floor is the apartment in which you are interested? The number of floors is a very essential aspect that you should know. When you know the floors - you can get a better imaginary view about the neighbours, whether it would be easy or difficult to climb the stairs, whether you can expect a great panoramic view, whether it will be difficult for the movers to carry your furniture into the property, etc.

2) Check out the furnishing of the house. Make sure to know exactly which items the owners will leave in the house at your disposal, because that may differ from the current situation when you visit the house. It is a great advantage to buy a partially or a completely furnished house, but a new flat or an empty apartment also has its own unique advantages. You have to deal with professional moving companies and with overwhelming adventures when moving house, but you can furnish the house to your taste and style. If there are any objects left by the owners then spend a couple of minutes to check out the condition of these objects. Look for malfunctioning lights, scratched appliances, damages and stains on the walls, floors, doors, etc.

3) Ask about the condition of the house during the different seasons - whether it changes completely or not, whether there are any specific issues during the coldest winter months or not. Ask about the condition of the balcony in the winter too, whether there are any dangers during the greatest rainfalls and winds. Then, inspect the condition of the house from the inside and ask about any build-up of mould or unwanted odours. All the exhaust fans should function properly too. If you ensure that everything is in order, you can avoid spending time and efforts on extensive repairs at a further moment.

4) Get familiar with the documentation of the property. From the insurance to the utilities of the house - there are plenty of "official" things to keep in mind when buying a new house. The real estate agent can really help you in this domain and therefore can save you a lot of time. Ask the estate agent about the documentation of the apartment or house in advance and leave the unclear topics for a discussion with the house owner during the visit.

5) Check out whether the property is comfortable for the relocation of all your belongings from the old house. The dimensions of the doors are most important, as they are essential for the impeccable services of the furniture removals company. Your house relocation can go smoothly if there are no obstacles between the front door and the fence of the property. The dimensions of the stairways are another thing to keep in mind for your domestic removals if you are looking for a house with two or more storeys.

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What Is Vacant Homeowners Insurance And Why Is It Needed

Don't let these things, described below, ever happen to you if you leave your home unoccupied, vacant, or you find a renter to live in your home. Invest in vacant home insurance

$400,000 Wildfire claim uncovered due to owner being away from the home

A computer programmer working for a big Silicon Valley technology company was sent overseas in 2008 to the Philippines to finish a computer installation. He owned a small home in Santa Barbara that was destroyed by a California wildfire after the house had been unoccupied for 5 months. When he filed a claim with his insurance company after a 15 hour flight back to the U.S. the insurance company denied the claim sighting the fact that he never alerted the insurance company that no one was living in the home. It was true, the insured never had written a letter advising the insurer of the situation. Unwilling to absorb a $400,000 loss himself, he hired a lawyer and is attempting to sue the employer who never advised the employee of the risk or provided a solution before he was sent overseas on the grounds that the employer created the situation that caused him to lose coverage and thus the employer was liable.

Homeowner forced to absorb 80% of a claim himself due to vacancy provision

An employee had moved to Maryland and was attempting to sell a Florida home, which had been completely vacant for over 4 months. A small water leak went undetected and two rooms in the house were completely destroyed by water, mold and mildew after the leak was discovered by a realtor. Expecting the insurer to honor the $80,000 claim, the insured was shocked to receive a check in the mail for just $9,500. It was explained to the insured that this was the amount the insurance company was willing to pay because this would have been the extent of the damage if the insured had been living in the house, and the leak would have been discovered promptly and fixed quickly. The nearly $70,000 was the difference that the insured was expected to absorb related to the house being vacant.

Vacant dwelling insurance policy assumed to be the same as HO3, leaving the insured holding a large loss.

A resident of Pennsylvania took a job in Ohio, and did the right thing by placing a vacant homeowners insurance policy on the home within 10 days from the date all the property was trucked to Ohio. The existing insurance company was willing to take the risk in this case and the owner though he was fully protected. When a 85 foot Sycamore tree crashed down through the roof and deck, causing $120,000 in damage, the owner was shocked to find out he had no coverage under the vacant home policy he had secured, assuming coverage was the same as the insurance policy he had with the same insurer while he was living in the house. He was unaware that the new coverage was called a "dwelling policy" and only 8 named perils were covered, and this loss, due to a tree falling was not covered by the insurance policy he had, leaving him holding the full extent of the loss. It's critical to find the right vacant home policy not just any vacant home policy!

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Tracfone subsidiaries offer a much better deal on Prepaid Cell Phones

When it comes to prepaid wireless, Tracfone is the grandfather. Launched under its current name in late 2000, Tracfone soon became a mainstay at Wal-Mart stores. Other competitors, such as Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile, soon followed, but through the early 00s Tracfone was synonymous with prepaid wireless. Even to this day Tracfone is a prepaid powerhouse, featuring over 10 million subscribers. Yet the landscape has changed over the past decade, and now Tracfone's subsidiaries offer a better deal than the parent service.

Tracfone operates with top-up cards, much like long distance calling cards. After purchasing a phone, customers purchase cards that provide a prescribed number of minutes. There is no consistent per-minute rate for Tracfone cards, so customers who make larger purchases benefit more. Rates for the two lowest denomination cards, 30 and 60 minutes, work out to 33 cents per minute, or far more than any other prepaid wireless service. Even the 450 minute card, sold for $80, works out to almost 18 cents per minute.

Launched in 2005, Net10 has the perfect gimmick. Instead of Tracfone's fluctuating rates, it offers all calls at 10 cents per minute. There is no discount for purchasing more expensive cards, and no double minute card to enhance purchases. For every dollar consumers spend, they get 10 minutes. Text messaging is also cheap with Net10, at 5 cents per message, both incoming and outgoing. So not only are the Net10 rates simpler than Tracfone's, but the rates are greatly cheaper. As long as Net10 offers coverage, consumers would be wise to use the cheaper service.

Tracfone's latest offering comes in response to the recent trend of flat-rate, unlimited plans. The company launched Straight Talk prepaid in the summer of 2009 to much fanfare. The soft launch featured just one plan, providing 1,500 minutes, 1,500 SMS and MMS, 30MB of data, and unlimited 411 for $30 per month. Once in full launch, Straight Talk added an unlimited voice, messaging, data, and 411 plan for $45 per month. Once it gained distribution at Wal-Mart, Straight Talk was a hit. Again, its rates are far, far cheaper than the parent Tracfone service. Only customers who don't plan to spend $30 per month should consider anything other than Straight Talk, and even then Net10 provides a better value than Tracfone.

Using the $30 price point as an example, Tracfone gets you far, far less than its subsidiaries. With Straight Talk a consumer gets 1,500 minutes and 1,500 messages. With Net10 a consumer gets 300 minutes, or 200 minutes and 200 text messages. With Tracfone that same $30 gets a consumer only 120 minutes. Again, it asks the question of why anyone would choose Tracfone over its subsidiaries. A dollar just doesn't go as far.

Tracfone does offer one way to get a cheaper rate. Their Double Minutes For Life card does just that. For a one-time $50 fee, customers can essentially cut Tracfone's rates in half. Of course, this still doesn't work with the smaller denomination cards. Yes, the 60 minute card for $19.99 would provide 120 minutes, but that's still a rate of 16.6 cents per minute. The only way to get surplus value out of Tracfone is to purchase the Double Minutes card and then a 450-minute card for $79.99. That provides a rate of 8.8 cents per minute, which is lower than Net10. But, because of the $50 Double Minutes card, that becomes 14.4 cents per minute. The true rate doesn't fall below 10 cents per minute until the customer purchase three 450-minute cards.

(Note: The Double Minute cards, at the time of this writing, is on sale for $24.99, though the regular price remains $49.99.)

Even with its Double Minutes offering, Tracfone requires a large cash outlay in order to achieve rates even approaching Net10. At that point, Straight Talk offers a much more robust plan at a far, far lower price point. Customers who plan to purchase the Double Minutes card and then purchase only 450-minute cards might find value in Tracfone. Most consumers, however, would benefit more from Net10's lower, predictable rates, or Straight Talk's large minute and message allotments. It appears at this point that the Tracfone brand remains only for name value. Its subsidiaries offer much, much better deals.

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Top 3 Important Things To A Runner

As a runner, there are three main important things that you need. I'm not going to tell you just yet, so you'll have to guess with these hints that I give you. The first one, you breath. I bet you got that one already. The second one, you drink. Little bit trickier huh? Last, and definitely least, (in comparison to the other two) you eat the third one. Keep reading to see if you got them right!

The MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever need as a runner, is air. Seems like a no duh, huh? That's what I thought at first too. But over time, I came to realize that it's very true. Just think about it. How long can a human being live without air. 5-7 minutes. Not very long, is it? Developing strong lungs is a good trait for a runner to have. Also, on long distance runs, you should have a slow and steady breathing pace, not a fast and rapid one.

Alright, ready for the second one? Dihydrogen monoxide. It's a chemical. Very dangerous actually. It's called water. Water is very important to a runner. Not as important as air, but still really important. A human can last about a week without water. That's a lot longer than without air right? But when you are running, you are sweating out all of the water in your system, in order to cool yourself down. So when you are running without sweating, you aren't going to cool down are you? Also, water allows you to perform at the peak of your performance.

Do you know how much water a runner really should be drinking a day? A normal person, who doesn't exercise, should be drinking about a gallon a day. So, if your doing twice the work, you should be drinking two gallons a day. If you know how much two gallons is, your thinking: "HOW THE FREAK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?" Trust me, you won't do it on the first day. For now, just practice drinking periodically through the day. One way to know if you're hydrated or not is the color of your urine. If it is clear or light green/yellow, then you're hydrated. If it's darker, drink more water! It takes about half an hour to an hour before it digests, so don't chug right before a race or practice!

Remember that second grade phrase: "First the worst, second the best, third the nerd"? Yeah, well that doesn't apply here. Anyways, your third most important thing is food. A human could last for about a month without food, depending on how much fat they already have on them. Food gives you energy, which you need to move your feet. Eating a pizza right before you run probably isn't the best thing you could do though. Sorry to get your hopes up. Foods high in protien and carbohydrates are the best for you. Noodles have a TON of carbs in them, so runners do a thing called Carb Loading. About three days before a big race, (It takes about three days for the noodles to break down.) runners eat a bunch of noodles, such as macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, and ravioli. They stay away from meals in a can, as those don't have such a high carb number and aren't as good for you as the kind you personally boil.

Are you smarter than a second grader? Because if you didn't get those right, then your not. Obviously, we need air first. You don't really think about that much do you? Your brain just kind of automated that process for you. Water is the second most important thing because it keeps you functioning at tip-top shape. And in tip-top shape, you need energy to perform with right? That's where the food comes in. Noo-trish-un. Also known as nutrition. Now go breath some air or something okay?

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Theft Claim - Someone Stole My Car Stereo and the Insurance Declined Payment

A theft claim can give big headache. Car stereo claims are very difficult to dispute. Most insurance companies require you to file a police report, and guess what? Most police departments will not come to the scene to write a report unless there is reasonable suspicion of who stole your stereo.
To make matters worse, most auto insurance polices will exclude and theft claim for personal property. You would have to make a claim against your home owners or renters insurance to get coverage for your personal property. So anything in your vehicle that was stolen, not attached to the car, will be excluded unless you have one of those polices.

Even if you make a claim against your renters or homeowners, you will be subject to a deductible on those policies. Usually those policies have high deductibles and the insurance company will not pay for any of your personal items. Make sure your homeowners or renters policy has low deductible amounts before filing a claim.

But how can you document a stereo theft claim and get compensated for your claim? First, you need to file a walk in police report. This can be complicated since the police will not come out. Once you have a police report documenting your stereo theft claim, then you need to file a claim with your insurance company. Your stereo claim will not be covered unless you have comprehensive coverage for a theft claim. Also your stereo must be worth more than your deductible. For example, if your stereo is worth $1,000 and your deductible is $250, then you will get paid $750 ($1,000 - $250). However, if your stereo system is worth $200 and your deductible remains $250, then no payment will be made to you.

The real issue will be that the insurance company will only owe you the actual cash value of the stereo system. But what is actual cash value? It is the value of your stereo minus its depreciation. You will soon learn that insurance companies depreciate electronics and systems like this one very heavily. They sometimes will take up to 40% of is value per year (not a set rule and it varies in every state and every insurance company).

This means that your theft claim could be worth $0 if your stereo is three years old. There has been a lot of dispute and litigation over this subject. Insureds argument is that their stereo cannot be worth $0 or close to it because it still provided an important use to them (there is inherent value). However, most stereo theft claims are smaller amounts for attorneys to litigate and try to change the insurance approach.

You can protect your interest by documenting what kind of equipment you had. Receipts of purchase would be great evidence. If you do not have the receipt, then provide photographs, the owners manual, the name and number of the person that installed the stereo, the box, or anything else that could validate your ownership over the your equipment.

One thing you should never do. I mean this. Do not try to inflate your claim. This is considered fraud. If you get caught with an intentional misrepresentation as of to the value of the stereo, you will lose all your rights under the policy. The insurance company can turn you into the police and will put you in the black book. You will have a very hard time finding any kind of insurance. Do not risk it.

So the best way to handle your car stereo theft claim is to:

1. Get a police report, even if it is a walk in report,

2. File a claim if you carry comprehensive coverage.

3 collect as much information about your equipment.

4. Make sure the insurance company will not take excessive amounts of depreciation, and

5. Do not inflate the claim.

All the best, Hector Quiroga
Copyright www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com

Hector Quiroga has a high interest in helping consumers gain knowledge of the auto insurance claim process for both property damage and bodily injury claims. He covers in great detail what a car accident investigation entails and share many helpful tips for dealing with insurance companies and adjusters.

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