There are many things to do for couples about to get married, including planning the wedding and honeymoon and handling family and other issues. Because of the excitement of an upcoming marriage, it's easy to overlook some of the legal matters that need to be handled. Here are some of the most important legal matters to take care of when you are getting married. Obtain a marriage license and, where required, take a blood or other type of health test A marriage license can usually be obtained … [Read more...]

Accidents are part of life. Try as we do to avoid them, they happen anyway. If you get in a car, slip and fall or other type of accident, you have to decide whether to make a claim to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. Some accident victims fear making a claim. Sometimes this comes from not knowing what happens in a personal injury claim. But there is little to fear, especially if you have a lawyer’s help. After suffering an injury, making a claim starts the process of obtaining … [Read more...]

One of the best ways to get the maximum compensation after an accident is to keep good records. But what information should be in your records? Here are tips. Information About Your Injuries Keep a record of all the injuries you suffered. Not only should your records include details about easily identifiable injuries like broken bones, but they should also include details about pain, discomfort, anxiety, loss of sleep and other problems which cannot be seen but which you may be able to receive … [Read more...]

Auto accidents involving drivers who have little or no insurance are common. According to insurance industry statistics, nearly 15% of all drivers do not carry insurance. In some states, the percentage of uninsured drivers is as high as 25%. People who are in an auto accident with a driver who has little or no insurance are often shocked to learn they will recover little money (often none at all) for their injuries and losses. Fortunately, there is an easy and inexpensive way for you to help … [Read more...]

Insurance companies advertise they are eager to help you after an accident. They use slogans like “You’re in Good Hands,” “Like a Good Neighbor” or “Fast, Fair & Friendly,” all to suggest they will protect you and be helpful when you make a claim. But are insurance companies really on your side? Consider these facts: • Two employees of a major insurance company were forced to quit after speaking out about illegal things the insurance company did. They said the insurance company forced them … [Read more...]

Everyone knows accidents are sure to happen. To soften the blow, we think ahead and buy insurance, trusting insurance company promises that after an accident they will help pay our damages. But do insurance companies keep their promise? What really happens after an accident, and what accident victims can do about it, is something everyone should know. After a car or other accident, the victim usually makes a claim to an insurance company. Their goal is to get paid for medical bills, property … [Read more...]

When you’re shopping for a new or used car, safety is likely a top concern. No car is completely safe in an accident, but some cars are better than others in helping to avoid accidents and protecting occupants in case of them. Here are tips for finding the safest car for you and your family. Compare safety features There are two main types of safety features: those to help you avoid accidents and those to help protect you in the event of one. Important safety features that can help you avoid … [Read more...]

It’s easy to find examples of aggressive driving. Most of us see it daily — a person tailgating, driving at excessive speeds, weaving in and out of lanes, making hand or facial gestures, or running stop signs and lights. Though less common, road rage is a growing problem. These two are not the same. Aggressive driving, which the federal government defines as a combination of actions that endanger other people or property on the road, is a traffic offense. In contrast, road rage — an assault with … [Read more...]

Each year, over 5,000 people are killed in accidents with trucks and over 100,000 are severely injured. Large trucks can weigh over ten times as much as a passenger vehicle, so accidents between cars and trucks are far more serious to the car’s driver than the truck’s driver. According to published reports, over 90% of people killed in car-truck accidents are the occupants of the car. Because of the nature of truck accidents, including the heavy loads, long driving hours and drivers under … [Read more...]

We hear a lot in the media these days about “tort reform” and “legal reform.” These are efforts by big businesses and insurance companies to change our civil justice system. They want to make it harder for people hurt by unsafe products — and victims of other kinds of injuries — to recover compensation for their injuries and losses. They also want to limit the amount of damages injury victims can recover. In arguing for change, big businesses and insurance companies try to persuade people that … [Read more...]