Travel Information So Important You Can’t Leave Home Without It

When you travel you not only step out of your comfort zone, but you also leave behind all of the important information about your life. You know, the stuff you’d need in case there were some kind of emergency–insurance numbers, the number to call if you lose your credit card, prescription information, etc.

We have all of this information available to us when we are home, but what would you do if your house sitter contacted you when you were halfway around the world to tell you that your house had caught fire? Could you contact your homeowner’s insurance agent and provide all the information he’d need no matter where you are?

This checklist is designed to help you to compile all the information you should need while away from home so that you can carry it in a portable file. I hope it provides you some peace of mind.

The list includes the items you need and, in parentheses, an explanation about why it is important.

Documents to Place in Your Important Papers File & Why You May Need Them

Make a list with the following information on it:

  • Homeowner’s or Renter’s Policy Number & Agent Contact Number (in case there is an emergency at your home so that you can notify your insurance company as soon as possible)
  • The name, address, contact information, and reservation confirmation numbers for your hotel, rental car and airline tickets (in case you need to contact any of them for any reason or you need the confirmation numbers for any reason)
  • The numbers of and contact information for any credit or debit cards you may use on your trip (in case they are lost or stolen)
  • A copy of your Driver’s License (and International Driver’s License, if necessary-in case either of these documents are lost or stolen)
  • Your frequent flyer number, your frequent guest number for hotel chains, and any other travel membership clubs’ numbers (in case you need them to claim rewards or discounts)
  • The numbers of your traveler’s checks (in case the originals are lost or stolen)
  • Names and contact information for friends and relatives you plan to visit while on your trip (so that it will be easier to contact them and also, in case of emergency, for someone else to be able to contact someone nearby)
  • Medical insurance provider name, contact information and policy number (in case your card is lost or stolen)
  • Name and contact information for your cell phone service provider & the serial number of the phone, your account number, and the SIM card number (in case your phone is lost or stolen or there is a problem with your phone and you are not able to get service)
  • If you will be using a laptop or cell phone with wireless internet access, the name and contact information for your internet service provider, and the serial number of your laptop and any other accessories (in case your computer is lost or stolen and also in case you need assistance with your internet coverage)
  • A copy of your itinerary (Each adult or older child should have a copy of this document in case you get separated from the others in your party. You should also leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home in case you are lost or missing they can better work with the authorities to help them find you.)
  • Information concerning any medical conditions you may have including allergy information (Include information like blood type, height, weight, birth date, etc. for each member of your party.)
  • Names & contact information for your house sitter, pet sitter, etc. (in case of an emergency)

It could be disastrous if a list like this fell into the wrong hands, so for this reason, use some kind of code as you compile these account numbers.

One suggestion is to write the account numbers in a different sequence. For example, if your account number is 6389 7492 8852 4301 you could write it like this 2588 9836 1043 2947 or if it is 5529731 you could write it as 2551379.

Whatever code you use be sure to memorize it and make sure that anyone else in your traveling party knows how to use it also.

The secret is to have the information available to any one who may need it, but extremely difficult to use for any one who may try to steal it.

Another code to use is to leave the names and contact information in the right order or to further protect yourself and any one else whose contact information you may be carrying, mix up the order of the names and numbers. For example, you could put the info for the first item on the list in the second position, the info for the second item on the list in the third position, and the info for the third item on the list in the first position.

Then create a fake category, something like “Luggage Insurance Carrier” then list the account number as 122331 with the order of the numbers being the “pairs” of how you switched the information: 1,2=first in second position, 2,3=second in third position, 3,1=third in first position.

It may seem a little confusing and like it would be a lot of work to make your list in this way, but remember that the secret it to make the information hard to steal while still having it available just in case you need it.

These items are not sensitive information, but they would be valuable if you needed them:

Keep several various sized envelopes available to store these items safely.

  • The name and contact information of your travel agent (if you used one)
  • Any coupons or discount codes you plan to use
  • The contact information for the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Board for the areas you will be visiting
  • Contact information for the embassy where you will be visiting
  • A copy of your packing list with space to add any purchases you make while on your trip
  • Emergency phone numbers for the areas where you will be traveling including poison control
  • A phrase book for any foreign languages you may encounter
  • Directions to any places or events you plan to visit
  • A tipping chart
  • A foreign currency exchange rate chart
  • If traveling with pets, name & contact information for their veterinarian and also their immunizations history
  • Names and addresses for anyone you plan to send a post card to
  • A journal to keep track of your expenditures and also to keep a record of what you do each day
  • A recent map of the city and surrounding areas where you are visiting
  • Copies of any contracts you signed for vacation packages, travel insurances, etc.
  • Copies of any prescriptions for medications, eye glasses or contact lenses (for each person in your party, if necessary)
  • If traveling with children and only one parent, a notarized letter of consent from the other parent (a separate letter for each child, if necessary; this is good to have even for domestic travel)
  • Immunization records (for each person in your party, if necessary; this is good to have even for domestic travel)
  • The receipts for any merchandise you purchase while on your trip (in case you need to return them for any reason; also, if you are returning from a foreign country you will need these when you pass through customs)
  • A list of all electronic equipment, including serial numbers, that you are traveling with and copies of receipts for them, if possible (in case they are lost or stolen you will have this information available for the authorities; also, if you are passing through customs you will be able to prove prior ownership and avoid paying duty fees on these items)
  • The name and contact information for the hotel(s) where you will be staying (Each person in your party should carry a business card with this information on it in case they are lost or need to give directions to a cab driver.)
  • A copy of your auto insurance information (in case you are involved in an automobile accident)
  • Your luggage claim tickets (to enable you to claim your luggage)
  • The number/aisle of the parking spot where you leave your vehicle in long-term parking at the airport (in case you can’t remember where to find it when you return)
  • Insurance claims forms (for all traveler’s insurance that you purchased; these insurances often have a short claim period so you may need to file the claim before you return home)
  • Birth Certificates (in case you need to prove identity or prove that a child is yours)
  • Extra passport photos (this will save you a lot of time, trouble and expense if your passport is lost or stolen)

Items to carry on your person (You will need these actual documents):

  • Your passport, visa, or any other necessary documents (adults should carry these for the children)
  • Any travel visas or entry documents you need for the areas where you will be traveling (for each person in your party, if necessary)
  • Medical insurance card & any other insurance cards
  • A card with information on any medical conditions and the names and contact information of any other adults in your party or that you may be visiting

Special note about children:

  • Children should carry an identification card stating their full name, your name and the names of any other adults in your party, the phone numbers and addresses where you can be reached, and emergency contact numbers back home.
  • This card should also include any other important information such as medical conditions, insurance information, and health care provider’s name and contact information.
  • Place the ID card inside the child’s shirt in a pocket that you have sewn in beforehand.
  • This will require a little bit of work and preparation, but if it is ever needed it will be worth it.
  • Your child probably already knows about “stranger danger,” but right before a trip is a good time to review this information and to teach them not to show this card to anyone unless they are lost.

Gather all these lists and documents and put then in an accordion style file folder with an elastic band to hold it shut. If you leave your hotel room, place this folder in your room safe and make sure that every one who would need this information knows the combination and knows how to operate the safe.

Hopefully you will never need any of this information for an emergency, but this Important Papers File will be there if you do.

Paula Farris loves to explore new places with her husband of 20 years and her 4 children. Some of the trips they have taken include Portland, OR, San Diego, CA, Colorado Springs/Denver, CO, Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico and several locations throughout Arizona.

She has traveled with her children as young as one week old and as old as teenagers. She is an expert on the subject of traveling with a family.

Paula is the owner of http://www.StressFreeFamilyTravel.com and the author of two ebooks on the subject of family travel. Drop by her site and learn how to remove the stress from your next family vacation.

Copyright 2008, Paula Farris, All Rights Reserved
This report can be given away to anyone or reproduced in any publication as long as this resource box is attached.

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Choosing the Right Personal Injury Attorney

When looking for a personal injury attorney, it behooves you to seek out a lawyer that has both the experience handling your type of case and the capability to relate to you in a personable fashion. While it can be difficult to find both these qualities in one attorney, it is certainly not impossible.

In order to find the attorney that may work the best for you, it would be wise to ask them a number of questions:

  • Do you handle many clients in my demographic (car accidents, mesothelioma cases, product liability)?
  • What is the most frequent resolution to cases similar to mine?
  • In working with people who are in my situation, can you offer any advice with how to deal with the common problems that come up?
  • In working with these types of cases, have you built relationships with people on the other side (opposing counsel, insurance adjusters, government officials, doctors, experts, specialists)?
  • Without going into specifics, how does my case compare to other cases like mine that you’ve handled?

These questions will help you choose the best lawyer for your particular situation. While all attorneys get a generalized education of legal theory and practice at law school, those attorneys that dedicate themselves to a particular field and work with clients and other professionals tend to have a more complete picture on how to handle various situations as they come up during the course of legal proceedings.

You wouldn’t want to hire a plumber if you needed an electrician, would you? Granted they both work on pipes inside the walls of a house, and are both trained professionals, but nevertheless they perform vastly different tasks.

Ultimately, the choice you make for your attorney could be the most important choice of your life. Don’t make one based on a flashy Web site or a fancy TV commercial. Get to know them, let them get to know you, and work with them to make the most of your situation.

Jeffrey Frank, a seasoned San Diego personal injury attorney has been successfully representing injury victims since 1985. As an accident attorney Jeffrey Frank offers comprehensive legal services for victims injured in cities across Southern California by negligent third party drivers.

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Canceled Auto Insurance Policies – How to Reinstate Them

The cost of living nowadays has went up, as prices for basic necessities like food, clothing, transportation and the likes have increased. What your salary could afford this month may be too expensive after 3 months. Many workers today are having difficulty in making ends meet for their family’s need. Here is a scenario: You are living in San Diego, California and with prices going up your regular meager salary is not enough to pay all the bills. You decided to stop paying for your auto insurance but in a turn of events you have been promoted and is now capable of paying your bills, however your policy is canceled for non-payment. What should you do?

There many ways you can do, buying a new policy is one. There many California insurers that offer CA auto insurance quotes free of charge nowadays, so getting a new package will not be that difficult. There is also the option of reinstating your agreement. However, there are guidelines to follow for reinstating it. Most companies only allow reinstatements for up to 30 days. Within this 30-day period you can reinstate your package. Providers will require you to sign a statement of no loss. According to this statement you, the client had not lose in the time you had the lapse and that you could not and would not make a claim for that certain time period. All insurers require their clients to submit a document with this statement when reinstating their policies. Some companies even charge a reinstatement fee.

Most carriers allow reinstatements of policies that have been canceled due to non-payment as long as the lapse in the coverage has been less than 30 days and there have been no losses. Grace periods are available in some companies, in which a client has 7 up to 10 days to reinstate. If you are able to reinstate your insurance within the “grace period” of the cancellation date, the company will give you the same rate you used to pay but you must pay a certain amount of 2 to 6 months upfront.

The insurer will require you to pay additional fees, in which you must give upfront along with certain number of months paid in upfront if you are not able to reinstate it within the grace period, but they will reinstate you up to 30 days. If you are unable to reinstate your policy within the guidelines that has been given to you, you have the option of going to your insurer to ask for another quote or go to a different carrier and start with a new insurance deal. Inability to pay for your monthly charge is inevitable especially with the current economic crisis, however if you are unable to reinstate your pre-need package, there is nothing to worry about. There are many insurers in CA, auto insurance quotes free of charge is very easy to find on the Internet, and insurers implement a process to help you with this issue.

The author is fascinated by things that are simple and minimal. He likes minimalist art, lives a simple lifestyle and writes things that are light and easy to read.

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Ensenada Boaters Shore Leave – There’s More to Do at Ensenada Than Drink Free Beer at the Marinas

Cruising boaters know that Ensenada provides more than just free beer. I frequently sail boats (power and sail) to Ensenada, Baja, Mexico, and I’ve always found lots of cheap, fun and interesting adventures – from red-hot sportfishing to tranquil spa treatments, from sipping local wine and tequila to watching a movie being filmed. Best part? It’s all in English.

We recreational boaters from Southern California (known as “yatistas” in Spanish) think of Ensenada as our foreign port right next door. Each fall, nearly 1,000 yachts head south, and Ensenada is the easiest place to clear into Mexico. Each spring, more than 2,000 yachts cross the finish line for the Newport Beach to Ensenada Race. Safely north of hurricane alley, Ensenada is an ideal “hurricane hole” for yatistas on a tight budget. And until California tax laws change, about 500 newly purchased yachts join the theoretical “90-Day Yacht Club” each year.

Cruising to Ensenada via the Coronado Islands

Ensenada lies 75 nautical miles (n.m.) down the coast from Point Loma Light at San Diego, or 60 highway miles south of Tijuana. Either way, it’s doable in a day.

Sailing down, you pass the Coronado Islands, owned by Mexico. You can anchor to fish, dive or rest for the night, but you can’t go ashore on this 4-island nature preserve. Mexican Navy patrols based at Smugglers Cove on Coronado del Norte are helpful to yatistas. My favorite anchorage is on Coronado del Sur.

If you drive down towing a boat, buy Mexican auto insurance at San Ysidro and take the toll road. The presence of new Tourist Patrols prevents security problems, and they help gringos in English.

Ensenada Marinas

Mexico has really developed its marinas lately: the Ensenada region has 1,400 full-service slips catering to nautical tourists. In geographic order, they are Marina Puerto La Salina and Marina Coral (both north of town), Cruiseport Village Marina, Marina Baja Naval, Sergio’s Sportfishing and Bandito’s Dock (inside Ensenada harbor). Puerto Hussong and another marina are in construction.

Anchor Freedom

The Port Captain installed new moorings in the harbor in 2008, but if you prefer to anchor for free, check out the coves at south Todos Santos Island or Punta Banda. In calm weather, small boats can anchor off beautiful Playa Estero Beach and dinghy into the bird-watching estuary at high tide.

Jack & Jill in Ensenada

Jack gets up early to join a half-day charter sportfishing boat (found at Marina Coral, Cruiseport Village Marina or Sergio’s) that’s heading out to Bajo San Miguel or the Todos Santos Islands for winter bass or summer dorado and marlin. If Jack owns a sportfishing boat, a local crew will clean Jack’s catch and wash down the boat. Downtown, Restaurante Casa Mar will grill Jack’s fish for lunch.

Meanwhile, Jill heads to the spa (Marina Coral) for a menu of hot mineral soaks and massages – from deep tissue to fruit wraps. Invented by the Aztecs, the fabled “temetzcal” sauna is given at Uruapan Hot Springs and most hotel spas in town. On her way to meet Jack for lunch downtown, Jill shops for silver baubles and a Josefa fashion jacket on Mateos Blvd.

Afternoon Delights

Summer is a great time to visit Ensenada by boat, because the marinas are half empty. (They fill up by November when thousands of U.S. cruising yachts begin cruising season in Mexico.) Local culture blooms all summer.

In August, six indigenous tribes from Baja, Arizona, Sonora and California gather near Marina Baja Naval for a “Kiru Kiru” or traditional gourd dancing with songs, music, foods and native handicrafts. At the same time, Ensenada’s many vintners put on Fiestas de Vendimia 2008, with free wine tasting tours. L.A. Cetto is my favorite, but others are closer to marinas.

Ensenada Tequila Festival 2008 runs through October. Sample mescals, tequilas and appetizers at the Riviera cultural center (near Cruiseport Village Marina) and see “Culture of Agave and Mezcal” by Hugo D’Acosta. Gourmet dining features unique tequila recipes.

Rosarito Beach

This beach enclave has no marina, but cruise ships anchor off and shuttle folks ashore – it’s that famous. Since the 1930s, Hollywood celebrities have been sprinkling stardust at the venerable Rosarito Beach Hotel and Spa. In 2008, stars still come here incognito for wellness breaks, often bringing the whole family for the water park, kids’ sand-castle classes and world-class boutique shopping. Make reservations for the hotel.

But don’t miss the movie! Remember “Pearl Harbor” and “Titanic” and “Master and Commander”? How about “Deep Blue Sea,” “Tomorrow Never Dies” and “In Dreams”? They were filmed at Baja Studios (originally Fox Hollywood Studios Baja). When “Titanic” was filming on this beach, the set’s smoke stacks were so realistic that the U.S. Coast Guard got hundreds of reports that a cruise ship had run aground!

Xploration lets visitors go behind the scenes and interact with this working movie studio. Play with animation, camera lenses, lighting techniques and makeup. The Props & Wardrobe shop is filled with real costumes from movies past, present and future. For tour times, visit the Xploration website.

Next time you sail down to Ensenada, don’t get stuck on the boat.

Capt. Patricia Rains writes “Mexico Boating Guide” and “Cruising Ports: the Central American Route,” nautical guidebooks for yacht owners (sail and power), updated 2008. http://www.MexicoBoating.com Capt. Pat Rains cruised the Sea of Cortez in her own boat for 5 years, then married Capt. John E. Rains and delivered large yachts for 15 years between Florida and California via the Panama Canal. With her U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Masters license, she worked aboard naval research ship. With her B.S. in Journalism she edits books and is a columnist on Mexico and Central American nautical tourism for The Log Newspapers, SEA Magazine and other national publications. Rains owns Point Loma Publishing in San Diego, gives cruising seminars and consults.

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Car Buying Checklist

Are you looking to buy a new car or second-hand car, perhaps? Either way, you are going to need to consider a lot of factors when buying cars. Keep in mind that getting a car is not like buying candy from the store. You have to choose very carefully because a car is such a big investment to make. It entails a big amount of money. And even if you choose to get financing for your car, the purchase is likely to stick with your for the next five years or so.

When buying cars, these are the points you may like to consider:

1. Reviews

As far as a newer car is concerned, you have to rely on professional reviews to give you a good picture of what it can do on the road and what it can do for you personally. Be careful not to rely on paid reviews though. These reviews pose as a type of advertising for the car and its manufacturer. It is best that you look for an impartial, straightforward review from unaffiliated car experts themselves. You would find some on the internet. These reviews may come in print too. Find new car magazines featuring the set of new cars you’d like to buy.

2. Features

Without putting up much of a debate, the best car to buy is always the feature-rich one. Make sure that the car’s safety and security features are the best in its class. However, you have to be careful of cars that would lock you out unreasonably. There are simply a lot of cases like this happening today. Know from the manufacturer itself their proposed workaround for situations like this. Some car manufacturers would ask you to provide some personal information and a serial number of some sort before they can unlock your car. You have to always be ready with this information at all times.

3. Price

Let’s face it. The price is the biggest determining factor when it comes to buying cars. Some people buy a model that they can’t afford. And so they end up having to surrender the car back to the bank because they simply can’t pay for it any longer. Don’t let this happen to you. Get a car that perfectly fits your budget, with or without financing. If you can pay for the car in cash, that’s going to be better. If you do, you are going to get more discounts and throw-ins. Consider your finances carefully when buying cars. Make sure that you don’t go overboard buying a flashy sports car that you’ll only have trouble paying for in the long run.

4. Use

When buying cars, always answer this all-important question: What’s the car going to be used for? There are many reasons why a person buys a car. Some use the car as their daily transportation to work. For this, a fuel-efficient car is your best bet. If you’re buying a car for the entire family’s use, get a roomy, comfortable sedan. This way, everybody has his own seat and experience a relaxed travel even on long journeys. Some people get an extra car for special occasions. For these lucky ones, a luxury car is a good suggestion. No need to get a limo because as doing so is not very practical. You can simply rent a limo if you want to use it.

When you want to buy a used car in San Diego or you need car financing in San Diego, visit us at PacificNissan.com!

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Health Insurance Rules and Regulations for Small Businesses in California

If you work for or own your own small business, providing or finding

affordable and comprehensive health insurance can be even more difficult than usual. In fact, a recent survey found that more than half of small business owners in California don’t provide health insurance for their employees. The cost for providing health insurance for an employee averages over $3000 a year.

This is despite a requirement under California health insurance laws stating

that small group health insurance must be available to any small business that

otherwise qualifies for group health insurance.

By law, any small business (defined as 2 to 50 employees) in the state of

California must be offered the same health insurance for small businesses that

is offered to other small businesses.

Coverage cannot be denied as long as a company pays their premiums, has been in

business for at least two months and offers coverage to all eligible employees,

including any who work part time.

An insurance company may also specify a minimum acceptable number of people to

enroll in their plan otherwise they do have the right to withdraw the insurance.

The health insurance may be revoked if the required minimum number of employees

doesn’t participate.

Under California law, it’s also illegal for an insurance company to refuse

coverage based on the health of the insured group – coverage may vary based on

employees’ average age and location.

And those companies that do bother to provide health insurance are cutting back

on benefits or employer contributions – around 25% of employers said they have

had to either reduce benefits or make their employees responsible for more of

the costs.

Apart from being a requirement, health insurance for employees of small

businesses makes financial sense – as well as being an excellent way of keeping

employees happy and reducing absenteeism, there may be major tax benefits. In

general, expenses related to health insurance are entirely tax-deductible when

incurred by an employer.

Visit our website to get your affordable auto insurance quote instantly, get home owner insurance in Florida, or to find United Health Care insurance.

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Low Financing in the 2008 Honda Car Clearance

Even though it is 2009, you can still enjoy the huge savings on a new car in the Honda car clearance of the 2008 models it has remaining on the lots of the dealerships. With the current economic difficulties plaguing car manufacturers, sales of new cars were not as brisk in the summer and fall of 2008 as they would have liked. Therefore, there are still deals to be had as the dealers try to move as many of the 2008 models as they can to make room for the 2009 models.

In the Honda car clearance, you can enjoy low financing rates on many of the models. You do have to keep in mind that this offer is on select models only. Some of these models are:

• Accord Coupe

• Accord Sedan

• Element

• Odyssey

• Pilot

• Ridgeline

You do need to be employed or have a source of income and have a good credit rating to be deemed a qualified buyer. The ads for the Honda car clearance state that this offer of low financing rates is for qualified buyers only. The company offers national rates of 1.9% on terms of two to three years. If you need to have a longer length of time to pay off the cost of the new car you want to buy, the interest rate is higher at 3.9% for three to six years.

If you want to buy a different model in the Honda 2008 car clearance, you can still enjoy low rates on these vehicles depending on the term you choose for the loan. All makes and models of 2008 cars are available for terms of five to seven years at less than 6% interest.

Even if you are not in a position to buy a new car, you can still enter the 2008 Honda Car Clearance sweepstakes. An entry gives you a chance to win $7500 in free gas for your car, which will certainly be an important savings for your household budget. Honda is one of the car manufacturers that still offers customers the option of leasing a new car rather than buying it. There are deals to be had with this option as well, such as a payment of only $250 per month on select Honda models.

You will have to make the first month’s payment, a security deposit and a down payment as soon as you sign the papers to lease a car in this Honda car clearance. If you want to trade in your older model car, the money you receive in the trade will likely cover these costs so that you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket.

By browsing the official Honda website, you will be able to gain valuable information on the offers of the Honda new car clearance. In this way you will be better informed about the prices and the financing options when you visit the dealership of your choice.

If you are currently making payments on your vehicle, you should find out what the payout will be so that you will have a good idea of whether or not you will get more in the trade in than you owe on your car. When you get the price the dealership will give you for your car, then you can do the Math yourself and if it is not to your liking, you won’t have to apply for loan approval.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in the automotive industry; from the new car clearance to cheap auto insurance. For more information on the 2008 car clearance or cheap car insurance, please visit http://cheap-insurance-rates.com/.

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Factors That Go Into Wrongful Death Settlement Decisions

Unlike what you see on dramatic television shows, the vast majority of cases settle long before the trial ever comes around. There are a host of issues that go into making the decision for both parties. In this article, we take a look at a couple that may be less obvious, but need to be considered in wrongful death actions.

The facts of a case dictate its outcome. More pointedly, the evidence supporting those facts dictates the result. To this end, there is an old saying among lawyers. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the facts are against you, argue the law. If both are against you, try to make it personal with opposing counsel. Some say this last approach was what kept OJ Simpson out of jail on his murder charges. Regardless, the evidence and law in a case are critical, but there are two other factors to take into account.

You have a wrongful death case wherein your spouse was killed in a car crash involving a dump truck. Liability is clearly in your favor, but there is a problem. The dump truck driver was self-employed. The only thing he really owned was his truck. He wasn’t married and didn’t own a home and so on. The truck is worth about $20,000, but he did have insurance for another $100,000. The insurance company is offering the full $100,000 to settle the case. In this scenario, taking the case to trial is not really worth it. You could get a judgment for a trillion dollars, but you will never see the money. In the OJ case, the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown ultimately received a $30 million plus judgment. They’ve recovered a tiny fraction of it because most of his assets were shielded. In short, it was a hollow victory.

The second issue to consider is the jury reputation. Every jury is different, but communities show trends when it comes to their views on cases. Some areas of the country produce juries that almost always side with doctors in medical malpractice cases unless liability is absolutely clear such as San Diego. Just up the coast in Long Beach, the opposite is true. In deciding whether to settle a wrongful death case, knowing how juries tend to act in your area is a critical issue.

The decision to settle a case is often a simple one. There is usually something that arises that clearly dictates one result or another. When evaluating the case with your attorney, make sure to remember to consider these two issues.

Thomas Ajava is with BirminghamWrongfulDeathLawyer.com – find a quality Birmingham wrongful death attorney to handle your case and get you through a tough time.

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Mortgage Life Insurance Policies

What Is Mortgage Life Insurance?

If you have a mortgage and are a home owner, you have most likely heard the pitch for mortgage life insurance. It typically comes in an envelope from your lender and might include a letter from your lender suggesting that you buy a policy.

It is important to realize though, that the insurance itself is sold by insurance companies. Even though it is called “mortgage insurance,” it is in reality decreasing term life insurance that will pay off your mortgage if you pass away.

How Are Premium Payments Planned?

Mortgage life insurance is a decreasing term policy. The policy starts with a death benefit that is equivalent to your existing mortgage balance. The death benefit reduces at the same pace as your mortgage balance. The premium payments never vary but may cease before the loan payment. Your lender may agree to include the premium payments to your monthly mortgage expense.

Is Mortgage Life Insurance Identical to Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?

No-mortgage life insurance is commonly befuddled with Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), but they have little to do with one another. You purchase mortgage life insurance willingly to shelter your family from having to pay the mortgage.

Mortgage lenders require you to buy PMI to shield them (the lenders) from the probability that you will default on the mortgage.

Insurance Tip: Request for insurance agents to estimate their best price for a decreasing term policy in the same amount, period, and interest rate before buying from a sales pitch sent by your mortgage company.

What Is Credit Life Insurance And Credit Disability Insurance?

When financing some kinds of big items – automobile, furniture, audio equipment – there is a good possibility you will be presented with credit life and credit disability insurance. Credit life guarantees to pay your balance if you die. Credit disability will pay your payments if you become disabled and not capable of working.

Credit life is a decreasing term policy. The insurance premiums are typically added into the loan contract. This type of insurance is constantly voluntary and it can be rather costly. Your lender cannot require you to purchase credit life or credit disability insurance.

Although they may have some comparable elements, credit life and credit disability insurance are not the same thing as mortgage life insurance.

What Is A Life Insurance Rider?

A “rider” is something that is supplementary to the basic policy. Riders can be used to either add benefits to the policy or limit benefits previously in the policy. Common riders are as follows:

Accidental death: Double indemnity is an additional name for this rider. It means that the benefits paid by your policy will be two times the face sum of the policy if you die in an calamity.

Approximately twenty percent of policyholders perish in accidents.

The price for an accidental death rider is usually reasonably priced.

Some critics bring up the point that how the policyholder dies has nothing to do with how much money your survivors will need.

Waiver of premium: This rider allows you to cease paying premiums whenever you happen to become disabled and unable to continue working.

It is crucial to comprehend how the rider defines “disabled.” For example, the meaning could be very restrictive and require you to be so extremely disabled that you cannot do any sort of work whatsoever.

A disability policy can also defend you from monetary hardship due to a disability. Depending on the kind of policy you acquire, it could supply capital to pay for all of your living expenditures, not solely your life insurance premium.

Mortgage protection: This rider fundamentally attaches a mortgage life policy to your chief policy.

Other insured: You can insert life benefits for your spouse or children. They may have varying coverage amounts and be subject to medical underwriting, however.

Guaranteed insurability: This rider would characteristically be added to a whole life or universal life insurance policy.

It gives you the right to procure a new policy or amplify the maximum on your existing policy without having to pass another medical assessment.

The rider will most likely indicate how much you can add and at what time you can do it.

The guarantee may not persist after you reach your mid to late forties.

Accelerated death benefit: This permits you use some portion of your death benefit when you have an incurable sickness. Some policies will insert this rider without causing your premium to enlarge.

Insurance Tip: If your agent automatically includes riders when calculating your premium, request the agent to value each rider independently. You can then choose whether you think the additional benefit any rider provides is worth the added rate.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in life insurance policies, companies, and advice as well as finance and business. For a free term life insurance quote, please visit http://www.equote.com

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Double Your Insurance Leads by Targeting an Emerging Market

It is no secret to those Insurance agencies who are already successfully selling to Hispanics that it is quickly becoming beneficial and lucrative to target this market. There is new data available that backs the spending power and growth of this group. So why, then, isn’t every agency successful at marketing to this ever-evolving Hispanic population?

Here are 5 key tips you must know when marketing Insurance products to Hispanics.

#1 Know your target audience.

There are very specific groups within the Hispanic population, and each is very dynamic from the next. There are cultural differences, language differences, even generational differences. And you need to decide which will be your primary focus. The one good thing about Insurance; is though it is universal, meaning anybody, anywhere can sell it or buy it, people will only travel so far for the services you offer. So determining your niche within the Hispanic culture will be slightly easier when you look at your local demographics. Are you in Miami, San Diego or Corpus Christi for example, where there are strong cultural influences? Or are you in places like Orlando, Chicago or San Francisco where the generation of Hispanic (meaning 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation) plays a larger role over culture? What the independent Agent has as an advantage over the larger corporate agencies is the ability to tailor their practice specifically to the dominating Hispanic culture in their area.

#2 Use images that represent the Hispanic person you are targeting.

This again involves knowing your target audience within the Hispanic community. In your less culturally influenced cities, the generation of the person you are targeting becomes important. Someone who was born and raised in Mexico or Puerto Rico, for example, will not be as subject to the “American lifestyle” as one who was born and raised with the Americanized ideals. Your second and third generation Hispanics are blending more and more to the images of today’s American standards. Though they are still heavily influenced by “family” and ‘family images”, they are also influenced by images of personal growth and wealth.

The more culturally influenced Hispanics in places like Miami or Houston do better with images relating to their specific cultures. Not just providing for their immediate families, but to their extended as well. To show images that do not include old and young people together will not appeal to these heavily cultural dominated areas. This does not mean you should include sombreros or cigars in your advertising campaigns, however, vibrant colors and images of modest homes and families have proven to be successful.

#3 Accurate translations.

The best advice anyone can give when marketing to Hispanics, regardless of your target audience, is NEVER use slang. If a Dominican, for instance, is engaged in a conversation with another Dominican, then the use of slang may be appropriate. But it has no place in print or online marketing. A slang phrase in one culture could be completely offensive to another and may cause more damage than good.

In addition, if you are going to offer translated services and documents, make sure they are prepared and translated by a professional; someone who knows the language formally. Translation is not just simply exchanging Spanish words from English ones as the entire format and sentence structure needs to be changed to make sense.

#4 Offer bilingual services.

Catering to Spanish only is just as profit prohibitive as catering to English only. To truly expand into both markets, you need to offer services in both languages. Recognizing that there are differences not only from culture to culture, but also from family member to family member. A parent’s preferred language may be Spanish, and they will be more attracted and comfortable with Spanish terminology and forms. Their son or daughter, having been educated and raised in the States; may be more attracted to the services you have outlined in English. However, since you took the time to cater to their parents’ language barrier, you will gain the loyalty of both.

This step may also include the expansion of your staff. Whether you advertise your services in print form or on online, you will ultimately need someone to pick up the phone and communicate with anyone who calls in. Having at least one person in your staff, who can communicate effectively in English and in Spanish, will only set you further apart from the competition within your community.

#5 Network your agency in both languages.

This is different than simply offering bilingual services. For this you will actually be advertising your insurance agency using both English and Spanish networks. Print advertising is the easiest to explain, you simply provide your brochures and pamphlets in both languages.

To effectively market a website is trickier. Make sure whoever you choose for your website optimization provides you with both English and Spanish SEO (search engine optimization). Finally, that your page titles and meta-tags are written in both languages as well.

To be successful with one specific market may be easier. But to transcend into a multicultural agency could ultimately double your profits. Knowledge is the key element when marketing to Hispanics in your local area. The more you know, the more you will set yourself apart as the trusted and respected advisor.

After securing her position as a Top Seller in the Insurance and Financial Industry over the course of many years; Christee Fontanez shifted her focus several years ago to internet marketing and advertising. She combined both professions and now works to build results-driven marketing campaigns for the independent advisor.

Having created her own system for generating business to business and business to consumer leads, she now shares her knowledge with those seeking to increase their profitability. For FREE resources visit http://www.mediadvine.com or http://www.seguro-insurance.com

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