Traffic Law

What to Do at the Scene of a Truck Accident

If you are at the scene of a truck accident, you have a lot of options. You can provide first aid, take photos, and talk to an insurance company. You also have the option of hiring a lawyer, which is not a bad idea if you are unsure about your rights.

Identifying the at-fault party

When a car accident occurs, one of the most important questions to answer is, “Who was at fault?” It may be difficult to determine the answer without a lot of evidence. A police report can help, but you should keep in mind that a police officer usually does not have a lot of time to evaluate the scene. The information contained in a report can be helpful, but it’s best to check with an experienced lawyer for guidance.

Also read: What should I do at the scene of a truck accident?

In non-rear-end accidents, a lot of the evidence will be in the physical damages to vehicles. This can reveal the speed at which the impact occurred. This information can also be used to clarify the cause of the accident.

To make a clearer picture of who is at fault, you can collect pictures of the accident. You should also make sure to capture the names of anyone who may have been involved.

Providing first aid

If you are involved in an accident, you need to be prepared. Not only do you need to be alert, but you also need to have the proper equipment to help the accident victim.

The best way to help is to use first aid procedures that have been designed to stabilize the patient. This can help save a life. For instance, you can provide CPR, which will restart a person’s circulatory system. It is important to remember that you need to be calm and reassuring when administering basic aid.

It is also important to make sure that the victim is not moving around. You may need to use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, safety glasses, and a breathing barrier for CPR. You should be able to find these in standard first aid kits.

Taking photos

Taking photos at the scene of a truck accident can help you document the wreck. These photographs can be helpful when reconstructing the accident and speaking with an insurance company.

Photos can also show how an accident affected the surroundings. For example, a photo of an overgrown intersection can indicate that the at-fault driver failed to yield. This can be important evidence for an insurance claim or a court case.

A close-up photograph of a damaged vehicle can also be an effective way to prove the other driver’s fault. This can include broken glass, scratches, and interior damage.

When capturing the location of an accident, take pictures from several different angles. This will allow you to paint a more accurate picture of the accident’s location.

Talking to an insurance company

The trucking company’s insurance adjuster may be asking you to talk about the accident. While this seems to be a harmless question, you should be cautious about what you say. You don’t want to give the trucking company information that can later be used against you.

The first thing you should do when you are injured in a trucking accident is to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. You should also get in touch with your own insurance company. This will help protect you from being denied coverage.

You should also stay calm and professional when you talk to an insurance adjuster. Even though you are angry about the accident, don’t make a scene. If you do speak to the insurance adjuster, keep the conversation short and focused.

Hiring a lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a trucking accident, you may wish to consider hiring a lawyer. These attorneys will assist you in your claim and help you recover damages quickly. They can also help you with medical bills and lost wages.

Before settling your claim, you may need to gather evidence. The more information you have, the more accurate your account will be. The best way to document your accident is to photograph the scene and take witness statements. It is also a good idea to get the names, addresses, and insurance information of any witnesses.

You may want to obtain a copy of the police report. If possible, contact the insurance company and inform them that you have hired a lawyer.

Immigration Law

Green Cards – Who/What are they for?

Have you ever wanted to reunite your family in the USA? My only wish is that I get my parents a green card so they can travel and stay in the United States.

A family immigration lawyer will help you navigate the process. Get an immigrant visa if you plan to relocate permanently to the USA. However, getting an immigration visa for a foreign citizen is a long and challenging process. If you make a simple mistake, your application may be declined and delay your immigration visa. An experienced family immigration lawyer is familiar with the process and hence helps with reviewing and ensuring your document is complete.

The parent of a US citizen is considered an immediate relative by law. The number of green cards given annually is not limited hence no delays due to the waiting list. If you are 21 years and a US citizen, you can apply for a green card for your parents. Your parents may fail to get a green card if:

  • They have a criminal record or immigration violations.
  • Dangerous mental or physical behavior.
  • They have a disease that is a public health risk.

How would you define a green card?

It is a permit by the US government that allows you permanently to live and work in the USA. Is it not great? The back of the green card has the following:

  • Machine-readable code.
  • Photo of the holder.

The importance of green cards.

This card enables a foreign citizen to enjoy almost all the rights a US citizen is entitled to. These includes:

  • . Permit to work permanently in the USA.
  1. If you have been a green card holder for more than five years, you will qualify for Medicare benefits and government assistance.
  2. If you have been a green card holder for more than five years, you can apply for US citizenship.
  3. It is not complicated to get commercial and business licenses.
  4. Unlimited residency.
  5. Students can get federal loans.
  6. It is automatic that family members get a green card. So you don’t have to worry if you can get your parents a green card.

Where can you get these green cards?

  1. When you win the green card lottery.
  2. When you get a job.
  3. When you make a significant investment in a US company.
  4. When the US citizen’s family has a reunion.

Eligibility checklist.

  • .You must be 21 years and above if you want to petition a permanent residency for your parents.
  • Only US citizens can apply for a green card for their parents. Not a permanent resident. Understand the difference.
  • If your parents once overstayed after their visas expired, they may be denied a green card.
  • If your parents have a bad criminal record, they might not get a green card.

Conclusion.

A United States citizen may want their parents to relocate and live with them in the states. Lucky for you, if you are 21 years, a US citizen, and financially stable, you can apply for a green card for your parents. Your parents will be denied a green card if they have extreme mental behavior, public health risk, or criminal record.

Law 

Underage Drinking Penalties in Colorado

Underage drinking is a crime in many states, including Colorado. Underage drinking can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances of your case. If you are convicted of underage drinking, you will be required to complete a diversion program and DUI penalties such as fines and court costs associated with your charges.

What are the Penalties for Underage Drinking in Colorado?

The Colorado Springs Police Department has several ways to handle underage drinking cases. If the offender is under 18 years old or caught with an open container of alcohol,they will be given a warning and sent home. If the offender has been drinking at an establishment that serves alcohol, they could be arrested and taken to jail or released on their own recognizance (ROR).

If the offender is over 18 years old but under 21 years old, they may be charged with a misdemeanor crime depending on the circumstances surrounding this incident. If there was another person involved in this incident as well as one more than 21 years old who was drinking alcohol at the same time as your underage friend, then both people could be charged with underage consumption.

What to Do If You’ve Been Charged with Underage Drinking in Colorado

There are several factors to consider if you are charged with underage drinking. Underage drinking laws can vary from state to state. For example, Colorado has a zero-tolerance policy for minors under 21 who have been drinking alcohol. And underage DUI penalties can be severe.

So, if you have been charged with underage drinking, it is crucial that you know your rights and be prepared for the fact that a conviction will mean jail time. The following are some tips that may help if you find yourself in this situation:

1) Be prepared to provide information about your case and any evidence against you at the first court date. You should also be prepared to pay bail or bond if necessary.

2) If possible, schedule an appointment with an attorney ahead of time so they can familiarize themselves with the facts of your case and advise you on how best to proceed going forward.

3) If possible, try to avoid being arrested unless absolutely necessary. This will waste valuable time and make getting back on track much more difficult when sentenced later in court proceedings.

Do You Need an Attorney?

If you have been charged with underage DUI, get in touch with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Even if you are unsure whether or not there will be any significant penalties or jail time associated with your underage DUI charge, it is still important to contact a lawyer before making any decisions about your case.

The consequences of an underage DUI conviction can be severe and range from fines to jail time. If convicted of underage DUI, you could face fines between $250 and $10,000, potential jail time up to one year, community service hours and more, depending on your case circumstances. But an attorney will ensure you get a lenient sentence should you be convicted.

Key Takeaway

The Colorado Springs underage drinking law is complex, and it can be difficult to understand what you can and cannot do when charged with this crime. If you have been charged with underage drinking in Colorado Springs, it is crucial that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible.

Law 

Damages You Can Pursue In Motorcycle Accident Cases

Statistics show us that the losses appearing in motorcycle accidents are up to twelve times higher than the losses we see in the other possible vehicular collisions. This is why it is so important to always hire a personal injury attorney to represent you during the claims process. Unfortunately though, this is something most people do not do or they do it later than it should happen.

One of the most important things for you at the end of the process is always to receive as many damages as possible. Obviously, this is all about what is fair according to the law. To better highlight what your rights are, let’s discuss some of the most common damages you can pursue in motorcycle cases.

Medical Bills

In motorcycle collisions, you can easily end up sustaining very serious injuries. These would lead to really high medical bills. As a very simple example, if you have to be treated at the trauma center for hospitalization, a head injury would end up costing around $35,000. After the accident, you have the right to recover costs for surgery, hospital stays, diagnostic tests, doctor visits, rehabilitative therapy, chiropractic care, and physical therapy. You can even get back money that you would need to deal with future medical costs. This is necessary when ongoing treatment is a necessity.

Pain And Suffering

In a motorcycle crash, you have to deal with several injuries. Some are temporary, like road rash. Others though are long term, like broken bones. And you can also have to deal with disabling injuries, like head trauma or traumatic brain injury. According to the law, you can receive compensation to cover pain and suffering, if associated with the injuries. However, there is no fixed formula you can use in order to calculate financial compensation.

In order to recover as much as possible for the injuries, the experienced motorcycle attorney is going to rely on their experience and knowledge to properly evaluate the claim.

Wage Losses

When the injuries you suffered because of the motorcycle accident stop you from working, the lost income can be included in the recovery claim. This is true even if you utilized vacation time or sick leave as you were recovering. Reimbursements might be available for you.

We should also highlight the special situation in which injuries will leave you disabled permanently and you will never be able to work again or work at the same level. This is when the motorcycle accident attorney, together with experienced economists can calculate all future losses. You can thus recover compensation for earning capacity reduction. Things get even more complicated when you need Indianapolis wrongful death lawyers.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are several damages you can pursue with motorcycle accidents and there is a pretty good possibility you will not even be aware of all that you lost after the incident. This is why you absolutely need a motorcycle accident attorney who would be able to recuperate the damages you will be entitled to following the accident, all based on absolutely all you appeared.

Law 

Facts You Most Likely Do Not Know About Workers’ Compensation Claims

Workers’ compensation insurance is a very useful safety value that helps both injured employees and employers. In some industries, employers actually need to have such an insurance policy in place in order to legally exist. In others, this is not a requirement.

According to a respected Munley Law Wilkesbarre workers compensation attorney, most people expect their employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. The reality might be different. With this in mind, here are some things you might not know about these compensation claims.

Workers’ Comp Appeared During The Late 1800s

In 1884, we saw the establishment of the Workers’ Accident Insurance Act. Before that, employees were blamed for the injuries they suffered. Usually, it was stated that the negligence of the employees is what caused the injury. When you were the injured person and you wanted to be compensated, the only way to do this was to go to court. You practically had to prove the employer was negligent.

Proving negligence is now still essential but there is a much better balance between compensation and fault. The balance is in part due to the work of workers’ compensation attorneys and the claims process.

Pain And Suffering Are Not Covered By Workers’ Compensation

This is the difference when comparing with personal injury settlements. With workers’ compensation claims, medical expenses are covered, together with financial support and covering lost wages. Workers’ compensation benefits are usually not taxed and are available without too much of a hassle.

You Are Stil Around To Sue The Employer

When injured while on site, you can still sue your employer. If this is an option you choose, it is important to offer evidence that shows the negligence of the employer. Then, you need to prove that the negligence was intentional or reckless. In addition, you automatically wave rights of receiving compensation through workers’ compensation insurance. When filing the workers’ compensation claim, you automatically lose the right of suing the employer.

Denials Do Not End Workers’ Compensation Claims

It is normal to feel demoralized when your workers’ compensation claim is denied. However, this does not mean that these are thoughts that should influence your next step. In fact, we now know according to statistics that almost 70% of all the denied claims end up being converted. And in most cases, they will end up paying even more than your original worker comp claim.

Keep in mind that it is possible to take between 4 and 8 weeks until the signing of your agreement and you getting benefits deposited to the bank account. During this time, you have to make sure you will not lose your hope. Whenever you recover from injuries, 2 months can take quite a long time. This is why it is so important to work with a workers’ compensation lawyer that is very experienced and that represents you during the entire process.

The last thing to know is that even when all avenues you have in regards to workers’ compensation are finished, there are still options available, like personal injury claims. Your attorney can tell you more.

Law 

Preparing for Fire Law Cases

 

Have you been injured in a fire? Or do you own your own business and have fallen victims to negligence that involved fire? No matter what the reason is, you should contact a personal injury lawyer like 855 Mike Wins to discuss your case.

Personal injury lawyers are there to help you gain compensation for your pain and suffering. Whether you suffered an injury at your place of business, as a result of a defective product, a property owner’s negligence, or as a result of a fire, a reputable law firm specializing in personal injury cases will help you get the justice you deserve.

Filing Claims In Fire Law Cases

If you have a claim to file in fire law cases, you should contact a skilled and experienced attorney today. Your first consultation is free, and experienced attorneys are happy to address all of your concerns, so call today! In fact, many personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to call and schedule an appointment. During this free consultation, an attorney can evaluate your case and discuss all of the necessary details, including possible compensation you may qualify for.

Perhaps you’ve been the victim of a criminal act, but are unsure whether or not you can legally sue the party? You should contact a professional client law firm today!

What Should You Expect From The Fire Law Case?

Be prepared for the unexpected! There will be times when you will need to make an appearance at court hearings or jury trials in your area because of a wildfire or other catastrophic fire event. It is often helpful to have a fire lawyer by your side at these proceedings so that your chances of winning a case will be much higher.

These professionals are specially trained to represent people who have been injured or killed in fires, such as children and adults who were playing in a playhouse when it caught on fire. Be sure to discuss these types of cases with your personal injury attorney before agreeing to go forward.

Why Are Fire Law Cases Difficult?

The most obvious reason why fire law cases are so difficult is that injuries caused by fire can be quite hard to handle. You would need to go to the doctor and you would have to get serious treatment. This is definitely something that is hard to deal with. Since you are injured by the fire, you have to hire a personal injury attorney to take care of all the legal aspects of your case, all while you go through the medical treatment you need.

Remember that you will have to deal with several doctors. You will need help and you will always have to attend meetings with authorities on specific dates. That would be pretty hard to do if you were injured by fire. Fortunately, the personal injury attorney can take care of that for you. This is in itself a huge advantage that is enough of a reason to hire the fire law attorney to fight your important legal battles for you.

Law 

How the Comparative Negligence Law Works

Most people don’t understand what negligence is. They simply believe a little naively that if they do the right thing, other people will as well. But life isn’t always fair like that, unfortunately. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve suffered from an auto accident and were injured, slipped and fell inside business premises, or suffered from a dog bite; usually these situations don’t come down to something that you personally did – the fault lies elsewhere.

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Let’s look at how these types of situations are handled and where comparative negligence comes into play.

What is Negligence?

The idea behind the term is that another person is responsible for causing or partially contributing to what caused the injury. Negligence laws are not identical in each state. Laws are applied variously with different standards in New York, Los Angeles, Nevada, or elsewhere in the country.

The main differences may well apply to whether you can receive compensation if you were partly responsible, such as with an auto accident or when you did not see a wet floor sign before slipping on it. It gets into somewhat of a gray area where there could be a degree of culpability on your side and yet the accident was primarily caused by a third party.

How is Negligence Law Different in Michigan?

With Michigan negligence law, attempting to receive non-economic compensation isn’t usually possible when you were at least half responsible for what happened. With that said, not all is lost because monetary compensation may be possible from a defendant if they’re shown to be partially or fully responsible.

The negligence laws allow for the defendant to be found liable when it’s fair to say that they had a duty of care to others and didn’t ensure that at the time. Essentially, if they hadn’t made such a failure, oversight, or whatsoever caused the accident or injury, then it would likely never have occurred.

Factors That Make an Accident Not the Defendant’s Fault

A distinction is made in Michigan courtrooms between failures where other factors led to it, rather than directly because of someone else. For instance, in an auto accident, if their vehicle’s brakes suddenly failed despite being replaced appropriately and serviced responsibly, then the fault likely lies with the brake’s manufacturer because the defendant couldn’t stop the vehicle in time with faulty brakes.

Certainly, each case is different and that’s what makes this aspect of the law so fascinating. Obviously, in some cases, people attempt to escape responsibility by deflecting blame elsewhere. Therefore, a skilled negligence attorney is required to discover the facts, assess where the reasonable fault lies, and determine if compensation for negligence is likely.

Suffered a Loss or Been Physically Injured?

In Michigan, negligence cases also require that you’ve either suffered a demonstrable loss in some way or that you’ve been physically harmed.

Medical care is expensive and depending on the injury, sometimes extensive or ongoing. This may include initial urgent care and later possibly rehabilitation too. It’s highly beneficial to get legally represented if you’ve suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence.

A lawyer will know what to do in establishing if you have a case. Also, if medical bills are mounting up, then it’s worth consulting with them either way to be sure.

Law 

Don’t Max Out Your Credit Before You File For Bankruptcy

It is very important that you keep in mind that maxing out your credit card before you file for bankruptcy may result in some of that debt not being eligible for dismissal. There are so many people in America that are suffering from debt issues because of world issues such as COVID-19 or financial issues. If you find yourself in this awful position like so many Americans, filing for bankruptcy can be just what you need in order to get yourself and your family out from underneath all of that credit card debt, as this type of debt is able to be wiped out during chapter 7 bankruptcy filings. However, excessive use of your credit card while fully knowing that you are going to be filing for bankruptcy can actually be filed as fraud and can result in these credit card debts not being discharged during a bankruptcy filing.

Discharging Credit Card Debt

Most people who file for bankruptcy can see their credit card debt discharged or limited throughout chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcies (wiped entirely in chapter 7 and built on a limited payback plan in chapter 13). However, credit card debt that was racked up right before filing for bankruptcy can be considered fraud, and will not be forgiven. This is because when you use a credit card you are being lent that money by the credit card company. Under federal bankruptcy laws, credit that is obtained in this situation is considered to be obtained by fraudulent means and thus is not dischargeable.

Plan Ahead

While there will be times you need to make credit card purchases, it is important that when you realize you are heading towards filing for bankruptcy that you limit your use of your credit card and keep an eye on your spending.

This post was written by Trey Wright, one of the best bankruptcy lawyers in Tallahassee FL! Trey is one of the founding partners of Bruner Wright, P.A. Attorneys at Law, which specializes in areas related to bankruptcy law, estate planning, and business litigation.

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.This website contains links to other third-party websites.  Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

 

Personal Injury

What You Need to Know About Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Texas

Due to the importation of large amounts of asbestos into the state of Texas throughout the 20th century, thousands of people were exposed to it. Because of this, a lot of people contracted mesothelioma, and Texas continues to see about 3000 mesothelioma diagnoses each year. If you have ever been exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma, you will be glad to know there are laws that protect you and you have avenues through which you can get compensation. Below, we will look at some of these laws and what you can do if you have been exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma.

Texas Asbestos Laws

Texas has tight regulations on how asbestos can be handled. The laws and regulations cover such issues as how buildings can be demolished and how asbestos can be disposed of.

The Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act is a piece of legislation that regulates the remodeling or demolition of any buildings that contain asbestos. The Act requires that any building owners or construction companies that want to demolish such buildings have them inspected. People who violate this law can be fined $10,000 per day.

The Texas Department of Health must be contacted if any buildings are found to contain asbestos. The department of health works within the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act and through certified and approved contractors to ensure that such buildings are demolished safely.

Legal Recourse

If you have been exposed to asbestos, the first thing to do is to get a professional diagnosis for mesothelioma. Once you have done this, it is time to get in touch with attorneys in El Paso TX or in the jurisdiction you live in. They will start negotiations with the other party to find out how much you will be compensated. If this fails, they will bring the case to a judge and the court will decide if you have a legitimate case or not.

These cases usually end up in a settlement and go very well for the plaintiff when they have a legitimate diagnosis.

Possible Outcomes

This area of the law can be complicated to navigate because if the case goes to a judge, your lawyers have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were exposed by the party you are suing. Because of this, you will need lawyers who:

  • Have years of experience dealing with mesothelioma cases and lawsuits
  • Know the full history of asbestos exposure in Texas
  • Have a comprehensive understanding of mesothelioma laws in Texas

Once you find the right lawyers, you can either file a wrongful death suit or a personal injury claim. For the best outcome, ensure that you have as many details about the claim as possible on hand so your lawyers have an easier time arguing your case.

Protecting Your Company

If you know that you have a building at a site that is verified to have asbestos, ensure that you take the necessary measures to ensure you are not sued. These include providing protective gear for anyone entering the site as well as placing appropriate warning signs at the site.

Mesothelioma is a serious condition and the good news is that if you have it, there are some legal steps you can take to get a settlement.

Law 

7 Ways to Minimize Expenses in a Law Firm

Like other businesses, law firms must implement cost-cutting measures. While radical changes should be implemented to reduce expenses, this does not mean that the quality of legal service should be compromised. Read on and let’s talk about some of the best ways for law first to cut down expenses.

1. Go Paperless

Being digital is one of the easiest ways for law firms to minimize their expenses. Paper, toner, and other things you need for printing will cost money, especially considering the thousands of pages of documents law firms have to deal with. Use law firm billing software to distribute invoices online. Going paperless also entails the need to digitize documents, which will make them accessible anytime and anywhere.

2. Embrace Technology

Law firms must invest in new technologies to improve their operations while also reducing costs. A good example of this would be law practice management software. This can help address inefficiencies in the law firm while also improving productivity and profitability. Documents can be accessed anytime and anywhere, allowing lawyers to work even outside of the office.

3. Outsource Services

Through legal process outsourcing, law firms can save not only money but also time. This refers to the process of working with outside providers to complete mundane but time-consuming tasks. This also means that the law firm does not have to employ a full-time in-house team to complete those tasks.

4. Consider Coworking Spaces

This can be a good idea for small and new law firms. Office spaces are expensive nowadays, especially in strategic locations. Coworking spaces can help create a true sense of community while also sparing the firm from the high cost of office rental. It can also improve the productivity of workers.

5. Use Renewable Energy

Law firms can benefit from tapping alternative energy sources to save money while also saving the environment. One of the best ways to do this is to invest in solar panels. Depending on where your law firm operates, doing so can even make you eligible for government benefits, such as tax rebates.

6. Reduce Compensation

The law firm management must rethink the compensation of its people. From lawyers to paralegals, among others, evaluate the salary packages and align it with the budget of the law firm.

7. Rethink Meetings

Meetings are endless in law firms. Most of the time, it is also expensive. There are even instances when there is a need to fly to conduct meetings. To save money, consider new ways of doing meetings, such as through teleconferencing. Aside from saving money, this is also one of the best ways for law firms to cut their carbon emissions.

To improve profitability in a law firm, one of the most important is to minimize expenses. Embracing technology, outsourcing non-essential services, renting a coworking space, and conducting meetings online are some of the best ways to bring the costs down and profits up.