TJ

Traffic accidents are a terrifying, yet common occurrence on U.S. roadways. Every day, over 3,000 people die in car accidents. The statistics are even more deadly when the crash involves an 18-wheeler truck. In the U.S., 2 million big rig trucks are crisscrossing the nation’s highways and roads. And unfortunately, there are over half a million 18-wheeler accidents every year. Of those wrecks, 5,000 people will lose their lives. 98% of the people who die in these accidents are the driver or the passenger of a vehicle that isn’t an 18-wheeler. It’s a fact of life that U.S. drivers have to share the roadways with large, big-rig vehicles. When you’re driving a regular sized passenger sedan, getting involved in a wreck with an 18-wheeler is horrifying and potentially deadly. So below are some 18 wheeler accident statistics, and if you’ve been the victim of a Texas roadway accident involving an 18-wheeler, here’s what you need to know about accident law in Houston.

1. Proof of Negligence

There is no law against 18-wheelers hitting a vehicle, but the driver of an 18-wheeler can be deemed negligent and responsible for paying out damages to the injured party. A competent attorney needs to prove that the driver of an 18-wheeler was negligent. Proving negligence in an 18-wheeler accident in Texas is a little different than proving negligence with passenger vehicle crashes.

Truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to numerous federal and state regulations. If a company or driver violates any of these regulations, it’s evidence that the company failed to live up to their responsibilities to keep their drivers and other vehicles safe. In some cases, a single violation of a regulation can be enough to prove that the driver of the truck was negligent.

• Speeding
• Driving the 18-wheeler without the required safety brakes
• Failing to stop at a light or stop sign because of unsafe brakes

Although failing to adhere to regulations can result in a winning case for the injured party, most trucking accidents don’t involve regulatory breaches. The most common causes of trucking accidents include the following:

• Failing to look when changing lanes
• Distracted driving
• Driver fatigue
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

The majority of trucking accidents will involve a mixture of the two elements; regulatory breach, and driver error. An experienced attorney will know what to look for in an 18-wheeler accident to best prove negligence.

2. How long is the Statute of Limitations in Houston for an 18-wheeler accident?

In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. Property damage claims are subject to a two-year limitation, as well. Unfortunately, with 18-wheeler truck accidents, they have a high morbidity rate. There is a two years statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim in Texas. But, the statute can be paused for up to one year. The statute begins when the injured party dies, not on the date of the accident.

3. What To Do After an Accident

After the accident, you need to get to safety and get prompt medical attention first. Do not speak to the truck driver, their trucking company, or an attorney or insurance adjuster. They will attempt to misrepresent your side of the case. Most of all, do not release your medical records to anyone related to the trucking company.

Make a report with the police, and always save your medical receipts and bills. If possible, take photos and video of the accident scene, your injuries, and your property damage. Follow up with your doctors and specialists, and always follow your doctor’s orders and advice. After you’ve been injured, it is crucial that you hire an experienced Houston personal injury attorney.

They’ll be able to protect you from liability and get you the compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and property damage.

Our generation is a generation living on profit and borrowed time, and often in borrowed cash. With the invention of the credit card system, people focus on spending first and paying layer, which has gotten them in heaps of trouble. Before they know it, they are unable to deal with the mortgages for their houses and eventually the bank will end up claiming them. Subsequently, when it comes to buying houses at a cheap and affordable rate, a foreclosed house is definitely a better choice. Here are a few points to make sure that your beautiful house doesn’t get claimed up by the banks and leaves you homeless. All you need to make sure is to follow a few guidelines.

Be regular in your payments

As you may have noticed, there is no dearth of foreclosures in Orlando. What do you think all these people did wrong that the bank has no choice but to claim them. It is imperative to know that banks are not really evil by nature. A foreclosed house has a lot of paperwork to deal with. Plus there is the added impetus of selling the above-mentioned house so am to get back the money that was paid on behalf of them. Well, the one thing the people indeed do wrong was not made their payments on time. It is well known that time is of the essence when it comes to a bank and lack of payments of time sets the bank towards a loss. While the first and second-time defaulters are usually given the benefit of the doubt. The third time defaulters are given a stern warning, failing that the house is foreclosed and taken away.

Choose a proper mortgage plan

Most foreclosuresoccur due to the people taking large mortgage plans that they can’t afford. When your job description changes and your cash flow are reduced, start planning from the one in how you will provide the finance to pay the mortgage on the house. Of course, the banks will try to provide you a good quickly ending mortgage, but unless you want to avoid the same situation as foreclosures in Orlando, you will have to start, and choose a mortgage you can afford even when any financial distress occurs.

Keep a good back up

A good financial plan would have gone a long way in avoiding those foreclosures. Sometimes the money flow can still go into ebb mode while you earn well. Unless you have a proper backup, you may soon face an unpleasant foreclosure. Keep a certain amount of money saved for the hard times, because you never know when hard times will befall you.

Conclusion

Thus all you need to do is follow your basic common sense and you can avoid any impending financial disaster like this. So plan ahead and do your financial calculations wisely, unless you want to end up as a part of the sad story of the foreclosures.

You have been searching the Calgary MLS and you have found the perfect home and you have applied for a mortgage loan, now what? For many homebuyers, the time between applying for a loan and waiting to find out if the loan has been approved is an excruciating experience. To help ease your anxiety, it is helpful to learn more about the types of things that are taken into consideration by lenders when trying to decide whether or not they should approve your loan. One of these many factors is your credit score, but what exactly is your credit score and how is it calculated?

What is a Credit Score?

Your credit score is a number that is assigned to you based on your financial health at any given time. This figure, which is calculated by Equifax and TransUnion on a 300 to 900 scale, is then used by lenders to determine the risk of providing you with a loan in comparison to other borrowers. The higher your credit score, the less of a risk you are considered to be. The exact algorithm used by the credit-reporting agencies to determine your credit score is not made public. Furthermore, some lenders use these scores as only one guideline and may, in fact, have their own way of determining a credit score for each potential borrower.

What is Used When Determining a Credit Score?

While the exact algorithm is unknown, the following pieces of information are used when calculating credit scores:

• Payment history
• Account history
• Collections or bankruptcies recorded against you
• Outstanding debts
• The number of recent inquiries into your credit report
• The type of credit you use (i.e. credit cards, loans or a combination of the two)

Each of these factors is assigned a different weight in determining your final score. Your payment history, whether or not you have filed for bankruptcy and your outstanding balances are the most important elements considered when determining your score.

How Can I Improve My Credit Score

The quickest and easiest way to improve your score is to be sure to pay your bills on time, to avoid bankruptcy and to keep your outstanding balances low. While it is a good idea to use your credit cards regularly, you should aim to keep your balances below 35 percent of the available limit on each card. Since having a high amount of revolving credit can have a negative impact on your credit score, you may want to consider closing a couple credit cards if you have several cards. At the same time, be careful when closing accounts, as closing too many accounts at one time or closing accounts with a long credit history can actually have a negative impact on your score.

It’s not hyperbole to say that pretty much anyone can be a business owner these days.

From college dropouts and stay-at-home moms to those with some serious business savvy, today’s startups come from all sorts of backgrounds. In short, there is no “one-size-fits-all” requirement for getting your company off the ground.

That said, nobody should dive blindly into the world of startups without doing some serious soul-searching. Beyond the validity of your company, one of the most overlooked aspects of running a startup is your personality and personal habits.

That’s why we’ve outlined five questions any prospective business owner should poise to themselves before getting started.

“Would I Make a Good CEO?”

As noted by FlaskMarks’ four common blunders CEOs make, it certainly takes a special type of person to run a company effectively. From delegating tasks to being proactive, there’s a distinct difference between someone being a leader versus a follower.

Bear in mind that you don’t need to be a textbook “boss” to run a company. It’s not necessarily about being likeable or even a “people person,” truth be told.

Instead, being a good leader requires a certain sense of intuition and drive to be successful. That means confidence in decision-making, knowing when (and how) to delegate responsibility and surrounding yourself with people you trust. If you possess these sorts of qualities, chances are you’re on the right path.

“What’s My ‘Big Idea,’ Anyway?”

No matter what your industry might be, competition is fierce and there are tons of businesses out there fighting for the same customers. As such, you need a “big idea” or unique selling proposition that makes you stand out from the crowd. Whether it’s your product, stellar service or approach to problem-solving, you can’t just be another face in the crowd.

“How Are My Networking Skills?”

Networking is the missing puzzle piece for many businesses looking to take themselves to the next level. While online communication certainly matters, nothing can replace the value of making a strong impression in-person. A sort of magnetic, go-getter personality will always make you more approachable at industry events rather than being a wallflower.

“Who’s Going to Help Me Out?”

Simply put, no business owner can be an island.

You need to be able not only to spot people who can help you grow, but also nurture relationships and loyalty for the long-term. This rings true when talking about hiring talent, finding a lawyer or even securing a potential joint venture. Also, bear in mind that there’s no weakness in asking for help as a business owner.

“Can I Keep Things Thrifty?”

Anything you can do to save money as a small company is a point in your favor. Rather than have pie-in-the-sky ambitions that will cost you an arm and a leg, it quite literally pays to keep yourself grounded financially. If you’re the type of person that values self-sufficiency and seek cost-effective solutions to problems, you’ll likely keep your business in the black.

Getting involved in the world of startups may be the ultimate thrill, but leaping head first can be a struggle depending on your personality. With the answers to these questions handy, you can go into business with a newfound sense of confidence with less second-guessing about “what-if” scenarios.

Nobody wants to send their child to school and waste a big amount on their utensils. Buying school supplies for kids going back to school is not an easy task. What to buy? What to spend? How can you save money when buying school supplies? These questions leave most parents speechless, often, penniless. So how does one go about this arduous task without going broke? Here are some life hacks on how to save up money when buying school supplies for the kids going back to school:

MAKE A BUDGET

The budget would comprise a list of everything the child would need and their current market price. Make sure to include everything necessary for the child’s survival in school. Also, remember to check the house for things you already have before making the budget.

BUY IN BULK FOR FUTURE USE

Nobody wants to go to the market to buy one single pen, only to return to the market when the ink dries up. Buying in bulk would reduce the price of the commodity and avail the parent the responsibility of buying the same commodity in the near future.

SET BOUNDARIES

Most parents tend to overload their kids with supplies, often, at the kid’s demand. A child may want a new backpack even when the old one is still useful. A parent should not always succumb to these requests. Check out the things that are still useful and omit them from the budget.

SHOP IN ADVANCE

Back to school sales begin almost immediately as the schools resume and the stores are stocked with new supplies. At this time, prices are usually high because everyone is buying. To avoid the rush and save money, buy in advance when prices are low. The Works is a store that sells school supplies at a very affordable price.

SHOP WITH ANOTHER PARENT

Look for a parent whose child needs the same supplies as yours and shop with them. Make your budget together, shop together then divide the supplies after. This way, no one person bears the burden alone, and money is saved.

STICK TO THE BUDGET

Make a budget, and stick to it when you get to the store. Other things might catch your attention, but let your budget be like Jehovah’s word, heaven and earth may pass away, but his word will not return to him void.

KEEP THE KIDS AT HOME

A child’s demands in the marketplace are unending. Sometimes, a parent might be influenced to buy something they did not budget for just because the child is crying to have it. So the best way to avoid this situation is to leave the child at home. Do the shopping alone. This would save time, energy and money.

When shopping for school supplies, most parents spend a lot of their money and still end up not getting all of the necessary supplies. Follow the above hacks diligently and save some money when shopping for school supplies.

If you’re curious as to how engineered wood flooring compares to hardwood flooring and vinyl flooring, simply continue reading to discover why engineered wood flooring is your best option!

Why Engineered Wood Flooring is the Best:

1. Engineered wood flooring offers a stylish high-quality finish for a fraction of the price of hardwood flooring

If you absolutely love the look of hardwood flooring but simply can’t justify the expense of installing hardwood floors, your best option by far is to opt for engineered wood flooring. As engineered wood flooring is topped off with real hardwood, which is layered over a cost-effective, inexpensive plywood base.

So if you’re unimpressed with the look of vinyl flooring options, it’s well worth seriously considering installing european oak, to give your home a chic, sophisticated look!

2. Engineered wood flooring is designed to endure years worth of foot traffic

If you don’t want to invest your hard earned money into installing flooring which will need to be replaced within a couple of years, you’re in luck as engineered wood flooring has been specifically designed to be durable and long lasting. So once you’ve laid down your new flooring, you won’t have to replace your flooring for the best part of a decade.

3. Engineered wood flooring has a far more premium, high-end look than vinyl flooring

If you’re tempted to cut costs by opting for vinyl flooring but can stretch your budget to purchase engineered wood flooring, it’s well worth doing so as engineered wood flooring has a far more premium, high-end look, and feel. Remember that you’re likely to look at and walk on your new flooring for years to come, so it’s well worth splurging on flooring that you’ll be happy to look at and walk on for years to come!

4. Engineered wood flooring is suitable for most parts of your home

Examples of some of the areas in your home, which you may want to cover with engineered wood flooring includes your hallways, dining room, lounge, bedrooms, office, and kitchen. The only room, which isn’t a suitable candidate for engineered wood flooring is your bathroom, due to the moisture which will build up in your bathroom and which can cause issues with engineered wood flooring.

5. Engineered wood flooring is relatively easy to repair

If you’re looking for a low maintenance flooring option, which will be easy to care for, you can’t go wrong installing engineered wood flooring as it’s easy to care for and maintain.

6. It’s also easy to clean

When it comes to choosing flooring it’s also worth opting for flooring which you can easily wipe down using a cleaning spray. As engineered wood flooring is stain resistant, you should have no problem wiping down your floors and getting rid of unsightly stains and marks which you may find on your floors.

7. Engineered wood flooring doesn’t conduct cold

Which means that you’ll be able to comfortably walk on your flooring with bare feet, without having to run from rug to rug, due to the cold.

So if you were already seriously considering opting to install engineered wood flooring, hopefully, you’re now sold on the idea!

If you’re in the process of comparing flooring options and have come across the term clearance engineered wood flooring as have seen how affordably priced engineered wood flooring is compared to solid wood flooring, simply continue reading to discover everything you need to know about

What is engineered wood flooring?

If you’re wondering whether engineered wood flooring actually contains real wood, the simple answer is yes, engineered wood flooring does contain real wood, unlike vinyl flooring which is made to look like wood.

You may be curious as to how engineered wood flooring differs to solid wood flooring and why the former is so much more affordably priced than the latter. While solid wood flooring is comprised out of solid pieces of wood, which can be hard to source and are usually expensive to get your hands on, engineered wood flooring is made of plywood, instead of solid wood and is topped off with a fine layer of hardwood.

Why is it worth considering opting for engineered hardwood flooring over hardwood flooring?

1. Engineered hardwood offers the look and feel of hardwood flooring for a fraction of the price of hardwood flooring

If you’re not sold on the idea of purchasing vinyl flooring which is designed to look like hardwood flooring and want a more authentic flooring option, that looks and feels just like hardwood floor, your best option is to opt for engineered hardwood flooring. As the top layer is comprised of genuine hardwood which means that when you walk on your flooring, you’ll be walking on hardwood.

The only difference being that you’re only walking on a fine layer of hardwood, which is the part of your flooring which you’ll look at and feel on a daily basis. Effectively, it won’t make a difference to your home, that the rest of your flooring is made out of durable plywood.

2. Placing engineered hardwood floors in your home will increase the value of your home

If one of your goals in renovating your home or building a new home is to be able to increase your home’s value, it’s well worth opting for engineered wood flooring as houses which boast engineered wood flooring usually are valued several thousand dollars more than houses which boast vinyl flooring.

3. Engineered wood floors are warm to walk on

As wood including both plywood and hardwood doesn’t conduct the cold, you shouldn’t have any trouble walking on engineered hardwood floors during the cooler months of the year!

Are there any areas of your home that aren’t suited to engineered wood flooring?

Engineered wood flooring is ideally suited to any area of your home which lacks moisture, so it’s safe to install engineered wood flooring into every room in your house except your bathrooms. As bathrooms tend to trap a lot of moisture and moisture and engineered floors don’t mix well!

So regardless of whether in the process of designing your dream home or you’re simply looking to renovate your home, it’s well worth considering opting for engineered wood flooring.