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	<title>tismadness &#187; Legal Insurance</title>
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	<link>http://www.tismadness.com</link>
	<description>Financial blog</description>
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		<title>Affordable Legal Service</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/affordable-legal-service</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/affordable-legal-service#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:39:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brilliant Idea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legal Counsel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sad Thing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What This Means]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tismadness.com/affordable-legal-service</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is well known that within America, most of the wealth is owned by a small percentage at the top. The sad thing about this is that not only does wealth relate to spending abilities and big houses. It translates itself into other issues, such as the ability to afford equal access to basic human [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>It is well known that within America, most of the wealth is owned by a small percentage at the top. The sad thing about this is that not only does wealth relate to spending abilities and big houses. It translates itself into other issues, such as the ability to afford equal access to basic human services. Among these services are health and dental insurance. The poor are unable to afford health and dental insurance while the wealthy has immediate access. The solution to this problem is health and dental insurance. These two services work under a simple principle of temporal need. The fact of the matter is, even though everyone needs these services, we don&#8217;t all need them at the same time. What this means is that it becomes possible to pool our resources (money), and apply them to a select group when it becomes necessary.<br/><br/>This brilliant idea of leverage works very well when applied to health and dental insurance. Now, the question is how else can we leverage this idea? Many people are aware of life insurance, health insurance, but how many know of legal insurance? Unfortunately not many, and therefore many people go without legal counsel because they believe it to be unaffordable. Fortunately this is not true, and everyone has access to legal counsel, making the promises of equal justice possible.<br/><br/>A legal service plan can provide access to legal counsel, when it is needed at a very affordable price. You may be shocked to know how well the idea of temporal need works. It becomes apparent that top-notch legal counsel is affordable to everyone, enabling us to say as the big wigs do &#8220;I will consult my lawyer on this issue.&#8221; Another question arises, how often do people need legal advice and why would they even consider pre paying for such service? Well, here is a list of cases in which legal aid would be a great help:<br/><br/>-	Identify theft <br />-	IRS audit <br />-	Dealing with speeding tickets <br />-	Adopting a child <br />-	Signing a contract <br />-	Dog is poisoned <br />-	Get charged a hidden fee on a bill <br />-	Incorrect listings on credit report<br/><br/>We live in a litigious country and the list goes on and on. Legal service plans have been around for a long time and are widely available and used in Europe. Pretty soon they will be just as popular in America. I personally love the comfort of knowing I have a lawyer backing me, so I signed up for a legal service plan the minute I heard about it.</p>
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		<title>Guide to Choosing Illinois Auto Insurance Coverage</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/guide-to-choosing-illinois-auto-insurance-coverage</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/guide-to-choosing-illinois-auto-insurance-coverage#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:07:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Auto Insurance Coverage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bodily Injury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Collision Coverage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer Groups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State Of Illinois]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tismadness.com/guide-to-choosing-illinois-auto-insurance-coverage</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In today&#8217;s litigious society, it is often a good idea to carry more auto insurance than the minimums the law mandates. Almost every state requires some sort of minimum coverage to be held by motor vehicle owners. Sadly, in many cases, these standards barely provide enough to cover minor injuries and damage, let alone major [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>In today&#8217;s litigious society, it is often a good idea to carry more auto <br />insurance than the minimums the law mandates. Almost every state requires some <br />sort of minimum coverage to be held by motor vehicle owners. Sadly, in many <br />cases, these standards barely provide enough to cover minor injuries and damage, <br />let alone major medical expenses or vehicle repairs. Therefore, if you are more <br />than just the occasional driver, and you can afford it, it is probably in your <br />best interest to go with the industry recommended coverage amounts. Not only <br />will they provide better coverage, but they will also offer peace of mind.<br/><br/>In the state of Illinois, minimum coverage amounts are only 20/40/15. This means <br />a driver is covered up to $20,000 for bodily injury, $40,000 for physical <br />damage, and $15,000 for liability, as compared to 100/300/100 as recommended by <br />industry standards and consumer groups. If you&#8217;ve ever gone to the hospital for <br />any type of operation or even just a check-up, you know how quickly the bills <br />can add up, and even minor repair costs on luxury automobiles can be higher than <br />the state minimums.<br/><br/>Illinois law also requires that uninsured or underinsured coverage be included <br />in a policy in the event a driver is involved in an accident with someone not <br />carrying the required policy minimums. The policyholder has the right to reject <br />this coverage, but it often costs very little and carrying at least the minimum <br />is a good idea. There is also the option of comprehensive and collision <br />coverage. Depending on the vehicle or vehicles being driven, these options <br />should also be considered. They cover such things as hail, blown tire, and fixed <br />object damage, such a backing into a light pole, etc. A five-hundred dollar used <br />car probably won&#8217;t warrant these extras, but with more expensive vehicles, where <br />repair costs can accumulate quickly, they are highly recommended. When your car <br />has its windshield smashed by vandals or you back into that concrete post, <br />you&#8217;ll be glad you have them.<br/><br/>When looking for Illinois auto insurance, not only policy affordability and legal <br />requirements should be considered, but also how often, when, and where the <br />policyholder will be driving, as well as if any other drivers will be operating <br />the vehicle. These factors, as well as finding a trusted and reliable insurance <br />agent should be weighed when deciding the types and amounts of vehicle coverage <br />needed.</p>
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		<title>Auto Coverage Questions That You Should Ask Before Buying a Policy</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/auto-coverage-questions-that-you-should-ask-before-buying-a-policy</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/auto-coverage-questions-that-you-should-ask-before-buying-a-policy#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:03:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Auto Coverage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Insurance Policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Insurance Requirements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Revi]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tismadness.com/auto-coverage-questions-that-you-should-ask-before-buying-a-policy</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Buying car insurance can be quite a formidable task; you want to get adequate coverage and protection at a rate that is cheap and affordable. Whether you are a novice or an experienced car owner, here are some auto coverage questions and tips that you should consider before you purchase an insurance policy.To being with, [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>Buying car insurance can be quite a formidable task; you want to get adequate coverage and protection at a rate that is cheap and affordable. Whether you are a novice or an experienced car owner, here are some auto coverage questions and tips that you should consider before you purchase an insurance policy.<br/><br/>To being with, you need to ask what the legal insurance requirements are in your particular jurisdiction. This acts as minimum requirement that you must meet and it can be starting point from which you can determine how much additional coverage you will need.<br/><br/>The amount of additional coverage you need depends on the answers you give to two main questions. First off, what is your current financial situation?<br/><br/>Your finances are relevant as experts advice says that the more assets you have, the more insurance coverage you will need to ensure that they are sufficiently protected.<br/><br/>The next question is what kind of driver are you? Your driving record will provide you with a good answer to this question. Firstly, your driving record and habits on the road are a good indication of the kind of driver you are and the likelihood you have you being involved in accidents. For example a careless driver with a history of running into other cars will benefit from more extensive coverage. Secondly, your driving record will help determine if you qualify for any special discounts that insurance companies offer to drivers with good safety records.<br/><br/>The next question would be, how much are you currently paying for insurance? Check your existing policy to see how much you are paying on a monthly and yearly basis. This can be benchmark which you can use to assess quotes from other insurers. You can approach the insurance companies directly or go online. There are multiple websites that offer listings of insurance quotations that are tailored to your specific requirements.<br/><br/>Lastly, ask yourself if you are dealing with a reputable organisation. Review the credentials of your insurance agency before signing on the dotted line. You can investigate their history and practices with your local regulatory body. There are also online resources that can provide you with information and analysis of insurers.<br/><br/>These auto coverage questions and insurance tips should go a long way towards helping you pick the policy that is right for you. Asking these questions and giving due consideration to the answers will ensure that the choices you make are informed and educated.</p>
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		<title>How to Save Money Handling Your Own Legal Matter</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/how-to-save-money-handling-your-own-legal-matter</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/how-to-save-money-handling-your-own-legal-matter#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:10:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Help Guides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nolo Press]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quality Self]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Help Book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Help Books]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Sixty percent of bankruptcies and seventy-five percent of divorces in California are done without lawyers,&#8221; according to Do It Yourself Documents, a self-help legal book and kit retailer. With the availability of so many quality self-help legal resources today, it has never been easier to handle your own legal matter. I will tell you what [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>&#8220;Sixty percent of bankruptcies and seventy-five percent of divorces in California are done without lawyers,&#8221; according to Do It Yourself Documents, a self-help legal book and kit retailer. With the availability of so many quality self-help legal resources today, it has never been easier to handle your own legal matter. I will tell you what self-help resources are available and how to use them.<br/><br/>Although the information I am about to give you is based on research and experience, always remember that only a lawyer is qualified to give you sound legal advice. I am not a lawyer, but I have worked extensively in this field. Use any of the products and services I mention here at your own risk.<br/><br/>You have several choices when trying to handle a legal matter without a lawyer. You can do the matter entirely on your own with a self-help book or kit; you can handle the matter with aid from an independent paralegal or legal assistance program; you can handle the matter through a program such as Pre-Paid Legal Services.<br/><br/>SELF-HELP BOOKS AND KITS<br/><br/>The market is saturated with self-help legal books and kits. Which ones can you trust? HALT, an organization of Americans for legal reform, has reviewed many popular self-help guides. On their website, you can find their &#8220;Do It Yourself&#8221; section, which has helpful product reviews. In general, I will save you time and tell you HALT repeatedly recommends products from Nolo Press. All of Nolo&#8217;s books and software are created by lawyers and are updated constantly. I also recommend products from Alpha Publications. I do not recommend products from Info America or similar publishers.<br/><br/>Kits and books you want to stay away from are those that are not updated frequently and not written by experts. Make sure the book or kit has a help-line from the publisher you can call if you need assistance. Also, does the kit/book include the forms you need? Does the kit/book have a CD-Rom so you can type the forms on your computer? Remember, you get what you pay for.<br/><br/>Before you buy anything, however, I recommend you check your state court system&#8217;s website because many states provide both forms and basic instructions for free. For a complete list of state-specific resources, try DoItYourselfDocuments.com. On the left side of their homepage, find your state on the drop down menu, then scroll to the bottom of the page for your state.<br/><br/>If there is a state-specific version of the kit or book you want, buy that one. For example, there are many national divorce kits intended for use in all 50 states. I have never seen one of these books or kits that was useful.<br/><br/>INDEPENDENT PARALEGALS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS<br/><br/>Independent paralegals are paralegals that do not work under the supervision of attorneys. In California, independent paralegals are licensed, bonded, and use the title &#8220;Legal Document Assistants.&#8221; Currently, California is the only state to regulate independent paralegals. For the California Association of Legal Document Assistants, visit their website at http://www.calda.org<br/><br/>An independent paralegal can provide you with the forms you need for many routine legal matters and assist you with filing your documents. Typically, independent paralegals are knowledgeable about local court rules and other nuisances you may not find in a self-help book or kit. The price? Usually, 1/3 of what you&#8217;d pay for an attorney.<br/><br/>If you live outside of California, be sure you hire an independent paralegal with a paralegal certificate from an American Bar Association approved school. Many times, independent paralegals with 15 years of experience or more do not have these certificates because they were not needed years ago. You may want to ask the independent paralegal what, if any, continuing education s/he obtains over the course of a year to stay up-to-date on training. Also, how long, if at all, s/he worked under the supervision of an attorney to gain the required knowledge to assist you. Finally, ask if the independent paralegal is a member of a professional association or has any special certifications.<br/><br/>There is only one national independent paralegal franchise to my knowledge, and that is We The People. We The People does not require their owners or operators to have paralegal certificates; however, they do provide in-depth training from the company on all the types of legal matters that they cover. We The People has been in business for over 20 years.<br/><br/>Like the independent paralegals described above, there are also &#8220;attorney assisted&#8221; independent paralegals. These attorney-assisted paralegals typically perform the same services as traditional independent paralegals but have an attorney proofread their documents or oversee their work in some way. Prices are typically about the same or slightly higher than traditional independent paralegals.<br/><br/>As for legal assistance programs, most states have &#8220;paperwork helpers&#8221; in the courthouse to assist you. In California, these are called Family Law Facilitators. These programs are free to everybody; they are not legal aid, which is only available to people with low incomes. There are also occasionally programs through local civic groups, such as the YMCA, that provide similar assistance.<br/><br/>PRE-PAID LEGAL<br/><br/>There are many types of legal insurance, but the most established is Pre-Paid Legal Services ( http://www.prepaidlegal.com ) For about $25-$30 a month, you can call a &#8220;provider law firm&#8221; and get legal advice on any matter. If you decide to use the &#8220;provider law firm&#8221; to handle a legal matter on your behalf, you typically receive some kind of discount. Some programs include free preparation of a Last Will and Testament for you and your spouse. Like any insurance, you can cancel your membership at any time.<br/><br/>If you wanted to do a more complex legal matter on your own, you could obtain a pre-paid legal membership and call your provider law firm any time you had a concern. If desired, cancel your membership when your legal matter was resolved. Be very sure that each time you call your provider law firm, you make it clear that you are not calling about the same thing you previously called about. They will charge you if you do. Be very specific and say, &#8220;I have called about this issue before, but I have a new concern&#8230;&#8221; Be prepared to wait a day or two for the provider law firm to call you back with your requested advice or information.<br/><br/>Many employers offer pre-paid legal insurance as a benefit. Before you sign up, be sure to check with your employer&#8211;it may be completely free to you.<br/><br/>http://www.halt.org/lic/dir.php?cid=13</p>
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		<title>PrePaid Legal Services &#8211; Inexpensive Access To Legal Help</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/prepaid-legal-services-inexpensive-access-to-legal-help</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/prepaid-legal-services-inexpensive-access-to-legal-help#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:13:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hourly Rates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Insurance Policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lawyers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legal Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Protect Assets]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tismadness.com/prepaid-legal-services-inexpensive-access-to-legal-help</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s no doubt that at some point in their life, everyone will need the services of an Attorney. Even the simplest legal help can be very expensive. Whether you need to review a contract, obtain a divorce, a letter written on your behalf, a will written to protect your assets, or even ask for legal [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>It&#8217;s no doubt that at some point in their life, everyone will need the services of an Attorney. Even the simplest legal help can be very expensive. Whether you need to review a contract, obtain a divorce, a letter written on your behalf, a will written to protect your assets, or even ask for legal advice most people can&#8217;t afford the Attorney fees that are often necessary to remedy their legal situation.<br/><br/>A growing number of people today are turning to an inexpensive form of preventive legal insurance called PrePaid legal.<br/><br/>PrePaid legal works much in the same way as your Health, Dental or even Car insurance. When you buy car insurance, you pay a monthly fee based on your driving record, age, etc. As long as you pay your monthly premium, you&#8217;re protected under that insurance policy in case of an auto accident.<br/><br/>With a PrePaid legal insurance plan you also have a monthly premium, it works the same way. Lawyers are available for you and your family in case you need them &#8211; in some cases 24 hours a day.<br/><br/>One of the most distinguishable differences between a PrePaid legal insurance plan and other forms of insurance is that your monthly premium never goes up no matter how often you use it. This means that you are able to use your provider law firm as much as you feel it it&#8217;s necessary and anytime you have a question.<br/><br/>Some employers offer PrePaid legal insurance as a fringe benefit. Employers understand the burden that a legal problem can place on their employees. It almost always leads to less productivity and loss of focus on work. You may want to check with your employer to see if it&#8217;s available. If it&#8217;s not available where you work, you can usually request it or obtain it individually.<br/><br/>Although Attorney hourly rates at an all-time high and the cost of a retainer fee is unmentionable for most people, at some point everyone needs the legal advice or legal help. But, before you decide on a particular company or Prepaid legal plan, do your due diligence and make sure you&#8217;re dealing with a reputable company rather than a fly-by-night startup and be positive that the particular PrePaid legal plan is right for you and your family.</p>
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		<title>Divorce &amp; Health Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/divorce-health-insurance</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/divorce-health-insurance#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:24:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Divorce]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tismadness.com/divorce-health-insurance</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, I had a question from someone who was going through a divorce and was concerned about lost health insurance coverage because she was covered under her husband&#8217;s insurance. She was concerned not just for herself, but for her children as well. This question comes up a lot. See is this answer helps you better [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>Recently, I had a question from someone who was going through a divorce and was concerned about lost health insurance coverage because she was covered under her husband&#8217;s insurance. She was concerned not just for herself, but for her children as well. This question comes up a lot. See is this answer helps you better understand what to do. If you have additional questions on this topic, feel free to add to the blog, and I&#8217;ll answer them.<br/><br/>Medical Insurance and Divorce<br/><br/>To answer your questions specifically, here are some ideas to consider.<br/><br/>1) You and your children are automatically covered under your husband&#8217;s insurance as a dependent until you divorce.<br/><br/>2) When your divorce is final, you have the opportunity to continue your husband&#8217;s insurance by triggering what is called &#8220;COBRA&#8221;. (Note: there is another blog entry that defined COBRA.) This will continue your coverage for an additional 18 months; unfortunately, you will have to pay the full cost of the coverage (and the company can have you pay 102 &#8211; 105% of the coverage cost).<br/><br/>Your children, by law, will becovered under the parent&#8217;s coverage whose birth date occurs first in the calender year.<br/><br/>3) One suggestion is that when you hire an Attorney to assist with your divorce, you might want to ask, in the settlement negotiations, to have the price of the COBRA payments included in your settlement. This would be particularly important if you happen to have the early-in-the year birthdate, and will be paying for the children&#8217;s health insurance coverage. This cost should not have to come out of your child support, as it can be VERY EXPENSIVE.<br/><br/>4) Whatever you decided to do, keep all documents together. Whenever you talk to anyone, document to whom you talk, get the name and tele #, and what was said by all in the conversation as soon as possible after the conversation. In this way, you document what is said, and do not have to rely on memory. Also, when you send anything to anyone, keep a copy for yourself, and send it by registered mail, so that you have proof of receipt.</p>
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		<title>Car Insurance Legal Expenses Protection is Essential Coverage &#8211;  See You in Court!</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/car-insurance-legal-expenses-protection-is-essential-coverage-see-you-in-court</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/car-insurance-legal-expenses-protection-is-essential-coverage-see-you-in-court#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:00:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adequate Time]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Car Accident]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Car Insurance Policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Circuit Judge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eleventh Hour]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Most car insurance accident claims that cannot be resolved through negotiation between both parties insurance companies or their solicitors or lawyers, will end up in court. It is therefore, vitally important that your car insurance covers you for legal expenses protection.Legal Expenses covers all your legal bills, damages and costs awarded against you should you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="float:left; padding: 12px"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/legal_insurance11.jpg"><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/legal_insurance11.jpg" title='' alt='' /></a></div>
<p align="justify"><br/><br/>Most car insurance accident claims that cannot be resolved through negotiation between both parties insurance companies or their solicitors or lawyers, will end up in court. It is therefore, vitally important that your car insurance covers you for legal expenses protection.<br/><br/>Legal Expenses covers all your legal bills, damages and costs awarded against you should you have a car accident. Legal expenses is often sold as an add on, and if you haven&#8217;t purchased this protection, it may cost you dear if an accident claim proceeds all the way to court, even if you win!<br/><br/><strong>Car Insurance Claims</strong><br/><br/>A car insurance policy is a legally binding contract between yourself and an insurance company to cover your liability, and in the United Kingdom claims for damages or liability disputes under an insurance policy contract, are resolved in the Civil or County Court as it is known. All cases are held before a District or County Circuit Judge.<br/><br/>Most disputes involving amounts fewer than five thousand pounds are known as small claims or fast track claims and can be dealt with quickly in a less informal setting. Claims on car insurance policies that include damages for personal injury for example, are likely to involve large amounts and perhaps legal costs of up to ten times the amount of the claim. These claims are allocated to a multi-track court system where cases are heard in full court.<br/><br/>If your claim, or the claim you are defending proceeds to court, both parties will be asked before the event to provide dates that they are unavailable to attend upon.<br/><br/>Each solicitor or lawyer will inform his party in adequate time of the date and venue of the court hearing. They will also keep their clients fully briefed as to the progress and developments in the case.<br/><br/>Many disputes that involve claims on car insurance policies are settled at the eleventh hour by the car insurance companies agreeing to settle, however whether a claimant or a defendant in the case you should be prepared for court. Both parties are required by law to attend the hearing and risk contempt of court charges if they fail to show.<br/><br/><strong>Going To Court</strong><br/><br/>The hearing will always be held in the County Court nearest to the home of the defendant. That is, the person who denies the claim against him. This can be costly if as a claimant you have to travel hundreds of miles to attend the court. UK Courts are notoriously mean with their expenses and if you drive a gas guzzler you will be lucky if you are awarded a fifth of your actual petrol costs as claimable travel expenses, if you win.<br/><br/>Furthermore you will not be able to claim for the inconvenience of the case, childcare costs or loss of earnings. Whether the original car accident was your fault or not, as soon as you become involved in an accident the largest damage is to your pocket.<br/><br/><strong>Your Statement</strong> <br />You will have been asked on at least one occasion by your lawyer or solicitor, during prior negotiations, to provide a statement of fact of your version of the events that took place.<br/><br/>This statement will contain the facts that you will rely on when asked to speak in court. It will also contain the information that you will be cross-examined on by the other party&#8217;s lawyers. It is important when you make a statement to stick to the facts, tell the truth of what happened and use documentary evidence such as photos or videos that you took at the time of the accident, to back up your version of events.<br/><br/>Stick to your version of events and do not be over flowery when creating your statement. The opposition will drill down into any inconsistencies that you may introduce into your account, by being over zealous. Their aim is to show you up to be either a liar or someone who cannot be trusted, whether you are telling the truth or not. The outcome of trials, the judgement, although totally unfair, is often decided by the manner of the parties involved and how they acted throughout the case, as the hammer has to come down on one side or the other.<br/><br/><strong>Small Claims</strong><br/><br/>Small claims cases rarely last more than a few hours and are held in much more informal settings than the main courtroom with its bench and stands and gallery. The hearings usually take place in a small room or chambers in the Court building.<br/><br/>Unlike in the main courtroom neither the Judge nor Barristers if present, are obliged to wear the wigs and gowns. There is usually no court recorder present and the protocol rules for addressing the bench are much more informal than in a main courtroom, although one should employ courtesy and respect at all times if you wish to succeed in your claim.<br/><br/><strong>Large Claims</strong><br/><br/>Large claims or multi-track claims as they are known are set when the amounts of damages in dispute and the legal costs on both sides exceed the limits for the small claims court.<br/><br/>In a full hearing, only barristers are allowed to address the bench, although witnesses are often called to speak and explain a point directly to the Judge. In doing so you are required to address the Judge as &#8216;Your Honour&#8217;.<br/><br/><strong>The Hearing</strong><br/><br/>Court hearings can be daunting experiences even for the most outwardly going people. Courtrooms are very busy places. In a full court hearing there will be legal teams from both parties on separate sides of the room. They will be assisted by expert witnesses. There is always a public gallery and the Press may well be present, in particular hacks from local newspapers. There will be Court Reporters and a Stenographer recording the details of what is said and Ushers controlling the flow of witnesses. There will be a witness box where you are obliged to take the stand, give an oath on a religious document of your choice, and then be cross-examined on the contents of your statement.<br/><br/><strong>The Procedure</strong><br/><br/>Under Court Procedure Rules (CPR) in the United Kingdom the onus of any trial is on the claimant and any accident witnesses he may have, to take the stand first.<br/><br/>If you are the claimant be prepared to take the stand in the witness box on the first day of the trial. You will be cross-examined first by the other party&#8217;s barrister and then by your own to give your story. Throughout the Judge will be making their own notes.<br/><br/>You are not allowed to give speeches of your version of events of the car accident. You are only allowed to speak in answer to a particular question that is put to you.<br/><br/>In a full hearing you will be cross-examined first by the other party&#8217;s barrister who will try to destroy your evidence. Be prepared for personal attacks and dirty tricks to try to get you to say something different to what you claimed in your statement. Above all keep calm, stop and think about what you are going to say, and if necessary you are perfectly entitled to refer to your statement. Your Barrister will then cross-examine you to try to establish the points in your favour, and discredit any flack you may have suffered under the previous cross-examination.<br/><br/>Following your evidence the defence party will go through the same procedure. Expert witnesses may well then be called for both sides. Typically these may be motor engineers or claims assessors.<br/><br/>In a full hearing the events are drawn to a close by a summation from both parties barristers and a plea to the bench to find in their favour. The Judge then retires to consider the verdict or judgement as it is known in the UK civil proceedings. Quite often this may not be delivered until the next day.<br/><br/><strong>Costs of a Car Insurance Accident</strong><br/><br/>Immediately following the verdict it is quite common to have a costs assessment hearing, where costs are awarded. Costs in a multi track case in the UK that lasts a week, are on average for both parties in excess of one hundred thousand pounds.<br/><br/>Even if you win you the judge may only award a proportion of costs in your favour. There are rules governing behaviour of both parties throughout the case and offers known as &#8216;part 36 offers&#8217; give some indemnity against full costs sometimes being awarded.<br/><br/>Accidents can cost a lot more than expected and it is important that you have adequate legal expenses protection included in your policy cover. If you don&#8217;t, that cheap car insurance policy could very soon turn into fools gold.</p>
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		<title>Insurance Industry Settlement Tactics &#8211; Navigate The Injury Accident Claim War Zone On Your Own</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/insurance-industry-settlement-tactics-navigate-the-injury-accident-claim-war-zone-on-your-own</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/insurance-industry-settlement-tactics-navigate-the-injury-accident-claim-war-zone-on-your-own#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:46:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Accident Claim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Extensive Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Juries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Negligence]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tismadness.com/insurance-industry-settlement-tactics-navigate-the-injury-accident-claim-war-zone-on-your-own</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You Unknowingly Have Entered A War ZoneDid you know that the day you were injured you entered a war zone with the insurance industry? Over the past 30+ years, the insurance industry has spent billions of dollars on advertising to spread false and misleading information about accident claims. The industry wants people to believe that [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>You Unknowingly Have Entered A War Zone<br/><br/>Did you know that the day you were injured you entered a war zone with the insurance industry? Over the past 30+ years, the insurance industry has spent billions of dollars on advertising to spread false and misleading information about accident claims. The industry wants people to believe that the justice system is out of control and that people who file lawsuits are getting millions of dollars for minor injuries. Such propaganda has created the false perception among the public that the system needs fixing. Unfortunately, this &#8220;misinformation&#8221; spread by the insurance industry has had an enormous negative influence on juries and their verdicts.<br/><br/>Juries today are highly skeptical of people who file lawsuits that claim money for &#8220;pain and suffering.&#8221; Many people who wind up on juries believe the myths touted by the insurance industry. This can be a huge obstacle to achieving justice in your case, even when the injuries are severe and negligence has been established. Lawyers who handle these cases have learned over the past few years that it is much more difficult to achieve justice for their clients.<br/><br/>You need to be aware that the insurance claims adjustor will utilize any means necessary to pay out as little as possible, even on legitimate claims that involve serious injuries. Insurance adjustors receive extensive training on how to save the company money, and not necessarily on how to examine a claim and pay a fair settlement. Many insurance companies reward their adjustors with bonuses or promotions based on how much money that person saves the company rather than how many claims are settled. The claims adjustor accomplishes this in several ways:<br/><br/>**Using Delay. The adjustor is a master of using delay tactics to wear people down. He knows that many people will at some point throw up their hands and say &#8220;Enough!&#8221; while finally accepting the company&#8217;s last offer just to be done with the whole process.<br/><br/>**Requesting Unnecessary Information. Another method is when the adjustor makes repeated requests for &#8220;documentation&#8221; even if the information will have little or no bearing on the amount that will be offered in settlement. Repeated requests for unnecessary documentation can easily frustrate people and wear them down so they&#8217;re more likely to accept a lower settlement offer.<br/><br/>**Disputing the Medical Treatment. One way the adjustor will minimize your claim is to dispute or question your need for medical treatment, despite having no medical training! (even if the treatment is prescribed by your own doctor!). Many times it does not matter to the adjustor that your treatment has been recommended by a reputable licensed physician.<br/><br/>**&#8221;Nickel &#038; Dime&#8221; the Medical Charges. Often times the adjustor will only agree to &#8220;accept&#8221; 70, 80 or 90% of your past medical charges, while having no medical background to support such a position. By &#8220;nickel and diming&#8221; the consumer, the well-trained adjustor knows that most people will not hire a lawyer to challenge a small portion of the medical bills.<br/><br/>**Tell You Not to Hire an Attorney. Other times the insurance company will dissuade you from hiring an experienced attorney and falsely tell you that any money you receive will go only to the attorney. Still other times the adjustor may threaten to &#8220;deny&#8221; or &#8220;lowball&#8221; the claim if you hire a lawyer.<br/><br/>**Misrepresenting Insurance Policy Benefits. Sometimes the adjustor will misrepresent the amount of insurance coverage that is available to you. Or worse, the adjustor doesn&#8217;t even tell you that the insurance coverage or certain types of benefits even exist. This tactic may also be used to entice you into accepting a smaller settlement than what would otherwise be warranted.<br/><br/>**Acting as Your Friend. There are times when the claims adjustor will &#8220;befriend&#8221; you and make it appear that she is watching out for your interests when in fact she is not. Sometimes the adjustor will give you advice about the type or frequency of your medical treatment, and then decide later on not to pay for the treatment because it is &#8220;excessive.&#8221;<br/><br/>**Making False Promises. There are times when the adjustor will make promises to you that he or she knows can&#8217;t be met. For example, this author had a client who was promised that the insurance company would continue to pay her medical bills every month until she recovered. This went on for four months until the adjustor decided that four months of treatment was enough. The problem was that the client didn&#8217;t find out about the insurance company&#8217;s decision to stop paying until she had racked up many more months of medical bills!<br/><br/>These are just a few of the tactics that the insurance industry uses to badger and wear down injured victims so that less money is paid out. And to a large extent, the industry has been successful. The strong backlash created by the insurance industry against our justice system is a very strong movement in many parts of our country. The movement has a name, it is called Tort Reform. The success of the Tort Reform movement has emboldened the insurance industry to withhold fair settlements until you convince them that you are ready, willing and able to go to trial. But do not be discouraged. You CAN achieve fair compensation for your injuries and beat the insurance industry at their own game. But it may take time and effort.</p>
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		<title>Car Insurance &#8211; A Legal Requirement</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/car-insurance-a-legal-requirement</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/car-insurance-a-legal-requirement#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:38:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Different Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maximum Benefit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Plunge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress And Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stringent Laws]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tismadness.com/car-insurance-a-legal-requirement</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Car insurance is a requirement for any individual who has attained the maturity to self drive a car. The main purpose is to protect every individual on the road from accidents or damage to the vehicle or property.Damage can be caused either by theft, fire or any other natural calamities. Holding coverage can save one [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>Car insurance is a requirement for any individual who has attained the maturity to self drive a car. The main purpose is to protect every individual on the road from accidents or damage to the vehicle or property.<br/><br/>Damage can be caused either by theft, fire or any other natural calamities. Holding coverage can save one from stress and anxiety when something untoward happens<br/><br/>It is mandatory to hold a policy in United States. Some countries have purchased minimum liability to take the vehicle legally. States that do not hold stringent laws require one to show proof of responsibility and credit history.<br/><br/>Car insurance is necessary for a first time buyer before he could roll out the vehicle on the roads. Adding a new vehicle, to your collection has to be notified via your agent within 30 days to avoid any complication.<br/><br/>Before choosing an appropriate deal, an understanding on working of the premium should be made. An individual&#8217;s age, gender, occupation, address and the security measures are applied in calculating the premium. Another important aspect is the driving history of the individual. The premium amount depends on the results of the background and history of the individual.<br/><br/>The best way to shop for your policies is to go online and compare the offers of different companies. Take time and effort to compare the quotes offered. Capitalize on the relevant comparison sites that offer tailor made covers to suit each preferences and life style. Never plunge on the first quote, choose one that would be easy on the pocket and provide the maximum benefit.<br/><br/>An important coverage is the personal injury liability where, in case of collision the company would cover the expenses for the injury for both the holder and the victim. But any expenses on the vehicle have to be borne by the individual. The comprehensive coverage includes theft and fire. The next popular one is the full cover in which the premium depends on the make of the vehicle, the year of manufacture and model. The top models will incur a higher premium than the standard models. The cover will hold both parties in case of accidents and the expenses of repairs on vehicle owned by the party with the specified deductions.</p>
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		<title>Legal Malpractice Insurance &#8211; Quick Overview</title>
		<link>http://www.tismadness.com/legal-malpractice-insurance-quick-overview</link>
		<comments>http://www.tismadness.com/legal-malpractice-insurance-quick-overview#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:50:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legal Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Case History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Degree Of Risk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Risk Coverage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Statistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Two Ways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.tismadness.com/legal-malpractice-insurance-quick-overview</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the customer&#8217;s exposure and awareness towards legal malpractice, many legal professional have to face lawsuits frequently. If we look at the statistics, every four to five law professional out of hundred have to face a lawsuit in a year. For law firms, which typically employ more than 20 lawyers, are likely to face at [...]]]></description>
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<p align="justify"><br/><br/>With the customer&#8217;s exposure and awareness towards legal malpractice, many legal professional have to face lawsuits frequently. If we look at the statistics, every four to five law professional out of hundred have to face a lawsuit in a year. For law firms, which typically employ more than 20 lawyers, are likely to face at least one lawsuit every year. Well, the figure is pretty impressive to make one realize that one must have a Legal Malpractice Insurance for good risk coverage in this profession. Let us have a quick look at the various aspects of it.<br/><br/>How does this insurance protect a legal practitioner?<br/><br/>When a legal practitioner defends himself against a lawsuit, he not only loses money but also valuable time. The average figure may vary from 250 to 300 hours per case that can be billed. This insurance protects a lawyer for each lawsuit he has to face.<br/><br/>Is it like other type of insurance?<br/><br/>The difference between a regular insurance and this insurance is that a regular insurance gives coverage in case a certain event like hospitalization or accident occurs while this insurance covers a lawyer only for a lawsuit against him within a policy period. So, that means this insurance company may overlook the case history except for policy duration.<br/><br/>What is the cost of buying a policy?<br/><br/>The cost of a policy is directly influenced by the degree of risk involved in your profession. For example, if you are into banking or real estate, the cost may be quite higher than a regular cost of a policy. But, in my view, you should focus more on the fact that how policy covers your areas of operations.<br/><br/>How do I get one policy?<br/><br/>There are many insurance players available in the market that offers such insurance. Ideally, there are two ways to approach these companies. First, you can find a broker; second, every company has its Managing General Agent (MGA). You can search for an MGA online as well.</p>
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