As you know, goal of any investment is to buy low and sell high. However, for various reasons many people don’t follow this simple plan. If this describes you, then all you have to do to change is to make a commitment today, and start again.

REAL ESTATE – more people have become millionaires through investing in real estate than through any other investment. Real estate can be bought normal way, or through probate (two ways to do this), and through tax liens or tax certificates. Everyone is familiar with first way to buy real estate so I won’t discuss it any further.

Real estate can be bought from probate estates in two ways. One is at auction and other is before it goes to auction. Any and all kinds of real estate are sold every year in probate. Homes, commercial and industrial properties, as well as vacant land. Generally speaking, properties sold at auction tend to be sold at or above market price. Which means this is not kind of deal you want to invest in.

So goal is to buy properties in probate before they go up to auction. However, that is hard part. Every state has their own rules of procedure and laws that govern such sales. Plus, general real estate laws are different in every state. Further, there is no such thing as a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for probate properties. Which means that attorney spends a good amount of time to locate properties for his client.

It is common for investors to make a 25 to 40 percent return on their investment using this method. However, past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

Tax liens and tax certificates are two ways that various states may sell real estate if their local, county, and or state taxes are not paid. Again, every state’s rules are going to be different on how such sales are conducted. For example, amount of time that owner has to redeem (buy back) his property will vary. As well as amount of interest each state pays investor for his money that went towards paying back taxes.

Tractor-Trailer underride accidents occur when a passenger vehicle, usually front of passenger vehicle, enters below base of trailer of a large truck (e.g., 18-wheeler). This is particularly possible with small family passenger cars (as opposed to a mini-van or SUV). Unfortunately, height of front of car is insufficient to contact bed of truck, often 10 to 20 inches below bed of truck. This puts bed of truck right at head-chest level of passengers within car. Injuries in these accidents tend to be catastrophic, if not fatal.

Why doesn't driver just slow down to prevent an underride accident?

A tractor-trailer truck is pretty big... so why doesn't car driver see tractor trailer in time to prevent a underride accident?

Unfortunately, perception and reality meet too late in these circumstances. Often driver is fooled into thinking that roadway is clear. Simply, passenger car driver does not have adequate warning of impending trailer underride danger.

What is being done to improve driver perception or trailer safety?

Since 1993, trucks must have a special type of reflective tape on rear and sides of trailer. Since 1996, trucks must also be equiped with a rear underride guard (strong metal structure) at a height of 22 inches above ground, so that it will easily come in contact with engine block of a small car, and thus prevent car from underriding bed of tractor truck trailer. However, it is sad news that many trucks have not been retrofitted. Thus, many tractor trailer trucks manufactured before 1996 are on road without these two critical safety features. In addition, even ones that have had these features installed may have insufficient protective qualities, such as an inadequate amount of reflective material or a rear underride guard that is too weak to prevent underride of passenger vehicle.

What are other factors that play into a rear underride accident