A personal injury attorney is the professional we go to when we suffer an injury in an accident that was not our fault. In such cases, an attorney will assist us to receive adequate compensation from the other party. Here are a few scenarios you might require the representation of personal injury lawyers.
Long-term injury scenario
Motor vehicle accidents can leave a person with long-term injuries that significantly affect how they go about their daily activities. Such situations can lead to the victim losing their job or incapacitating them completely. However, the legal representative will help you figure out how much compensation to claim from the offender or the insurance company.
Medical negligence
Another situation that may warrant legal representation under personal injury is when a person suffers injury or illness at the hands of nurses or doctors. The malpractice occurs when the medical practitioners act in an unprofessional and incompetent manner that further complicates the state of health of a patient. Such cases are complex and can be difficult to receive favor from courts without the professional help of an attorney.
Chemical exposure
Human beings consume a wide variety of products, some of which are chemical in nature. Even the water we drink contains chlorine which is meant to eradicate contaminants. However, there are times when we might incur bodily harm or property damage due to contamination especially when we live close to chemical plants. However, claims of toxic exposure can be difficult to ascertain in a court of law without the help of a lawyer.
Where an insurance company defaults compensation
It is advisable to have an insurance contract that will cover your medical expenses in case of personal injury. However, some insurance agencies blatantly decline to offer any settlement to their clients when tragedies strike. Dealing with the insurer minus a lawyer can be futile. Rather than walk away with nothing, you are better off having your case handled by a reliable personal injury attorney.
Finding a credible legal representative
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of personal injury cases. This growth in demand has led to many people pursuing the legal professions in this area. One way to find a suitable representative is to check your local directory. Friends and acquaintances can also provide you will lead to reputable attorneys in your area. The level of experience, as well as the cost of legal representation, should guide you in selecting an ideal lawyer.
Driving while intoxicated is irresponsible and dangerous. That is why there are severe penalties for anyone who is charged with the offense. The penalties go beyond the court sentences as insurers and employers normally hike premiums and reject job applications, respectively, when the applicant has a DWI on their record. Drivers should never drink when they are planning to drive. If they do, they should take a cab instead of putting themselves and other road users at risk. Read on to get all the DWI information every driver needs.
What is a DWI?
This is a criminal offense that can be described as the act of operating a motor vehicle or machine with a blood alcohol level of 0.08, or above. Police can administer an alcohol breathe test to any driver they suspect to be drunk while driving. A breathalyzer test is usually accurate most of the time and only requires the suspect to blow into the device. However, drivers have the right to refuse a breath test, but this will only make things difficult for them as they can get the maximum sentences and penalties if found guilty.
DWI Penalties
The first penalty for a DUI is a mandatory 48-72 hours in jail. When you are arrested, you can expect to spend 2 to 3 days in jail to allow the alcohol to wear off before charges can be preferred against you. When you are arraigned in court and charged, you can be released on bail if you plead not guilty to the charges. If you plead guilty, you will be sentenced immediately.
If you are a first-time offender, you can expect to pay the fine, attend a few hours of DWI school and install an ignition interlock device to prevent you from drinking and driving in the future. If you are a second-time offender, your license may be suspended temporarily. You will also pay a bigger fine and the number of hours of DUI school and community service will increase. The ignition interlock device is mandatory after any DWI conviction.
If you are a third offender, your license may be suspended for several months or revoked. This will require you to apply afresh after serving your sentence. You will also have to spend some time in jail due to the offense. In case you are charged with a felony DWI, you can be sentenced to several years in jail. Whatever the case, you should always hire a competent DWI attorney to defend you during the DWI case.
Most people are familiar with the term child abuse. Normally, when we think of abuse, we think of a child being harshly beaten by a parent or adult. But the law recognizes many forms of child abuse. The following information may be useful if you are asking the question: what does child abuse exactly mean?
The legal definition of abuse may change from state to state, but there are certain overriding principles which acknowledge that any person, including a child, has certain human rights, and to deprive them of those rights is to abuse them. Here are some broad concepts for abuse:
1. Physical
The most common form of abuse is physical abuse. This is abuse that goes beyond a mere spanking and may involve slapping, punching, kicking or attempting to discipline a child with an object, such as a stick or pipe. While many states do not outlaw a parent from physically disciplining their child, they do recognize certain acts as assault or battery. In most states, public schools are not permitted to enforce physical discipline.
2. Emotional & Psychological
Emotional and psychological abuse is less well-recognized yet can be equally as harmful to a child. Name-calling, brow-beating and shouting at a child can leave emotional scars for many years to come that may be difficult for the child to move past and form healthy relationships in adulthood.
3. Neglect
Many people are unaware that neglecting a child is a form of abuse. Yet, legally, a child has a right to be taken care of properly by the adults who have custody of him or her. This means tending to the child’s needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. If a child is not receiving these things, the state will consider the child as being abused and will likely remove them from that environment.
If you suspect that a child you know is being abused, speak to someone whom you trust. You can also reach out to their teachers, youth leaders or other close people with your concerns. You can report cases of child abuse anonymously without having to give your name.
There are many types of drugs in existence, and they are all placed in different categories. There are barbiturates, opiates, and methamphetamine among others. The most commonly used drug is marijuana, which has been legalized in many states, but there is still illegal marijuana possession and use. For instance, if you smoke weed in public, you can be arrested and charged with a drug offense. If you are found in possession of an illegal quantity of weed, in a jurisdiction where weed is legal, you can still be charged with a drug offense.
I Was Caught with Illegal Drugs, What Should I do?
If you have been arrested and charged in connection with illegal possession of drugs, the first thing you should do is call a bail attorney to help secure your freedom, so that you can mount a strong defense out of jail cells. There are many bail attorneys in any given city. These lawyers play an important role as they can quickly respond to service requests and represent clients during the question. Remember, you should never talk to the police until your lawyer is present. If you choose to do so, anything you say can be used as evidence against you in a court of law. When you are arrested in connection with a drug offense, therefore, the first thing you should do is call a lawyer.
Once you are out on bail, you should take your time to search for the most competent criminal defense attorney who has specialized in drug offenses. The ideal lawyer must have a lot of experience in the industry and a high success rate when it comes to winning these cases. They should also have a great reputation in the legal circles as this can help you win the case. Their relationship with peers and prosecutors should also be positive as this will give them the chance to negotiate a great plea deal in case the evidence provided against you is too strong to be discredited. After all, prosecutors only want to catch a bigger fish, so you can get a lesser sentence if you help them catch your supplier or their boss.
Lawyers work in all states, but do you know what the top states to hire one is? Although there are many, we will discuss the top five. With that said, continue to read on to find out what the top 5 states to hire a lawyer in are, as well as other useful information.
1. New YorkThe top state to hire an attorney in the state of New York. With major cities such as Albany, Buffalo, Yonkers, and NYC, it’s easy to understand why. With over 72,000 attorneys in New York, finding a good one that represents clients in your situation will be easy.
2. Delaware
Delaware is a very business-friendly state, which is why there are many corporate attorneys and attorneys that represent clients suing companies that reside there. Bear in mind that lawyers in many areas of law practice here, so finding one to represent you shouldn’t be a problem.
3. Texas
There are many attorneys that practice law in Texas. In fact, there are over 45,000 of them, and they practice in many different areas of law. This is why it is one of the top states to hire an attorney.
4. Florida
Florida is one of the most populous states, which is the main reason it is easy to hire an attorney. In fact, it’s the third most populous states. At the time of this writing, there are over 46,000 attorneys who work in Florida.
5. Utah
Another top state for hiring attorneys in Utah. The state attracts thousands of lawyers because of its strong economy, especially in the sectors of tourism, petroleum products, and information technology. This means you can easily find attorneys that represent clients involved in cases related to those.
Utah, Florida, Texas, Delaware and New York are the top five states to hire a lawyer. Remember, it doesn’t matter what you need a lawyer for or whether or not you’re located in any of the above states, make sure you do research. Compare multiple attorneys’ experiences, success rates and only hire an attorney that specializes in the area of law your situation falls in.