C'mon people, liability insurance is good

I found out this morning that my mechanic doesn't have liability insurance. That means I will be finding a new mechanic.

Why? Because anyone can have an off day. Sometimes an off day can lead to a tragic accident. If a member of my family is in a tragic accident because my mechanic is having an off day, life will be a whole lot worse for everyone if there's no insurance.

Years ago I was involved in a case where a garage emptied the oil from an engine and forgot to put more in. Insanely stupid--yes. The sort of thing that one can easily imagine happening? Absolutely. The engine seized up after the car was driven for a mile or two. Nobody was hurt and the claim was only for property damage.

But imagine that the garage had been near a highway entrance and the engine seized up on 128. The car sputters and slows, gets rear-ended by the car behind it, and someone ends up paralyzed. It's a horrible enough scenario with sufficient insurance. Without insurance, unless the injured person is independently very, very wealthy, they are likely looking at a life of poverty. They are unable to work and unable to afford to pay caretakers. A million dollars in an insurance settlement (which conservatively invested may provide $50,000 a year to live on) can be the difference between tragedy and hell.

If I were the owner of the garage I would grit my teeth every time I wrote my insurance premium check. But I would do it, not only to protect my business but to protect my customers

Buying Used Cars Tips

If you planed to buy an used car, it is important not only to find the car you like but you may also need to take some precautions like checking the car history, taking a test drive, knowing its book value or taking an extended warranty.

Check the car’s history

An essential factor when car browsing is to learn the car’s history. This entails finding a reliable source as to whether the automobile has ever been flooded or involved in an automobile accident. Before agreeing to buy used cars, consumers may obtain a CarFax report at www.carfax.com or by requesting that their local dealer provide a copy. There is a minimal fee involved in acquiring the report, but the findings are invaluable. For instance, the number of owners and the title status are both included in a CarFax report.

Take a drive test

Generally, used cars buyers will be permitted to take a test drive and also may think about requesting permission to take the automobile to a trusted mechanic for an additional inspection. The best way to confirm that the automobile is in the condition as stated is to take it to a mechanic, who can properly inspect used cars and locate any underlying problems. Even if most used cars are exactly as stated, when auto safety and any amount of money is involved, there is no room for error in judgment.

Know the car value

Before buying any used car, it is important to be familiar with the value of the vehicle. One way to determine an accurate value is through the use of Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and their extensive pricing system. By entering specific information about an automobile, consumers will receive instant value estimates online. In order to get an accurate value, consumers must know the make and model of the automobile, current mileage, additional features and overall condition.

Ask for an extended warranty

It may also be possible to purchase an extended warranty when you buy an used car. Because the original warranty has already expired on most previously owned vehicles, this option is available for the consumer who wants to make sure their purchase is covered. It is important to realize that the warranty is not automatically included in the sticker. In fact, the consumer should ask the dealer specifically about purchasing an extended warranty. More often than not, an extended warranty can be added into the total cost and may even be included in the financing.

Find more about used cars, Kelly Blue Book and used cars value http://www.autonews24h.com/Buying-Guides/KellyBlueBook.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aurel_Radulescu

Another rant about why you should have liability insurance

A few months ago I posted about my irritation with the decision of my mechanic to not purchase liability insurance. Same issue with my eight-year old daughter's day camp, only this time it's more like fury.

I learned that the camp does not have insurance months after I signed her up (and, as any of you who are parents will know, long after the time to make decent alternate plans had passed), as I was filling out additional paperwork. Among that paperwork was a release requiring me to forgo any claims my daughter might have if she is injured at the camp, and to acknowledge that the camp does not have insurance.

So, let me get this right: I am paying (a lot) for you to have my daughter in your care for eight hours a day. If you make a mistake that results in my daughter getting hurt--and because I'm superstitious I'm not going to list all the possible mistakes that you could make in the course of taking care of fifty elementary-school aged kids, or all the possible injuries I can imagine--you are going to say, "Oops, so sorry," and walk away.

Let me say this again: Liability insurance is a cost of doing business. No one enjoys paying it. Everyone who has a business in which there is a decent likelihood that someone could be injured as a result of a mistake the business makes needs to have it.

After The Flood Come The Scammers

By Cornelius Nunev

Many Gulf Coast consumers are finding themselves not only traumatized by the ravages of Hurricane Isaac last week, but are also facing severe financial stress in the wake of storm damages. Unfortunately, this can be a situation that a particularity low kind of scammer seeks out. These so-called "storm chasers" unscrupulously pick the pockets of people when they are at their most vulnerable. And the storm season is far from over.

Wanting catastrophe to come

The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud is an alliance of insurance businesses, government agencies and consumer groups. A spokesman for the group, James Quiggle, told the Association of American Retired Persons:

"They're called storm chasers, going town to town where disaster strikes to descend on traumatized homeowners and causing more problems than they fix. And they often prey on senior citizens."

And, according to Frank Scafidi of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, they are increasing.

Real problems

Contractor cons usually involve a construction bidder asking for money upfront to repair storm damage. After they are paid, they are gone, like Isaac, with the wind. If they do really perform any repairs, the workmanship and materials are generally shoddy, requiring it to be redone correctly at some time after the scammer has disappeared. And sadly, homeowners insurance will probably not cover repairs handled by unlicensed or unauthorized contractors.

Ways to keep away from the frauds

-- Before letting anybody complete repairs, ask the Better Business Bureau or your insurance agent for a list of approved contractors.

-- The contractor should show you a license first.

-- Contractors with no business card are probably shady.

-- Deposits should never be more than 25 percent of the total estimated contract, and should not be paid until building materials are delivered to your home.

David Guillory works at the East Baton Rouge Parish Department of Public Works as an interim director. He said:

"You really shouldn't be paying for work that's not done. If somebody says, 'Pay me half and I'm going to go get some other equipment,' or go get another crew or something, that should send a red flag up."

Cons all over

After a devastation, fraudsters will go to insurance auctions and buy as many vehicles as they can for a song. They will then put the vehicles back together with really bad materials and craftsmanship.

The vehicles break down a lot and turn into money pits even though they will run well for a couple of months.

Scams to stay from

Get an automobile history report from CARFAX or another trusted company before buying a car, and make sure you get a mechanic to inspect the car first. Do this whether you are getting at auction or individually.

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