For the upcoming new year, here are five legal resolutions that can help you and your family.
1. Shoot a video. Make a videotape of all of your household goods, just by walking through the house and opening closets and attics.
If you suffer loss due to tornado, fire, theft or earthquake (optional coverage) you can easily fill out claim forms. You will be housed in an apartment or hotel your insurance company places you in, and you can just play and pause the video.
Be sure to store the video with family or friends and not in your home.
2. Buy more UM coverage. UM stands for Uninsured/Under-insured Motorists coverage.
Carry at least $100,000.00 of this cheap coverage. It only pays you, your family or those in your car if they are injured or killed by an unknown, under-insured or uninsured motorist.
3. Check your credit. It’s free, courtesy of your government, once per year per agency at annualcreditreport.com. It will help you spot identity theft and open cards you may have forgotten about.
4. Check your house and land for hazards. Are there rotten trees overhanging your driveway? Do you have a good fence around your pool? Is your dog properly secured? Are your steps solid, and your stair railings tight? Are there holes in your yard? Is there plenty of lighting available at night? If you have cattle, are your fences in good shape without overhanging limbs or unlocked gates? Even though you are not automatically liable for injuries on your property, an ounce of prevention stops most injuries.
5. Do you have life insurance? Many do not. It is common for grief-stricken widows to have to work two jobs to pay the funeral off. Is that your plan for your loved ones? Buy insurance, and term is usually cheapest.
These few pointers may make a real difference for you this year. They are not nearly as hard as a resolution to lose some weight.
More resources
The editorial staff of The Bartlett Express lists the following resources for additional information related to David Peel’s column.
- The Insurance Infor-mation Institute/s free online home inventory software and advice on what and how to shoot a home insurance video at knowyourstuff.org/iii/
login.html. - More on uninsured motorist’s coverage: bankrate.com/finance/auto/what-is-uninsured-motorist-coverage.aspx.
- What to look for on a credit report: nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/checklist-things-look-your-credit-report.html.
- How to compare life insurance policies: 360financialliteracy.org/Topics/Insurance/Life-Insurance/Comparing-Life-Insurance-Policies.
Written by David Peel, whose Memphis law practice handles injury cases involving car accidents, workplace incidents, medical malpractice and nursing homes. For more information or to review the archives of his earlier columns, contact him online at PeelLawFirm.com.
