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If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, here are some mistakes to avoid. These types of issues can affect your ability to be reimbursed for lost wages, medical expenses and pain and suffering associated with your accident. These recommendations are for any type of accident, whether it involved a vehicle or a personal injury in which a third party was at fault.

Don’t wait to file a claim with your insurance company. Be sure you know how long you have to file a claim. This information should be outlined in your insurance policy.

Don’t wait to file a police report and get a copy of it. If you neglect to secure a copy of the report immediately, it could end up being transferred to another office which will then take months before you can obtain a copy.

Do not report anything but the basic facts of the accident to insurance adjustors for any insurance company, including your own. Many insurance companies are honest, but they are in the business of reducing settlement amounts. Sometimes they do not employ completely honest means to obtain damaging information against your case.

Do not embellish or speculate about any pain you are experiencing, but be honest with any medical care professionals you deal with when you are suffering. Your medical records are evidence that can be used for or against your case.

Do not wait to gather contact information or statements from any witnesses to your accident. Memories fade, people move and in some cases the witness may have decided they no longer care or want to be involved in your case.

Do not believe anyone who tells you that you don’t need to call a lawyer. More often than not, if someone is telling you this, they are afraid you may do just that. You have reason to be suspicious of them.

It is important that you act decisively in the first few days following your accident. You should retain an attorney who is knowledgeable and qualified to handle your case in your best interests. An attorney will deal with all of the people who will be attempting to speak with you and convince you to settle quickly, such as:

• Insurance investigators
• Law enforcement personnel
• Someone else’s attorneys
• Someone else’s insurance representatives

To protect yourself and your rights, please retain a qualified attorney immediately by contacting Robbins & Associates.

There are a variety of types of property ownership, each involving specific rules relating to ownership.

• Sole Ownership - The property is owned entirely by one person.
• Joint Tenancy - This type of property is owned by two or more people at the same time and each person owns an equal share. Often referred to as the four unities: Unity of time, title, interest and possession. When one tenant dies, that share is equally vested into the other tenant shares. This form of property ownership is not allowed in every state.
• Tenancy in the Entirety - This applies to some states which have a specific form of joint tenancy that relates to a husband and wife as the joint tenants. Each person owns half of the property, therefore neither can sell without the other’s consent.
• Tenants in Common - This form of tenancy refers to a property owned by two or more people at the same time. The interests in the property do not have to be equal between the tenants. When one of the tenants dies, that share is passed to whomever that person has named as heir(s).
• Community Property - Some states recognize community property. In these states, a special form of joint tenancy can be established. In this form, the husband and wife each own half of the property. Upon the death of one or the other, the decedent’s interest is passed on to whomever that person has named as heir. This is similar to tenants in common, but relates to husband and wife and, in some states and cases, common law partners.

All of these forms of property ownership relate to present and future interests. In other words, who owns it now and who will own it once that person dies. To learn more about property ownership and other real estate law issues, please contact Robbins & Associates today.