| Volume 83 Number 2 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Don't sign a contract to buy a car unless you are sure it is the car you want to purchase. Contrary to what many people believe, the law does not give you three days to change your mind. Once you sign, you are legally bound.
For more general information about the law, check out my website. Click here for more.
Consumers Name Most-Liked Car Brands
Perception and reality. Sometimes they line up, sometimes they don't.
According to a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chevrolet, and Mercedes-Benz are the best overall cars in the market in consumer perception. Consumer perception, however, is not a measurement of actual performance or quality.
Despite its top spot, Toyota has been plagued by problems in recent years. The brand famously dealt with "unintended acceleration" problems and numerous recalls. Recently, Toyota has bounced back, even offering consumers Toyota Care with each new vehicle purchase.
When buying a new car, brand perception should be among the last things a consumer should consider. If you're in the market for a new car, carefully research the make and models of interest and make a decision based on actual performance.
Click here for more.
Consumers Fight Out of Network Billing
Even if you have insurance, you might find yourself stuck with a huge medical bill. The problem comes up when a consumer receives "out-of-network" services. In many instances, the primary doctor may be "in-network," but other doctors (like radiologist who read film) and labs may be "out-of-network." As a result, a consumer could receive multiple bills for the same visit, with unforeseen "out-of-network" services potentially breaking the bank.
A recent study across 30 states found a great discrepancy between the amount billed to a consumer versus the amount paid by Medicare. Sometimes, the charges were as much as 100 times the amount paid by Medicare. The biggest offenders were found in New York, Texas, Florida and New Jersey. Although other insurance companies often have higher payouts, the differences between "in-network" and "out-of-network" were still substantial.
Could you end up with a massive medical bill even though you have insurance?
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Your Money
What will it take to save for a goal? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Mortgage holder and homeowner’s association not responsible for injury on abandoned property. An Indiana trial court found that the defendants had not breached a duty of care owed to the injured child. The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s grant of summary judgment. The court found it came down to basic premises liability law. Neither the mortgage company nor the association were “possessors” of the property, so they owed no duty to those coming onto the premises. Click here for more.