Many parents who are going through a tough time financially or who have recently filed for bankruptcy prefer not to talk to their children about it. Parents tend to take this route because they do not want to burden their young children with their money problems. But, what many of us do not realize is that children are astute and rather perceptive when it comes to sensing stress, worry and family. Keeping them in the dark is not a good idea because they may get stressed out when they don’t know what is troubling their parents. If your child is old enough to hear some information about the family’s financial crisis, there is a good chance that they can learn some valuable lessons about managing money and staying strong when times get tough.

Here are a few tips, which may be helpful before you sit down to talk with your children. First, do not hide the problem from your kids. Explain what it means to deal with debt. Be honest and straightforward. Tell them exactly what went wrong. Understand that bankruptcy affects your children too. Tell them how they can help trim expenditures.

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No.

It’s a simple word, but not always one you’ll hear from a St. Louis bankruptcy attorney–especially if they’re quoting you an absurdly cheap rate. But is it one that some attorneys should use a little more? Probably.

To be fair, I hate turning people away when they need help with their medical bills or just to even the playing field with their creditors. But with the high volume of calls we get from the average consumer and the large number of referrals we get from other lawyers, we’ve realized that the only way to maintain the highest standard of customer service and individual attention we’re known for is to be selective.

So under what circumstances should an experienced St. Louis bankruptcy attorney say “no?” There are two types of cases I normally don’t take.

Cases with no real debt

Uh, if you don’t have much debt, then why are you seeking bankruptcy protection?

Filing a bankruptcy case can be a long process. It’s an investment of my time. So if a person who comes to me doesn’t have very much debt, I usually point out another option for them. Bankruptcy fees are regulated by the courts. So if someone’s debt was similar to that amount, what would be the point of filing? It wouldn’t be worth upsetting a client if the fees they paid to handle a case started to approach the amount of debt they were trying to get rid of in the first place. And I’m not going to take a fee to encourage someone to file bankruptcy if it isn’t their best option.

Too many unsuccessful bankruptcy filings

I won’t take cases where the clients have filed too many bankruptcy cases that ended up dismissed. If you have filed for bankruptcy protection several times in the past, but your case was dismissed every time, the next time around is usually the same. For a judge to approve your case this time around is unlikely because you have shown you are not serious about completing a case from start to finish. When I file a case, I am putting everything on the line to stand behind that client 100% to get them to the finish line and when cases get dismissed, my professional reputation can take a hit. I am more than willing to help someone who wants to help themselves, but if you’re not serious about doing that, I can suggest many not-so-experienced bankruptcy attorneys who won’t care enough you can go to.

The majority of people we help are honest, hardworking people who have simply fallen on bad times. If you’re still not sure whether or not you meet my case acceptance criteria, I am more than happy to meet with you for free to see if I will consider your case. Or, you can request your free copy of my Missouri and Illinois debt relieft guide, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

If you’ve made the decision to take responsibility for your debt by filing for Illinois or Missouri bankruptcy, let me first offer you my congratulations. But once you’ve filed, it is important to make the most of your fresh start.

Usually the best way to do this is to find a steady job (or keep the one you already have). But with more and more employers running credit checks these days, how should you approach the topic with them?

You may think the first rule of Bankruptcy Club is like Fight Club (i.e. don’t talk about it) but that’s not right. The first rule is actually not to lie about it. As you know, a bankruptcy will appear on your credit report, so it’s important that you aren’t caught in a lie if a potential employer asks you to disclose your financial background. It’s important to remember that many of our clients actually see their credit score improve after discharge (plus it looks better on your report than a foreclosure or repossession would).

The second rule is just as easy to follow: think about what led to your Illinois or Missouri bankruptcy. I have never heard of an interviewer throwing away an application as soon as they discover a bankruptcy (1.4 million people filed bankruptcy in 2009–and it looks like that number will be higher for 2010, so it would be hard for them to do that), but sometimes a brief explanation can clear up any concerns.

And I do mean brief. In a lot of cases, people file bankruptcy due to unforeseeable circumstances, like medical issues, a lay off, or other catastrophic event. If your employer tells you they’ll be pulling your credit report, explain your situation. Keep it simple, and focus on the fact that you have taken the responsible steps to protect your family’s future. Then move on.

Now, you know bankruptcy can be a fairly intricate process, and everyone has different circumstances–so why keep your explanation so short? Because the days of letting debt control your life are over. After all, what was the point of filing Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy? Acknowledge it, and move on to showing your future employer what they should really be evaluating you on: your experience and ability to do the job.

You may still have questions. After all, reclaiming your life is a process. You can find more of the information you need by requesting a free copy of my Missouri and Illinois debt relief guide, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

If you think Chapter 7 bankruptcy is for deadbeats, think again. A lot of people believe that there is a stigma attached to filing Chapter 7. That is absolutely not true. In fact, bankruptcy laws weren’t written yesterday. In the United States, bankruptcy laws were adopted around the time of the U.S. Constitution, in 1800. Bankruptcy laws in Missouri and Illinois have evolved over the years. Just in the 25-year period between 1980 and 2005, bankruptcies in Missouri and Illinois increased six-fold. That said, people’s opinions on bankruptcy have not shown signs of changing with the times. (more…)

If the Police Report Says My Husband Wasn’t Wearing a Seat Belt, Is my Missouri Accident Case Over?

Not necessarily. It is not always clear what has truly happened after an accident. In some instances, it may look as if the driver was not wearing a seat belt. If the seat belt was defective, however, it may have come off during the accident, leading to the death of the driver.

An auto defect is usually the result of a manufacturing error within your car. It is important to remember that there are two parts to every accident. The first part of the accident has to do with the actual collision. The second part, however, is what happens inside the car during the collision. Often, it is this part of the accident where defects inside the car show themselves. If, for instance, the seat belt in the car had malfunctioned, the injuries sustained from the accident may be partly or totally the result of that defect.

You see haunting fatal car accident statistics everyday about the dangers of driving without a seat belt on-but it seems that the media has forgotten something just as newsworthy: the amount of car crash deaths attributed to a defective car.

That is why it is essential to keep the car for proper inspection after an accident. Not everything is as it seems when it comes to St. Louis car accident injuries. It is always best to contact a St. Louis car accident or accident claim attorney experienced in auto defects to truly understand what may have happened during an accident and how you can go about getting an accident settlement that will truly provide help with your medical bills, replace your lost wages, and help you get back on your feet.

Toyota’s latest ad campaign isn’t filled with pictures of fast cars on highways or clever jingles. Instead, they’ve focused their campaign on apologizing for the defects in the latest model of the Prius. First, reports came in on the sticky gas pedal, which is potentially responsible for some dismal fatal car accident statistics, including 19 car crash deaths. Now, it seems that the brakes in the Prius are also defective. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the defective brakes caused, “a momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over uneven road surfaces, bumps, or potholes.” Toyota has stated that the defect is a result of an error in software programming.

Though Toyota is now taking responsibility for the defect, why did it happen in the first place? What many people don’t know about the car companies is that, often, if there is a defect in the car, the company calculates how much it may cost to fix versus the anticipated lawsuits. If the amount they would have to pay out in law suits is less than the risk, they often won’t fix the defect. Scary, huh?

Now, on top of the everyday worries of driving, we must worry about the safety of the actual cars we buy. Plus, even thought Toyota has recalled the brakes and gas pedals, many St. Louis auto defect lawyers are wondering how the company will treat those already injured from the defects. How difficult will it be to get help with medical bills if you’ve already been in an accident in the Prius? How hard will negotiations be for the average driver?

The best course of action to take if you’ve been involved in an accident that could be the result of a defect is to contact a experienced St. Louis car accident or accident claim attorney immediately. The longer that you wait, the harder that it could be to avoid the common mistakes that people make that ruin their claim.

Opening up a bank account after Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Missouri or Illinois is often the first step people take to rebuild their credit. The idea that you cannot open a checking or savings account after bankruptcy is one of the most widely prevalent bankruptcy myths. It’s simply not true. In fact, getting a new account is a great way to start feeling normal and responsible again. It is an important step toward rebuilding your credit and erasing your debt.

However, there are some secret tips to choosing the right bank and getting the right account.

• Choose a federally insured bank: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is an independent agency of the U.S. government. Basically the FDIC protects you against losing your deposits if an FDIC or insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. What this means is if you open a bank account with an institution that is not federally insured, you could lose all your money if that business goes under. So it is extremely important that you verify the bank you choose is federally insured at FDIC’s Web site.

• Choose an account with low or no minimum balance and overdraft protection: It would be in your best interest to get an account with low or no minimum balance to ensure that you are not charged unexpected fees. Also, be sure to get overdraft protection to avoid steep fees and bounced checks. Overdrawing your account is one of the first signs that you are having money troubles. So, it is important that you steer clear of overdrawing after bankruptcy.

Watch out for debit card fees: As you shop around, you’ll see that some banks actually charge a fee to use a debit card. Make sure you read all the terms and conditions clearly before getting or using a debit card. It is also critical to make sure that these debit cards have overdraft protection. Overdrawing can happen just as easily with debit cards.

High winds and 5 to 8 inches of snow are predicted for this week-and caused the Missouri Department of Transportation to put out an alert asking motorists to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. There is no doubt that the number of accidents will increase, making it especially important for drivers to be careful. Car crash deaths due to snow and ice account for a sizeable number of traffic fatalities. After spending many years as a St. Louis car accident lawyer, I know that there are some important tips to driving safely and preventing any accidents that could leave you needing help with medical bills or talking to an insurance adjuster.

Any accident lawyer in Missouri would tell you to decrease your speed and increase the space between you and the car in front of you in snow and ice. In fact, you should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you. Most St. Louis auto accident lawyers would also tell you to turn on your lights, break gently, and to not use cruise control or overdrive. Most importantly, don’t think that your car is invincible. Many drivers out there assume that because they have rear-wheel or four-wheel drive that they cannot get into an accident. This is simply untrue.

If you are in an accident, it is important that you do not sign anything or speak with the adjuster before you contact an experienced personal accident lawyer. He or she can help you avoid making any mistakes that may ruin a possible car accident settlement from the insurance company.

Ideally, we’d like to be able to plan out when we are going to incur big costs; but life’s little surprises rarely leave us a moment to catch our breath. Medical emergencies are among the worst of these surprises. If a life is at stake, cost is usually the last thing on our minds. We are a society focused on the value of an individual life, which often leads us to make any effort, no matter the cost, to save a life. And while any life is certainly worth saving, we tend not to think about the financial situation that will result for the injured party. A very appropriate example of this is the cost of an air ambulance. An article on MSNBC reported that about 550,000 patients are flown by helicopter or a small airplane to get medical treatment for heart attacks and car accidents, among other things. What is the cost of these flights? It could be anywhere from slightly less than $12,000 to $25,000 per flight.

It’s no wonder that health care is such a hot button issue for congress right now. The cost of getting serious medical treatment is only rising-and so is the number of folks filing chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy in Missouri and Illinois. After 15 years as a St. Louis Missouri and Fairview Heights Illinois bankruptcy attorney, I’ve seen a lot of people that need to be protected from foreclosure, to find a solution to credit card debt, and to get rid of harassing creditors after a medical emergency. Medical bills can be eliminated through bankruptcy, keeping families safe and protected in their homes and without the burden of debt looming over them.

Bad things happen to good people-but bankruptcy can protect those people from losing more than they already have. If you are in a similar situation and wondering “Should I file bankruptcy?” take a look at the information available to you from reputable St. Louis Missouri or Southern Illinois bankruptcy attorneys. Many of these attorneys provide basic descriptions or even bankruptcy FAQ on their websites. The best bankruptcy attorneys in Missouri and Illinois, however, will provide you with articles, blogs, and possibly even free publications before you set foot into his or her office. Make sure that any attorney you want to hire for your chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy case is willing to offer you these “extras” before hiring him or her.

It is important to use common sense in this situation. If you have been injured in an accident, you need to seek medical attention immediately in order to receive treatment for your injuries. If you think you may have been injured but are not showing any symptoms, you can get a medical assessment from a doctor to make sure. There are injuries whose symptoms will not appear until sometime after your accident. In fact, it is common for injuries to take 10 to 14 days to fully appear.

An insurance company may use the length and seriousness of your treatment to determine how much your claim is worth.  So, if you don’t go to a doctor, the insurance company may come to the conclusion that you don’t really need to be compensated for your injuries. It is important to seek medical treatment for any kind of injuries you sustain from an accident if you hope to get enough compensation in your settlement.

It isn’t always easy to know what information you need to write down, what injuries you need to be treated for, or of what medications you need to keep track. Because the aftermath of a Missouri or Illinois auto accident can be so confusing, I have started providing my clients with an accident notebook to keep track of all of the information needed to have a successful car accident claim. It includes pockets for receipts and photos, a detailed checklist for symptoms and injuries, and a place to record treatments. The notebook doesn’t cost any additional money; it is just a benefit of working with an experienced St. Louis accident lawyer. Before you decide to hire an accident attorney in Missouri or Illinois, you should make sure that they understand what information needs to be collected to make the best claim possible. If they don’t offer something like our accident notebook, they may not know all of the information that is needed to make your case a success.