Explore our legal content, spanning diverse legal topics, court decisions, legislative changes, and expert analysis, as we bring you the pulse of the legal world in a succinct and informative format.
Speeding: A Quicker Way to Tragedy
Speeding is one of the most dangerous habits exhibited on our roadways. According to the National Safety Council, speeding was a factor in 29% of the nation’s traffic fatalities in 2021 — over 12,000 deaths; approximately 33 per day. The faster a person drives, the less time they have to react and the greater their stopping distance. Driving too fast also diminishes the ability of safety structures/devices such as guardrails and impact attenuators to protect vehicle occupants in a crash....Read More
Divorce After Fifty
The biggest difference in a divorce later in life is the squeezed time frame to recover financially. A divorce means dividing assets with your spouse. Current market value is not the exclusive consideration of an asset. Some assets will become more valuable farther down the road. Deciding who gets the house is a primary example. Age triggers eligibility for tax exemptions and waivers for real estate tax. A reverse mortgage, which can offer a potential stream of income, is an...Read More
Potential Pitfalls of Estate Administration
The executor of an estate may think that their duties in that role are straightforward. Most times they are, but there are potential pitfalls that would-be executors should be aware of. For instance, a will might be invalid. Have an estate attorney review the will to make sure it meets the requirements of state law. If the will was done in a different state, make sure it was executed according to the laws of the state that it was executed...Read More
Factors Affecting Motorcycle Crash Case Settlements
Accurately predicting the value of a motorcycle crash claim can be difficult, but there are some core considerations that can shape a settlement offer. Motorcyclists are sometimes behind the eight ball from the outset. Studies have shown that many people have an unfavorable view of motorcyclists, including jurors. Jury awards are generally lower for motorcyclists than passenger-car claimants, a fact that hasn’t escaped the attention of insurance adjusters, who may low-ball settlement offers. Obviously, the extent of damages and injuries...Read More
DWI and Driver’s License Suspensions
Of course, if you are convicted of DWI, the Court will suspend your license. However, your license can be suspended before you have even been convicted of a DWI offense—and it only takes one offense: no multiple violations over a period of time or accruing points. If you refuse post arrest physical or blood alcohol tests, or take a blood alcohol test which shows a result over the legal limit, the State will seek to suspend your license. This process...Read More
What a Personal Injury Attorney Will Do for You
If you are seriously injured due to someone’s negligence, hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you is always a wise decision. Some people decide to manage small claims on their own. Although doable, keep in mind that seemingly minor injuries sometimes are more serious ones in disguise, intensifying weeks, even many months, after the initial incident. An already settled claim precludes reopening the claim or going to court — you’re basically hung out to dry. It never hurts to...Read More
Three Rights Make A Left
According to NTSA data, crossing or turning at an intersection precipitates 1/3 of vehicular crashes. Of those crashes, roughly 60% involve left turns. Left-turn mishaps frequently result in T-bone crashes, when the front end of one vehicle plows into the middle section of another. These crashes are among the most dangerous, often leading to devastating injuries and fatalities — side-impact airbags notwithstanding. When motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians get caught up in the chaos, it’s even more disastrous. Whether at fault...Read More
DWI Breath Testing and the Intoxilyzer
The legislature has decided that police officers no longer need to supply an individual with a captured sample of their breath when that individual takes a breath test subsequent to a DWI arrest. Captured samples, which were caught in clear tubes, could be sent by individuals to an independent lab for testing. This acted as a check on the accuracy of the Intoxilyzer machine. There is a new process. The individual who submits to the test either waives his/her right...Read More
An Overview of Arbitration
Arbitration comes in two (2) forms, voluntary and forced. It is a method of resolving disputes outside of court process. Personal injury attorneys sometimes recommend voluntary arbitration as the best means to resolve a smaller claim quickly. Parties then agree to refer their case to a neutral arbitrator (or panel of arbitrators) — chosen by mutual consent — who reviews evidence, listens to attorneys and witnesses, and comes to a decision. Forced, or involuntary arbitration, on the other hand is...Read More
Vehicular Accidents and Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is the central support for the body’s muscular system and relays the messages from the brain to the rest of the body. Any injury to this vital body part can be devastating. The number one cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for more than 40 percent, is motor vehicle accidents. Crashes can fracture, dislocate, crush, or compress one or more of the vertebrae of the spinal cord. When bits of bone tear into the tissue embedded in...Read More