Has this ever happened to you? You’re ready to leave, grab your things, lock your house and go to your car. It’s GONE! Someone stole it! Panic, frustration, rage, fear, helplessness all crash into your brain at one time. What did you do wrong, why did this happen to you?Well, unfortunately, it seems that in the United States, a vehicle is stolen approximately every 30 seconds. That’s 120 cars an hour or 2,880 cars in a single day. Not a comforting statistic. Recovery statistics are just as bleak, around 50% recovered successfully. What does recovered successfully mean? No major damage to the vehicle when it’s found. Unsuccessfully recovered means the police found your car, but it’s been stripped and basically is nothing but a shell.It is completely up to the vehicle owner to take steps to prevent auto theft. There is a wide range of products to help prevent car theft, with just as wide a range of cost. However, as an owner, there are steps, some simple, and some complex that you can take to help keep you from being part of the above statistics. Let’s start with the simple steps.Lock Your Car! The most basic step of all, and yet people don’t do this. Lock it when you leave it, and lock the doors when you are in the car. Your door doesn’t easily open when it’s locked. A car jacker can’t open the door and pull you out if the door is locked.Keep your spare key somewhere other than hidden on your car. There are only so many places you could hide that spare key and the thieves know them all.Never, ever, leave your car running without you in it, even if you lock those doors. An unattended, running car is an engraved invitation to a car thief. You think you will only leave the vehicle alone for a few minutes. Right. In 2 minutes 4 cars are stolen.Be as choosy as you can when you park your car. Well lighted areas are always best. Turn your wheels toward the curb on the street, or to the side in parking lots and driveways. Sure, you’ll have to spend a few more moments to straighten the wheel when you leave, but it’s worth the time if you still have your car. If you have rear wheel drive, back into your driveway, front wheel drive, head in parking. This will reduce the chance of your car being towed while stolen (yes, the thieves use tow trucks!)If you are parking in an attended lot, you might be a little safer, but to safeguard yourself, only give the door/ignition key to the attendant. Whenever possible, make sure your door/ignition key and the trunk key are different. At the very least, you’ll know that the person you gave your keys too won’t be able to get into your trunk.Close all your windows. Hot days make this a terrible option, but really, an open window is another invitation and I’d rather have a hot interior in my car than not have my car. Most cars have air conditioning, and if not, you can open the windows while driving.Do not keep the title or registration documents in your car. Thieves can use these to sell your car after it’s stolen! Carry the documents with you on your person (purse, wallet, etc.)If you have removable face plates for your stereo equipment, remove it when you leave the vehicle! If you can’t carry it, lock it in the trunk.Don’t leave valuables in your car where everyone can see them. Even if all you have is a small blanket to cover up your shopping bags, if a thief can’t see what’s in your car, he might not be tempted.If you have a garage, use it. Lock not only your car, but your garage as well. A car thief may know a burglar and pass along the info that you don’t lock your garage.Lastly, get educated about vehicle theft prevention products. From alarms to kill switches to the simple “Club” device, there are many different products to choose from. Some states participate in a national voluntary motor vehicle theft prevention program called “The Watch Your Car Program.” Check with your local law enforcement department.Yes, thieves will figure out how to bypass many theft prevention devices, but most of them will pass up a “protected” vehicle for an unprotected one. Don’t make the thief’s attempt easy.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

If you are not sure of your rights in a car accident that you have experienced, you must consult the best lawyer possible. You can rest assured that the insurance company will have lawyers to represent them.Your claim is very important and you should not take it for granted especially if you have encountered a serious injury in a car accident. Claims vary differently depending on the type of injuries sustained. Severe injuries include: losing an arm, fractured bones or losing any part of the body. If you have been hospitalized for a long period of time, you are entitled to a higher compensation. If you are unable to work because of disabilities you may be eligible for a lifelong compensation. The compensation of disabled person will include the beneficiaries of the victim. He will also get the income he earns in a year. Sometimes, being handicapped allows for the full compensation in filing for a claim. In order to get the compensation, you must choose the best lawyer who will not take advantage of you and your rights as a victim. Sometimes, the law takes advantage of the disabled person and of those who are not aware of the rules. Claims and compensation will consider the nature and the duration of injuries. If you have recovered from the injuries in days, you will get a smaller compensation compared to severe injuries which might take a month or longer in the hospital to heal. You should not worry about the expenses because you will rightfully get your compensation as long as the case is adjudicated. Pain, suffering, and disability is measured in determining a rightful compensation.In considering your car

Hybrid cars have been getting a lot of buzz the last three or four years, and now with the soaring cost of oil and gasoline, hybrids are expected to get hotter than ever. Here are some Questions and Answers about hybrids.1. What is a hybrid car?A vehicle is a hybrid when it combines two or more sources of power. Hybrid cars almost always have a gasoline engine and an auxiliary electric motor system that runs off rechargeable batteries.We normally assume that the point of hybridization is to save fuel, and that is definitely the case with most of the smaller compacts and sedans. But in fact some of the more upscale hybrid models are more concerned with boosting power and “performance” without the usual loss in fuel efficiency.2. Do you have to plug your hybrid in at night?You may assume because a hybrid car runs part of the time off its battery pack, that it is necessary to plug it in at night and recharge the batteries (like a golf cart!). But this is almost never the case. Hybrid cars recharge their batteries “on the fly” by making use of unused energy which is normally wasted during normal driving. For instance, most have a system that captures some of the energy used while applying the brakes, and converts it to electrical energy to charge the battery. This is called “regenerative braking”.If hybrids had larger battery packs that you could plug into the electricity grid, they would be able to transfer more of the vehicle’s power requirements over to the electric motor(s), and use even less gasoline. But most auto makers have been unwilling to go this route, arguing that today’s batteries could not take the extra load and more extensive usage.3. Do you have to replace the batteries?The short answer is No. Hybrid batteries typically have an 80,000 - 100,000 mile warranty. The U.S. Department of Energy tested them to 160,000 miles and stopped testing because they still performed almost like they were brand new. Some taxi drivers have gone more than 200,000 miles in a Toyota Prius without battery problems.In any event, since hybrid battery packs have hundreds of cells, individual cells or modules could be replaced if there was a problem.The best way to keep nickel metal hydride batteries performing at their peak is to keep their charge between 40% and 60% — never fully charged and never fully drained to zero power.4. How long have hybrids been around?Alternatives to the ICE (internal combustion engine) in automobiles have been around since at least 1900. The first patent for a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle was filed in 1905. Alternative fuel sources were wiped out as a result of two things. First was the development of the electric self-starter (in 1913) that made gasoline driven cars much easier to start. The second development was the advent of the age of cheap oil that started around the time of the first World War. This completely removed the economic incentive to look for alternative fuel sources. This is only starting to change now, 80 years later.5. Are hybrids expensive to purchase?In January, 2006, there were 10 different hybrid models available from $19,000 to $53,000. The most popular models — the Insight, Civic, and Prius — are less than $30,000. According to auto maker announcements there should be more than 50 models available by 2010. As sales and production increase the prices should not be significantly more than for standard ICE models.Even with the slightly higher average cost for a hybrid — usually around $3,000 — these additional initial costs can be offset by federal and state tax incentives, lower maintenance costs, and exceptionally strong resale values.6. Are hybrids small and underpowered?Initial hybrid models emphasized fuel economy, so were much lighter vehicles, and had smaller engines. The objective was to offset the loss of power in the ICE with additional power from the electric motor. This would result in essentially the same level of power while burning less fuel.But this principle does not have to result in underpowered vehicles. In fact the Lexus Rx400h and Toyota Highlander Hybrid both have a 270 horsepower power system. And the Lexus GS 450h hybrid sedan is expected to have more than 300 horsepower and go 0-to-60 in less than six seconds. Taking the quest for hybrid power even further, the Toyota Volta concept venicle has a 408 hp power plant. 7. What is the main reason people buy hybrid vehicles?Saving money on fuel is the first thing most buyers think of. But, in fact, the amount saved on fuel over the life of the vehicle may not equal the extra purchase cost of the hybrid.There are obviously other factors at play in the gradually building popularity of hybrids. Some people want to make a “green” statement, others simply want to be the first on the block with a new and promising technology. 8. Will hybrid technology save the environment?There’s no doubt about it. Hybrids are becoming more popular. In the past five years hybrid sales in the U.S. have grown 2000 percent. Sales in 2000 were 9,500, and by the end of 2005 had grown to over 200,000.But even this larger number is just 1.2% of the 17 million new cars sold last year. If every hybrid gave double the current fuel economy, from an average of 20 mpg to, say, 40 mpg, that would save roughly 100,000 gallons of gasoline a day. But that amount pales in comparison to the total daily gasoline consumption in the U.S. — 400 million gallons! The savings of 100,000 gallons would bring that number all the way down to … 399,900,000 gallons.Not very significant. Obviously governments and auto makers will have to start getting very serious about hybrid technology before it will make a significant difference.9. Does that mean hybrid technology is only a fad?No it does not. Because the only way towards a sustainable future is to find a combination of fuels that will reduce our almost total dependence on oil. Hydrogen fueled vehicles will be part of that future, as will fuel cells, deisel, and alternative fuels such as ethanol. But what is almost certain is that every promising solution will involve some kind of hybrid combination of technologies. So today’s hybrid vehicles are an important and necessary step towards a much more promising and sustainable future.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Today car sound systems are big business. People, especially the younger generation, want to build the very best in car sound systems and they usually do not care what they cost. This can become an expensive undertaking but for those who value music it is worth every penny.Your first order of business is to decide on a proper car stereo head unit. This is the main control unit of the entire system and comes in the form of a tuner, compact disc player or cassette player or a combination of two. These days most people go with a compact disc player head unit as they are the most readily available and most people buy compact discs for their musical selection instead of cassette tapes that are somewhat hard to come by these days.The head unit should be wired in where the existing stereo unit rests. The two may be different sizes so you will most likely need to buy a universal mounting kit. They are available from most large retailers and run under $25. Also, you should pick up a universal wiring harness to make the installation go more smoothly. If you have no knowledge of car wiring systems it is easy to short out the car or the stereo system if you do not know what you are doing. Universal wiring harnesses come with detailed instructions on matching up the wires by automotive type.Next you will need to determine speakers for your sound system. This can be a tough decision depending on what your basic needs are. There are several speaker systems to choose from and you will need to pay close attention to the head unit you have purchased as it will tell you how many speakers it can handle on its own. Be sure to check the power rating and size of the speakers. You have so much room to work with in your car without taking away from passenger space. However, some prefer to use the trunk space to mount speakers and other accessories.Along with speakers there is the amplifier. The amplifier is a device that will boost overall power and provide better quality high volume sound to your system. Amplifiers are available in a wide variety of sizes and prices depending on the power you wish to have for your car sound system.Extras would include MP3 hook up adapters, bass boosters, compact disc changers, and lights. All of these are available from large retailers nationwide. You could spend a little or a lot depending on the brand and quality that you desire.Keep in mind that the more complicated a car sound system the harder it is to install. Some companies that sell complete systems offer free installation with a purchase. This is a wise choice for someone who knows little about car stereo installation. Not only will all the equipment be installed properly to guard against malfunction but it will also look nice. Part of installing a system is running wires and capping lines that can be difficult for someone unsure of what they are doing.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

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