When you bargain for an auto insurance quote, you are in fact buying coverage against the risk of an accident or theft for your car. You will most certainly want the insurance company to pay for any such claims as loss of life, body injury, damage to your car and medical care. For this end, what is being offered by the insurance companies can be broadly set into two major categories – the liability insurance and the comprehensive insurance, sometimes called the collision insurance. Liability will only pay for the damage you cause to others. If you were to hit another car in the parking lot, then liability will only pay to the damage you caused to the other car. Comprehensive policies will pay for the harm to your car also.

Involved in knowing what you can do to keep your insurance costs low and yet shroud everything? Here are some sure ways to keep the dreaded premium down.

1. Reduce limits and coverages in the policy.

2. Have an uninterrupted liability insurance.

3. Make a note of all the discounts that are available.

4. Step up your collision and comprehensive deductibles.

5. Retain a clean driving record.

Discuss the variables at length with your insurance provider and should be through.

Finally, what if your sick and wealthy aunt wanted your assistance in buying insurance for her car? Come enter the new extensive source of all auto insurance information – the car insurance portal. Imagine getting insurance quotes from multiple car insurance companies, all within a single platform from their exclusive website? The portal can save you from visiting several websites to decide on what you want. It can offer meaningful and beneficial advice regarding your auto insurance.

These include:

* prompts to the top auto insurance companies
* car insurance rates
* advice on superior and economical cars to insure
* how to bag impressive discounts
* conclusive insurance coverage and price information
* integration of credit to insurance
* how to economize by doing comparison shopping
* probing into complaints
* approximates and other assessments

For all you know your aunt might reward you with your dream car as your next birthday exhibit!

Before you start looking for car insurance for your teen think about the kind of car they will be driving. If you buy your teenage driver a 2010 Honda Accord the insurance will be sky high because you will be paying for comprehensive and collision coverage for a new untested driver. If you buy your teenage driver a 1999 Honda Civic you will feel more comfortable carrying only liability on the car because the car is not worth that much money anymore. This is the number one factor to look at when you inaugurate looking for cheap auto insurance rates.

The next step is to call your current carrier. If you have been with a good insurance company for a long time they will usually quote you a lower rate than if were to call a new carrier. Believe it or not insurance companies usually do reward loyalty and that includes cheaper pricing for teenage drivers. This is especially true if the parents have crystal clean driving records themselves. Most insurance companies will include good driving discounts on the teenage drivers’ rates if the parents themselves qualify for them.

If you are a parent with a less than stellar driving record your insurance company may actually charge more for your teen because they consider your teen higher risk than the young driver whose parents have natty records. This is a good time for you to start shopping around for cheap auto insurance for your teenage driver.

As you shop for cheap car insurance your best bet is to shop for the whole family. Most insurance carriers will not insure anyone under 18 by themselves. Also, if you separate one car from your policy that car will lose a multi-vehicle discount that works in your favor to keep your insurance costs cheap.

So, get a list of 3 top nationally recognized auto insurance companies and call them all. Make sure you mention you have a teenage driver in the beginning of the call as some insurance companies will reject policies that have new drivers on them. Also make distinct you have your current policy with you so you can request rates based off your correct coverage’s.

While talking to the various insurance agents have them give you high, medium, and low coverage package quotes. It is suggested people who own a home and have assets, like many parents do, carry their bodily injury limits at 100/300. This is very important because higher coverage’s protect your assets the best. But, when trying to find cheap auto insurance for teenage drivers, you may explore Bodily Injury limits at 50/100 or even down to your state minimum requirement (which would give you the extreme quote).

If you did buy your teenage driver a newer car that requires comprehensive and collision (or corpulent coverage), have the car insurance agents quote you with higher deductibles like $750 or $1000. While it is not recommended to carry high deductibles, sometimes you have to when dealing with the high cost of insurance for teenage drivers.

If you do all this and are still having trouble finding cheap car insurance for your teenage driver call an auto insurance broker in your region. You can find them listed in the yellow pages. These brokers deal with smaller insurance companies and will shop amongst them for you to find the cheapest rates. While these smaller companies may not get the highest customer service ratings or be nationally recognized they sometimes do give cheap rates for teenage drivers. Smaller companies may even insure your teenager on their own policy so you do not have to leave the carrier you have been with for years. While this is not recommended it may be the only affordable choice.

While there are cheap car insurance rates for teenage drivers available it just may grasp some time to find them. A lot of parents avoid expensive insurance rates by requiring their teenage driver maintain a 3.0 GPA in school as many insurance companies reward good grades with a massive discount. Construct sure your current insurance company is including all discounts available and ask them what you need to do to qualify for additional discounts in the future. Further, while the initial auto insurance rates may be expensive at first they could become cheap after the teenage driver has maintained a clean record for their first year or two of driving.

*All tips given here are based on author Kirstin Filliez’s experience while working as an auto insurance sales agent for the last 7 years. None of the tips guarantee lower rates, they are fair some ideas that have worked for other insureds in the past.

In starting up a small business, some would suggest that you “think big”. To mediate big is to imply that you intend for your business to expand and be nothing less than a substantial success. However, often times some will perform the mistake of thinking too broad, too speedily and will inevitably fail. They may make the mistake of either over-producing their product or borrowing too much money for start up operations. This can sometimes get the small business owner into a lot of trouble. It may be to your best interest to first draw up a formal business notion so that you have an understanding of where and how to start, which options might best suit your company and how to avoid any pitfalls along the way. A well laid out plan can start you on the right path.

As well, if you will be depending on a bank loan to get you started, they will most definitely be expecting to understanding your business notion before lending you the money, so be determined to have one ready.

Below are some methods and ideas that may be beneficial to first consider before starting up your company:

* First of all, be sure that you are entering a business plan that will have your interest for years to come. There is a lot of work and effort involved when embarking on a new business venture. You have to live, eat and breathe your new venture during its conception phase and well after, so be certain it will hold your interest for years into the future. To finish in mid-stream, should you later find that this isn’t exactly how you want to spend the next ten or twenty years of your life, would be a great waste of your time, energy and money.

* Be distinct that there is a market for your product or service. Doing a lot of research well in come will give you a better idea if this is the venture you want to pursue, or if it is worth pursuing at all. For instance, if you are thinking of opening a flower or gift shop, or starting up a construction or other service company, contemplate whether your community has a need for such an operation. If there is already too much competition in your area or exiguous interest, a low profit margin may indicate to be discouraging even before you get your own company off the ground.

* Consider the amount of time that you will have to achieve into actually operating your business. Running your own company is definitely not a 9 to 5 job. Being the company owner will often mean that you will be putting in double time. Are you up for the challenge?

* Don’t acquire in over your head. Often, it is too tempting to go all out, purchasing all the latest and newest available equipment and supplies, or even possibly a new company vehicle or a storefront in a prime position. These can greatly add to your expenses and reduce your expected profits. Sometimes one can be a success by starting out small and gradually, or with used or re-conditioned equipment. Then as the business shows a progressive upswing, newer and better can be added later.

* Understand all of the expenditures your business will entail. Too often people will mentally add up what they think they can net, giving them overly optimistic expectations. However, they give little thought to the costs incurred in actually running a business. You are entering the world of business, not only to put money back into the company for future growth purposes, but also as your own personal income. Be sure your business income allows for both expenses, that of your company (including paying off loans owing if money was borrowed) and of your personal day to day expenses. Draw up budgets for both so you know where you stand financially.

Now that you have decided on what your business venture will be and have considered all the pros and cons. And you still want to embark on the challenge, a few more things to look at are:

* Find a good, reputable accountant, which of course, adds to your business expenses as well. You may do fine on your own in adding up your expense receipts and the money you are bringing in, but an accountant is better informed on what portions you can keep for yourself, and what portions the government will quiz to get. An accountant will keep you in good standing with both local and federal governments, making sure that everyone gets their exquisite percentages.

* Know in advance if you will be employing others in your company. You will need to be knowledgeable in making out payrolls, which includes hourly wages, holiday pay, pension plans, income tax deductions (both federal and provincial or state), unemployment insurance and possibly a health insurance plan.

* Other business expenses, off the top, that you will mostly likely need to assume obtaining are, a city license, corporation fees (if you intend on incorporating your business), workers’ compensation. You will also need to obtain a federal government business number, which allows the government to sustain track of you and your company. Advertising is yet another expense to consider.

Above all, be patient. Don’t expect to become a millionaire the first year of operation. “Get rich quick” companies are very few and far between. It often takes the average business several years for the income to surpass the outgoing expenses. It takes years and a lot of hard work and perseverance for your business to gain recognition and a good reputation within your community. Once you have established yourself, and your business, within and around your community, you should be well on your way to being a success.

2009 has been an auspicious year in the Prius story what with the introduction of the more powerful yet more fuel efficient 2010 Prius. While the 2010 Prius adds some bonuses like a more luxurious interior and a solar roof panel to power the air conditioning when you are parked it is still generally the same mechanical concept. As for unusual competition like the Honda Insight—this model honestly doesn’t better the 2004-2009 Prius so it is definitely no match for the 2010 model.

In light of the stellar reliability history of the 2004-2009 Prius (also known as model NHW20), it really does make sense to have a look at a old-fashioned model—even in light of possible battery replacement costs. This used guide intends to aid you make the best decision as to model year, mileage and condition when searching for the best Prius your money can acquire.

An Owner’s Story—Sometimes referred to as the “Toyota Pious” due to its gloomy association with Al Gore and his “Inconvenient/Inaccurate Truths,” most Prius owners are normal people just looking for a fuel efficient vehicle with low running costs. And on that count, the Prius delivers. If you are looking for a vehicle that will help you keep the earth might I recommend you consume a used ten-speed bicycle off of EBay? Preferably in banana yellow.

Kelly Scott lives in Southern California and travels epic mileages as fragment of her job as a real estate appraiser. Kelly says she usually averages around 45-48 miles per gallon according to the on board computer in her Prius. Her mileage lows of around 40 miles per gallon usually only happen on hot days when the air conditioning is set to high and she is carrying heavy loads of passengers and cargo.

Speaking of passengers, Kelly finds many of the hi-tech features on the Prius invaluable in helping out with her duties as “mommy” to her 1 and a half year old son Luke. “The smart key is to die for when schlepping Luke around. I can fair leave my keys in my pocket and stand next to the front door or trunk and it unlocks. No more digging in my purse. Sometimes I wish our front door to the house was like that too!”

There is one optional extra available on the new model that Kelly wishes she could have on her older Prius, “Another feature I would admire now that I have a kid is an auto-start to secure the AC running on hot days. That new solar powered cabin fan on the modern Prius sounds like it would really help. As Luke’s car seat is rear facing it can take a while for the cool air to reach the rear seat. So I usually have to get in and turn on the car to get the AC going before I start loading groceries or start to strap Luke into his car seat. It’s kind of a hassle.”

On the other hand, Kelly does like that there are three LATCH child seat connectors attached to the rear bench seat as often times there are only two. And even with Luke’s massive child seat installed there is unexcited room in the back seat for two more passengers if you do squeeze in. So what other features rate highly in Kelly Scott’s mind?

“It has tons of storage in unexpected places – 2 glove boxes, cup holders, mountainous center console with a drawer underneath that I didn’t even find for the first 5 months! I like the AUX jack for my iPod but would LOVE a central docking station. I still haven’t status up the voice command features and probably won’t – an unnecessary bell/whistle I can live without. The backup camera is really handy for parallel parking but not something I couldn’t live without.”

Although her Prius came very well equipped with hi-tech features, Kelly Scott has found that in over 30,000 miles that she has rarely put them to much use. “The navigation system was actually kind of difficult to figure out. It’s not very user friendly and I had to actually read the manual to learn how to operate it. It’s also DVD based, so instead of being updated periodically like the Garmin GPS my husband Lee uses you have to go catch an updated disk if you are missing too many unique streets. That has only happened for me a few times in unique construction areas. And the nav system won’t let you input an address or find POI (Point of Interest) while the vehicle is in motion. Even with a passenger in the front seat! It does, however, have a pretty good POI database which has come in very handy when I want to find a Starbucks or a park where Luke can take a quick play break.”

But what is Kelly’s biggest electronic pet peeve regarding her Toyota Prius? Let’s just say it has something to do with how difficult it is to access the automatic temperature AC controls. “To lower the temperature you have to press the electronic screen and then hold the down arrow until it gets to the right page. I would mighty rather have a knob to turn or button to press on the dash, especially if you are trying to follow directions on the GPS at the same time.

To optimize her time as a Prius owner Kelly has often times called on the experience of other Prius owners on Prius specific internet message boards. “It used to beep INSIDE the car while it was in reverse but I found a “cheat code” on the internet to compose that stop. It was seriously annoying.” It is hard to imagine a Chevy Cobalt owner putting in this worthy peril to understand exactly how his or her vehicle operates. And the fact that Kelly actually referred to her owner’s manual when she had a question puts her among the 5% of the population that is smart enough to actually do so.

But it was Kelly’s first bit of internet research that really paid serious dividends during her time with the Toyota Prius she nicknamed “Penny Prius,” “You can really adjust your driving style to maximize mileage. I read up a small on it when I first got Penny and found that it’s actually better to accelerate fast and then maintain a “cruising hurry”. The computer shows you what your current MPG is and if it’s using the gas or battery (but I can feel it now). I actually catch the best MPG when in traffic on the freeway around 30-35 MPH. I can just use the battery power and coast when necessary. I usually leave a nice big space between me and the next car to keep the stop/start system from turning on the gas engine.”

Maintenance costs haven’t been much higher than they were for Kelly’s last car—a Honda Civic EX coupe. Kelly has had nothing break and has suffered no mechanical breakdowns. She services her Prius every 5K miles or every 6 months at her local Toyota dealer and pays about $169 for minor oil change/oil filter/air filter/inspection services and recently forked over $325 for the “major service” at 30K miles. Those are very reasonable prices especially in light of the fact that they approach from a dealership service department.

So would Kelly buy another Toyota Prius? While she would love to upgrade to the new 2010 Prius she wonders if she might be better served by something with a bit more room. “I got the Prius before I had Luke and to be honest he and all his “stuff” takes up most of the available room. So I would probably want to look at something at least a little bit bigger.” Did you hear that Toyota?

What to Look For—All Prius models come with a 8 year/ 100,000 mile warranty on the battery so they will replace it if it runs out of juice or stops functioning before then. Novel replacements at a Toyota dealer usually run about $2500 but they should give you a $400 salvaging rebate for your old unit. Slightly used battery packs from totaled cars are on sites like EBay at prices ranging from $400-$1400 but you are really taking your chances going that route. No one is sure exactly how long Prius batteries last but most owners say they go at least 150,000 miles before showing any noticeable power degradation. So you might need to worry more about the doors falling off before the battery ever fails you.

As many owners use their Prius as high mileage commuters or as company vehicles be sure that the car you are looking at isn’t a bag unit (meaning it was “totaled” by an Insurance company) and that the mileage is correct. A CARFAX report should tell you everything you need to know.

Used prices for the Prius can vary month to month based on gas prices. When gas prices were at their peak a while ago many used Priuses were selling for close to their original MSRP. Many “green” environmentalists also bid on shunning broken-down examples with the leather option as the methane gas emitted by herds of cattle is allegedly the leading cause “global warming.” This is one of the few times when buying the “fully loaded” version of a new car can really hurt your resale value in the long run.

Most used buyers are looking for Prius models equipped with navigation, cloth seats, keyless entry, back-up camera and the enhanced JBL audio system. Although most buyers aren’t aware of the benefits the Touring models do come with an anti-skid system—very helpful if you live in a rainy or snowy climate.

Toyota has a specific Hybrid Certified Pre-Owned program which gives buyers access to Toyota Motor Finance new car rates. Each Certified Pre-Owned Prius also benefits from a 174-point inspection, 3 month/3,000 mile comprehensive warranty and 7 year/100,000 mile power jabber warranty in addition to the 8 year/100,000 mile battery coverage. Certified Pre-Owned Prius models always cost more but many former buyers devour the peace of mind the extra coverage affords them.

Used Prius Sample Internet Prices-

2007 Prius—(59K Miles)—(dealership)—($17,988)—certified, navigation, cloth

2007 Prius—(29K Miles—(dealership)–$21,995)—certified, navigation, leather, JBL audio

2008 Prius—(8K Miles)—(dealership)—($21995)—certified, base model.

2005 Prius—(58K Miles)—(dealership)—($17,995)—certified, cloth, navigation, JBL audio

2008 Prius—(6K Miles)—(dealership)—($26,995)—cloth, navigation, keyless entry, JBL audio

2008 Prius—(21K Miles)—(Private Owner)—($21,000)—leather, navigation, loaded

2004 Prius—(56K Miles)—(Private Owner)—($16,900)—navigation

2006 Prius—(88K Miles)—(Private Owner)—($15,700)—Extended Warranty until 100K, fully loaded

Recalls, Problem Areas and Maintenance Requirements—Aside from the aforementioned possibility of needing to replace the batteries, Prius owners have very reasonable maintenance costs. Do keep in mind that if you are buying a used Prius with a questionable CVT automatic transmission that replacement units currently cost a whopping $9,350. These CVT automatics can perform groaning noises under load when going uphill but other than that they should perform seamlessly. If the operation of the transmission gives you the slightest pause don’t walk away—run away.

Parts prices, while generally higher than average, aren’t necessarily worse than with other unique cars. The only other parts that seem kind of expensive are the alternator at $1,305 and the air conditioning compressor at $1,800. But seeing as this is a Toyota, these parts will likely never need replacing. Just do be aware that if they do break their replacements can get pricey. So be sure to confirm that the air conditioning blows wintry air before you take any used Prius.

1. Service bulletins are minimal especially considering the complexity built into every Prius. Most of the service bulletins are for 2004-2005 units.

2. Brake lights may halt illuminated and to fix you may need to replace the entire pedal assembly—(2005-2006 models)

3. Check engine light may arrive on due to sticking coolant control valve—(2004-2006)

4. A coolant leak may develop in a converter assembly but this is covered by an extended 96 month/100,000 mile warranty—(2004-2006)

5. Exercise of the wrong engine oil viscosity may trigger “engine will not start” light on dash—(2004-2005)

6. Fuel gauge may be inaccurate requiring replacement of gas tank and filler neck—(2004)

7. Brake pedal may squeak and if brake fluid bleeding does not help an actuator may need to be replaced—(2004-2006)

There were reports of “unintended acceleration” from some Prius owners but it turns out that it was just improperly installed floormats getting jammed against the accelerator pedal that caused the “jam.” This is the only Prius “recall” for this model and pretty much fair entails your Toyota dealer checking to make sure your floormats are securely installed.

The Prius needs servicing either every 6 months or 5,000 miles. This usually entails oil change, oil filter change, air filter change, inspection and tire rotation. At 30K miles Toyota recommends a cabin air filter change, brake fluid bleed and a service on the rear brakes. Many owners don’t realize the complexity of their brake regeneration system and try to skip this service. That is not highly recommended and can void your warranty with the manufacturer. With a car this complex it makes sense to follow manufacturer’s service recommendations as closely as possible.

Competition—If you don’t drive that many miles a Honda Civic is a less expensive proposition to judge. If you do love to have the latest high mileage car do check out the VW Jetta TDI, Honda Insight and the brand new 2010 Prius. But if you can’t quite swing the payment on a brand new Prius, a used model really does make a whole lot of sense.

Sources:

Toyotacertifiedhybrids.com

Toyota.com

AutoTrader.com

ConsumerGuide.com

Priuschat.com

In addition to the changes that being connected married to another person brings, many other aspects of your life will change for the better that you likely haven’t thought about. This includes your car insurance premiums! Yes, we’re all required by law to have car insurance (except for a few lucky states…), so we should do everything we can to lower our car insurance premiums, good?

Now, I’m not advocating going out and getting married just to lower your car insurance premiums–that would be insane. But if you do find yourself tying the knot, your insurance company will likely give you a break, and there are a couple of reasons for this.

For starters, a married couple with multiple cars at one car insurance company (you ARE going to insure them together and split the bill, right? ) means you’ll qualify for a multiple car discount, which most insurance providers offer. When you have multiple items of any kind under one insurance company, whether they be cars, boats, houses or even life insurance, the insurance companies usually give you a break for giving them so much of your business. Aren’t they nice?

If your husband or wife happens to be a better driver than yourself, this will work out better for you and vice-versa. Bringing a spouse on to your own car insurance profile with a great represent will improve your own standing with the company by association.

There is another, much simpler factor in regards to why your marriage will positively affect your car insurance premium: insurance companies just like married people. They really do! They see married couples as being more mature than single people. Now, whether that is actually apt or not is debatable, and it certainly isn’t right 100% of the time, but car insurance companies aren’t the only group of people to have this thought, so there’s likely something to it, or they unprejudiced wouldn’t offer it.

Now for what is perhaps the sole negative factor in all of this: if you and your spouse end your marriage, you will likely see your car insurance premiums rise, sometimes dramatically. Why is this? They may reason that a newly divorced person is likely to feel depressed and become more reckless, especially when driving. Again, this isn’t something that can be easily debated, but it’s just how car insurance companies do business.

Marriage brings with it a tremendous amount of financial bonuses, and reduced car insurance premiums are but one aspect. Still, it’s nice to know that devoting yourself to the one you love can be positive in such a large number of ways.

Sources:

Getting Married? , State Farm

Marriage and Car Insurance, CarInsurance.com

My first suggestion would be to ask your friends and neighbors if they have any experience with anyone local. A genuine bumper repair service will have plenty of repeat and referral business. Another method is to check their website and look at their work. While this is not the best plan, it is a inaugurate.

My second suggestion is to get a few estimates. Ask what exactly will be included in the estimate. Are they going to remove your bumper to repair and repaint? Will they be blending the paint into neighboring panels? Will they be guaranteeing their work? Know that not all repairs are equal. Do not be led to beget that a touched up bumper is a quality bumper repair. Your bumper should look the same as it did pre-damage once the repair is completed. There should be no noticeable damage and the paint should match and carry a shiny clear coat finish. Some customers lower their expectations with a lower estimate than they received from the body shop. Don’t! You can get a bumper repair that is just as attractive as a bumper replacement.

Lastly, consider the air temperature at the time the repair will be made. Will the mobile repair unit have protection from the elements? Will there be adequate heat to properly cure the paint products? Freezing weather isn’t the best time to have an outdoor repair made to your bumper. Ask if they have indoor heated facilities available.

Bumper repair can save you time, with fast repairs the turn around can be less than a day. They can also save you a lot of money! Most repairs can be made for less than the average insurance deductible meaning one less claim on your insurance. Lastly, your damaged bumper won’t be hitting the landfill and that makes everyone feel good.

Carve Saban has proven himself yet again in the SEC by taking a struggling Alabama team and turning them into a powerhouse team. Saban has only been with Alabama for two seasons, and both times the Tide has gone to a bowl game. They won last year’s Independence Bowl over Colorado, and they are hungry for another one this year.

The Utah Utes hail from the Mountain West Conference, where they finished up their season 12-0 (8-0 in their conference). Kyle Wittingham has a 3-0 bowl record with the Utes, winning last year’s Poinsettia Bowl against the Navy. The Utes have not lost a game yet this year, and would love to finish out their season on a win.

Both teams have had remarkable 2008 seasons. Utah, of course, has gone an entire season without a single loss, which is remarkable in itself. The Mountain West conference is definitely not the strongest in the nation, but the Utes beat several worthy opponents. Included in their schedule were Michigan, TCU, BYU and Oregon State. While they may not be in a tough conference like the SEC, they have indeed proven themselves worthy of a top spot. Alabama lost only one game in 2008, to a tough Florida team in the SEC Championship game. They play in one of the toughest conferences in the country, the SEC, and won their season out.

As far as weaknesses go, Alabama’s key weakness is their passing game. Their quarterback, John Parker Wilson, has thrown for only 2,096 yards in all 13 games this season. The Utes simply haven’t been up against an opponent like Alabama yet. No one really knows if they can or can’t hang with the big boys. Their players may step up, or Alabama may burn them. Offensively and defensively, their opponents have not had the speed, strength or size of Alabama. Their lack of experience may hurt them.

So, who will bewitch home the victory? Rest assured it will be a good game if both teams show up in their best perform.

The Vegas odds and spread on the Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2009 according to The Spread shows Alabama as a 10.9 point favorite over the Utes. Most people believe that Utah’s lack of top-notch opponents will hurt them in the destroy.

Alabama and Utah statistics for the 2008 football season can be found at ESPN.

The home page for the 2009 AllState Sugar Bowl has all pertinent information regarding the game and game day activities.

Under the US Law, the traditional bastion of strictly liability includes liability for injuries caused by animals, ultra-hazardous activities and nuisance. For example, the law imposes liability to the possessor or any person who makes use of the animal independent of the presence of fault of negligence. Our law also imposes obligation to the owners of business enterprises and their employers to pay for the death or injuries to their employees even if the event may have been purely accidental or entirely due to a fortuitous cause. Another example of strict liability is the case of a manufacturer of a vehicle failing to meet the expectations of its customer.

2. Facts: Alex Hard was driving his car when he was involved in an accident. The impact was so strong that he was thrown from the vehicle. As a result of the accident Alex Hardy suffered serious and permanent injuries and he became paralyzed from the waist down. Hence, a suit was filed by Alex Hardy against the manufacturers of the car for breach of contract arguing that the car did not conform with the expectations and the defects were hidden. During the trial, the manufacturers argued that Hardy was drunk, not wearing a seatbelt and had fallen asleep at the time of the accident. For his portion, Hardy admitted that he has drunk at the time of the accident. He also admitted that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Investigation also revealed that he fell asleep while driving. However, he argued that none of these was the proximate cause for his being paralyzed. He thus argued that because of the defects in his car, the axle of his truck broke, his vehicle rolled over and his door latch failed. It is because of the defective manufacture of his car that caused his accident.

Issue: whether manufacturers of the car should be sued for breach of contract and be held liable for the defects in the car despite the presence of negligence of the complainant

Held: The court ruled in favor of the complainant. The Jury awarded Hardy $50 M in compensatory damages and an additional $100 M in punitive damages.

3. I believe the ruling for this case will still be in favor of Hardy but the damages awarded in his favor should be mitigated in view of the contributory negligence of Hardy. Well-settled is the rule that the manufactures of a defective product is liable for any death or injury resulting to the consumers even if no contractual relations exist between them. The liability is imposed to manufacturers regardless of the presence of negligence on their part.

There are several reasons why common law imposes strict liability upon manufacturers of defective products. One reason for this is that it will not be possible for the consumers to prove the negligence against the manufacturers. The process that the products of the manufacturers undergo is not within the knowledge of the consumer. It will therefore not be possible to require as a precondition for suits to display that the obtain of a defective car is negligent.

Another reason is that imposing strict liability against the manufacturers provides an effective and necessary incentive to manufacturers to fabricate their products as safe as possible. It must be stressed that unless serious responsibility is imposed against the manufacturers they will continue to neglect providing for an appropriate standard of safety to all their products. The theory here is that by placing responsibility to the manufacturer, it is forced to take into account when deciding whether and how much to product the product the injure caused by it. (“Product Liability”) Business considerations demand that because of the risks attendant to the manufacture of car, the manufacturer may either discontinue the business or sell its products at a higher designate.

As between the manufacturer and the consumer, it is the manufacturer which is in the better position to protect the consumers against harm and injury caused by defects in the product either by insuring against liability or adding the cost of the insurance to the price of the product. One safety net which General Motors may avail of in case of death or injury to its consumers is by insuring against the liability and passing the cost of the insurance to the consumers. If in case the manufactures fail to avail of this remedy then they should be held accountable for any injury.

Strict liability may be accomplished by a series of actions, in which the consumer first recovers from the retailer on warranty, and liability on warranties is then carried back through the intermediate dealers to the manufacturer. The process is time-consuming, expensive, and wasteful. In this case, Hardy may sue the retailer and the retailer may eventually file another complaint against the manufacturers. Instead of being involved in multiplicity of suits, Hardy may directly file suit against General Motors.

Strict liability is also imposed against the manufacturers because by placing the product on the market, the seller represents to the market public that it is fit and he intends and expects that it will be purchased and consumed in reliance upon that representation. In the case of Alex Hardy, when he purchased his Chevrolet S-10 Blazer he relied upon the representation that the car is fit. He expected that the car will have the safety mechanisms that will prevent him from suffering serious injuries in cases of accidents. The manufacture therefore has the factual and ethical responsibility to ensure that cars it manufacture complies with this expectation of the public.

Another reason is that the cost of the accidents should be placed on the party best able to determine whether there are means to prevent the accident. When those means are less expensive than the costs of such accidents, responsibility for implementing them should be placed on the party best able to do so. Manufacturers have the means and the technical know how to install in its products safety mechanisms designed to prevent injuries. Only the manufacturers can produce their products better and more secured so as to avoid any injury. In this case, General Motors, despite its means and technical know how failed to install mechanisms that will ensure that the drivers of their cars are safe.

In the case of O’Brien vs. Muskin Corp. 94 N.J. 169, 463 A.2d 298 (Original Jersey, 1983), it applied the consumer expectation test in determining whether manufacturers of substandard products should be held liable. It ruled that a product may be found defective in design if the plaintiff demonstrates that the product failed to perform as safely as an ordinary consumer would expect when used in an intended or reasonably foreseeable manner. Under this test, when there I no evidence, explain or circumstantial, available what sort of manufacturing flaw existed, or exactly how the design was deficient, the plaintiff may nonetheless be able to assign his right to recover by proving that the product did not create in keeping with the reasonable expectation of the spend.

Though the manufacturer should be held liable for the defects in its products, it is not the sole factor to be blamed for the accident. To impose against the manufacturers sole responsibility for the accident would be a serious violation of due process. Justice and equity demands that the liability of General Motors be equitable reduced because of the contributory negligence of Alex Hardy at the time of the accident. It must be stressed at Alex Hardy admitted that at the time of the accident he was drunk, not wearing a seatbelt and had fallen asleep at the time of the accident. The negligence of Alex Hardy therefore contributed to the injuries he suffered. If he only had not fallen asleep or he had worn his seatbelt or he had not drunk alcohol, the accident would not have happened and he would not have suffered the injury.

Thus, Alex Hardy was entitled to compensatory damages and punitive damages as a result of the defects in the manufacture of the car. But he is not entitled to recover the paunchy amount awarded by the lower court to him in view of his negligence.

4. If this case was filed in my court, I deem the ruling will level-headed be the same. Laws are imposed as a means to ensure that justice be served. It serves as an instrument for the perpetuation of justice and equity. It should not be utilized as a source of abuse. To contain General Motors entirely accountable for the injuries Hardy suffered will mean using the courts as an instrument for abuse. I believe the damages should be awarded because of the defects of the vehicle manufactured by General Motors under the “consumers’ expectation test.” It should however be equitably mitigated in view of the contributory negligence of Alex Hardy.

But unlike big restore facilities he doesn’t have a staff to manage the a good deal more mundane tasks of running a storage So countless times a auto is dropped off, an estimate is given, a deposit is collected for elements and the car or truck is repaired But the manager does not come back in a timely manner to pick it up Ordinarily this has some thing to do with finances and paying for the repairs Mike spends his time attempting to call and collect but the car or truck just sits in his fix bay taking up valuable space and becoming a liability Recently Mike took a vacation Not from function but from accepting new labor He spent two weeks doing nothing but cleaning his property of motor vehicles He completed all the repairs that had been put on hold, he took in no new corporation and spent time collecting for old internet business When he was completed there have been five automobiles left on the property These cars and trucks had all been there even more than 60 nights and a person nearly a year They have been repaired and ready to be picked up His investment in labor and elements was over $5000 A important sum of cash to a little one particular man operation Even though visiting Mike single day we talked about these autos and what really should be carried out So a little bit of research told us that these autos could be declared deserted and he could take title and sell them at a public sale to recuperate his charges Seemed like a lot of perform, price and legal minefields to get by way of but it was a task he was determined to accomplish Although most states have deserted car laws and procedures for disposing of them every state is unique and what Mike was able to do only applies to Alabama deserted cars or trucks.The AL statute that applies to deserted motor cars is The Deserted Motor Car Act, Code of Alabama 1975, Title 32, Chapter 13. The act is designed to protect both existing owners of cars and also those to who autos are entrusted There are a number of methods involved in obtaining title to an deserted auto and those actions should really be followed in order to full the transaction and guarantee a clean title for the eventual manager of an deserted auto The 1st step has to do with determining regardless of whether a automotive can be declared as deserted For a fix facility this means either 60 nights soon after it is left for fix when no time is agreed upon or 60 nights right after repairs are total These nights are substantial and should always be noted by the storage in order to make confident that the auto will be declared deserted by the Department of Motor Motor vehicles The second step is obtain a motor vehicle report from the state that shows the present-day proprietor and their address along with any lien holders on the title Once again rather significant to make confident that this report is obtained from the state and is accurate Once this info is obtained the manager have got to be notified or attempts are required to be made to notify the manager and the lien holders of the vehicle’s location and the charges to recuperate the car You will have to also tell them that it will be for public sale and what date that sale will take location The storage manager really should also location an announcement in the local paper or in the courthouse that gives discover of this sale The discover really should be posted twice at least 7 times apart and 30 times prior to the sale Once again the time and dates are quite particular and should be followed to guarantee a correct transference of title to any new operator 1 the sale is full there are quite a few other state kinds that really should be completed prior to transferring title These types are not tough but do need some time to make certain that they are accomplished appropriate So far Mike has gotten $3600 for his troubles and he still has three cars and trucks to go He will recuperate his expenses and in fact not get burned when all is said and achieved Nevertheless, this lesson has taught him one particular of the magnificent lessons of any business venture Maintain beneficial records, make very good decisions and follow up on all your present venture .