Attorney-client privilege protects communications between an attorney and his or her client from disclosure to others, encouraging the honest and frank disclosure of information that helps the attorney effectively formulate a defense strategy for the client facing criminal charges.
Before you accept any settlement offer from an auto insurance company, be sure that you understand what the money must cover. Depending on the nature of your accident and injuries, you may be required to reimburse your health insurer out of your settlement.
If an officer smells marijuana on you or inside your vehicle, this can generate what’s considered a reasonable search. If an officer has probable cause such as this, the search is not considered unlawful.
Unfortunately, there may be a statute of limitations in your state that applies to the type of injury you recently received. If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, it’s critical that you retain a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
While Hollywood likes to dramatize legal matters to sell movies, the average criminal trial is nothing like what you’ll see on TV. In fact, many cases come to a plea agreement before anyone has to set foot in court.
The better a personal injury attorney is, the more they’ll be able to get you for your settlement. This is both good for you, since you get more money, and for them, since they often get paid a percentage of the settlement.
Have you ever been arrested before? Even if you have, if the charge was not identical, you may have plenty of questions about what will happen now and what options you have. A criminal defense attorney has the expertise to explain what to expect.
The parties eligible for filing a wrongful death suit vary from state to state. However, children are entitled to file suit for their parents and vice versa, throughout the U.S. Some states allow a widow or widower to bring legal action even in the event of a separation, barring a few requirements.
State legislatures and the U.S. Congress are in charge of enacting criminal laws, which state courts base on the common law (judge-made law) inherited from England.
Specifically, a personal injury is a mental or physical injury that is the result of someone else’s negligence or harmful behavior. Negligence is conduct below standards established by law for the protection of others. Call us for advice.
Remember, violating any of the terms of your probation can land you back in jail to serve the remainder of your jail time, plus any additional time for the new offense. These cases need the same level of representation as the original offense.
As personal injury attorneys, we specialize in an area of the justice system known as tort law, which covers civil violations and monetary or non-monetary damages to an individual’s property, rights or reputation.
Unfortunately, there’s often a perception that individuals with troubled pasts are more likely to commit criminal offenses. If you aren’t sure how to overcome the details of your past, we may be able to help.
If you were injured tomorrow in your local supermarket, would you have any idea how much a fair settlement is for your injuries? When you work with us, you can rely on our experience to help you get everything you have coming.
Did you know that hate crimes are against the law? These types of crimes refer to a crime committed not out of animosity towards a victim, but out of hostility toward the group to which the victim belongs.
Back injuries can feel different for everyone and have different symptoms. Some of those symptoms are sharp pain, difficulty doing normal, everyday tasks, a persistent soreness in the back and sometimes even a partial or total paralysis.
We realize that even serious criminal cases like murder aren’t always simple to unravel – regardless of how damning the evidence may appear. Let’s talk about why the police consider you a strong suspect and what actually occurred.
Did you know that product liability is one of the most common types of personal injury lawsuits in the country? These occur when a product on the market causes physical, emotional or psychological harm to a person.
The death penalty is applied as punishment for those committing certain violent crimes, and is considered a form of incapacitation, with the goal of protecting the public.
Suppose you were in an auto accident that wasn't your fault and received an offer from the other driver's insurance company? How would you know the offer was fair? We can negotiate settlements with insurance companies that are often higher than initial offers.
Just because something is legal in one state or community, that does not mean it is legal in another area. If you have been charged with a crime that was not illegal where you are from, say nothing to the police other than basic information on your identity and contact an attorney.
When it comes to court cases involving personal injury, most attorneys agree that settling a case too quickly can backfire financially. When it comes time to settle, do not be in too big of a hurry or it can affect how much money you are awarded.
In early times, before modern law and centralized government existed to compel order, people often took the law into their own hands. A vendetta, an act of revenge or vengeance, often resulted as an act of retaliation when a crime committed against one kinship group or family member was committed by another.
The incident walking surface can be measured in a slip & fall case to determine if it is within the accepted level of slip resistance threshold. Specialized instruments are available that measure floor slip resistance testing.
Although you may be comfortable leaving minor criminal offenses to the public defender, it may be a different story when your life – or the rest of it – is on the line. Let’s talk about how bringing in an experienced criminal attorney can help you to put forward the best possible defense.
Formal personal injury lawsuits typically begin as a civil complaint. This involves one person (the plaintiff) filing a complaint against another person (the defendant) or agency such as an employer, business, or company.
When a product causes an injury to a person, the corporation who produced that item can be held liable if it can be proven that they were negligent in their actions. Lawn darts, which have been banned in the U.S. since 1988, are a classic example of product liability.
One of the ways personal injury recompense is calculated is by using an average daily wage calculator. This is a standardized calculator that determines how much money you are entitled to as a result of a personal injury that requires you to miss work.
Did you know that you can ask a court to select a lawyer for you? You have to request this, and you also have to give the court your financial information to verify that you can’t afford a lawyer.
One advantage of having a criminal attorney on your side is that he or she can spend more time working the various angles of your case than you can, which can influence the outcome of the case substantially.
In early civil and criminal trials in the U.S., the parties could choose, by mutual consent, a jury or court trial. By the late 1600s, several colonies were holding jury trials, but were still unavailable to many citizens.
Product liability encompasses the following claims: negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, and various consumer protection claims. Most of these laws vary from state to state, and each case requires different elements that need to be proven for the case to be successful.
Q: At what point do I call a lawyer? A: You should give a lawyer a call as soon as you can after you find out that you’re being charged with a crime.
When people get back injuries, they often have to take time away from work because of the lack of mobility. Victims with back injuries pay medical bills more than $30 annually, so they need help with finances.
The attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley, Jr. inspired Congress to restore the status quo from the late nineteenth century, at least in the federal courts with respect to the insanity defense. Many states followed.
In some cases, you are entitled to an award for pain and suffering for an injury accident that was not your fault. We will negotiate with the other party's insurer, and if the offer is not fair, we will represent you in court.
If you contact us after you've been involved in an injury accident, we can offer important advice. For example, if the other party's insurer asks you to make a statement, politely decline so that can't be used against you.
Initial consultation is always free. When we first meet, we will listen to what you have to say, and ask questions about the accident. We will then be able to advise you as to whether your legal action is worth pursuing.
Did you know that the Fourth Amendment was enacted to prevent unwarranted searches and seizures? This means that police officers have to follow certain guidelines when searching your home or property.
Dr. Henry Howard Holmes has the notorious distinction of being the first known serial killer in America. He is responsible for at least 27 murders. He was finally caught in 1894, and was executed 2 years later.
Unfortunately, many police officers are excellent at leading suspects and witnesses into saying exactly what they need them to say, even when it’s not entirely accurate. If you’re concerned you could say something they’ll take the wrong way, you may want to bring a lawyer with you to the police station.
Did you know that in the U.S. approximately 195,000 people die each year through medical negligence or error? Yet only between 15,000 and 19,000 medical malpractice suits are brought against health care providers each year. If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, we can help.
When you know someone may give damaging testimony about you on the stand, it's natural to want to leave them off your witness list. Including them on your list with information about why they would testify against you can help us build your defense.
There are a lot of symptoms that can help you tell if you have a brain injury, which can be difficult to identify because it doesn’t show on the outside. The symptoms include dizziness, headaches, amnesia, mood changes and impaired thinking.
Is an arraignment the same thing as a hearing? Yes, this is often called an arraignment hearing, and is the first step in the criminal process.
What’s the difference between strict liability and negligence? In most car accident cases, a party must be negligent to be at fault. But in a product liability case – such as a toy or water heater or highway that is designed or built improperly, there is strict liability for the manufacturer. A personal injury attorney understands the difference and how to handle these types of cases.
Did you know that for a person to be legally arrested, police officers must have probable cause? If there is no probable cause, then that arrest violates the Fourth Amendment (known as illegal seizure) and you may have legal recourse for filing a lawsuit.
It’s challenging to defend your legal rights yourself. You can choose to accept whatever is offered, but insurance companies rarely offer their best offer the first time. Why not speak to an attorney and see how much you might really be entitled to receive for your injuries?
The criminal justice system is highly complex with specific rules and protocols that must be followed. Trying to represent yourself places you in a dangerous position and you risk losing much more than you bargained for.
The Lawful Capacity of Office defense is usually available to public servants and first responders like police officers, EMTs, and firefighters. If a first responder is required to break some law, say forcible entry in the course of his or her duties, he or she can use this defense if charged with a crime.
A criminal lawyer’s main job is to defend you and to ensure your Constitutional rights are upheld, but this isn’t all: your lawyer should act as an advisor throughout the process, translating legal jargon and making sure you understand what’s going on.
We understand that dealing with the effects of a spinal cord injury can be a long and arduous task. In order to receive a fair settlement, that addresses the costs of future health care needs, schedule a consultation with us to take the first step in the process.
It's important to remember that tampering with evidence in a criminal trial can cause major problems. In some states, this can include trying to conceal or destroy any evidence that may make you appear guilty.
There are some personal injury cases that are qualified as “hard injury” cases. These include broken bones, brain or spinal cord trauma, severe burns, permanent injury, toxic poisoning, and more. These injuries cause greater hardship, and tend to be more permanent.
A criminal lawyer’s main job is to defend you and to ensure your Constitutional rights are upheld, but this isn’t all: your lawyer should act as an advisor throughout the process, translating legal jargon and making sure you understand what’s going on.
We understand that dealing with the effects of a spinal cord injury can be a long and arduous task. In order to receive a fair settlement, that addresses the costs of future health care needs, schedule a consultation with us to take the first step in the process.
We recognize that not everyone likes the idea of leaving their fate in the hands of a public defender when the stakes are high. When the nature of your crimes are serious, it’s wise to bring in outside counsel to help you fight for your rights.
Let’s say you were seriously injured in a car crash that wasn’t your fault. How would you know if a settlement from the other insurance company is fair and includes payments for everything you are entitled to receive under the law?
It's important to remember that tampering with evidence in a criminal trial can cause major problems. In some states, this can include trying to conceal or destroy any evidence that may make you appear guilty.
There are some personal injury cases that are qualified as “hard injury” cases. These include broken bones, brain or spinal cord trauma, severe burns, permanent injury, toxic poisoning, and more. These injuries cause greater hardship, and tend to be more permanent.
A criminal lawyer’s main job is to defend you and to ensure your Constitutional rights are upheld, but this isn’t all: your lawyer should act as an advisor throughout the process, translating legal jargon and making sure you understand what’s going on.
We understand that dealing with the effects of a spinal cord injury can be a long and arduous task. In order to receive a fair settlement, that addresses the costs of future health care needs, schedule a consultation with us to take the first step in the process.