YOU MUST STAY ON TOP OF THAT HOUND DOG FOR TWO HUGE REASONS: First because that’s the only way to make sure he does his job correctly. If you don’t watch him like a hawk you could end up on the short end of a very long stick! And second, because most Legal Beagles think they re overworked (if you don t think so just ask them!) and they incorrectly feel they don t have the time to spend on your case today, tomorrow or even six months from now. The truth is you ve signed his Contingency Fee Agreement so he knows you re in his back pocket and someday, when he decides to make his move, you re still locked in. Most have convinced themselves they re too busy to fuss with your case for awhile. Unless you bug them on a regular basis they ll let years drag on before it gets settled.

If you’ve entrusted your case to one of the larger Legal Beagle dog houses in town (a big mistake) you’ve probably been passed on to a fumbling puppy just out of law school. Huge firms handle thousand s of top-dollar cases. Yours will be on a slow assembly line with that puppy sniffin at pant legs and nippin’ at heels, acting as though he knows what he’s doing. You gotta stay close because the youngster you’ve been stuck with has little experience and he usually doesn’t have the foggiest idea how to properly handle your claim.

You must stay active, throughout the whole process, no matter which Legal Beagle you hire. Demand that you receive copies of all correspondence that are sent out on your behalf, request you be copied in on everything sent to your Beagle from the insurance company or its lawyers, and insist on eye-balling the medical records sent to your lawyer (by your attending physician, the hospital emergency room, etc.) to make sure they’re correct. (If they don’t go into detail than the typically sloppy reporting, by attending physicians and other medical people, will be bedding you down with a rattler. If you don t want to die of snake bite you must return those Medical Report s to your “doc” and tell him he’s gotta be more specific or you’re gonna end up with a helluva lot less money than you should!).

The only way you’ll ever be sure your Beagle is being straight with you is if you insist on all of the above. Also, if your lawyer knows you’re keeping close tabs on your case, he ll put it on the “front burner”, keeping it off the “back burner” - - where the majority of his cases are usually cooking - - under a very low flame.

You must know what’s going on with your case at all times and if you re considered to be a pain in the butt than so be it. Make it known to your Beagle that you’re not going to let your case disappear into a bottomless pit . What I’m telling you here is very simple: Don’t let your case drag on and on. If you stay on top of things it’ll get settled much sooner!

When your medical treatment is finished tell your Beagle and insist that he immediately gather up your records, and organize them into a “Settlement Package”. What I mean by that is, a collection of your medical bills and reports, a list of all physical damages, with a thorough explanation of each, etc. Once done your lawyer should get that into the insurance company’s hands just as soon as possible.

The first settlement offer should be made to him no later than 3 weeks after that “package” has been sent to the insurance company. If it isn’t find out why. Be a pest, call that Beagle and push him. Your case should be settled within 6 weeks. If it isn’t you tell your lawyer, “Sue the bugger s.” To do that should take no more than an hour or two to complete - - even the puppy can do it. Those papers should be ready in a week. It’s not asking too much for the suite to be filed by the time another week passes. But, this will only happen if your Beagle is humping away and staying on top of things. Lawyers need to be pushed by their clients or they’ll sit on their butt’s doing other “stuff”. Most of them wait forever to move on a case when they could have had the job done in several months.

DISSATISFACTION WITH YOUR LAWYER: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Those words, written several hundred years ago by Shakespeare, still sums up the feelings of a lot of people. That’s because Legal Beagle’s don’t bother touching base with their client’s. Telephone messages aren’t answered right away - - sometimes never. The way most lawyers treat their clients leaves them feeling ignored and powerless!

So, what s the solution? A Give Him Hell letter to your lawyer, sent Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested, will get his attention, and in most cases (unless he s a blazing idiot which some of them are) assure a prompt phone call. The letter should clearly state your complaints, and also your thoughts about hiring a new attorney - - quick like a bunny - - if the necessary steps aren t taken.

CHANGING LAWYERS: This is a very difficult move so it must be well thought out. The following are some facts you must be aware of:

The new lawyer will ask you to contact the old lawyer telling him to turn your file over. If you have foolishly agreed to pay some of your old attorney s costs (above and beyond the Contingency Fee Agreement you ve signed) the two of them will have to work that out. The old lawyer may agree to wait and not be paid his costs until the new lawyer has settled your case, but (and this is usually the way that ball bounces) he may not! If that s the situation you may have to pony up some big bucks before he turns your case over to the new lawyer.

The new Legal Beagle will want to review the file a soon as possible to determine if he wants to take it on. If it looks like some money can be made, the new lawyer may take it, but that s a long shot. Why? Because your case has to be an outstanding goodie - - with a huge payoff potential for the lawyer s Contingency Fee . Both Beagle s (and there s no way out of this one) will have to split that fee. If there s not enough money to go around the second lawyer won t be interested in taking you case. If that happens, you re gonna be left with an upset attorney. Chances are he ll let your case slip into

Limbo for years to come. That s the risk you take when you try to dump your Beagle. Insurance companies react in various ways to a change in lawyers. They may view the switch as a sign that your case, or you, are a problem . There s no doubt that the switch will tell the insurance company something is wrong. If they smell smoke, they ll suspect a fire is probably blazing. This can result in an increased reluctance to settle. On the other had, the new lawyer may breath needed energy into the case, causing the insurance company to start thinking seriously about settlement - - but that s a long shot. I wouldn t bet on it.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Be sure to pick a good Legal Beagle to begin with, because you re probably gonna be stuck with that hound dog right to the bitter end!

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this claim tip is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor ARTICLECITY.COM make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUAL S RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN SAID SERVICES.

Dan Baldyga s fourth and latest book Auto Accident Personal Injury Insurance Claim: (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at http//.www.autoaccidentclaims.com or http://www.caraccidentclaims.com.

Copyright (c) 2003 Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved.

For 30 years Dan Balddyga was a claims adjuster, supervisor, manager and also a trial assistant. He is now retired and spends his time attempting to assist those involved in motor vehicle claims so they will not be taken advantage of..

dbpaw@comcast.net

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair

We Americans like to buy a car at the dealership in one afternoon, and the dealerships try very hard to make us think that is possible and even smart. But it s not. Realize how big a purchase a car is. And it is complicated.

Buying a car is the second-largest purchase most people make after buying a home. When you buy a home, think about all the help you have: you have a broker to help you find the best home for you, and a mortgage broker to help you find the best financing. And an inspector to make sure the house is safe. Sometimes you also have an attorney to make sure the contract is fair, and a title company makes sure the title is clear before you pay for the home. But when you buy a car, there is not one person there to help you. And the dealers want you to THINK you can waltz in to the dealership and buy a car from start to finish in an afternoon and sure, you can, but you will pay much much more if you do it that way. Here are four tips to give you an advantage:

1. Make at least one trip to the dealership JUST to look around and drive the cars. Promise yourself you will not buy that first time, no matter what. Why? So that you can go home and look up information on the internet, including dealer cost, safety ratings, option prices, and any manufacturer to dealer incentives that the dealer has certainly not told you about!

2. Know what you can afford before you visit the dealership to buy! This means talk to your personal banker or credit union officer before going to the dealership. Why? Some dealerships might actually WANT you to sign on for a more expensive car than you can afford so that you will then default on your loan and they will repossess the car.

3. Whenever the finance manager calculates something, insist that he show you the calculation. Why? The easiest place for dealerships to take more money from you is in the monthly payment. It is VERY common for dealers to increase monthly payments by just a few dollars, even $20 per month, over about a five year period is like giving the dealership $500 extra on the spot.

E.G. If you tell the salesman you can afford a payment of $500 per month, he might find a deal for you in which the payment works out to $460 per month. But instead of telling you that, he might tell you that he has great news !! - - that your payment is down to $480. What happens to the $20 difference between the lender’ $460 per month and the $480 the dealer is charging you? It goes right into the dealer s pocket, and you will never know it unless you Len how to run the calculation yourself, or at least run it by your banker. How much would a dealership make, taking in an extra $20 per month for five years, on a loan with an interest rate of 3.9%? About $500. It is next to impossible to figure this kind of thing out without a financial calculator, or a friend with a financial calculator. But it s worth the trouble!

4. Write down everything you learn about the car, from the internet, magazines, and especially from the salesman. Why? Doing this keeps everybody honest, and literally on the same page YOUR page! Your salesman will see that you are writing down everything he says, and he will be less inclined to lie, or to try to change information on you later on. This tip is all about staying in control.

About The Author

Dr. Robin Segal used to sell cars. It broke her heart to see people paying too much. Everybody she knew asked her how to get the best deal, so she wrote a book containing all the sneaky answers (not really sneaky, just smart and effective!)You can find THE CAR BUYER’S BIBLE here: http://www.thecarbuyersbible.com.

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair

Besides the obvious reason, transportation, are there any other pressing reasons for buying a car? Perhaps it is a necessity like requiring inexpensive transportation to and from work. Or, maybe you are a “stay at home” Mom or Dad and need a vehicle to haul children around to school and various other activities. Regardless of your reason, make certain that purchasing the car is for a valid purpose and not just because you want to outdo “The Joneses.”

In this guide we will show you some of the pitfalls to avoid as well as information to make your selection much easier. The following are basic reasons you should consider when making that all important car purchase. Is it a good buy?

The best time period to buy that car you have always dreamed of having is later in the month. Usually, there are numerous rebate programs and bonus offered by month’s end based on a dealer’s monthly sales quotas. The idea is that, sometimes dealers fall short of meeting their sales objectives. If their performance is assessed by the end of the month this can prove to be good news to most car buyers since dealers now have no choice but to sell vehicles at a price that is lower than their norm. They are pressed to make more sales that will count for their monthly sales and that puts you at an advantage as a buyer.

Peace of mind

Sometimes dealers do a song and dance routine just to make that sale. The result is that often car buyers end up with car features they realize later on they do not really need and a price they actually could not afford. You can avoid this potential stress by always remembering to trust your instincts. If ever you feel in doubt, the answer — don’t — do not let yourself be pressured to making that purchase now.

This is a common strategy of car dealers wherein they compel the customer to buy that car, now, this moment, today!

Do not forget that you should always sleep on it and then decide. This is a lot better than making your mind up now and forever holding your peace.

First Impression

To quote a common clich , first impressions usually last. Though not always true, when buying cars, you could get many ideas just by observing how car sales people deal with you. Usually, these non-verbal signals are fairly correct enough enabling you to know what to expect from your car purchase.

If at any time you feel that the person selling you the car is not trustworthy or simply do not like him or her, always remember that you have the option to leave. It is advisable that you do not sell yourself too much. Time is precious, especially yours. So do not waste it. You are always free to politely walk away, anytime, anywhere, and in any way you like it. But if there are not many car dealers in your area, you may want to linger for a few moments more and wait until the negotiations you have with your dealer breaks down and you simply have no option but to run off.

The Invoice Price

Another thing to consider when buying a car is the invoice price. Make sure to ask that you see the invoice. If dealers are working their tails off against it, you have enough reason to believe that the car being offered is an unpleasant deal. Usually, the price on the invoice is the cost the dealer paid the manufacturer for buying the car. This is before any rebates or incentives were included. Once this is known, only then will you have an idea as to how much the dealer could profit from each vehicle sold. Knowing this information could enable one to be more confident then in negotiating the price.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price

In layman’s term, this is commonly called the sticker price. This is the price one usually sees in the window of the car that is being sold.

Never ever consider paying the amount stated on the sticker price. This amount is just the starting point to your negotiations with the dealer.

Incentives

There are instances when manufacturers provide the dealers with a little something extra, like money, rebates or a bonus because they are able to sell cars that are either overstocked or undersold. Make sure that before actually purchasing a car, you were able to know if that car you are buying has some dealer incentives attached to it. If so, take off that amount from the car’s purchase price and have yourself a very good deal and hopefully, a very good car as well.

About the author:

Gregory Ashton, your resident automobile enthusiast, bringing to you over 20 years of vehicular passion, and expertise; presents for your approval his insider secrets on selecting, buying, and maintianing the car that is ideal for you. http://www.best-car-buying-tips.com

Technorati Tags: automotive, autocare, auto care, car care, auto repair