Friday, December 31, 2010

What to Do When You Make a Late Auto Insurance Premium Payment

What should you do if you make a late auto insurance premium payment? How will a late car insurance premium payment affect your auto insurance rates?

So you are enjoying yourself on a holiday weekend with your family when you suddenly realize that you completely forgot to pay your car insurance premium. The firs thing you need to realize before having a panic attack is that like you, many people in the United States forget to pay certain bills. With so many things a person has to pay such as rent, cell phone bill, utilities, car bills, insurances and other things it is not uncommon for a normal human being to forget about one of those important bills. Whether you completely forgot about the automobile insurance bill or you simply didn't have enough money, is important to understand that this can have horrible consequences if you do not try to immediately remedy the situation.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that a late payment to an automobile insurance company will only result in a late fee. This however, is completely untrue because some insurance companies actually are very strict when it comes to late payments. Some of those strict companies can threaten to cancel your policy, while some other ones actually do so. An example of this can be seen in case that you are late in paying your premium often. The insurance company might not cancel your policy right away, however they can issue you a "non-renewal notice" meaning that at the end of the year when is time for you to apply once again for insurance with the company, they will no longer accept you. If this happens you will have to go get insurance from another automobile insurance carrier.

Another consequence of not paying insurance on time would be that after reviewing your payment history, they only allow you to renew the policy with them if you pay the full term. This means that instead of giving you the chance of getting a monthly bill and making you pay premiums, you pay the entire amount at the beginning of your coverage year. If you do not have enough money to renew the policy, then your best bet would be to go out and try to get insurance with another company. However, it is worth mentioning that once you make late payments that will be reflected if you go and apply to other companies, in which case they too can make you pay fully before giving you coverage.

One thing that most people are unaware of is that like any other type of credit, insurance companies share record of previous policyholders and how they acted toward the company. If you are a good customer you will have discounts in other insurance companies, however if you are making late payments and such things other companies can raise your rates and some may even deny you coverage.

Perhaps the worst consequence of not paying insurance payments on time would be that your policy is canceled immediately. If this is the case you won't even know the status of the policy until you either get some literature in the mail, a call from an agent or a returned check in the mail. You won't always get a check returned because some companies use it to pay the balance that you still owe. Believe it or not those are the good ways of finding out that your insurance policy has been canceled.

Suppose for a minute that you are driving down the road and get pulled over by an officer. When they ask you for insurance you give the card and he finds out that you are uninsured. You can expect to be fined heavily or in the worse cases you could be taken to jail depending on your state's regulations. Even worse, think what would happen in the event of an accident. You think that everything is going to be ok, and at the time of giving the bad news to your insurance company they tell you that your policy was canceled before the accident. You will be left with a wrecked car and having to pay the other person for their damages.

These are the horrible consequences that the seemingly "innocent" late payments can have in your policy. Perhaps the smartest thing to do when making a late payment is to call the insurance company to inform them of the reasons for the late payment and to announce them that the payment is coming. With some companies you might even be able to call immediately and pay over the phone.

With so many bills to pay every month and with the stressful life that most American families have, the best important thing is to have a calendar with the date all the bills are due written in it or even better schedule your payments to be automatically drafted from your checking account via a direct deposit. This can help you prevent not only late car insurance payments that can prove to be disastrous, but other bills that might damage your credit history in the future.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Acura EL: Uniting Car and Driver

Designed to fuse and to connect the car and the driver, the Acura EL boasts a truly unique driving and riding experience. This car is known as a spirited automobile for it holds power and precision that connects the driver with the road. Even if this is so, the Acura EL also has a unique styling that exudes elegance and sophistication. Most people who have been able to handle and take a closer look at the Acura EL exclaim that it is very much like a Honda Civic although only the brand has been changed. The vehicle is then economical, provides an excellent and smooth performance, as well gives easy comfort.

The Acura EL has a redesigned grille and headlights. It also contains clean lines from the rear deck that provides the Acura EL a distinct European look. Made available in two trim levels which comprise of the elegant touring level and the lavish Premium, this car will surprise riders and drivers with its beauty, refinement, and dynamic performance. The car also boats an impressive linear steering as well as a precise four-wheel drive that has independent suspension. Drivers and passengers of the Acura EL will be given a superior road feel as well as a unique and different control.

Powering this vehicle is a very responsive 1.7 liter VTEC engine that is very much capable of producing 127 horsepower. Along with it is a five speed manual transmission, or the optional four speed automatic transmission. The car idles silently, has the ability to accelerate smoothly, can run with efficiency, and it also responds to inputs immediately. It remains quiet and serene during driving yet it boasts a boundless type of energy that is ready to shoot the car off the streets. For convenience, the Acura EL also has the Logic Control System installed.

The cabin exudes sophistication. Other safety features made standard include dual stage front airbags, side airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), and child safety locks. As per standard features, the Acura EL boasts an automatic climate control, a steering wheel wrapped in leather, a cruise control, power windows, power door locks, body colored mirrors, body colored handles, a remote keyless entry, tinted glass, heated front seats, and a power sunroof. The control panel for this car is easy to understand. It sports big buttons that would allow the driver and passengers to quickly set the temperature, radio, or turn on or off the air conditioning and the rear defroster.

The Acura EL has been compared to other vehicles in its range. The list of competitors include the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier, the 2005 Dodge SX, the Ford Focus, the Honda Civic, the Hyundai Elantra, the Kia Spectra, the Mazda Mazda 3, and the Nissan Altima.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Questions To Ask About Your Car Insurance Quote

The first thing you need to know about your car insurance quote is how they figure your credit rating. If the credit rating plays a bit part or little part in your car insurance quote, you will want to know just what percentage the credit report has in determining your car insurance rate. The next thing you need to know about the quote is what they count against you on your driving record. Some companies only go back up to three years, but some may go further back depending on the length of your driving record. .

Find out what percentage your type of vehicle plays in determining your car insurance quote. This might make you choose to have look at what type of car you drive. If you drive a 2003 Blazer, you might find out that different make and model car will afford you more savings if you trade it in on a different type of car or year. Some people actually need to know this when looking for cheap car insurance; sometimes you have to give a little in order to obtain affordable car insurance. Sometimes knowing all the answers to this question helps you understand your insurance better.

Find out the percentage the area you live in plays in your car insurance quote. If your area is high crime and high traffic, you may consider alternatives in your living arrangements. If the crime rate has a high percentage of your quote safety devices may help to lower that part of your car insurance quote. If you travel less miles than they think, this may also help lower the car insurance rate.

The next thing to ask about your car insurance quote [http://www.autocarinsurancehelp.org/California_Automobile_Insurance/] is what percentage your age, marital status and gender plays in your car insurance quote. Although you cannot change your age or gender, if you plan to married this could affect your car insurance rate. Most people do not realize just what percentage of what affects your car insurance. You need to know some of these answers when looking for cheap car insurance and you live on a budget.

The last thing to think about and ask about is what percentage of your premium goes toward your car insurance premium. You need to know if any hidden costs may affect your premium from company to company. Once you have all the answers you can determine the right insurance company and just how much insurance coverage you really need. Cheap car insurance comes with answers and by not knowing the answers; you may be paying too much for your car insurance. Get some quotes and then find out why so many companies offer different rates and discounts.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Tips For Holiday Traveling

You may find that traveling this holiday season may be more stressful than usual because of this year's penny pinching global economy. To add to this many airlines have cut flights, raised fares and added more cheery travel surcharges. Thus, many people have decided to forgo holiday traveling this year to save money. But for those who have decided to bite the bullet and are still going ahead with traditional travel plans there is still hope to be had. Here are some great tips for this year's holiday travel.

First, make a game plan stick to it. Whether it is where you are going, what time, or with who you should familiarize yourself with the places you are heading. This game plan can also help you avoid any unforeseen circumstances such as an overweight bag at the airport. Pinning down all the details will organize your plans and mentally prepare you for what is waiting.

Before you leave make sure you make arrangements for your home. Whether this means leaving a light on a timer or finding someone to watch your dog, knowing at least a couple of weeks beforehand will ease your pre trip stress.

Create a list of the items you absolutely need, those you want and those you could possibly mail. This will help eliminate extra bag weight and will help you limit what really needs to go with you on your trip.

In order to make your trip more relaxing try to travel on off peak days. This means don't head out on a Friday afternoon or evening but try for a weekday. Try to leave your house as early as possible as well to account for possible traffic.

When traveling it is also important to not sweat the small stuff. Remember, you are going on vacation which means sitting back and relaxing which will be impossible if you worry about every little thing. Also remember that you probably are not going to get everything done so if something unexpected arises try to go with the flow.

All of these tips will allow you to have a much more realizing holiday, one where you will be able to sit back and enjoy your loved ones. Upon returning home, don't make it sad but celebrate it and allow your vacation bliss to stay a little longer while you ease back into everyday life.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Extremely Cheap Car Insurance For The Over Fifties

Are you aged over fifty and currently on the look out for car insurance? Are you fed up with paying such high premiums for your car insurance? Are you looking for a very cheap car insurance quote? In this article, I am going to write about the ways in which people who are over the age of fifty can obtain a very cheap car insurance quote.

There are many companies now offering cheap car insurance to all of those people aged over fifty. If you are one of these people, it is time to take advantage of this. Insurance companies have realised that this group of people have grown out of their "boy racer" days and are far more content to drive in a relaxed manner. This of course in turn leads to far less overall claims and hence the cheaper premiums.

The next question has to be, where do I find these companies who are willing to offer this competive car insurance qoute? The first place to look has to be the internet. The web is not there just for the under forties to enjoy, many a silver surfer are known to browse the internet each and every day. I always like to search for products via Google.com. If you enter into the search box things like, very cheap car insurance for people aged over fifty, you will see lots of companies who are ready to quote you a price.

The insurance companies can also be found advertising on the television and on the radio. Whichever option you choose, make sure you do not miss out on the great car insurance deals that are currently available to you.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Auto Insurance Rankings - Best Companies - Best Rates

Looking for auto insurance rankings? Want to find the best companies with the best rates? Here's how ...

Best Auto Insurance Companies

Here are three websites that rank auto insurance companies:

Your State's Department of Insurance Website

All states have a department of insurance website, and most publish consumer complaints that have been filed against insurance companies. Most companies have complaints filed against them, but if a company has a lot of complaints compared to other companies, you should avoid them.

A.M. Best (ambest.com)

A.M. Best publishes insurance companies financial and credit ratings. These ratings give you an idea about an insurance company's ability to pay its claims. You should go with a company that has a B+ rating or higher.

Epinions (epinions.com)

At Epinion's, customers rate companies by customer service, website experience, response to claims, and price confidence. Customers also write reviews about each company. These reviews range from "The best insurance we've ever had!" to "The WORST customer service you could imagine."

Best Auto Insurance Quotes

Here's how to get the best auto insurance quotes:

Comparison shop - Because insurance quotes can vary by $1,000 or more from one company to another, the first thing you need to do is go to an insurance comparison website. You'll fill out a simple form so you can get quotes from a number of A-rated companies, then all you do is pick the company with the cheapest quote.

The best insurance comparison sites have an online chat feature and an "800" number so you can talk with insurance experts to get answers to your insurance questions.

Consolidate your insurance - Insurance companies will give you a 10% to 15% discount if you purchase your auto insurance and your homeowners or renters insurance through them.

Raise your deductible - Raising your insurance deductible from $250 to $500 can save you as much as 30% on your premium.

Drop collision and comprehensive coverage - If your premium plus your deductible is more than your car is worth, consider dropping your collision and comprehensive coverage.

Get safety and security discounts - Insurance companies give good-sized discounts if you have air bags, anti-lock brakes, car alarms, and anti-theft devices installed on your car.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Daily Car Insurance!

Day car insurance is an easy way to get insurance coverage for short distance travelling. If you need to drive a car for a day, you can make use of this kind of insurance cover. It comes in handy even when you borrow a friend or relative's car for short distance travel. In case, you meet with injuries while travelling, you can get duly covered for the loss. This kind of cover provides protection against any kind of injuries sustained while driving.

You can also get comprehensive cover, which provides for most eventualities including fire, theft or damage or injuries sustained due to collision. There are various types of insurance covers available. You can also get a low cost insurance cover. This will help you save a lot of money too. You can also get advice from short term insurance experts. They can guide you get suitable insurance cover. You need not suffer for the fault of someone. A short term insurance will protect you against any kind of damages.

It may also happen that you may your vehicle may be out of service and you may need a loan car. You may even purchase a cheap car and plan to sell it at some point of time. You can also take ownership of a new car from auction or the dealership. Whatever, be the need - you can benefit from this kind of insurance. This kind of insurance is available for immediate comprehensive coverage for motor cars or vans. Basically, a comprehensive short term insurance policy covers you for:

o Liability against damage of another person's property

o Liability against injury or possible death of another person as a result of an accident

o Loss or damage by fire theft or vandalism

o Accident recovery and repair

o Damage in the event of an accident

If you are a policyholder or an additional driver, you must:

o Be aged 21 - 75 years (and age 21 - 75 as an additional driver)

o Have no more than 6 penalty points on your licence in the last 3 years

o Have not been disqualified from driving in the last 5 years

o Have not had more than one fault claim in the last 3 years

If you need insurance for a short period, you can make use of this kind of insurance. At any point of time, if you feel the need to cover an additional driver for your car, this kind of insurance can come in handy. Short term insurance comes in handy in times of need. The cover is comprehensive in nature and can be taken out for a day or up to 28 days.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Car Insurance

Nothing is easy even in today's one-click world. Buying car insurance can be a big hassle, and take most of a day calling around, talking to different companies to get quotes. A lot of people don't have the time to waste to call several different companies out of the phone book, haggling for the best deal and the lowest car insurance rates. Yet everyone still wants to find the best deal, whether or not they have a lot of time on their hands to shop around with. If you're a bargain shopper, then you know the Internet is your best bet to find the greatest deals - on anything. If you buy your car insurance online, you're liable to come away with a great deal.

Every car insurance company says they can offer you the best deal and the lowest rates, and it seems almost impossible to get a straight answer when you get a quote over the phone. Many shoppers feel more comfortable buying car insurance online, in a quick and easy process that doesn't mean sitting through a long series of automated questions and answers. By gathering quotes on the Internet, you won't have to talk to anyone on the phone, answer any questions posed by automated voices, or sit and wait for a human to have the time to talk to you. The Internet allows you to move easily through the process of getting quotes, and many consumers prefer this method.

If you want to get quotes online, the first rule of thumb is not to go to car insurance company's web site. This will limit your quotes and your options. There are tons of sites out there that allow you to fill out a single questionnaire and then compare quotes side-by-side. You can, in this fashion, look over the rates and coverage of several different companies at once. Using the phone as your only tool, getting that many quotes could take hours. With the Internet, you can compare a large list of quotes, immediately weeding out companies whose prices don't fit your budget. Any Internet search will produce web sites that offer comparison-shopping and multiple quotes for your car insurance needs.

Another good way to go when it comes to buying car insurance is to buy through an independent agent. Independent agents do not work for any one company but for you, the consumer. They do all the work of comparing quotes for you, and in the end they can usually provide you with a much better deal than what you can find on your own. Independent agents are offered select deals through car insurance companies, policies and rates that aren't available to the average person. You will never have to talk to your car insurance company, and will only have to send them a check every month or six months (depending on your payment plan). If there is any problem, simply contact your insurance agent and they'll take care of everything. The best part is, there are no fees involved with using the independent agent - you only pay your car insurance bill.

Most people have to have car insurance because of state laws, and others just know that having car insurance is a good idea. Just because you have to have it doesn't mean you can't get a great deal at the same time, and the less you have to pay, the better. You can find the best car insurance rates without wasting a ton of time or staying on hold for hours. Really, doesn't everyone deserve the best possible deal on affordable car insurance?

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Indian Road Rules Flexible?

India is one of the world's more colourful countries. It has an enormous and diverse population, arranged in an ancient hierarchical system. It hosts a blend of religions ranging from Christianity to Hinduism, with its deities and mystic philosophies. It's also a nightmare to drive in with underage driving, dangerous overtaking and overcrowding, listed as the biggest hazards.

If you are a first-time traveller to India, or you want a unique driving experience, there are some important things to remember. Cars are not the only vehicles on the road. Rickshaws, buses, cyclists, bullock-carts and the occasional elephant or camel all fight for right of way. Cows are sacred and must be avoided at all costs. The hooter is a perfectly acceptable form of communication. Hooters are used to alert the vehicle ahead of you that you are about to pass, they warn pedestrians to move with haste, and they urge cows along their slow journeys.

Travellers to India need to obtain International Driver's Permits to be allowed to drive. Licences from other countries are not considered valid. Renting a car for your Indian sightseeing also carries certain risks. Insurance is generally not included in the rental agreement, which means that you will be responsible for any damage or personal injury incurred.

Traffic regulations are comprised of enacted laws as well as informal rules. An important one to remember is that vehicles drive on the left, so keep left. Interestingly, it's against the law to use your hooter needlessly, continuously or more than is strictly necessary to ensure safety. It's also illegal to have a hooter that is harsh, shrill or alarming.

Vehicles themselves may not create undue noise, or have a muffler that produces an alarming sound. Speed is limited to 25 kph, but only when passing a meeting or procession of troops or police on the march, or when passing workmen repairing the road. In other cases speed is generally kept at 48 kph or 30 mph.

In the fight for right of way, pedestrians win at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings. In certain places a special road is provided for cyclists and pedestrians, and other vehicles are forbidden from driving on them. Road junctions are also tricky places when it comes to determining who has right of way. The general rule is to give way to traffic approaching from the right.

A final, vital rule to note is always to carry your valid driver's licence with you. You must be able to produce it should a police officer ask for it. Other documentation that should be easily available includes the certificate of registration, certificate of taxation, and certificate of vehicle insurance.

There are rules for hand signals by the driver, hand signals by police officers, cautionary road signs and mandatory signs. There are rules regulating cyclists, pedestrians and school children. All of these rules are designed to create smooth flowing traffic and increase the safety of all road users. There is, however, a chasm between writing a law stating that drivers may not make inappropriate hand and facial gestures while driving, and putting that law into practice. Advising drivers to avoid provoking other motorists, and to patiently let faster cars go by, is something that most other countries have found impossible to implement.

India continues to offer adrenalin packed driving experiences for the uninitiated. It maintains its reputation as one of the most difficult countries to drive in. If it's an adventure holiday you're after, forget a 4x4 trip up a sheer mountain face. Choose India.

Recommended sites:

http://www.indiandrivingschools.com/road-regulations2.html

http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/india/calcutta/travel_tip_1584780.html

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Benefits of Auto Insurance

An auto insurance policy is an agreement between individuals and the insurer for automobiles. The insured person pays a certain premium as insurance and the insurance company, in turn, promises to support financial losses involving vehicles as long as the policy lasts. Auto insurance is compulsory in most states, and the insurance has different types of benefits or coverage.

Some of the components of auto insurance are bodily injury liability, property damage liability, medical payments coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage. A typical policy features the aforementioned six benefits. Bodily injury liability covers legal costs and personal injury claims filed against you if someone is killed or injured in your automobile and you are found to be at fault. Property damage liability deals with legal costs and other damage claims, in case there is damage to another person's property by means of your vehicle.

Medical payments coverage assists in paying medical expenses, even if the insured person is injured in somebody else's vehicle. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage protects against expenses incurred as a result of an accident that is caused by another individual who is either uninsured or who has inadequate insurance coverage. In comprehensive coverage, insurance is for vehicles that are damaged because of theft or natural calamities. Here, the insurance amount is paid for repair or replacement of vehicles. Collision coverage is mainly for vehicles in which damage occurred due to collision with other vehicles, objects, or even persons.

Auto insurance policies allow premium discounts for theft devices or for owning more than one policy with the same insurer. An added advantage is the provision for extending coverage to others driving your car with your permission.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Pick High Paying Keywords in Your Niche and Double Your AdSense Income

I shared this list of Latest Highest Paying Keywords for 2009 earlier and a lot of bloggers and webmasters said that all the keywords mentioned in this list does not belong to their niche (target market), so it is pointless to use this list. I completely agree with you all, that such highest paying keywords are related with some financial / legal / medical niche and you can not utilize this list to your blog or website provided you share the same niche.

In this post, I am going to disclose you how you can choose highest paying keywords which are related with your blog or website. Let me first explain you the importance of selecting highest paying keywords and the amount of difference it can make to your Google AdSense earning.

For example, if you are going to write an article on say "Affiliate Marketing" and you really don't know about the highest paying keywords and you write complete article without incorporating any keywords with high value. In this case Google AdSense web crawler will crawl your page and display ads next to your content but a relatively lower Cost Per Click (CPC) say $3.78.

On the other hand if you do a prior research on highest paying keywords and incorporate the highest paying keywords in your article, for example "Affiliate Marketing Online Program" is a high paying keyword, then Google AdSense will display ads next to your content but this time with comparatively higher Cost Per Click i.e $6.78. You can notice the difference in Cost Per Click (CPC) of $3 straight away which means your income will be doubled as compared to before. In some cases this difference can be huge, so the bottom line is if you do a little research beforehand it will definitely increase your online income big time. It's never too late to do research on High Paying Keywords and it really pays to increase Google AdSense earnings exponentially.

Now the question arises: How to select Highest Paying Keywords specifically for your website's niche?

Well! you don't have to go outside the Google to find out the solution. Google itself provides you a very powerful tool to select highest paying keywords for your niche and you need to follow a very simple trick to learn how to earn more from that keyword tool.

Google Adwords Keyword Tool provides you the solution of selecting the highest paying keywords for your niche blog or website.

It provides to two options to choose from: -

Option 1. Descriptive words or phrases (e.g. green tea)

In this option you can simply write few keywords on which you want to perform the keyword research.

Option 2. Website content (e.g. [http://www.example.com/product?id=74893])

In this option you can provide the link of your website on which you want to perform the keyword research. (See the picture1 at the bottom of this post)

Once you have entered the keywords or URL, you can simply click on "Get Keywords Ideas" button to proceed.

As soon as you hit that button it will show a comprehensive list of keywords along with other information like "Advertiser Competition", "Local Search Volume" and "Global Monthly Search Volume" which you can use for your research.

On the right side just below the two options there is another option which says "Choose columns to display". Select "Show Estimated CPC" as soon as you select that option now keywords will be displayed along with average CPC. (See the picture2 at the bottom of this post)

Now click on "Estimated Avg CPC" text to sort it in ascending or descending order.

There you go! You can see the highest paying keywords in your niche. Now you can incorporate these keywords to attract highest paying ads to your blog or website. Like if you want to earn high then let your blog be an all round blog some time you go out of line and may pick a topic from one of the list below

research on the topic and write on it may be on student consolidated loan. The web crawler crawls and brings you add worth almost 40 busks then you are on.

Do share your experience of using this trick! Good luck!

I have compiled this list of Highest Paying Keywords for AdSense from various sources.

S/No. Keywords CPC ($)

1. Purchase structured settlements 53.48

2. Mesothelioma Lawyers San Diego 51.47

3. Secured Loan Calculator 51.35

4. structured settlement Investments 50.45

5. endowment Selling 50.35

6. Mesothelioma Patients 50.23

7. Mesothelioma attorney san diego 50.07

8. Austin texas dwi lawyers 50.03

9. New York Mesothelioma Lawyers 50.01

10. Phoenix dui lawyers 50.01

11. Secured loans 50.01

12. Insurance Auto 50.00

13. Phoenix dui attorney 50.00

14. car free insurance online quote 50.00

15. students debt consolidation loans 49.96

16. Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers 49.87

17. data recovery Denver 49.71

18. adverse credit remortgages 49.56

19. bad credit remortgages 49.47

20. data recovery service los angeles 49.37

21. Consolidating Students Loan 49.30

22. Students Loan Consolidation Rates 49.17

23. Boston dui lawyers 49.02

24. memphis car insurance 48.86

25. conference calling companies 48.64

26. dui attornes los angeles 48.60

27. georgia car accident lawyers 48.36

28. san diego dui defense 48.32

29. Phoenix arizona dui lawyers 48.28

30. Los angeles dwi attorneys 48.20

31. Student Consolidation loans 48.15

32. free quote for car insurance 48.11

33. irs tax lawyers 48.08

Saturday, December 18, 2010

What You Should Consider When Thinking of Attorney Matching Services

Attorney matching services are a recent phenomenon in the world of finding an attorney online. The big three of these services are Legalmatch, Findlaw, and Legalfish. These services allow a potential client to post their case into the matching service. Depending on your local area, these services will then show your case to several attorneys who may post a response.

One considerable advantage of these services is that they allow participants to state the level of privacy that they desire. It's up to the users if they want to show their contact information to any attorney that reads their case or if they want to see if the attorney can present a credible review or action plan before revealing their information.

In addition, all these services perform a prescreening of the attorneys involved. Don't be overly impressed by this; however, remember these services are all primarily designed as marketing. It's a nice small side benefit, but ultimately you're going to have to rely on your instincts and good judgment in selecting an attorney. These services do generally require a minimal malpractice insurance level and check to make sure there isn't an excessive level of complaints with the attorney registration entity or bar association. If you are concerned with either of these, then it's not a bad practice to inquire of any attorney that you are considering.

The attorneys who respond pay a fee of several to tens of thousands of dollars read your case and tell you their response. One upshot is that since an attorney who responds pays a considerable fee that attorney would likely have a sincere and legitimate interest in your case's area of practice. It's a common marketing strategy to claim an expertise in virtually any practice area. However, when an attorney spends a considerable sum on marketing focused on one practice area, then they will naturally develop an actual expertise in that area.

In addition, by responding you can quickly garner information that the attorney needs work and is available for your case. This really is a slow low pressure way to find an attorney. You will also save a lot of money on consultation fees when you have a more complicated case requiring a more detailed analysis of potential representation.

The downside can also be that it can take time for an attorney to respond. In addition, the high fees mean there will not be a large number of responding attorneys. A tip on these services can be to send a message to the attorney to call you once you receive their response. This lets the attorney know you're a good prospect and have thoughtfully read the lawyer's response.

Overall, for more complex cases, these can be an excellent service for both attorneys and consumers. Contested family law cases, especially, can be an excellent choice for these services with a very high level complexity, frequent out of area cases, and a need for an attorney who really takes on a number of the cases of that type. The least productive areas would be bankruptcy or real estate closings where the essential elements of the case do not require much in the way of specialized consultations and can be easily price shopped without the need for an in-person consultation.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Car Insurance and No-Fault Benefits

Can it be? You can be a good driver. But unfortunately the car was met with an accident that time may require the insurance to fix damaged cars. Insurance is justified by the shelter for a long car purchase was marred by accidents. vehicle insurance is mandatory for a life of workers, it needs to speculate car damaged in traffic collision. Insurance is a best way to protect your brand cars.

Auto insurance protects against losses to avoid the dismissal of cases. It helps to address crime, disasters, business, and all have licenses. Mainly used in the negotiations of the contract of car insurance, car parts insurable secondary (auto and fill). Payment of insurance mainly depends on such variables as sex, age, type of vehicle, etc. vehicle claim will give the authority of the route without fear symmetric measure should ensure that the rules of exchange. In case of emergency, insurance acts as a service to the Guarantor.

Auto insurance is to compare with the rest of the car insurance quotes. If you are car home second client or a former car worker. Generally, the auto insurance quotes were used as fundamental to the protection of your car. Fortunately, in order to compare auto insurance quotes prestigious companies is easier than you think. Housing benefits are numerous, but most authors who have a car is the necessary protection in many states.. Exclusive someone is called to consider an informed public or IDV (Integral data value) to bid. So if someone gives you a cheaper deal with the car stopped twice in the premiums. IDV should be the same for the two quotations to compare insurance policies.

Chances are, there are many things that consumers can make the ancestor of lower premiums and expected them to understand the car insurance companies cheap when they can expect lower premiums. Always make sure that insurance premiums are paid on time to keep reasonable cost of auto insurance for life. As the cheap car insurance is important for the rich nations, who may prefer mandatory. Suppose a person is without insurance, so he is a disciplined cast of cardinality fines or even prison in some situations.

Cheap car insurance rates are usually a way to attract more customers for the company. Therefore, make use of claims with premium rates have come to favor your budget. So this is more than a way to protect you and your car as a form of claim and the support of your insurance contract, without delay, allowing the remaining populations, where you can find.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Choosing Your New Car Insurance

Insurance for your new car is a very important financial decision, and shouldn't be organised in a rush. All financial decisions should be made only after appropriate research and consultation. Start investigating your new auto insurance options long before you finalise the purchase of your new car.

New car insurance, like any other major financial commitment, should be purchased with caution, after careful research and consideration. Identify the new auto insurance best suited to your needs, choose the insurer offering you the best deal, and then allow for the cost of your new vehicle insurance in the budget for your new vehicle purchase.

Factors Affecting Your New Car Insurance

When pricing their new car insurance, insurers will consider a wide range of variables. The market is competitive, so they want to hold premiums as low as possible, but at the same time, they are in business to make a profit, so they need to charge you enough to cover their overall risk.

For these reasons, insurers will look at the statistics, and try to identify any factor which influences the likelihood of you making a claim, or the size of the claim.

This is why the cost of the vehicle is a major consideration, along with obvious variables like your driving record, and the ages of the regular drivers of the vehicle. If you vehicle has safety features, which make a personal injury claim less likely, or reduce the likely size of a claim, it will reduce your new car insurance premium accordingly. And if your new vehicle is a make or model which is particularly likely to be stolen or damaged, you will, unfortunately, be paying a whole lot more for your new auto insurance.

Some insurers consider credit score, hopefully on the basis of statistics, although it is not immediately obvious that there is a direct connection.

There are also factors which you can control to some extent. Many insurers will allow you to choose the amount of your deductible, or excess - this is the contribution payment you make when you make a claim. Some insurers charge you the deductible for every claim, while others will only charge you if you are at fault. The higher the deductible, the less the claim costs the insurer, so choosing a higher deductible can reduce your new car insurance premium.

How To Get New Car Insurance

The easiest way to get new auto insurance is to phone your insurer and ask for a "cover note". This temporary new car insurance will cover your vehicle for a few days, while you complete the necessary paperwork for your full new vehicle insurance.

New car insurance in important, and often overlooked or rushed. Take the time to shop around, and really understand your options. Read the find print, ask questions, and make sure your new auto insurance really provides the cover that you need.

There is nothing worse than getting to the point of making a claim, only to discover that your new vehicle insurance doesn't cover whatever just happened to your car. The $2.50 per month that you saved on the premium suddenly doesn't seem like such a good deal, then.

Make sure you compare the offerings of various insurers, and make an informed decision.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Road Trip USA

In Review: Road Trip USA, by Jamie Jensen

"Road Trip USA...takes you as close to the real America as you are ever likely to get."

Here's a question for you. If you had the time and the money to undertake just one extensive trip by road on any continent on the planet, which one would you choose, and where would you go? I ask this question because time and money seem to be the only things stopping many people from undertaking their ultimate dream vacation.

Last year (March 2008), a survey conducted by the Australian online automotive website Cars Guide indicated that Aussies love to hit the road. In fact, the survey of 810 respondents, found a whopping 99 per cent of Australians would go on a road trip because of the freedom and spontaneity it allows.

Not long after the Cars Guide survey appeared, a Rand McNally survey (May 2008), examining American attitudes to long road journeys found similar opinions to this form of vacation. According to the Rand McNally survey (of 2,030 U.S. adults), three in four adults (75%) were at least somewhat likely to take a road trip, and about three in ten (29%) said they were very likely.

Meanwhile, a recent article published in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal (May 2009), reported that the road trip was poised to make a comeback as the American summer travel season began, despite the lingering recession and rising fuel prices.

While the cost of fuel and accommodation were nominated as the two biggest concerns both in Australia and America, it seems our respective love affairs for the open road is not likely to diminish any time soon.

Which brings me to Road Trip USA.

Jamie Jensen's best-selling guide book, Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways, (Fifth Edition, Avalon Travel, 2009) takes you as close to the real America as you are ever likely to get.

With 11 trips to choose from, covering classic American landscapes such as the Appalachian Trail, Atlantic Coast, Oregon Trail, and the famed Route 66, Road Trip USA steers intrepid road warriors through major cities like San Francisco and Chicago as well as remote, but charming all-American towns like Dyersville, Mississippi (where the baseball field created for the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams attracts visitors from near and far); or the small blue-collar town of Seneca Falls, in New York state (which saw the birth of the American women's movement in July 1848).

As you might expect, Jensen's routes also lead to popular destinations such as Disneyland, Yellowstone National Park, Niagara Falls, and the Statue of Liberty. Complete with local lore; oddball trivia (Memphis's gifts to American culture - and the world's - include the supermarket, the drive-in restaurant, the Holiday Inn, oh, and Elvis Presley). Filled with noteworthy details and roadside curiosities (a sign in texas spelling out the command: "Rattlesnakes Exit Here"), Road Trip USA contains a wealth of recommendations on where to stop, what to see, and where to eat and sleep. This is one guide aimed at getting travelers off the freeway system, and driving into the heart and soul of America.

Other features of this edition include:

o A flexible network of route combinations, color-coded and extensively cross-referenced to allow for hundreds of possible itineraries

o More than 125 detailed driving maps

o Full-color interior with modern and vintage photos and illustrations

o A road trip resources section with contact information for popular hotel and motel chains, car rental companies, state tourism boards, and road condition centers

My personal criteria for a good guide book is that it should inform, enlighten, and occasionally even surprise, so I'm please to say that Road Trip USA has no trouble being informative, enlightening, and yes, even surprising.

I have no hesitation in saying that when I undertake my own road trip across America, this will be the one book I will have by my side at all times.

What's Missing?

Unfortunately, Road Trip USA is almost entirely devoid of links to online resources. In an age when almost every printed piece of paper has a website URL and an Email address on it somewhere; and when so many modern electronic devices come Internet ready, this seems to be a glaring omission. I can only assume this is a deliberate choice by the author and publisher. With thousands of places of interest detailed in the book, they may have taken the decision to try and cut down on the visual clutter associated with URLs, and make the contents more 'readable' by avoiding them altogether.

While one doesn't expect a URL or Email address for every location mentioned in Road Trip USA, surely major places of interest do warrant the inclusion of a web link (where available). A quick look through other guide books on my bookshelf reveals that all those printed over the last five years or so, include web addresses throughout, and future editions of Road Trip USA would be well served to do the same.

Before You Go

I think Road Trip USA would also benefit from a 'Before You Go' section outlining basic information regarding preparations for the journey. This chapter might cover such topics as:

o Useful (online and offline) sources of information regarding trip preparations.

o Information about safety (personal, vehicle break down, and other safety issues)

o What to do in an emergency (break downs, accidents, personal attack, etc)

o A checklist of possible items to pack and prepare

o A checklist of pre-trip vehicle preparations (brakes, tyre and engine checks, etc)

o Traveling with children and pets

Road Trip USA does have a small Resources section at the end of the book, running to just eight and a half pages - four of which contain a Recommended Reading list. The others refer to organizations associated in some way with automobiles and highways; a short list of hotel/motel chains, and car rental companies; and a list of U.S. and Canadian agencies dealing with State Tourism and road conditions. And that's pretty much it.

The good news is, the omissions noted above do not detract in any way from the overall depth and quality of the detailed information presented in Road Trip USA. At just over 900 pages, I think it is fair to say that Road Trip USA covers all the 'bases' and then some. In deed, I have no hesitation in saying that when I undertake my own road trip across America, Road Trip USA will be the one book I will have by my side at all times.

Monday, December 13, 2010

One Day Car Insurance Information Guide

Car insurance for a day

Getting an insurance coverage for a shorter duration ranging from one to twenty eight days is today made very easy. A typical insurance premium can be lowered and made cheaper if you go for a comprehensive one-day insurance coverage policy. This one-day coverage can be availed on a temporary additional vehicle, a courtesy car, a newly purchased car from an auction or car supermarket, an unaccompanied test-drive of a car where the garages insist on the insurance for the test drives on superior models of vehicles, or even on those taken for racing or track driving events.

One day car insurance

Under the above-mentioned circumstances, where the period for which the car is driven or the duration of the event are limited, going for a conventional annual insurance plan might turn out to be highly expensive. This is when many take advantage of the one-day insurance policies offered by the motor insurance companies. Though single day insurance was restricted to those in the auto trade during the initial days, today these policies are offered to the general public since 2005, even though it is still in the primary stage.

Single day car insurance

Single day car insurance policies are designed to meet the short-term and immediate requirements of the motorists in the UK. These insurance policies typically hold a coverage ranging from one to twenty eight days. Motor accident, fire, theft or other damages incurred on the vehicle, the legal obligations of these incidents and third party claims, if any, fall under the umbrella of the singe-day car insurance policies. Reading the terms and conditions related to these policies is inevitable to understand every underlying clause related to the coverage. A close scrutiny of the details might throw light over certain typical exclusions like:

1 Vehicles must be registered in Northern Ireland, Great Britain or Isle of Man and is not imported.

2 The current market value of the car falls under a price range of £25,000 and £40,000 with most limiting it to £25,000.

3 The vehicle must not function as a carrier of goods or used in public transport either on hire or reward like taxicabs or on private or public hire.

4 It does not cover hired vehicles.

Track day motor insurance

Track racing has been a craze amongst the English all through the times. Motoring enthusiasts enjoy participating in the thrill offered by the local race track by driving above the prescribed speed limits without the fear of prosecution. Today track racing days are one of the long awaited and favorite sports of the motor sport community.

But a typical insurance coverage does not offer protection against the damages incurred on the car during the racing events. Most of the insurance companies include an exclusion clause refusing to cover these events. Previously, some drivers took up the risk by not informing the insurance company about the upcoming event, thereby making the insurance policy held by them null and void. Any crash or accident incurred during the event was not compensated by the insurance company. But today there is a wide range of single day motor insurance policies that cover the risk of the racing events that can be availed for the duration of the race. 

Day car insurance

In short, whether you are a motoring enthusiast, or need to drive on and off, today the insurance companies have policies to meet the demands put forward by you. Cheaper plans for a day can be availed instantly to suit your varying needs.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Why Some People Have Negative Opinions About Pet Insurance

Pet owner #1 purchased a pet insurance policy that had a $1500 per-incident maximum. When his dog got sick and the bill was more than $1500, he couldn't afford to pay for his treatment and had the dog euthanized. His conclusion was that pet insurance wasn't worth it, and in the future he will just put money aside in a savings account rather than pay that money toward a monthly insurance premium.

Pet owner #2 purchased an insurance policy and her dog got very sick 2 days before the policy renewed. Because the policy didn't cover chronic conditions (those illnesses that last longer than one policy term), when the policy renewed, the condition was considered pre-existing and wasn't covered the next year. She also concluded that she would invest the money she had been paying for insurance in a savings account to be used for her pet's healthcare expenses.

Neither of these pet owners did the necessary research to make a wise choice when purchasing pet insurance. I am of the opinion that if pet owners educate themselves about pet insurance and research enough prior to purchasing pet insurance, then there would be very few negative reviews written. People would know on the front end what the limitations were of the policy they purchase.

If your pet should get sick with a serious illness that involves surgery and/or hospitalization, it can literally cost multiple thousands of dollars. This is why you buy insurance - to help pay for unexpected and unplanned veterinary bills that you otherwise could not afford. Therefore, it doesn't make sense to buy a policy with a $1500 per-incident limit.

I discourage pet owners from purchasing a policy with a "per-incident" limit, but if they do, I advise to purchase the highest per-incident limit they can afford. Anytime you see "per-incident," it is just another way the insurance company uses to limit its reimbursement to you. It is better to purchase a policy with an annual limit and no per-incident limit.

For example, if you had a policy with a $10,000 annual maximum and a $1500 per-incident limit, and your dog got sick with pancreatitis, the coverage for pancreatitis is limited to $1500. You would still have $8500 of coverage for other conditions that might occur during that policy year. However, if there wasn't a per-incident limit, the pancreatitis could be covered up to the full $10,000 limit as long as there weren't any other claims made against the maximum limit that year.

Pet owner #2 could have avoided the consequences of buying the policy she did simply by purchasing a policy that covers chronic conditions. Read the policy. Ask questions. Read reviews. Find resources that educate you on how pet insurance works and how to select the best policy for you and your pet.

As for opening a savings account - an emergency fund, that's always a good idea. But, doing so instead of buying pet insurance is a bad idea. It sounds great, but what happens two months into your savings plan when you have $100 saved up and your pet gets injured or sick and the estimated costs of treatment is $2500. You're $2400 short.

It is the tendency for individual pet owners to think, "My dog is healthy and something like that won't happen to me." As a veterinarian, I see it happen frequently to pet owners who are financially unprepared, and it's for those situations that pet insurance can come in handy. That is, if you avoid doing what the above two pet owners did, and instead, make a wise choice in the policy you purchase.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

ID Card Issuance Systems - The First Line of Defense For Your Organization

New York City, September 11th, 2001; Madrid, Spain, March 11th, 2004; Ft. Hood, texas, November 5th, 2009 - all days that will remain in the collective thoughts of security personnel as long as they are on duty. The Western world is in a security crisis unlike any seen before. There are people out there who are dedicated to disrupting or destroying our very way of life. Have you taken all the necessary precautions to deter them? If you are in the Security or Human Resources fields, you have undoubtedly asked yourself this question regarding the status of your organization's preparedness.

If this question has been asked by you or your superiors, chances are your physical and logical security systems have been tested, evaluated, and maybe even improved. But what about the first line of defense, your organization's ID Card?

Many security professionals overlook this small but vital detail, yet a properly issued and administered ID card program is the very first deterrent an organization can provide to dissuade any would-be attacker. How effective is your ID Card system in maintaining current personnel records, promoting an adequate level of security for your organization, or providing anti-counterfeit measures aimed at increased levels of physical security?

Contrary to popular opinion, ID Card systems are a lot more than expensive software, printers, and supplies used to keep students in check or employees from wandering into sensitive areas of your business. They can be designed to fit and incorporate virtually any security or HR need you may have now or in the future. Recently, with the merging of the ID and physical access control worlds, smart cards have become more prevalent and carry more and more electronic data about the individual for whom the card was issued. But, who is keeping all of that back-end data in check? A card that holds an employee ID number, account balance, or biometric fingerprint data for physical access is one thing, but what happens when that person is terminated? Will that data flow properly to alert each auxiliary system of that person's status or will they continue to have access to sensitive areas within your organization?

Organizations large and small are increasingly looking toward third party software to play a larger role in not only badge issuance, but also the handling of critical data on the back-end. One common misconception is that a prepackaged, turnkey solution can properly interact with a company's HR or even vending systems right out of the box. Often, these "plug-and-play" interfaces end up costing twice as much as originally quoted, while delivering less than promised.

As you're evaluating your organization's requirements in terms of badge issuance, be sure to not overlook the level of overt security needed for your cards. The days of the old Polaroid cut-and-paste laminated cards are long gone. We are well over a decade into the new world of digital ID systems and over time, prices for these systems have decreased.

While price reductions are a good thing for anyone's bottom line, they can also pose risks. Just as your costs for a new ID card system have decreased, so too has the cost for individuals wanting to gain access to your facility fraudulently. With a simple web search, anyone with a motive and a credit card can have a complete system overnighted to his door and have a knock-off card to your organization in his hands. One way to combat this risk is to customize your cardstock with anti-counterfeit measures for higher security level badges.

By adding micro text, color shifting ink, or custom holographic inlays to your organization's ID card stock or over-laminate, you immediately create a customized solution that is difficult, if not impossible, to counterfeit. Some of these solutions require security personnel to carry an authentication device, such as a printer's loop, UV light, etc., which can sometimes be time consuming or unrealistic. Others require nothing more than the human eye and an inside knowledge of exactly what to look for. By strategically placing a custom embedded holographic foil inside the card's substrate or on an overlaminating film, you can create a feature that's easy for your security personnel to spot - once they're trained to look for it.

Unlike the generic holographic foil cards available to anyone on the market, your customized stock belongs only to you. As long as you keep your supplies secure, no counterfeiting can occur. There are drawbacks to a customized approach - the main one being population. Due to the costs associated with this type of technology, it generally doesn't lend itself to organizations with less than 5,000 card carriers. However, if you have a relationship with a qualified dealer, a solution that fits your needs should be met. Memphis-based LSI has assisted many organizations in the creation and maintenance of their custom embedded holographic ID card systems on both a local and national level. We posses the necessary expertise to assist your organization in achieving similar results.

Taking a little time to evaluate your organization's security needs will pay off in the long run, both in terms of equipment investment and, more importantly, in choosing an ID Card dealer. The right dealer can guide you through the vast array of brands, technology and other supplies to find a solution tailored to your needs. Do you really need the latest and greatest printer on the market when a basic unit will suffice? Will your printer require expensive proprietary supplies, or will you have the freedom to price-shop from a variety? Having or building a solid relationship with your ID/Access card provider can help you avoid many pitfalls and keep your budget intact well beyond the installation or upgrade of your new card system.

When searching for a provider, you can choose to work with Internet-based vendors who have little stake in the outcome of your installation, or with established brick-and-mortar dealers with market longevity. The latter tend to have more of an on-site presence, with factory-trained personnel and warranties for their service well beyond the manufacturer's standard.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Tax Deferral 1031 Exchanges and Cost Segregation

Tax deferral through 1031 exchanges, or tax-free exchanges of real estate, have become a popular method of tax deferral of capital gains taxes. Almost by definition, individuals who utilize the 1031 exchange option are reluctant to pay taxes that can legally be avoided. 1031 exchangers have asked if they can receive tax deferrals and enhance depreciation. The short answer is yes.

A complete answer needs to consider the remaining cost basis for the property that has been exchanged. If the remaining cost basis is minimal then tax deferral is minimal and, it is probably not financially feasible to utilize cost segregation. If the remaining cost basis (plus the amount of additional cash contributed) is at least $500,000, tax deferral is increased and it is worth reviewing whether cost segregation makes sense.

The total value of the new property is proportionally allocated to the remaining cost basis of the 1031 exchange property (and any additional basis from new investment). For example, if the five-year property is 10% of the value of the new property, and the remaining cost basis is $3,000,000, a value of $300,000 ($3,000,000 x 10%) would be allocated to the five-year property.

One interesting issue is whether five-year property in the new property is considered personal property. To gain the tax deferral benefits, a 1031 Exchange must involve like-kind property. For example, if you sell a house and purchase a lake house, boat and jet ski as your exchange property, the boat and jet ski would be considered "boot", taxable as ordinary income and the owner does not receive any tax deferral. The boat and jet ski are considered "boot" since they are personal property and the property that was sold was real estate.

Since five-year property is referred to as personal property in IRS documentation, there has been confusion regarding this issue. The IRS defers to state law regarding whether items are real property or personal property for the purpose of determining whether there is "boot." Carpet and vinyl tile are both significant five-year life components. While they are considered personal property for depreciation purpose, they are considered real property by state law (in most states). Hence, they are not considered "boot." and the owner can experience tax deferral.

Tax deferral from cost segregation is effective for 1031 exchange purchases provided the remaining cost basis is at least $500,000. Exchange buyers can defer taxes and reduce taxes on the old property and increase depreciation for the new property

Cost segregation produces tax deferrals and reduces federal income taxes across the country and in every size market. Below are just a few examples of where cost segregation generates meaningful tax deductions.

City:


Baltimore, MD

Houston, TX

Bridgeport, CT

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

Hartford, CT

San Francisco, CA

Washington, DC

Las Vegas, NV

Memphis, TN

Tampa, FL

Albany, NY

St. Louis, MO

Tulsa, OK

Columbus, OH

Santa Rosa, CA

Fresno, CA

Detroit, MI

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Cincinnati, OH

Cleveland, OH

Scranton, PA

Indianapolis, IN

Albuquerque, NM

Wichita, KS

Milwaukee, WI

Stockton, CA

Little Rock, AR

Bakersfield, CA

Oklahoma City, OK

Nashville, TN



Cost segregation produces tax deductions and tax deferrals for virtually all property types.

Property Type:


Regional mall

Truck terminal

School

Manufacturing/processing

Retail

Shopping center

Cold storage facility

Tennis club

Country club

Medical office



Almost every industry, including the following, can generate cost-efficient tax deductions and tax deferrals by using cost segregation.

Industry:


Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Laundry facilities

Furniture stores

Paper manufacturing

Machinery manufacturing

Metal manufacturing

Computer and electronic manufacturing

Golf courses and country clubs

Textile mills

Truck transportation

Thursday, December 9, 2010

California Rental Car Insurance

When someone rents a car, the automobile rental companies hold the renter accountable under the rental agreement for damage to their car. They offer a Damage Waiver at an extra cost. This Damage Waiver is not insurance, but a contractual agreement between the renter and rental company. If a waiver is not purchased, it is important to review your own automobile policy to determine if any extension of coverage applies. Also, establish how the liability coverage afforded by your policy applies in the event you are at fault in an accident with the rented vehicle. In California, you are required to have auto insurance regardless of whether you are driving your own car or if you are renting one.

Rental car agencies do provide wide range of auto insurance coverage and it would not be prudent to blindly select rental car insurance as every policy offers its individual advantages under particular situations. You should examine each policy so offered and judge it against the requirements you have. It would be prudent to discuss the policy with the car rental agent, rather than just read the summary over the website.

Sometimes you are not required to purchase any car rental insurance because you are already covered by your car insurance. Usually, your coverage does remain the same with a rented car as it would if you would be driving your own vehicle. Also, you could be covered by auto insurance coverage under your credit cards. You should check with your credit card company about the coverage to which you are entitled.

Before you rent a vehicle, check the financial and insurance obligation you will face, and find out how these would be covered by your own auto insurance. In case you do need to exercise your insurance policy and realize that certain aspect is not currently covered, you should check if it would be covered under other insurance policies.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Cars That Keep Car Insurance Cheap

We all have different things in mind when we're shopping for cars, but the basic theme is the same. We want a car that's going to give us the performance we want at a price we can afford. If it should happen to have great gas mileage and really cool features, that's just an added bonus. What we don't usually consider is whether our purchase is going to keep our car insurance cheap.

Maybe it's time we did.

Think about it for a moment. Let's say you purchase a car for $12,000 from a secondhand dealer, and your car insurance provider decides it's going to cost you $125 a month to carry the insurance coverage you need to keep your lender from taking your car back. That's $1,500 a year! Most people keep their cars for five to seven years, which means by the time you decide to trade in your car you'll have paid $7,500 to $10,500 in insurance alone. That's over 50% of what you paid to buy the car in the first place!

Because your insurance rates are going to have such a long term effect on your budget, it pays to do your homework and find ways to keep your coverage costs as low as possible. You could pump up your car's security features (car alarms don't cost that much to install these days). You could start taking public transportation instead of driving to work. You could drop your coverage levels to the bare minimum.

Or you could go shopping with car insurance in mind and buy a car that's going to keep your car insurance cheap no matter where you decide to drive.

The Highway Loss Data Institute specializes in compiling statistics on cars, trucks and SUVs, determining which cars have the highest number of claims every year and therefore are riskier to insure. Your insurance provider is going to look at their research and use their findings to determine how much it's going to cost you to insure your car! Cars that are frequently stolen, vandalized or involved in accidents are going to cost more to insure, while those that sit on the sidelines help keep your car insurance cheap.

What does the HLDI have to say about your car? Here's a list of the cheapest 2005-2007 models on the market to give you an example of what it takes to keep high performance cost effective:

Four Door Mini Models

1) Hyundai Accent

2) Kia Rio

Four Door Small Models

1) Toyota Prius

2) Honda Civic

3) Honda Civic Hybrid

4) Saturn ION

5) Neon Versa

6) Toyota Corolla

7) Nissan Versa Hatchback

Four Door Midsize Models

1) Saturn Aura

2) Hyundai Sonata

3) Volkswagon Passat

4) Subaru Legacy 4WD

5) Honda Accord

6) Honda Accord Hybrid

7) Mercury Milan

Two Door Mini Models

1) Mini Cooper Convertible

2) Toyota Yaris

Two Door Small Models

1) Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible

2) Volkswagen New Beetle

3) Chrysler PT Cruiser

4) Saturn ION Quad Coupe

5) Ford Focus

Two Door Midsize Models

1) Toyota Camry Solara Convertible

2) Toyota Camry Solara

3) Pontiac G6

4) Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Was your car on that list? If you drive a newer model or an SUV, check the HLDI's information pages to see what they have to say-and make sure the next time you're shopping at a used car lot you do it with this list in hand. Your bank account will thank you!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Why Lease Executive Suites?

Office space can be confusing. All you want is somewhere to place your business but once you start browsing your options you're inundated with a range of terms and conditions you never even knew existed. But it's OK! Unless you're an office broker or an office provider then you're bound to be a bit unfamiliar with all the key phrases which get thrown around when you're browsing the office space options on offer.

If you want a low-cost option which leaves you with one monthly lease bill then executive suites are definitely the right option for your needs. Executive suites are simply an office which comes fully furnished with high quality furniture and is equipped with a great range of amenities.

Key amenities which are included in the lease are broadband internet, reception staff, kitchen and bathroom facilities and phone lines. These executive offices are already set up so you can move in and get down to work instantly.

Because executive suites come with only one monthly bill they're great for businesses who are on a tight budget and who need to know exactly how much they're going to spend each month. Key facilities like electricity and gas are included in the bill so there are no set-up hassles when you arrive. Exec

Executive suites have been built specifically with you in mind so they offer a professional service and facility which can be hard to match. This option is versatile enough for any business and is usually located in a key area in a major city.

From Milton Keynes to Memphis, executive suites can be found right across the world and are home to a number of major businesses. All industries are suited to the facilities and amenities that come as standard with serviced offices like this and, as a result, executive suites are easily one of the most popular office space options in the world today.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Earthquake Risks in the Midwest

The New Madrid Seismic Zone

Although the West Coast and Alaska generally has the greatest earthquake activity, the potential for moderate-to-large earthquakes exist in the Midwest where three of the largest historical earthquakes occurred in the winter of 1811-1812 along the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in southeastern Missouri. The three main earthquakes of moment magnitude 7.0-8.0 occurred on December 16, 1811; January 23, 1812; and February 7, 1812.

The NMSZ stretches from just the west of Memphis in Tennessee into southern Illinois, and consists of three fault segments: the northeast and the southwest segments which are strike-slip faults, and the Reelfoot or central segment which is a thrust fault. The probability of a New Madrid earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater occurring in the next 50 years is 25-40%, while a repeat of the 1811-1812 earthquakes is 7-10% according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) of the University of Memphis.

The Region of Potential Impact

Earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS) are less frequent than in the Western United States (WUS). However, they affect much larger areas because of the regional geology being different east and west of the Rocky Mountains, where the CEUS is a more stable region in which the energy released from a large earthquake is transmitted into the surrounding regions more efficiently, while the energy is relatively quickly absorbed in the WUS. For comparison, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake of magnitude 7.8 was felt 350 miles away in the middle of Nevada, while church bells rang in Boston, Massachusetts, from the New Madrid earthquake of December 1811 of magnitude about 7.5, which is 1,000 miles away. Therefore, a moderate-to-large earthquake activity in the NMSZ is capable of causing widespread damage over a large region in the Midwest. The region of potential impact is comprised of eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.

Ground Shaking Intensity

The intensity of ground shaking that a building will experience during an earthquake is a function of three main factors:



The earthquake moment magnitude where the larger the earthquake, the stronger is the shaking.

The closest distance from the segment of the fault that ruptured to the building, where the nearer the building is to the fault, the greater is the shaking.

The type of soil materials beneath the building, where soft soils amplify and prolong the shaking even at great distances from the ruptured fault, while hard bedrocks do not amplify the shaking. Deep soils in the Mississippi River valley would shake more than bedrock in the hills as a result of the persistent shaking where the seismic waves are trapped and reverberate. Unfortunately most urban development is in valleys.

Hazards Associated with Ground Shaking

Hazards associated with ground shaking in the Midwest includes:



Liquefaction susceptibility where partially saturated soil deposits may completely lose cohesion during prolonged shaking, behave like a liquid, and lose their ability to support structures. The highest hazard is in low-lying areas where there are loose, sandy soils or poorly compacted artificial fill. A liquefied sand layer can shoot to the surface through cracks, forming a sand-blow, and depositing sand on the ground. This results in permanent ground deformations such as lateral spreading and settlement, both of which increase the likelihood of damage to buildings and infrastructures.

Landslide susceptibility where steep sloping areas underlain by loose or soft rock are most susceptible to earthquake-induced landslides, damaging buildings and other structures.

Fires where earthquakes in urban areas are often followed by destructive fires because of gas lines break and electrical shorts that may quickly spread due to clogged roads and collapsed bridges that prevent firefighter access, or damaged water tanks that limit water for firefighting.

Expected Regional Economic Losses

The region surrounding the NMSZ is home to millions of people, including those in the metropolitan areas of St. Louis and Memphis. Most structures were not built to withstand earthquake shaking. Moreover, earthquake awareness and preparedness have lagged far behind as compared to the West Coast. A worst-case scenario study was conducted by the Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for each state affected by a hypothetical earthquake of magnitude 7.7 predicted by the USGS.

The study concluded that Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois would incur significant direct economic losses that reach $56, $45, $40 and $35 billion, respectively, while Arkansas and Mississippi would incur nearly $19 and $9.5 billion in direct economic loss, respectively. On the other hand, Indiana and Alabama would experience limited direct economic losses of approximately $1.5 and $1.0 billion, respectively. It shall be noted that the regional direct economic losses can not be determined by adding the above mentioned values. These values would be significantly reduced for a moderate earthquake of magnitude 6.0-6.5. Indirect economic losses due to business interpretation and loss of market share may be much higher than the direct economic losses. For comparison, the insured damages from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the largest single natural disaster in the United States in recent years, were $45 billion. Additional federal aid and reconstruction expenditures were $127 billion.

Expected Buildings Damage

The MAE study demonstrates that residential buildings would incur more damage than any other building usage where wood frame buildings are the most prevalent building type in the Midwest and comprise a large portion of all building damage, while unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings comprise a much smaller portion of the regional building inventory. However, estimates show a much higher percentage of URM buildings would be damaged even from moderate shaking. In Tennessee; over 250,000 buildings are expected to be moderately or severely damaged from which 50,000 at least moderately damaged URM buildings from rupture of the southwestern segment of the NMSZ. Over 260,000 people would be displaced with over 60,000 casualties (injuries and fatalities). In Missouri; over 80,000 buildings are expected to be damaged leaving more than 120,000 people displaced and causing over 15,000 casualties.

How to Survive a New Madrid Earthquake?

Seismic Retrofitting

If your home is constructed before the 1980's, you probably need to retrofit it, especially if you live within the NMSZ (refer to the red, orange and yellow contours of the USGS seismic hazard map in the earthquake hazards section at http://earthquake-preparedness.net ). Seismic retrofitting measures ensure the structural integrity of your home to withstand earthquakes with little structural damage. Retrofitting is your own decision at your own risk according to your financial situation as it may be costly. However, it may be addressed one step at a time. The best return on the investment of retrofitting efforts is to initially address the foundations issues followed by bracing the cripple walls, then bracing the soft story, and ending with bracing or anchoring the masonry chimney.

Contents Mitigation

You should mitigate the contents of your home whether you retrofit it or not. Earthquake mitigation measures are simple techniques taken to secure non-structural elements and contents of your home to the studs of the interior walls, in order to reduce the risk to lives and investments, using inexpensive hardware tools and materials found in hardware stores and home centers. Items in the garage should also be secured to reduce damage to vehicles. Self-mitigation techniques can be undertaken by homeowners as they are simple to explain and require no special expertise, materials or tools to implement.

Earthquake Insurance

Homeowners insurance does not provide coverage for earthquake damage to your home. If you live within the NMSZ, you should consider earthquake insurance as an effective way to manage potential costs of future inevitable earthquakes.

Earthquake Preparedness Plan

You should review, update, or develop your own earthquake preparedness plan that includes maintaining emergency food and water for 1-2 weeks at all times along with personal survival kits and a household emergency kit. The magnitude 7.0 Haiti earthquake demonstrates the necessity of earthquake preparedness for anyone living in an active seismic region.

Concluding Remarks

Haiti earthquake is a wake up call for earthquake preparedness in the Midwestern States that has lagged far behind as compared to the West Coast. If you live within the region of the potential impact of New Madrid earthquakes, you should re-consider retrofitting your home or at least mitigating its contents to protect yourself and your family. The benefits of seismic retrofitting and mitigation go well beyond being simply reducing financial losses. It will make your home safer and help in returning your family much more quickly back to their normal life style. In addition, earthquake insurance would help in managing potential costs of future earthquakes. Finally, develop an earthquake preparedness plan that includes maintaining emergency food and water for 1-2 weeks along with personal survival kits and a household emergency kit.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Other Peoples Homes (2) Elvis, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee

In the words of Paul Simon, "I'm going to Graceland, Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee" and now I've been but, in my case, with a travelling companion several decades more than nine years old and a devoted fan of the "King of Rock and Roll".

Since Elvis Presley's death in 1977, Graceland, the house purchased by Elvis in 1957 and in whose grounds he is buried, has become a shrine to the memory of Elvis and a centre of pilgrimage for thousands of fans who visit every year.

Graceland was built on a hilly, heavily wooded thirteen-and-three-quarter-acre site on the two-lane Highway 51 connecting Memphis with Jackson, Mississippi, for a Dr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Moore. Over time the name "Graceland" came to refer specifically to the house but originally it applied to the entire area which was establish as a Hereford cattle farm in 1861, by S.E. Toof, the publisher of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. It was named after his daughter, Grace Toof. Ruth Moore, who built Graceland the house, was Grace's niece who planned the house for her daughter, Ruth Marie, who played the harp and piano. Music seeped through it's very foundations. The rooms were designed with an eye to future musical evenings and space was essential. A Commercial Appeal headline for Sunday, October 27th 1940 heralded the "Colonial Courtliness of Georgian Style Exemplified in Stately Graceland". The home that has come to symbolise Elvis.

The house was opened to the public in 1982. I understand about 650,000 people a year pass through the front door. Graceland has become one of the five most visited home museums in the United States and in 1991 gained the honour of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Joining one of the many shuttle tours that operate from downtown Memphis, I, personally was prepared to be disillusioned. Would it all be hype and tasteless, but hey, forever curious about other peoples tastes and extravagances it was a 'must do' visit. Surrounded by fellow travellers, devoted Elvis fans, who have all come to see not only where Elvis lived by how he lived, the tour began.

The neoclassical façade of white Tishomingo stone with windows shuttered in contrasting green present a truly tranquil, elegant and stylish house. Entering through the Corinthian columns on the front portico, the "formal" Dining Room and Living Room are lavishly decorated in blue, white and gold colour scheme and given a spacious feel by the mirrors which are a predominant feature of both rooms. The centrepiece of the Dining Room is a spectacular Italian cut glass chandelier purchased by Elvis on an after-hours shopping spree at Belvedere Lighting in Memphis in August 1974. In the Living Room stunning peacock stained-glass windows designed by Laukhuff Stained Glass of Memphis, separate the Living Room from the Music Room. The same company that did the stained glass work around the front door and the stained-glass billiard light in the Pool Room.

Moving into the Music Room, decorated predominantly in gold and white, a black Story and Clark baby grand takes pride of place. The most famous person to play it other than Elvis was James Brown who recalls singing gospel songs with Elvis. The wall mirror in the Music Room illustrates the fact that a lot of things were kept; things weren't thrown away and trashed over the years. This mirror dates back to the Presley's previous home on Audubon Drive where they lived prior to moving to Graceland. The stairway in the hall leads to the upper floor of the house that disappointingly is not open to visitors. I would have loved to have had a nose into the bedrooms and the four bathrooms. The chandelier over the stairs is the largest one of three in the house and the same design as the one in the Dining Room, in the Maria Theresa design. The third chandelier is Strauss crystal and hangs just inside the front door in the foyer.

The TV Room, decorated in black and gold with mirrored walls was decorated in its present style by Bill Eubanks who also decorated the Pool Room across the hall. All the chrome, glass, chrome arc lamps and sectional black furniture are very much the style of the 70's including a yellow leather topped bar and bar stools! The most spectacular feature of the Pool Room is the fabric used to cover the sofas, walls and ceiling. We are told it took something between 350 and 400 yards of fabric and three workmen about ten days to hang it. The room, with its French, Oriental and turn-of-the century European influences is an example of the Seventies American trend toward eclectic decorating, mixing styles of various eras and countries. A similar "retro" trend emerged again in the Nineties. None of the furniture is antique. Most chosen to complement the general décor including the reproduction Louis XV red leather chairs.

All the pictures are either prints, some signed by artists, or - like the Toulouse Lautrecs, just regular commercial reproductions. The gold, green and peacock blue light shade over the pool table is again, the work of Laukhuff Stained Glass in Memphis and done in the revived Tiffany style. Possibly the most spectacular and unique room of the visit though is the Jungle Room. Added to the house in the mid-Sixties it functioned as a screened-in porch, then it was closed in completely and made into a family room or den. Legend has it that Vernon, Elvis' father had been out and about and had seen some hideous furniture in a store in Memphis. Apparently, unbeknownst to Vernon, Elvis had seen the same furniture and had liked it because it reminded him of Hawaii. He bought a whole roomful of it. The big "monkey chair" is so enormous that one of the windows had to be removed to move it into the room. Much of the room's décor seems to be tactile, as with the fake fur on the bar stools and the heavily carved wood, the exotic feathered mirror frame and the ornamental animals.

The indoor waterfall completes the theme although we are told that it wasn't turned on very often because it tended to make the carpet wet.

Finally the office. Housed in a building that was already there when Elvis bought Graceland. Vernon ran the office and had a staff of secretaries to handle fan mail and all the household and personal bills. Elvis gave a press conference sitting at his father's desk in this office in 1960 the day after he returned from his tour of army duty in Germany. In photographs it is possible to see that it is the same desk, same blotter, lamp, filing cabinets and cards on top of the filing cabinet.

It is recorded that when Elvis was a child he made a promise to his parents that "One day, I'll buy you the prettiest house in Memphis, and I'll pay you back for all you've sacrificed for me". Graceland represented that to him. Both house and garden provided a fascinating visit. One I would have no hesitation in recommending to others and one I would happily repeat if I ever found myself back in Memphis, Tennessee.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Tennessee

Tennessee is a southern state in the United States. It was the 16th state to join the Union and is sometimes known as "the volunteer state" - a nickname that it gained due to the prominent role of volunteer soldiers from the state during the War of 1812.

The capital city of Tennessee is Nashville, and the state's largest city is Memphis. Other cities in Tennessee include Athens, Bartlett, Bristol, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Cleveland, Collierville, Cookeville, Franklin, Germantown, Hendersonville, Knoxville, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, Maryville, Morristown, Murfreesboro and Oak Ridge.

The state is known nationally, and indeed internationally, for its musical connections, and it is to the music industry that many of Tennessee's tourist attractions are connected. In Memphis, you will find Elvis Presley's former home (now a museum), Graceland, and Nashville, there are many sites of interest to country music fans, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Country music fans will also want to check out Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, which is named after the country singer and actress, Dolly Parton, and is home to the the South Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame. Other sites that you will want to visit in Tennessee include the Eiffel Tower Replica in Paris, which not quite on the scale of the original in France, is 65 feet (20 meters) tall, and the Parthenon in Nashville, which is a full size reproduction of the original in Greece.

- Some of the major companies headquartered in Tennessee are AutoZone (in Memphis), Caremark Rx (in Nashville), FedEx (in Memphis), HCA (in Nashville) and the Gibson Guitar Corporation (in Nashville).

- Airports serving Tennessee include Memphis International Airport in Memphis, and Nashville International Airport in Nashville.

- Leading education institutions in Tennessee include the University of Tennessee (in Knoxville) and Vanderbilt University (in Nashville).

- Sports teams in Tennessee include the Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern League baseball) in Chattanooga, the Memphis Grizzlies (National Basketball Association) in Memphis, the Memphis Redbirds (Pacific Coast League baseball) in Memphis, the Nashville Predators (ice hockey in the NHL) in Nashville, the Nashville Sounds (Pacific Coast League baseball) in Nashville, the Tennessee Smokies (Southern League baseball) in Kodak, the Tennessee Titans (American football in the NFL) in Nashville, and the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League baseball) in Jackson.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Knoxville Crime Scene Cleanup

Knoxville Crime Scene Cleanup is a niche market within the cleaning industry of Knoxville. Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, behind Memphis and Nashville, and it is also the largest city in East Tennessee. Tennessee and the State of Washington have the nation's highest legal standards for methamphetamine lab abatement.

While no one wants to confront the possibility of a suicide, homicide or accidental death, these events often do occur. In case of a violent death several crucial tasks are performed by the investigation department and police force. But it's not their duty to clean up the scene. Crime scene cleanup is the responsibility of asset holders. Generally they are not well-known with the secure measures to clean up such scene. During the attempt of removing the leftovers the exposure to infected body fluids, HIV blood and further biological incidents could occur.

Usually after the occurrence of a violent death i.e. homicide, suicide or accident in someone's residence, the family members do not go out of the home. Here to remove all bio hazards and every mark of what happened in a result of such scene is the job of a crime scene cleaner. The tissues or blood at such event can be a possible source of contamination. Special expertize are required to deal with bio hazardous material. Moreover the permits are necessary to move and dispose of bio hazardous material.

Knoxville Crime Scene Cleanup Companies handle all aspects of the work from start to end. These companies are well equipped, ready to take action and provide their services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Once informed to a scene, whether homes, businesses, construction sites, boats and autos, their technicians assess the degree of the damage and get ready a written proposal. They immediately initiate the restoration measures after the acceptance of proposal. They clean, sterilize and deodorize all affected areas along with proper disposal. For possibly obtaining reimbursement they also present support with insurance procedures.