Answer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070125/tv_nm/brandy_thurs_dc

Mechanical defects ruled out in Brandy's car crash

By Steve Gorman
2 hours, 54 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mechanical factors were ruled out as contributing to the fatal freeway crash last month involving actress-singer Brandy, who triggered the accident when her vehicle rammed into the car in front of hers, police said on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT



But it remains to be seen whether the 27-year-old former performer, whose full name is Brandy Norwood, will be found to be primarily at fault or criminally negligent in the December 30 crash, California Highway Patrol spokesman Leland Tang said.

A motorist, Awatef Aboudihaj, 38, a married mother of one, was killed when Brandy's Land Rover struck her from behind. The former star of the television comedy "Moesha" was not hurt.

Aboudihaj's car was forced into another car in front of hers, then swerved into the freeway's center divider and was broad-sided by a fourth automobile.

A big question remaining for investigators is what caused Aboudihaj's vehicle to careen across four lanes of traffic, turning what otherwise might have been a relatively minor crash into a fatal one, Tang said.

An inspection of all four vehicles found no mechanical defects, he said.

"We know the person who started the chain reaction was obviously Brandy Norwood," Tang said.

Tang said investigators would spend the next day or two sifting through evidence from the scene and conducting further interviews before turning the case over to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office for review.

He said Brandy has been "fantastically cooperative" with police.

Alcohol and drugs have been ruled out as factors in the crash, and there is no evidence that Brandy was using a cell phone or was otherwise distracted at the time of the crash. She was in her car alone, Tang said.

The celebrity Web site TMZ.com, which broke the news of the crash on Wednesday, quoted one eyewitness as saying the pop star was visibly distraught at the accident scene and "kept saying how she hit the lady."

Answer
you can once its all been cleared up, and that will take some time.

even if you DID open a bank account right now, your creditors would put a lien on it until you proved you were a victim.

just straiten it out; it takes time.. and lots of it, but its got to be done... i know. these links will tell you step by step what you need to do.

--10 MILLION people per year are victims of Identity Theft.

--Todays target for criminals; children and teens identities (SS#). Why? Because parents never think to check/protect their childrens reports.

1) run a free credit report from each agency (your allowed one free one per year, per agency). you need to know, so you need to get them.
2) Check your childrens also.
2) if ID Theft has occurred, you need to make a police report first. the rest of what you need to do, is listed in the links below (with GREAT info too).
3) some states allow you to 'lock' or 'freeze' credit reports; to protect against theft. if your state allows it, lock 'em down. that way, no one can open an account on them.
4) once you discover their credit reports have activity on them, then contact each credit reporting agency (the 3 major ones) and report the ID Theft... and request they lock the reports (usually they automatically do it, but ask for it anyway).

ID THEFT HELP/ INFO
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html
http://www.fraudguides.com/consumer-identity-theft-children.asp
http://www.ripoffreport.com/
http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/
http://www.ncpc.org/media/current.php
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03
http://www.myidfix.com/

FAIR DEBT COLLECTION
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations-explained.html
EACH STATES SoL
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations.html
http://www.fair-credit-reporting.com/credit-laws/credit-reporting-periods.html

CAPITAL ONE
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/WeirdStuffThatHurtsYourCredit.aspx?GT1=8885
Capital One refuses to report its customers' credit limits to the three major credit bureaus. Instead, the bureaus use the highest balance a customer has charged as a proxy for the limit.

As a result, the customers' all-important "debt utilization ratios" -- the portion of their available credit these borrowers are actually using -- can appear artificially high. That can depress borrowers' credit scores, the three-digit numbers lenders use to help determine creditworthiness.

Lower credit scores can mean higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans and other borrowing, as well as potentially higher insurance premiums, since many insurers also use credit-scoring systems to help gauge risk.


CREDIT REPORT INFO / REPAIRS / DISPUTES
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre21.htm
http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2007/st0221.htm
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20040116b1.asp
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.asp
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bankruptcy/20070313_credit_report_stains_a1.asp
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.txt
http://bankrate.com/
http://www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm

TO ORDER A FREE CREDIT REPORT
(all three are free once a year)

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com
1-800-685-1111
_______________
Experian
P.O. Box 19719
Irvine, CA 92623
www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
_______________
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com
1-800-916-8800


FIND YOUR REPS
http://www.usa.gov/
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml
http://www.nga.org
http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php
http://judiciary.senate.gov/

My apartments complex is filing bankruptcy. What does that mean for me?

I got a letter in the mail from an attorney office stating the complex I live in has filed chapter 11. Actually it's a copy from the US Bankruptcy Court "Notice of chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case, Meeting of Creditors, & Deadlines" Has the case number, tax Id # and Attorney's name in Irvine CA.

There is a Proof of Claim form for me to fill out. They want to know if I have a claim. I don't understand.

Does this mean everyone has to move out? What about my lease?

Thanks.

Answer
A Proof of Claim is to be filed if your apartment complex owes you any money. Clearly they don't. It's just a formality the court sends out to creditors, you're not a creditor, the court clerks just followed their rote instructions to send it out.

A Chapter 11 is not a full bankruptcy as an individual would do...Instead, a Chapter 11 is a "reorganization" and the court sets up a payment schedule for them to repay their debts and chops off the interest so they can make payment.

It does not have anything to do with your lease. Your lease will continue as before.

Q. A friend of mine was recently in a serious car accident. I am searching the internet for the best methods of finding personal injury attorneys while she is recovering. Does anyone know of a good website or index?

Answer
try your states Bar Association, or any listing of lawyers thru the State.

How much of a personal injury settlement can my attorney keep?

I was involved in a car accident and substained injury to my knee. I was awarded $25,000 for pain and suffering. My attorney is giving me $6,500, keeping 75%! This seems ridiculously high, how much can lawyers charge? I was under the impression that no more than 35%.

Answer
While that seems excessive, it all depends on the legal agreement that you signed when you brought him on board. Ask him to detail the charges that result in his figure.

My car was totaled in CA!!
What do I do now?
I have missed 1000 hours of work and spend most of that time in Physical therapy.
What is the fair amount to get of pain and suffering?
Moreover is there a Max or calculation to use in the state of CA?
Iâm still in lot of pain and have trouble walking still, even a year later?
How long dose it take to get back to normal?
How do I handle pain suffering settlement?
What should I be doing to get well?
I need a lawyer?
What fair to pay them?
How do I find a good doctor and Lawyer in around Irvine, CA?
I have look into hiring a lawyer since day one! Plus talked all insurance compaies. I have 2 years to trurn all expences. I have already got money for my car. My heaklth insurance has been covering all my expenses, but they want thier money back! From someone!!
Howevr the All Lawyers I have talked to want over 30% of what they get including MED and pain payment.

So why would I want to give a lawyer 30% for doing nothing. Won't the lawyer suck up 30% of the total case, leaving me to pay for doctors, wiht my pain and suffering!!

This seams unfair!! I can see a lawyer getting 30% of the pain and suffering, but not of everything! The other stuff the insurance company is already going ot pay for without a lawyer, GET IT!!!

So what is fair to pay a lawyer, for doing nothing more than writing a letter and few phone calls?
What I'm trying find out isâ¦â¦ what is the max, and what is fair, and what is likely, to get from a car accident?

IF you know someone that knows forward this to them please!!

I have over $10K in Medical and another 10K for missed work, plus I'm still not back to 80% moreover, am still in pain 90% of the day and night, 18 months later. So that is that worth??

If you asked me itâs millions, but I was told $35,000 was the max the insurance company will cover. Which is all the lawyer will really go after, right??

The insurance is offering to pay out 35K now, what do I do!! I could hire a lawyer, but would I get any more! I think not!! Moreover I would net less; after the lawyer takes their 30% and expenses, right??

What should I do and how to do it?

Answer
Many questions/issues, but I have many answers!

1. Fair amount for "pain and suffering"? I can't really say, since you didn't tell us what injuries you sustained. The settlement for that will be based off of the specific injuries, not bills, not time off from work, etc. If you sprain your ankle and miss 3 weeks and spend $8000, that doesn't change the fact that you have a sprained ankle. You obviously are hurt worse than that, but the answer to this specific question relies too heavily on information we don't know.

2. There is no maximum you can claim. The insurer will NOT settle for more than their policy covers the other driver. Also, the insurer will not tell you what their limit is unless your injury obviously exceeds it. They will say something like "Our limits provide enough money to settle your claim" and leave it at that. If their policy limits are not sufficient, you can always make a claim for Underinsured Motorist on your own policy. Your rates will not go up. Also, be aware that in California, if you were determined to have any fault in the accident, even as little as 1%, your award will be reduced by that amount (you were 1% at fault, you collect 99% of your damages. You were 40% at fault, you get 60%, etc.)

3. The "pain and suffering" settlement will be part of your medical bills. You have a set amount of time to SETTLE your claim, 2 or 3 years in CA. If you have not settled by then, the only way to extend the window is to sue the other driver. When you settle your medical claim, they will have you sign a release that prevents you from suing the other driver or coming back to them for more money. Be sure to get it right the first time! They should cover 100% of your medical costs, 100% of your lost wages, and add in the "pain and suffering".

4. If you hire an attorney, be prepared to have them take 30-40% of your settlement. It's a big chunk, so make sure that your medical bills and lost wages are covered after they take their cut.

5. If you decide to get representation, hire an attorney that is experienced in personal injury. Good lawyers are busy lawyers. Busy lawyers don't usually have time to send you letters soliciting your business or spend a few days in a studio shooting a TV commercial. Good lawyers tend to advertise very little, because they don't need to. Their satisfied clients advertise for them. If you sign with an attorney, they will find a good MD for you to visit.