Reasons You Need To Hire A Personal Injury Attorney

​Were you recently involved in a car accident? Hit while trying to cross the street as a pedestrian? Did your neighbor’s dog bite you? Or perhaps you slipped and fell while shopping at your favorite store? Whatever the scenario may be, if you sustained injuries through no fault of your own, you have rights. Though you may be apprehensive about hiring a personal injury attorney, because of costs or fear of making things worse, their services prove to be valuable in more ways than one. Here's what you need to know;

Personal Injury Cases are Tough

When you’ve been injured, it may be easy to assume that the solution is as easy as filing a claim and getting compensation. However, this is far from the truth. Personal injury cases are very complicated and involve a certain level of comprehension. Not only are you dealing with big-time insurance companies who wish to pay as little as possible, but you’re dealing with health insurance providers, the police, eyewitnesses, other attorneys, personal injury laws, and more. You need the help of legal experts like Steve Schwartzapfel to help you through the process. Even if your case doesn’t end up in court, personal injury lawyers can help in several ways.

They Understand the Law – Personal injury laws vary by state and are often difficult to understand for the average person. An attorney has the education, training, and experience that help them to have a clear understanding of the laws. Using this information, they can review your case and determine the best course of action that will warrant you the best outcome.

Assistance with Supporting Evidence – When the person at fault is clearly identifiable, and there is plenty of information to back up your claim, filing is an easy process. However, most injury claims aren’t that cut and dry. Your hired attorney can help to make things a bit clearer. They can work with the local authorities, eyewitnesses, reconstructionists, and other legal experts to gather evidence that can prove your case against responsible parties. This information can then be used to seek higher payouts for your injuries, pain, and suffering.

Help with Complex Cases – When claims are complicated, they can take months to resolve. Often requiring a lot of back and forth with evidence and negotiations, there’s a lot to deal with as you’re recovering from your injuries. Should you decide to file a lawsuit, your attorney will ensure that you’ve filled out the proper paperwork with the right verbiage to assert your claim as valid.

Experienced Negotiators – Should your personal injury claim be settled outside of court, you’ll want to have a personal injury attorney on your side. Remember, insurance companies and other guilty parties are looking to pay out the least possible amount. They could essentially offer a number that appears to be fair but doesn’t cover all of your losses and expenses. Personal injury attorneys are expert negotiators using the laws, evidence, and proof of your losses, they will see to it that you’re offered a fair amount.

Courtroom Representation – Should your case end up in court, it is imperative to have an attorney on your side. Though you could try and represent yourself, the complexities of the case and the aggressiveness of the other party may be more than you can take on. An attorney knows how to say the right things to get a judge and jury to put themselves in your shoes. Trained at speaking in front of large audiences, personal injury attorneys are best equipped to talk to the judge, question witnesses, and deal with other attorneys on the case.

Higher Settlement Amounts – People who hire an attorney tend to get higher settlement amounts than those who try and resolve the matter on their own.

What most don’t know about personal injury attorneys is that many of them work on a contingency fee. Meaning they don’t make money unless you win. When you consider the invaluable services and assistance they provide for you, it seems like an investment worth considering. If you’ve been injured in an accident at no fault of your own, consult with a personal injury attorney to find out what option works best for you.

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How Much Does A Personal Injury Attorney Charge..?

​If you need to hire a personal injury lawyer, you may want to know how much a personal injury lawyer charges. Most personal injury lawyers charge for their time in one of two ways: contingency fees or hourly fees (often known as an hourly billing rate).

Contingency Fees & Personal Injury Lawyers
By far, most personal injury attorneys charge their clients a contingency fee. With a contingency fee, you only pay the lawyer if he or she is able to negotiate a monetary settlement or win a judgment on your behalf. If you receive no money from the party responsible for your accident, then the lawyer collects no fee. If you win, you'll also be responsible for any expenses the attorney incurred in preparing your case. Many personal injury lawyers will waive the expenses if the case is lost.

Typically, contingency fees are charged as a percentage of any money you are awarded. The exact percentage will vary from region to region, but you may find that every personal injury lawyer you meet charges the same percentage. You can try to negotiate a lower percentage, but do this before hiring the lawyer.

There are two advantages to contingency fees: A contingency fee costs you nothing if you win no money, and your attorney is motivated to get the biggest award possible because he or she also stands to benefit.

The primary disadvantage to contingency fees is that you may not feel as if your lawyer has earned his or her fee if your lawyer is quickly able to secure a large settlement on your behalf.

When negotiating a contingency fee, make sure you understand whether the fee is calculated on the gross award (the award before your lawyer's expenses have been deducted) or the net judgment (the award after your personal injury lawyer's expenses have been deducted).

Hourly Fees & Personal Injury Attorneys
With an hourly billing rate, you pay your personal injury lawyer for every hour that he or she works on your case, regardless of whether you win or lose. You are also responsible for reimbursing the lawyer for an expenses incurred.

Hourly billing rates are far less common than contingency fees in personal injury lawsuits. They are less popular because they require injury victims to pay cash up front, at a time when money may already be tight. They are also less popular because, if the case is won, the attorney makes less money than he or she might make if handling the case on contingency.

If a personal injury attorney offers to represent you for an hourly fee, it may be a sign that your case is weak or unlikely to yield a large payoff. You should feel free to ask the lawyer if he or she represents other clients on contingency and why the lawyer isn't interesting in taking your case on contingency.

Remember that with an hourly billing rate, you'll be responsible for paying the lawyer's fees and expenses even if the case is ultimately unsuccessful. If money is already tight because of your accident, you may want to think twice before hiring a personal injury lawyer for an hourly fee.

Understanding How Much a Personal Injury Lawyer Costs
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, ask the attorney to walk you through the numbers:

How much does the attorney think you could receive in damages?
How much of that award would go toward the attorney's legal fees?
How much of that award would go toward the attorney's legal expenses?
How much money would remain to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering?
It's important to remember that you're obligated to pay your legal fees, even if it means you're left with less money than your injury-related expenses.

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Cars With Cheapest Insurance Rates

​You pride yourself on being a smart shopper. When looking for a new car, you research features and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal — and you also want to know which cars are cheapest to insure.

Rates vary, sometimes significantly, depending on the kind of car you drive (among other factors). We looked at last year’s 25 best-selling models and analyzed premiums to determine which are the cheapest to insure.

Cheapest cars to insure among popular models

Ranked from lowest cost to insure to highest.

Rank	Average annual insurance premium	Starting MSRP
1. Subaru Outback	$1,566	$26,810
2. Ford Escape	$1,656	$24,935
2. Chevrolet Equinox	$1,710	$24,525
4. Toyota RAV4	$1,750	$25,370
5. Honda CR-V	$1,753	$25,125
6. Nissan Rogue	$1,762	$25,775
7. Jeep Wrangler	$1,764	$25,190
8. Toyota Tacoma	$1,769	$26,245
9. Jeep Cherokee	$1,775	$25,490
10. Toyota Highlander	$1,788	$32,275
11. Ford Explorer	$1,790	$33,135
12. Ford F-Series trucks	$1,805	$29,100
13. Chevrolet Cruze	$1,843	$17,850
14. Ford Fusion	$1,850	$23,090
15. GMC Sierra	$1,851	$30,000
16. Honda Accord	$1,852	$24,465
17. Hyundai Elantra	$1,865	$17,835
18. Honda Civic	$1,876	$19,835
19. Chevrolet Silverado	$1,885	$29,580
20. Dodge Ram trucks	$1,890	$28,490
21. Chevrolet Malibu	$1,912	$22,555
22. Toyota Camry	$1,937	$24,530
23. Nissan Altima	$1,962	$24,145
24. Nissan Sentra	$1,965	$17,875
25. Toyota Corolla	$1,980	$19,495

Why car models affect auto insurance rates

Car insurance companies set pricing based on the risk they’ve determined you and your vehicle present. To determine a vehicle’s risk, insurers consider claim histories, including accidents and rates of car theft. More — and more costly — claims for a particular model mean higher car insurance rates.

Conversely, the cheapest cars to insure tend to have fewer, lower-cost claims.

Want cheaper insurance? Avoid these vehicles

Owning these types of vehicles often drives up car insurance costs:

• Sports cars have some of the highest auto insurance rates, not just because they’re built for speed: Drivers of these cars tend to be younger and therefore more accident-prone, which drives up the cost of insurance.
• High-end luxury cars are typically expensive to insure because repairing them can be pricey, and it costs more to replace them if they’re totaled.
• Electric vehicles can be pricier to insure due to their higher price tags and repair costs; replacing an EV battery alone can cost thousands of dollars.
• Cars most targeted by thieves also cost more to insure. Comprehensive insurance pays out if your car is stolen; it also covers damage from vandalism, fire, floods and other problems.

Rates vary quite a bit among insurance companies, so it’s always a good idea to shop around and compare quotes. Ask your insurer about discounts, too. Many offer price breaks if your car has safety features that reduce the risk of injuries or theft.

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Auto Insurance For Your Kids If You Get Divorced

​Divorces may be amicable, but the financial settlements are often complicated. When children are involved, there are many questions of financial responsibility to be answered.

Who will carry the children’s automobile insurance? How will their cars be titled? Who has the responsibility for enforcing rules about driving? These questions can make insuring kids from a divorce very challenging.

However, by careful planning and attention to detail, you can successfully insure your children even in a divorce situation.

It requires communication between the divorcing parents and cooperation on the part of the kids, but it can be done with a bit of work.

First, the most important question facing the divorcing couple is this: who will the children primarily reside with? It is important to answer this question first, because even if the non-custodial parent insures the children, the fact that they live with the other parent may have an impact on that parent’s insurance rates.

For example, if the father only has the children on weekends, but agrees to insure their vehicles under his policy, the mother may find that her rates correspondingly increase as well due to the fact that the teens are considered drivers in her home.

Another question which must be answered is how the cars will be titled.

The person whose name is on the car carries the primary responsibility for insuring the vehicle, whether the child lives with that parent or not. It is never a good idea to agree to pay for insurance for a vehicle over which you have little to no control.

A third factor you must consider is if the ex-spouse will ever drive the car for any reason. If that parent is not covered under your policy and is in an accident in the car, you could have problems with your insurance company about coverage.

So, what is the best way to handle this situation? First, mom and dad should talk about their expectations for themselves and their children regarding the use of vehicles, driving privileges, and insurance coverage.

While it may take a bit of diplomacy in a divorce situation, communication can prevent the majority of problems from occurring in the first place.

Next, the parent with whom the children spend the majority of their time should really be the one to have the cars titled in his or her name and to carry the insurance on the vehicles.

This makes sound economic sense because the parents are not, in this way, paying for two separate insurance policies for the same children.

Of course, the non-custodial parent should agree not to drive the cars of the children so as to minimize liability problems, unless his or her own liability carrier will agree to cover any damages caused.

If the custodial parent is going to carry the insurance and the responsibility for the cars, it is a good idea to figure up exactly what those costs will be, and in the divorce settlement agree to a stipend to be paid by the other parent to defray those costs.

For example, if the mother is the custodial parent and her insurance costs will total $2,000 per year for two children, the father could agree to pay $1,000 per year of this insurance coverage.

The parents could also agree to a fifty-fifty split in maintenance and repair costs for the children’s vehicles. If a claim must be filed by one parent or another, the parents must be able to negotiate the new cost of insurance, which is likely to be higher.

All of this may seem optimistic to expect from parents who are divorcing, but it is for the good of the children. Putting these agreements in writing will help to prevent future arguments or misunderstandings, as well.

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Auto Insurance - How Much Do You Need?

​Cutting insurance coverage is becoming a popular way to save. In this tight economy, people are looking everywhere to save money. This begs the question, “How much insurance do I really need?” This question does not have a simple answer. While there are mandated minimums in many states, scraping coverage down to the bone could leave you exposed to losing a lot of money from an accident. In the end, you may save more money by paying for full coverage.

New Hampshire and Wisconsin are the only states that do not require liability insurance. How much liability coverage you need varies by state. Some states also require you buy coverage for the potential medical expenses of passengers in the form of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.

Now just because these states do not mandate higher limits, it does not mean you shouldn’t carry them. If you have assets that could be attached in a settlement, you do really need Bodily Injury coverage. Most companies recommend limits of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.

Even if you have no assets, what about your own financial well being? If you were badly injured in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, can you afford to miss months of work without compensation for your injuries or lost wages? A combination of PIP, Medical Payments and Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage will ensure you are not left holding the bag should you be seriously injured.

If you need to cut car insurance expenses, collision and comprehensive are the best targets. Understand that if your car is leased or if you have a loan on the vehicle, you cannot cut either coverage. But if the car is all yours, you can tuck away enough money to cover the total loss value of your car in the bank. You’ll earn interest on the money and have what you need if there is an accident. Whether it will cost more for insurance or a total loss claim will depend on your car.

Look at it this way. A car worth $10,000 that costs $500 to insure for collision and comprehensive is probably worth insuring. This is because it’s hard to set aside $10,000. In addition, you can expect at least one accident in five years. If that accident is a total loss, you would have paid in $2,500 and gotten back the full market value of your car. As the value of your car drops, you should re-evaluate whether you still need collision and comprehensive. If after five years, your car is worth only $5,000, you may then be better off eliminating collision and comprehensive coverage. You can also consider eliminating towing coverage and other extras that may be covered by other types of insurance.

You can enter your zip code in the box at the top of this page to get quotes on dropping collision and comprehensive on your older car. If your car has a high value, it’s worth your time to get a few quotes and see if another insurance company can save you money on your insurance. 

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Getting the Best Settlement For Your Total Car Loss

​Car accidents are stressful enough and even worse when your car is a total loss. Sadly, many cars aren’t’ even worth the amount owed on the loan. When that happens, it’s especially important to get every dollar you can from the insurance company.

Assuming no one was injured in the accident, there are two different sources of insurance for your car. The first is the collision coverage for damage to the vehicle. Second is rental insurance for the cost of a rental while you are settling your claim with the insurance company.

Call your insurance company immediately after the accident and agree to let the company take possession of your car. After you sign over the title, the company will sell the car for parts. If you delay in giving permission, the car will accumulate storage charges, and you will be responsible for payment. Also be sure to ask about rental insurance during this conversation. The company will authorize a rental car for a set number of days and authorize additional time if needed, usually up to 30 days.

If you want to keep the car for yourself, there are many rules you need to know about. First, the company will estimate how much they could expect to get for the car at auction. They will deduct this value from your settlement if you keep the car. Also, many states have strict laws about repairing and reregistering total loss cars that could give you many headaches. Be sure you educate yourself about the laws in your state before deciding to keep the car. For most people, it’s just easier to let the insurance company take it.

After you have cleared who will take possession of the car, you and the insurance company need to agree on how much your car is worth. The company will hire a company to place a value on the car and call you with the figure. It is important that you NEVER accept this first figure. Understand that cars are valued within a range and the insurance company is obligated to its policyholders to try to save money. Therefore, the company will offer the lowest figure first.

If you think the initial offer is too low, do not get angry. Simply tell the adjuster that you think the car is worth more. The adjuster will ask you to submit for-sale car listings that show your point. You will need to collect three listings, easily found online for most cars. Be sure to choose vehicles that match the year, make and model of your car. They should have similar mileage and options as well. In most cases, the adjuster’s second offer will be more in line with what you want. You might even negotiate a little higher.

Once you have settled the value of your car, don’t forget to ask about other expenses that might be covered. Ask about additional title and registration fees on the replacement car you will need to get. As long as you treat your adjuster with respect during negotiations, you should be able to collect the full amount available. 

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Car Insurance Quotes Comparison 2018/2019

​Many people who own car insurance tend to let their policy stay the same year after year. If you never update your information with your auto insurance company, you could be paying quite a bit more for your insurance than you need to. If you own a computer and can get online, you can compare car insurance quotes from several different insurance companies to see if you are paying more than you should be paying for your current insurance. 

Who Benefits Most From Comparison Quotes? 

Anyone who owns a car and pays for auto insurance can definitely benefit from online comparison quote technology. The quotes that you receive are tailored to the information that you provide about yourself and your lifestyle. No matter how old your car is or how long you have been an insurance customer, you will probably learn something new about your insurance rates if you take advantage of the comparison quotes. The quote system allows you to choose as many quotes as you would like. It is suggested that you look at three or more quotes to gain an accurate understanding of the differences between the policies of different insurance companies. 

Each insurance company has a different system for determining your premiums, which means that there are probably companies that would offer you a less expensive premium with the same features. There are also probably insurance companies that would charge more for the same service. The only way to know what you ought to expect from a car insurance company is to put each quote side by side and compare the details of each policy directly. 

How Often Car Owners Should Check Their Options 

Everyone should look at a new set of auto insurance quotes at least once a year. The reason for checking your quotes more often is that you experience life changes regularly. Many things could happen in your life in the course of a year that would have a direct impact on how high your insurance rates are. Since most insurance companies offer premiums on an annual basis, it makes sense to consider your insurance options with your updated information each year. You may find that your current premiums are standard for your particular demographics, but you may also find that you could save money by switching carriers. 

There are other times in your life when it makes sense to check insurance quotes. When you move from one home to another, your rates could be dramatically changed. You should compare new insurance quotes when you change jobs, graduate from school, get married, or buy a new car. Any time that your life changes in a substantial way, your car insurance premiums can change. There is no reason to continue paying an insurance rate that you qualified when you first bought your car if your demographics have shifted since then. 

Things That Impact Insurance Rates 

Insurance rates can be affected by several different things. When your premium was originally established, the insurance company examined all of the risk factors for an accident that were present in your personal information. If you live in an area that experiences a high number of car accidents, your rates went up a little bit. If you drove a long way from home to work each day, your rates would go up a little bit as well. There are things like gender that affect your insurance rates as well. Some of the factors that determine how much you pay for insurance are things that will not change. Others, like your age, are constantly changing. 

Buying a new car can cause your insurance rate to change quite a bit. When you purchase a new car, it is the best time to look at your auto insurance options because you are opening a new insurance account. The make and model of the car, as well as the age and condition, are all significant points that can alter your insurance rates. Using an online insurance quote system will allow you to compare several different quotes on your new car at the same time, which can cut down on the amount of time you spend talking to insurance agents and trying to find the best policy. 

Multiple Quotes are More Helpful 

The more quotes you receive, the better informed you will be. If you only look at one or two online quotes, you will have very little information from which to work. It is possible that the two quotes you choose are the highest rates available for your car. They could be dramatically different. If you choose to look at three or more quotes, you will have the opportunity to see a better range of prices from a range of different companies. You may find that a pattern emerges that gives you a good idea of the kind of insurance coverage that would be the most affordable for you. 

Online quotes are a powerful tool to help you find the most attractive rates on your car insurance coverage. It makes sense to compare several insurance companies at once so that you can experience the full spectrum of coverage options that are available to you. One or two quotes will only give you a small piece of the insurance premium puzzle to work with. 

How to Find Online Auto Insurance Quotes 

Finding online auto insurance quotes is very simple. All you need to do is enter your zip code into the field at the top of this page to begin the quote building process. Make sure you select three or more quotes from different insurance companies so that you will have a decent amount of information to work with as you make your auto insurance decisions. Once you receive your quotes, you can contact the companies you are most impressed with and create a new auto insurance policy that fits your budget and your coverage needs. The quotes offered through this site are from traditional insurance companies as well as web-based companies.

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