Review Your Insurance Policy Before It’s Too Late

When is the last time you looked at what your insurance plan covers? Americans are required to have insurance policies for several scenarios – many simply find the cheapest option and buy it. We aren’t here to tell you to buy more expensive insurance, but we are here to make sure you understand what you’re actually paying for.

In an ideal world, homeowners insurance, car insurance, and other property-related insurance policies would never be necessary. Unfortunately, we know too well that accidents and weather events happen – putting our insurance policies into action. You need to know which situations are covered and which are not covered today, not after you’ve already had an incident.

We’re going to explore some situations where reviewing your insurance policy beforehand would be necessary.

Weather Events

Let’s talk about this first because, frankly, it’s unpredictable. We are able to plan for many life events, but weather events often come quickly with little to no warning. Unfortunately, you can’t change your policy once a storm is imminent. Otherwise, everybody would opt for the cheapest plan and then increase coverages solely for the period in which the storm is coming through.

Instead of waiting until it’s too late, you should review your plan today. Consider questions like:

Do I live in an area with frequent storms or flooding?
Do I live in an area with frequent earthquakes?
If a catastrophic storm destroys my property today, what will my insurance pay for tomorrow?
Have I made significant changes to my property since buying this policy?

Renovations or Additions

You should review your policy before you make renovations or additions to your home or vehicle to understand what coverages you have in case something goes wrong. Would you be held liable and not be covered? Does your insurance cover cars that have been modified?

Then, once your work is done, you may want to review your coverages once again to make sure the new value of your property is reflected. A renovation or addition to most homes or vehicles will increase its value, meaning you may need to increase coverages.

It’s Been a While Since Your Last Review

Even if you don’t have any big life events on the horizon, we want to stress the importance of simply giving your insurance another look. There are numerous scenarios that you may not have considered that could impact your policy.

For instance, you may be eligible for loyalty rewards for being a long-time customer. You also may have made a job change that requires you to travel less with your vehicle, lowering your mileage and insurance costs.

Knowledge is power in all circumstances, including when it comes to insurance. The more you know about your coverages the better protected you are when you need to file a claim. At Sunshine, Isaacson & Hecht, we constantly work with clients to make sure they’re getting the most out of their insurance when it comes time to make a claim. Contact our firm today for unrivaled expertise and dedication.

“You’ve Been Served”: What to Do If You’re Served Divorce Papers

Writings on Legal Matters

“You’ve Been Served”: What to Do If You’re Served Divorce Papers

Being served with divorce papers can be upsetting and stressful, or may just be a welcome and practical step towards ending a relationship. However you feel about being served divorce papers, there are certain things you must now do to move the process forward. This article talks you through each step.

Read the papers carefully

Reading your divorce papers may seem like a no-brainer. However, it is essential that you take time and care when doing so to ensure that you fully understand the wealth of information they contain. Signing divorce papers without thoroughly reading them first could mean you end up agreeing to something that you actually object to.

Among other things, divorce papers should contain information such as where the action has been filed, the deadline by which the spouse must respond, and whether the spouse who filed the paperwork is acting alone or with the help of an attorney. The grounds for divorce, as well as information on important matters such as child support and custody and division of property, may also be laid out in these documents.

Provide your response

The required response time is typically 20 days from when you were served with the papers, so you should check your divorce papers to make sure you know the deadline and ensure you provide your response before then. If you do not provide a response within the deadline, it is possible that your spouse could be granted everything they have requested in the papers, as not responding suggests that you are amenable to these requests. Providing a response may be difficult without an attorney who can prepare the document, called an Answer, properly. This brings us to the next important step:

Hire an attorney

The next thing you should do is hire an attorney. An attorney will help guide you through the process and can assist with drafting and delivering the response to your spouse. An attorney will help you go through the papers and respond to each numbered statement, providing as much information and reasoning as possible.

Legal counsel can ensure that you understand all your rights and options and that your rights are protected, particularly if the case becomes contested at a later date. If your divorce papers indicate that your spouse has employed the services of an attorney, it is even more imperative that you retain your own counsel so that both parties’ rights and interests are protected and fought for on even ground.

Gather paperwork and documents

Documents such as pay-stubs, income tax returns, and recent bank statements are useful to have on hand. Other helpful documents include financial paperwork such as credit card statements, mortgage agreements, and statements from retirement and/or brokerage accounts. These documents will help an attorney ascertain where the income comes from and how assets will be divided.

Protect your assets

Some individuals need to be careful about protecting their assets. If you are concerned that your spouse may try to take money from you, your attorney can and should issue an Automatic Restraining Order, to prevent either party from making unusual transactions, withdrawals, or take other steps that may harm you financially.

Next steps

From here your attorney has two choices – to try and resolve the financials and custody issues amicably, or to ask that a Judge be appointed to the case to help you and your spouse. If proceeding amicably and outside of the court, your attorney can set up a settlement conference with your spouse and his or her attorney. If you wish to go to Court, then your attorney will schedule a Preliminary Conference with the Court, during which you will meet the Judge selected for your case, who will make recommendations for settlement and oversee the process if a resolution cannot be reached. Further, the Judge has the power at this point to direct that certain bills must be paid while the case is pending, how income should be shared between you and yourself, and who should pay the attorneys.

If you are looking for an experienced divorce lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected, call Sunshine Isaacson & Hecht, LLP at (516) 352-2100 for a confidential consultation, or e-mail us at jisaacson@sihllp.com

6 Tips for Being a Great Single Parent

Writings on Legal Matters

6 Tips for Being a Great Single Parent

Being a parent is not easy – especially when you are a single parent – especially when you did not used to be a single parent. Adjusting to being the only one taking (at least primary) care of your children can be a difficult thing. However, it is wonderful! Being a single parent is something to take pride in and find joy with, not to feel ashamed of. All parents know how difficult the child-raising process is and are blown away by those who do it alone.

Especially in the winter months, being a single parent can take some work. Here are our 6 tips for being the best single parent you can be:

Keep up with a budget. Set it up and keep it up! Making a budget is one of the best things any parent can do. Having a clear picture of all of your expenses and income allows you to set budget levels for things like entertainment and ordering food, which you can easily track over the course of the month. There are lots of helpful apps you can now integrate into this process instead of cracking open Excel spreadsheets!

Set routines in motion. Establishing a sense of normalcy is great for you and your children. Set up some healthy habits and make sure they keep happening every day. Waking up and going to bed at a usual time improves productivity and attitude, both of which allow you to do more in a day. Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or Movie Night, setting up routines is wonderful.

Don’t say yes every single time. Just because your child asks for it does not mean they need it. Your child will love you whether or not you buy them that toy, no matter what it may feel like in the moment. You don’t get everything you want every single time – and you’re doing pretty well – so they can get used to it too!

Find a support system. Being a single parent does not have to mean doing everything by yourself. Find a support system around you, whether it is composed of trusted friends, community members, or fellow single parents. Look at options for carpooling and after school care. Research any groups of single parents in your area – there are different ones that meet in every city in the nation. You don’t have to find a group that is already perfect – you can create or improve one!

Use tax breaks and financial resources. There are financial resources available to single parents that are not in place for couples. Research the tax breaks and funds that you can take advantage of to help your single parent budget.

Make time for yourself. It’s not all about your child. You need to make time for yourself too, even if it’s just taking a bath or keeping up with a show after you put them to bed. Consider finding a babysitter once a month to take yourself out for a date. Find some times, even if they may be few and far between, to put yourself first.

Being a single parent can be difficult, but it is rewarding. For any help with family law or dealing with life as a single parent, contact Sunshine, Isaacson & Hecht, LLC today! We can help fight for you and get you the support you deserve.

Getting Your Heating System Tuned Up? Be Aware of Potential Spills

Writings on Legal Matters

Getting Your Heating System Tuned Up? Be Aware of Potential Spills

It’s oil-heating season. Homes and businesses in New York and across the northeast U.S. are already dealing with the cold, and this calls for a tuneup of our heating systems. We absolutely advocate for a tuneup of your system to make sure there aren’t any unexpected disasters waiting for you when you turn on that heat for the first time in nearly a year or continue to crank it up in the days, weeks, and months to come.

What this generally looks like is having a technician come into your home or place of business to replace the filter and ensure the system is ready to go without issue. These are professionals who have done this hundreds of times (maybe even this year alone). Of course, this doesn’t mean mistakes don’t happen and you could end up dealing with a serious oil spill when you kick the system on if the new filter system fails or was installed incorrectly.

If you end up with a spill on your hands, it could set back your business or force you to move out of your home temporarily (or, in a worst-case scenario, permanently). Oil spills are serious situations, but you should know it’s not your job to pay the thousands and thousands of dollars it may take to clean it all up. Remember, under New York’s Navigation Law, the discharger of oil will be responsible for the spill, the cleanup, and all remediation necessary to remedy the situation (along with additional fees down line, if necessary).

Attorney Jeffrey Sunshine is Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association and remains dedicated to handling oil spill cases. The attorney has extensive experience in winning cases for homeowners and business owners who need to protect their livelihoods from careless or even accidental mistakes that result in major oil spillage.

If your home or business is getting a system tuneup this winter, make sure you are hiring a technician or company you can trust. You should consider talking to others about who they hired and look extensively through reviews to make sure there’s a history of properly replacing filters and tuning up oil heating systems. In the end, if you still end up being exposed to a spill you should contact Sunshine, Isaacson & Hecht for unrivaled expertise and dedication to this area of law.

3 Tips for Dealing with an Insurance Adjuster Following an Accident

Writings on Legal Matters

3 Tips for Dealing with an Insurance Adjuster Following an Accident

For most drivers, car owners, and property owners who were unlucky enough to be involved in a car accident or have their home damaged, claims adjusters can be their best friend or their worst enemy. But it’s probably more than just that because dealing with the claims adjuster after a car crash can be a huge pain, especially if you aren’t acquainted with your legal rights. Insurance adjusters are the insurance company’s representatives, so they are the people who will largely determine whether or not or you will be compensated for any costs or losses following a car accident.

Since the claim adjuster is responsible for interviewing the claimant and other parties, what you tell him can make or break your claim. It is therefore important to be careful about any statements you make before the claims adjuster. If you admit fault, your insurance policy may even prevent the recovery of damages. Here are 5 tips to follow when dealing with an insurance adjuster after an accident to ensure you get paid the settlement offer you deserve:

1. Avoid giving a recorded statement.

If you think you may need a lawyer — you probably do. When an insurance adjuster calls you, they may be recording your conversation and anything that you say can be used against you.

2. Avoid discussing your damages.

The insurance company can ask you about the injuries you suffered in the immediate aftermath of a car accident or the damage to your home. All of the facts about your damages or injuries may not be realized yet. If hurt, you may not realize how badly until you’ve consulted with multiple doctors. If it is your home that is damaged, you may not realize that you not only need a plumber to fix the leak but also a painter to repair the wall after the plumber has finished. By discussing your damages with the insurance company you may be limiting your ability to fully recover or recoup all of your damages simply because they have not yet been realized.

Additionally, if you accidentally miss important information or provide information that is not 100% accurate, you may lose your right to financial recovery.

3. Meet with a lawyer before agreeing to a settlement offer.

The insurer will almost always try to settle with you. However, until you talk to a lawyer, you should never accept a settlement offer. Insurance companies are a business and they make money by paying as little as possible to their customers. They are trained to handle your claim — you should have someone on your side who is trained too.

Contact a Lawyer

If you are looking for an experienced lawyer to help you with your personal injury or property damage claim, call Sunshine Isaacson & Hecht, LLP at (516) 352-2100 for a confidential consultation, or e-mail us at jisaacson@sihllp.com.

6 Tips for Driving More Safely

Writings on Legal Matters

6 Tips for Driving More Safely

New York is in the middle of one of the harshest winters in recent memory, which is saying something. As a firm that practices personal injury law, we know just how dangerous getting behind the wheel of a vehicle can be. In the middle of winter, that danger increases tenfold.

The tough reality is that your safety is entrusted to drivers around you as much as it is to yourself. You cannot control the actions of others, however, so the most important thing you can do is to stay safe in your own car. The more cautiously you drive, the safer the roads will be for everyone else.

Safety starts with you. Here are our 6 tips for driving more safely:

Buckle Up! This is the first step and the most important one. It should go without saying, but the best thing that you can do to protect yourself and others is to buckle your seatbelt every time you get into a car. Whether you are driving across the country or just across a parking lot, buckling up can and will save your life.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road. On the road, distractions can come from anywhere – your phone, people in your car, people in other cars, accidents you pass along the way, trying to get the radio to work. Keeping your eyes forward and on the horizon is the best practice to make sure you are aware of what is around you and where you are headed.

Know Your Limits. It is hard to drive safely when you are not functioning properly and when the conditions outside are intense. Either of them can be deadly – the combination is miserable. If you are too tired, too emotional, or have been partaking of any substances, check yourself before you attempt to drive. Likewise, if you feel that you have to go somewhere but the weather seems too intense to travel, don’t risk it.

Forgive and Forget. Road rage is real. It is easy to get mad at other drivers, which in turn worsens your driving ability and perception of those around you. The best option is to forgive or ignore other drivers who cut you off or honk or zoom past you at a million miles an hour. Focusing on your own driving is far more rewarding.

Don’t Trust Anyone. Driving defensively and cautiously is the best practice at all times. Drive slower rather than faster, and don’t make any assumptions about what those around you are planning to do. You can only control yourself, and you cannot expect anyone else around you to behave in a rational manner.

Call for Help When You Need It. If you have been injured in a car accident, make sure to seek medical help if needed, document the scene, and obtain the insurance information of the other parties involved. If you need help with a personal injury case, contact Sunshine Isaacson & Hecht, LLP today. We fight for you, and we have the knowledge and experience that breeds success.

It’s Time To Take a Look at Your Insurance Policy

Writings on Legal Matters

It’s Time To Take a Look at Your Insurance Policy

Just about every adult has insurance policies for a wide variety of reasons – health insurance, dental insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance, renters insurance, and homeowners insurance. Our team wants to make sure you’re bringing that last one, homeowners insurance, into focus in the new year.

People tend to take out insurance policies without ever really understanding what they’re paying for. It’s easy to just take the cheapest policy required by your mortgage lender or that you feel comfortable paying for. Whether you’re taking your first real look at your homeowners insurance coverages or are taking this opportunity to review what you’re paying for, it’s important to understand what you need to look out for.

Weather and Natural Disaster Coverage

Weather events aren’t going away. A lot of New Yorkers think they’re protected in this corner of the U.S., but Hurricane Sandy sent a tough reminder that it’s always possible. Other events like severe snow and wind storms knock out power and leave damage to homes and businesses across the region every year. So, what does your insurance policy cover?

Most homeowners insurance policies include coverage for wind and hail damage, but you might be surprised to learn that flooding and hurricane damage often require separate policies. This means you may need to consider increasing coverage for the weather events that are covered by your policy while also obtaining other forms of insurance for the events that are not covered by your policy.

Coverage Should Reflect the Home You’re Living In

As you take a look at your policy, consider the home you live in today. You may not be covering the totality of your home which could mean you’ll be paying significantly more out of pocket should something happen to your home down the line, especially if you’ve made significant upgrades since purchasing the policy.

Do you live in a large home valued at $800,000 but are realizing your insurance policy only covers property damage up to half that amount? Is your home full of priceless possessions but your policy doesn’t have itemized coverage for any of those items? You will end up paying for any gaps in coverage should something happen to your home or the property within it.

A fact you need to understand is that your insurance company will likely tell you if you have too much coverage but will never tell you if you don’t have enough coverage. Lower coverage totals are assumed to be a choice.

Are You Exposed to Significant Personal Liability?

Whether you live in your own home or own a home that you’re renting out, your insurance policy should address the personal liability you would face if something happens on your property. If a renter or visitor is hurt and comes after you with a lawsuit, what does your insurance company cover for you? Natural disasters aren’t the only events that could hit your checkbook hard if your insurance policy doesn’t cover you.

At Sunshine, Isaacson & Hecht, we work with New Yorkers and insurance companies every day. Whether you’re facing personal liability from a renter at one of your properties or need to go after your insurance company for failing to pay out your claim, we can help. Contact our team for unrivaled expertise and dedication.

Need help today? Get in touch for a free case evaluation.

Facing a legal challenge and have a question? Contact us today and receive a free case evaluation from one of our experienced attorneys.

Free Consultation