Auto Insurance Costs
Premium
A premium is the amount you pay to the insurance company to buy your auto policy. The premium covers the term or length of the policy. The term can be 6 months or 1 year. Most insurance companies allow you to pay the premium in installments. Ask if there is an extra fee for doing this.
Deductible
Some kinds of coverage have deductibles. A deductible is the amount you must pay before the insurance company pays anything on a claim. You usually pay a lower premium if you choose a higher deductible.
Example: Let's say that your Comprehensive coverage has a $500 deductible. If a storm causes $1,500 of damage to your car, you must pay the first $500. Then your Comprehensive coverage pays the rest-$1,000.
Limits
Each kind of coverage has its own limits. The limit is the total amount the insurance company will pay for a single accident or claim. The insurance company will not pay any costs above the limits.
Example: Let's say that your auto liability coverage has a $50,000/$100,000 limit on bodily injury for one accident. In this case, your insurance will not pay more than $50,000 for one person. It will not pay more than $100,000 for one accident.
Do I pay a fee to my agent or broker?
Agents are paid by insurance companies, not by you. If you work with a broker, you will usually pay a broker's fee. See Working with an Agent or a Broker, below.
Do all insurance companies have the same costs?
No. Costs vary, even in the same area. When you shop for auto insurance you should compare costs and coverage from several companies. See Shopping for Auto Insurance below.
I cannot afford my premiums. What can I do?
California has a Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program for good drivers who are income eligible. See our CLCA page.
How Many Home Security System Alarm Signs Do You Need
When you sign up with a home alarm monitoring company, they typically give you one yard sign and one window sticker. Is this enough? Probably not. How many alarm signs and stickers do you need?
In this Home Security Systems article we will discuss how many alarm signs you need in your yard and where you should place them.
The Value of Deterrence
By deterring criminals from attempting to get into your home or garage or steal your car is the chief benefit of home security systems. The success rate of those who try to rob a home that is protected with a security system is pretty low. The success rate of those who don’t even try it is zero.
Signs and stickers lower burglary and home invasion rates. Reformed burglars make it clear that thieves case houses first and avoid those with home security systems in favor of easier targets. Therefore, having a sign and sticker near each entrance makes the most sense. Yes, some burglars may drive by in the day and easily see a single sign in the front yard. But others snoop around at night at back or side doors or windows. You want them to see that you are protected.
Lighted Home Alarm Signs
Some companies provide lighted home security signs. In sunny climates, they can be solar-powered. In cloudy climates, they can be battery-powered or wired. You can also have an electrician install your own light for the sign or signs. It’s an extra ounce of deterrence that might prevent a thief from overlooking the fact that you are protected.
Generic Sign or Company Sign
There are 2 sides to this debate. Smart thieves might learn how to disable some specific brands of home security systems, so alerting them to which type of system you have might give them the clue they need to circumvent it. In that case, a generic home security sign might be better. However, some security experts say the thief might think you bought the sign at the store and don’t really have a security system, tempting them to take a crack at entering your home.
What should you do? The truth is most security systems are sophisticated and very difficult to disable. They’ll sound the alarm when someone tampers with them. Plus, in most cases, they need to get inside your home to do it, and that will sound most alarms. Most security experts recommend a company sign, though there remains debate. What they do say is that the key is to have enough signs and stickers to let would-be thieves know that your home is protected.
Hiring a Criminal Lawyer to Defend You
Choose the Right Criminal Defense Lawyer
To find the right criminal defense lawyer, look for someone who is familiar with your type of case. A lawyer who handles mostly drunk-driving charges, for example, might not be the best person to handle charges of assault or homicide. Another factor to consider is whether the lawyer practices criminal defense in the particular court where you'll be tried.
If you've been accused of a federal crime, you'll need a lawyer who practices in the federal court system. Any lawyer licensed in Texas, for example, can practice in any county or district court, but must make special application to practice in federal court.
Meet With the Lawyer
When you meet with the lawyer for the first time, answer questions as honestly as possible and listen carefully. If the criminal case is fairly routine, the lawyer may be able to give you an idea of what could happen. Without looking at the police reports and other documents, however, no lawyer should try to give you any guarantees about the outcome of the case.
Pay the Lawyer
Work on your criminal defense will not begin until you agree with the lawyer on payment. Criminal defense lawyers usually charge by the hour and require a down payment called a retainer. If your case is not complicated, the lawyer may agree to a flat fee instead.
Make sure you understand how payment works and what it covers. For example, the contract should describe how much you'll be charged for short phone calls and work by a legal assistant, as well as how much you'll pay for copies, depositions, and other expenses.
You Have the Right to Change Lawyers
If necessary, you have the right to fire a lawyer and hire a new one. It is better to do this sooner rather than later. Changing lawyers can be difficult when a trial date is approaching. Try to anticipate and work out any issues as soon in the process as possible. If the problem can't be solved, expect prompt return of your case files. Depending on your fee agreement, you may be able to recover at least part of your retainer as well.
A Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help
The law surrounding your defense when accused of a crime is complicated. Plus, the facts of each case are unique. This article provides a brief, general introduction to the topic. For more detailed, specific information, please contact a criminal defense lawyer.
What You Should Look For In A Criminal Lawyer
If you are about to face a criminal case, you might be really scared right now; maybe, all you need is a good criminal lawyer. So, if you are in the hunt for one, then you keep in mind the following criminal lawyer qualities.
One of the best indications of a good criminal lawyer is experience. It's a big no-no for you to hire someone who's just starting out in criminal law. Lawyers only become truly good at their craft when they are able to handle quite a number of cases. These will make them more adept when it comes to what right things to say in court and how to strategize, too.
Also, the criminal lawyer must already have a name of his or her own. This means that he or she should be highly recommended by his or her past client because they were satisfied with his or her service and work.
Another important quality is tenacity. A lawyer with tenacity is someone who would not lose hope in finding ways to win a case. He or she would do everything and anything possible just to give you victory. In addition to that, he or she would only stop when there is no longer a way for you to win the case.
It is also imperative that the lawyer is courageous. Your lawyer would be the one who'll represent you in court so you need him or her to be able to fight for you. This means that he or she should defend you in court.
In addition to that, he or she should be located near you. Criminal lawyer's fees can be quite expensive and if the one you'll hire is from another state or area, you would have to expect that you'll pay for a huge fee considering all the traveling that the lawyer would have to do just to meet you. That is why if you want to save some money, you should just hire one from your area.
Now, you also have to consider if you can truly pay for the criminal lawyer. That's why you need to ask a lawyer how much his or her fee is before you hire him or her. Some lawyers charge hourly fees and there are some who would only ask for a fee when the case is won. It is important that you calculate and estimate the fee you might pay so you can prepare the money for it.
In order to give you an idea, lawyers that you have the characteristics above and who you can surely hire are criminal lawyer Florida and the foreclosure lawyer Florida.
Information on Mesothelioma Claims
Actually asbestos exposure is widespread. It was used as a building material and only banned in 1989 but the existing asbestos structures remained. However asbestos is imported from other countries still. Asbestos was introduced as its fibers can withstand fire and chemicals. Asbestos was used mainly in construction and automobile industry. Most cases of mesothelioma are caused by asbestos exposure in the workplace. The fibers are inhaled or swallowed. Even people who lived near an asbestos mine can be infected. As with other diseases if the patient is a smoker it increases his risk of developing cancer in the lungs.
Treatment for this dreaded disease depends on patient's age and general health. As with other cancers patients are given radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Sadly the survival rate is rather low, with a maximum of five-years with treatment. The first symptoms are weight loss difficulty breathing, dyspnea, abdominal or chest pain. Pleural effusion or fluid in the lungs is generally thought to be a warning sign for possible impending mesothelioma. The reason such cases are hard to track is that the workers showed symptoms up to 15 years after being exposed to asbestos.
In cases where people have suspected that they may have the symptoms of asbestosis they have been advised to first of all find a good lawyer. This is the first step in filing a case against the company that the individual worked for when the fatal exposure to asbestos occurred. Finding an efficient lawyer for personal injury is as important as getting the best medical assessment.
A settlement is possible that permits a mesothelioma case to be resolved without a trial. The legal process has been put in place so that anyone who has tragically been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos cancer is rightfully entitled to compensation. This amount can vary between thousands to millions of dollars. This is recovered from rich companies to compensate innocent workers.
There are specialized mesothelioma lawyers who are extremely knowledgeable about the deadly effects of asbestos. This is a no mean feat as the manufacture and use of asbestos containing products may have occurred many years prior to the actual filing of the case. The lawyers need to research on specific products that were either manufactured or utilized by the unfortunate workers who develop mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Treatment Methods
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer typically caused by exposure to asbestos. The cancer can take many years to become evident and once it is present, it can be difficult to detect. Patients who receive treatment for mesothelioma in the early stages have a better prognosis, but survival rates are low. The health and age of the patient also affect the prognosis.
Mesothelioma treatment fall into two primary categories, curative and palliative. Curative treatment is aimed at curing a patient's mesothelioma by removing or killing the cancer cells in the affected area. Palliative treatments are done merely to reduce a patient's pain and discomfort and improve their quality of life.
There are several different mesothelioma treatment methods. Surgery can be performed. The most common type for patients with pleural mesothelioma is a pleurectomy/ decortication procedure. This surgery involves removal of the lining of the chest where the cancer is contained.
A less common type of surgery performed in pericardial mesothelioma is an extrapleural pneumonectomy. The procedure involves the removal of the lung, the lining of the inside chest wall, the pericardium, and the hemi-diaphragm. The goal of the surgeries is to reduce the size of the cancerous tumors. This helps extending the patient's life.
For patients in the earlier stages of mesothelioma, radiation treatments can be performed. Radiation is often performed following surgery to kill additional cancer cells. The entire hemi thorax is treated with radiation. Radiation therapy is also commonly performed to the sites of the chest drain insertion. This prevents the growth of the tumor along the patient's chest wall. Radiation therapy can also serve the palliative purpose of relieving the symptoms from tumor growth.
Chemotherapy has been an effective form of treatment for patients with mesothelioma. It is often performed in addition to radiation therapy. On a statistical basis, studies have shown that patients receiving chemotherapy extend their lives by several months in comparison to those who do not receive the treatment.
A Guide to Criminal Lawyers
A criminal lawyer is someone who specializes in handling criminal cases with implications such as arson, DUI, murder, theft, etc. The primary role of a criminal lawyer is to review evidences and to map-out an effective defense strategy. Criminal lawyers either work as defense lawyers or prosecutors. A criminal defense lawyer will represent the accused, advice the client on legal matters, and assist in the framing of legal documents such as contracts, wills, etc. They can also act as public defenders in cases of indigence. A criminal defense lawyer with substantial expertise in the field will have the ability to interrogate the prosecution witnesses to prove the client?s innocence. In extreme situations, a professional lawyer may negotiate with the prosecution lawyer to mete out charges and punishments in an equitable manner. A prosecutor works on behalf of the government in criminal proceedings. Whether it is defense or prosecution, criminal lawyers can utilize government statistics and other official documents at any phase of the case. The laws governing criminal lawyers vary from state to state, but a basic code law is observed all over the United States. The criminal lawyer?s office will take up the responsibility of meeting the clients, arranging court dates, carrying out background researches of cases, etc.
In order to practice as a licensed attorney, one should pass the bar exam after completion of a three-year course in a law school. In addition to educational requirements, a criminal lawyer must possess certain qualities such as good communication and listening skills, organizing capabilities, public speaking skills, ability to handle complex criminal cases, and to deal with people from all backgrounds. Since criminal cases would involve a lot of paper work for trials and criminal proceedings and so criminal lawyers should also possess writing skills. Additionally, they ought to be excellent negotiators. The salary of a criminal lawyer will depend upon the jurisdiction and the nature of the case.
