Going on a road trip can be fun! It can, nevertheless, be intimidating. To make your road trip easier, we’ll share 5 tips to setting up your road trip checklist. Keep in mind that maintaining you and your family’s safety is the top priority in this list. 

Road Trips Are On The Rise

According to AP News, “2021 Is the Year of the Road Trip.” In an article on roadtrips, they write that more and more Americans feel comfortable being on the road rather than on airplanes. This is due to a lot of factors. If you are one of those Americans seeking to go on a road trip, then you should consider having a traveling checklist. 

What Should Be Including in Your Traveling Checklist

If you’re thinking of going on a road trip, here are 5 tips to create your checklist. This is not a comprehensive list. It, nevertheless, includes some basic factors you should consider before going on a road trip. 

Make sure that your car is licensed and insured

At LeBaron & Jensen P.C., it’s very important to us that individuals and families maintain their safety. In order to avoid any potential issues, we highly recommend making sure that you have your car licensed and insured before you travel. If your car is licensed and insured, then make sure you have the latest copies of each type of document in your vehicle. This is important because should there be an accident, you will need to file a claim and get help with any potential issue. 

Make sure that have an emergency backup plan

Questions to ask yourself as you think of an emergency backup plan includes:

• Is my car in the right condition? Can it survive a road trip?
• Do I have an extra tire in case one deflates or something happens?
• If we get stuck somewhere or something happens, what emergency plan should we set up in place? Do I have roadside assistance? 
• What should I do if there’s an auto accident? 

These are just some of the things that you need in order to have a good emergency backup plan. A backup plan is important because you never know what can happen and while you can’t control all situations, you should be somewhat prepared. 

Make sure you have an emergency kit

Having a first aid kit will be helpful in case of someone getting hurt. Having a first aid kit handy will help you address minor injuries such as small cuts, falls, and other accidents. Emergency kits will be a lifesaver, especially if you or anyone in your family is on medications or has allergies or other illnesses that need to be managed while travelling. 

Make sure you have an extra key

Since you’re traveling so far away from home, have an extra key on you at all times. This is in case your primary key gets lost inside the car (you get locked out). This is also for if you lose your key and can’t find it. Having an extra key will prevent you from having to call roadside assistance or even from having to figure out other solutions. 

Make sure you have considered needs vs. wants

Because you may have limited space when you’re travelling, consider you and your family’s needs vs. wants. For example, needing to take a cooler might be important so that you have beverages while traveling. If you’re out camping, taking things like your bike, kayak, trailer, or even a tent might also be high on your priority. Other things like lots of clothing may not be as important if it’s a short trip. Overall, consider what the important things are that you want to take with you. Put those high on your list. 

LeBaron and Jensen Can Help You In Case of An Emergency

If something happens while you’re travelling and need to file an auto accident claim, we, at LeBaron and Jensen can help you. Contact us at 801-773-9488 or here. 

By reaching out to us, we can help you enjoy your trip so that you’re not having to worry about what to do and who can help. Give us a call for more information.

Bankruptcy–does it really change your life for the worse like many people assume? In this article, we’ll compare Chapter 7 bankruptcy to Chapter 13 bankruptcy. We’ll also share some key points you should be aware of when it comes to Chapter 7 bankruptcy. 

Understanding Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is when someone has to liquidate the things they have in order to pay off their debts. There are many different reasons why bankruptcy happens. Here are some reasons. 

• Having more credit than income being made
• Divorce or other martial issues
• Large hospital bills
• Loss of employment

A person can file for bankruptcy by choosing to or by having a creditor filing a case asking for a court to order that the individual file for bankruptcy. Federal courts in the United States tend to manage bankruptcy cases. Individuals, couples, or businesses can file for bankruptcy. 

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy VS. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Both Chapter 7 and Chapter Here are some of the key similarities and differences between 

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy include:

• Both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 can be filed by an individual or a couple.
• Both types of bankruptcies include eligibility based on income and other aspects
• Chapter 7 is usually filed by a business. Chapter 13 is filed by a sole proprietorship.
• Chapter 7 involves liquidating assets, whereas Chapter 13 involves setting up a payment plan. 
• Chapter 7 bankruptcy takes less time than a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

What You Should Know About Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 bankruptcy doesn’t have to be a scary and daunting thing. Rather, it can be something that helps you in your life. 

Here are some aspects of Chapter 7 bankruptcy that you should know:

Chapter 7 bankruptcy does not mean losing all of your assets

Oftentimes, those who are thinking of filing bankruptcy or who are in the process of filing it, assume that they will lose all their assets. The reality is that you may still be able to keep some of your belongings. For instance, some laws may apply to you that would allow you to maintain your home, car and other assets. It’s just about talking and consulting with a qualified and experienced attorney who knows your situation. His attorney would be able to help you understand what laws could help your case. 

Chapter 7 bankruptcy can open new doors for you

Rather than being stuck in a cycle of debt, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy can help get unstuck. That is, being indebt and feeling like you’re drowning in it is not the only solution that you have. As the motivational speaker and writer Dr. Eric Thomas says, “If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness.” What this means is that, having to explore the options you have can help you understand that you have choices. You don’t need to be stuck in a cycle of debt once you realize that there are options. Some ways that Chapter 7 bankruptcy can open new doors is by helping you start over again. You won’t be carrying debt around with you and can start to focus on other areas of your life that you might have neglected.

LeBaron & Jensen P.C. Can Help You Make The Right Choice

If you’re unsure what type of options you have available, LeBaron & Jensen can help you figure out what options you have. We’ll go over the pros and cons of each type of bankruptcy and help you figure out what type is best for your situation. 

If you’re in the state of Utah, contact us at 801-773-9488. You can also contact us here. 

LeBaron & Jensen Holds Insurance Providers Accountable

Insurance claims are, more often than not, incredibly convoluted, making it nearly impossible to navigate the system alone. After an accident, victims and their families can often face serious financial difficulties on top of the struggle to recover and rebuild their lives. LeBaron & Jensen is here to help.

At LeBaron & Jensen, our attorneys and paralegal staff have decades of combined experience representing victims and negotiating with insurance providers on their behalf to get fair settlements. Our ability to secure fair compensation for our clients goes beyond our skill and dedication alone, as legal representation pays for itself when dealing with insurance providers. That is to say that industry studies have shown that claimants with legal representation get settlements 3.5 times those given to claimants without. In short, obtaining legal representation is the best way to prevent being victimized by insurance bad faith and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. We can review your case for FREE to establish representation and protect your interests or to determine if you have already been victimized by your insurance provider acting in bad faith in relation to your claim. We hold providers accountable for their promises to you, the insured.

What is Bad Faith?

Insurance providers work to protect their interests and, thereby, those of their shareholders. As a result, insurance providers will work to pay as little financial compensation as possible to their policyholders when a claim is filed. If your insurance provider acts in an unreasonable or belligerent manner, you may be entitled to additional punitive damages if your case progresses to the courts. This “bad faith” can include:

• Excessive delays in processing claims
• Poorly executed investigation
• Refusing to defend your lawsuit
• Threatening the insured person(s)
• Unreasonable settlement offers, or refusal to offer reasonable compensation
• Unreasonable execution or interpretation of policies.

What to Do If You Believe Your Insurance Provider Is Acting in Bad Faith

If you believe your insurance provider has acted in bad faith when reviewing and negotiating your claim, it’s important to obtain experienced legal representation as soon as possible. While insurance providers want to pay as little as possible, they also want to avoid costly litigation. Retaining a skilled personal injury attorney demonstrates that, if necessary, the claimant and their legal counsel are prepared to fight for fair compensation. This being said, 99% of personal injury claims are settled outside of court when an accident attorney is involved. So, remember, if your insurance provider appears to be acting in bad faith:

• Provide no detailed statements or admissions of fault for your accident
• Accept no unreasonable or unequitable settlement offers
• Contact an attorney to get the settlement you deserve

Why Do You Need an Attorney?

Successfully navigating a personal injury claim and obtaining an equitable settlement when recovering from injuries and rebuilding your life is nigh impossible. In addition, participating in any negotiations when an insurance provider is acting in bad faith further complicates an extremely complex process. At LeBaron & Jensen, we get it. We have represented victims and their families across the Wasatch Front for over 15 years and have seen the tricks and tactics insurance providers use to pay as little as possible. Let us take on the stress of negotiation so you can focus on navigating the road to recovery and not the personal injury insurance maze that prevents nearly 20% of accident victims from ever filing a claim.

Contact Us to Schedule a Case Evaluation Today

At LeBaron & Jensen, it is our commitment and passion to act on your behalf so you can focus on recovery. If you have any further questions, or would like to begin your FREE, no-obligation case evaluation, call our office at (801) 773-9488. Our attorneys are experienced navigating negotiations with your insurance provider and are dedicated to getting the maximum compensation you deserve.