Month: July 2020

When you suffer a personal injury in Washington, the term not only refers to your injury itself but also to the type of civil lawsuit you can bring against the person or entity whose negligence or wrongdoing caused your injury. If you win your lawsuit, the defendant(s) will have to pay you money, called damages, to compensate you for the losses your injury caused you.

Personal Injury Causes

A personal injury can be caused by any number of events, including the following:

• Motor vehicle accidents: cars, trucks, buses, taxicabs, ride-hailing vehicles, etc.
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Boating accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Premises liability accidents: slips and falls, dog bites, etc.
• Medical malpractice: surgical errors, medication errors, birth injuries, etc.
• Product liability: exploding tires or airbags, malfunctioning appliances, etc.
• Intentional torts: Deliberate acts of wrongdoing that cause someone else harm

Need for an Attorney

Personal injury attorneys are those lawyers who practice personal injury law and therefore have the knowledge, experience and ability to not only determine what kind of lawsuit you should file, but then file it on your behalf and aggressively fight for your right to receive the maximum compensation possible. For instance, if you live in the Auburn area of Washington, you will want to find an experienced Auburn personal injury attorney to represent you.

Types of Damages

You seek two types of damages in a personal injury lawsuit: economic and noneconomic. Your economic damages include such things as the following that result from your injury:

• Medical expenses, past and future
• Rehabilitation expenses, past and future
• Lost wages, past and future
• Lost earning capacity

Your noneconomic damages are more intangible and include such things as the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional distress
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Loss of your enjoyment of life

Keep in mind that Washington limits the amount of pain and suffering damages you can collect. The “cap” represents your life expectancy multiplied by your average annual wage multiplied by 0.43.

Your Rights When Detailed by Police. Getting stopped by the police isn’t on anybody’s bucket list, and in light of the recent tensions across the country, it can be a stressful and fearful experience. Though the burden of de-escalation falls with the police, you should never assume that your rights and safety will be protected. However, you are entitled to certain rights, as a citizen of the United States, and you are free to assert them whenever you are stopped or detained by the police.

Know Your Rights

1. You have the right to remain silent. This may be an obvious right given what the general public knows about the Miranda Warning. So, as that right, you aren’t obligated to answer questions the police may ask over where you are going or where you have come from. If you want to remain silent, you must indicate your desire to exercise your right out loud. Your state laws may require that you at least acknowledge your name, so do comply as legally required.
2. You do not have to agree to be searched. If a police officer requests to search your vehicle, your belongings, or yourself, you do not have to consent. Simply asserting this right doesn’t mean the officer will not carry on and make a search, but stating your objections clearly can help you if you end up in legal proceedings.
3. You have the right to representation. If you do get arrested by the police, you will have access to a court-appointed lawyer even if you can’t afford one. A lawyer is necessary to help navigate the court system, but they can also help you get in touch with a Washington County bail bonds company to get you released from jail until your trial.

Reduce Your Risk

Always stay calm and remaining still while the police asking speaking to you. Never run, make threats, or make sudden moves. Always keep your hand where the police can see you. These habits can keep tensions down.

The good news is that the number of US bankruptcies has decreased over the past few years. In 2019, nonbusiness bankruptcies fell to 750,489, as compared to 756,722 in 2018 and 770,901 in 2017. The bad news, however, is that the 2019 figure still represents over three-quarters of a million Americans who found it necessary to file bankruptcy.

If you, too, find yourself unable to keep up with your bills because you underwent a medical emergency or got laid off during the current pandemic, bankruptcy may be your only option. However, when you need a law office in Hattiesburg MS to help you, be sure to find one whose attorneys are well-versed in the various types of bankruptcy and know which works best for each situation.

Chapter 7 Overview

Chapter 7 remains the most popular type of personal bankruptcy. In 2019, almost twice as many individuals filed Chapter 7 as filed Chapter 13. The reasons for Chapter 7’s popularity are many, including the fact that it’s the simplest type of bankruptcy and also takes the least amount of time, usually around six months. In addition, Chapter 7 is a discharge proceeding, meaning that the bankruptcy court dismisses your credit card debts and nearly all the rest of your consumer debt. Consequently, you no longer have the obligation to pay these debts.

On the other hand, if you’re a homeowner facing foreclosure, Chapter 7 likely is not your wisest choice. Why? Because while a Chapter 7 can forestall a foreclosure, it seldom, if ever, prevents one.

Chapter 13 Overview

Chapter 13 represents a reorganization procedure rather than a discharge procedure. Here, you have the opportunity to meet with your secured creditors, of which your mortgage holder is one, and renegotiate your debts. These negotiations likely will result in you receiving more favorable interest rates and possibly even decreased remaining balances.

Next, you devise a written repayment plan. Once the court approves it, you then have a lengthy period of time, generally three to five years, to make your debt payments as called for in your plan. This substantially pays down your debts, if not pays them off completely. At the end of your bankruptcy period, the court discharges all your unsecured debts and those not mentioned in your plan.

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. There is a great deal of both stress and relief when you buy one. It is nice to have a place that you know you can call home, but there is also the fact that you are now a homeowner, and there are several responsibilities that come with the property. Here are a few things to plan for after you have bought a house.

Liabilities

It’s important to understand the liabilities that come with your home. If you are living in an area that has an HOA you will need to know the rules. It is important to have insurance for any issues that may arise while you are living on the property. You may need to look for lawyers near me if situations arise that are out of your control. They can help with disputes you may encounter.

Repairs

Even if you build a new home, things will eventually break and wear down. You need to prepare and create an emergency fund so that you are ready for issues that may happen. You never know when something will stop working or need to be replaced.

Security

You may want to think about adding security to your home after you move in. Many people have started to add live cameras on their front doors and within the house itself. It can add a sense of extra security for your family. Also, you should change the locks on the doors because you will not know how many keys had been made from the previous owner.

Documentation

You should look at your state laws and see the time frame of when you have to report your move. You will have to change your address for taxes and driver licenses. It’s also important to get your mail sent to your new address so that you won’t fall behind on any bills.

It’s exciting to be a new homeowner no matter your age. Make sure you do not forget the small details after you finalize the deal though.

If you are going through a divorce, it is likely one of the most difficult times in your life. The breakdown of a marriage can be extremely stressful, and the aftermath of going through legal proceedings does nothing to reduce your stress. However, studies have shown time after time all the negative effects that stress has on the body, so it is important that you learn to handle your divorce in a healthy way. If you are struggling in this area of your life, consider these three tips for making your journey a little easier.

Find a Support Group

While going through a divorce can make you feel extremely lonely, you are not the only one going through this. It can be beneficial to seek out a support group of other people who are going through a similar situation. You can make friends who can offer a shoulder to lean on and who truly understand how you feel.

Hire a Mediator

Divorce can be a messy process, and it can be helpful to have a third-party mediator to help you through this process. If you are concerned about your emotions getting the best of you when dealing with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, consider hiring mediation services Palm Springs CA to help do the work for you.

Prioritize Self Care

When you are going through a divorce, you need to take time to care for yourself. This might mean getting a weekly massage, meditating daily or even getting a new hairstyle. There are many ways to practice self care, and the important thing is to just do something that brings you joy.

While there are some parts of divorce that are difficult no matter what, it is important that you prioritize your health during the process. Consider these simple tips for handling your divorce in a healthy way.

The medical industry is incredibly complicated, and justifiably so. The vast number of conditions that doctor and nursing staffs must be able to diagnose and treat is nearly inconceivable to lay-people. While their expertise saves lives, patients also have the right to help craft their treatment plans. Here are a few legally protected aspects of their rights while under a physician’s care.

Explanation of Treatment Options and Risks

When seeking medical treatment, patients don’t want to subject themselves to more procedures than necessary. They also don’t want to seek out a medical malpractice lawyer new orleans la unless they must. To that end, it is in both the physician’s ad patient’s best interest to thoroughly explain the treatments they recommend and the associated benefits and risks. They must also answer any related questions to the best of their abilities.

Privacy

Under HIPPA and other ethical guidelines, medical professionals must keep a patient’s private information confidential, and not share specific details with their family or friends or any other member of the media or general public. In short, a patient’s conditions, treatment plan, medications, progress, or regression is between them and their doctor.

Second Opinions

Physicians are highly trained and skilled, but not infallible. They are required to respect a patient’s desire to be examined by another doctor and compare findings. Upstanding medical professionals who are committed to finding accurate diagnoses even encourage this.

Respect for Decisions

Along similar lines, doctors cannot override patients’ decisions about their treatment. For example, if a patient opts to not receive chemotherapy to treat cancer, a physician cannot force them to take it. Most cases are less extreme, but regardless of the outcome, a patient makes the ultimate call, even if it ignores strong medical recommendations.

Deciding and committing to a treatment plan is a unique and personal process. Patients have broad rights in this area, and physicians must respect them.