Did you know that there are different categories of crimes? Not all crimes are treated the same way, and depending on the severity, they might not even show up on your criminal record. Additionally, not every state handles crimes the same way. Every state divides crimes into infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies, and within those categories, there are different levels of severity. If you are facing legal trouble, it is important to understand the differences between the categories.

Infraction

Infractions are also known as a violation and are the least serious category of crimes. Crimes that are considered infractions are usually minor issues like traffic offenses or littering. While most states don’t punish infractions with jail time, it will usually not be for more than a week if you find that you are jailed because of an infraction. If you receive an infraction, you will likely be required to pay a fee, and then the issue is dismissed. However, if you fail to pay your fee, it can cause the infraction to escalate to a higher level of crime.

Misdemeanor

Misdemeanor cases Newport Beach CA are more serious than infractions and often carry a jail sentence. The required sentence usually lasts for no more than a year. Additionally, time served is usually in a county jail instead of a prison. Most misdemeanors are broken up into levels of seriousness and are classified as class A, B or C. Examples of misdemeanors are simple assault, prostitution, or shoplifting.

Felony

Felonies are the most serious category of crimes and usually carry more than one year in prison. Additionally, if the state where the crime took place has the death penalty, then a felony must have occurred there for you to receive this sentence. Just as with misdemeanors, most felonies are divided into categories depending on the level of seriousness. The felony could be a class A, B, C, D or E. Felonies are typically severe crimes against other people, such as rape, murder or kidnapping, but can also include significant damage to property such as arson.…

Filing for bankruptcy has many long-term consequences. If you think about going this route, you may be relieved to know that not all results are negative. Here are three reasons why filing has some advantages and may improve your financial situation.

Creditors Are Not Allowed To Contact You

As soon as your Rockville bankruptcy lawyer files your petition with the court, creditors cannot come after you for your debt. This means no phone calls, no wage garnishments and you no longer need to worry about them repossessing your property. While the bankruptcy is in process, which can take several months, you have peace of mind knowing that your debt is on hold. You may choose to exempt some property from the filing, such as your home or car, because you want to keep them. If that is the case, it’s crucial to continue making your monthly payments on these loans, so they remain in good standing.

Your Debts Get Erased

A significant financial advantage to filing bankruptcy is that your eligible debts get discharged. Most qualifiable debts are things such as utility bills, credit cards and medical debt. When the court terminates the debt, you no longer owe that money to the creditor indefinitely. This includes the original balances and any past due fees or fines.

Your Credit Score Improves

Even though the bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 7-10 years, you can start rebuilding your credit right away. If you discharge all of your debt, your debt to income ratio improves, raising your overall score. Some banks are willing to work with you to give you small amounts of new credit, and on-time payment allows you to rebuild your score even more.

If you think bankruptcy may be your only option to relieve your debt, feel confident knowing there are positive financial outcomes.…

Family law includes matters of divorce; child custody, support and visitation; guardianship; wills and trusts; spousal support and many others. If you are involved in any case that affects your family or need services to protect them in the future, you may not know where to turn. These are some benefits of hiring a reputable family attorney.

They Are Adept Negotiators

You don’t have to go through painful court arguments and testimonies. When you hire a family attorney Tampa, you gain an advocate with exceptional negotiation skills and abilities. Not only does this make the process easier, but it saves you money in court and legal fees.

They Have Extensive Knowledge

Not only do family attorneys understand family law, but they have vast resources they can use to research any issue you may have. In addition, they know legal and court procedures, so they know when documents need to be submitted and how to legally gather evidence, depositions and other assets to prove your case. This knowledge ensures that you, the courts and your opposition do not miss or misrepresent any of the facts in your case.

They Are Impartial

Family lawyers approach their cases from an impartial view. Yes, they are advocates for their clients, but they are able to review your case and give you an impartial opinion. Because of your own stress and feelings about what is going on, you may have a different view of the validity or evidence to prove your case. In addition, your lawyer evaluates and researches your case to gather the facts and present them fairly and with impartiality to the courts and your opposition.

They Provide Counseling and Support

When you are dealing with family issues, you are typically highly emotional, and you may need both emotional and moral support. Your attorney can help with this. In addition, because these professionals are third parties, they can provide counseling that helps opposing parties realize how important they are to each other. At times, this counseling can eliminate the need for lawsuits or other legal actions.

If you are experiencing a family law issue, consult with a reputable family attorney.…

Worker’s compensation claims are such dicey affairs. Depending on the nature of the job some claims are easier to dismiss than others. However, claims are generally denied because of some error on the part of the victim. To have a successful compensation claim suit, it is important to ensure that every requirement is met and every information and evidence provided is timely and accurate. Here are a few reasons why a claim can be denied.

Failure To Promptly Notify the Employer of The Injury.

One of the first things an employee needs to understand about work injury compensation claims is that delay can be dangerous. In most injury cases, delay in informing the relevant authorities within an organization can be seen as having an ulterior motive. It could be perceived that the injury was not serious or didn’t happen in the first place. It could also cause them to suspect a cover-up of sorts or even an attempt to swindle the company by buying time to get a story together. It is always advisable to notify the company of the injury immediately it happens. 

Missed The Complaint Filing Deadline.

In addition to the above, a compensation claim can be rejected if the victim files after the deadline for filing a complaint has passed. All states have deadlines, as established by law, within which an employee can lay their complaint. Anything after that will not be attended to. A good like Regan Zambri Long will be aware of this and advise their client accordingly.

Conflicting Witness Statement.

Witnesses of the accident that led to the injury must have nearly, if not the same account of what happened. If one witness says something and another gives a completely different story, it invalidates the credibility of the accident. It creates the impression that someone is lying and a story has been made up to help the claimant cash out. Without a more thorough investigation, usually by the victim’s worker’s compensation lawyer, the request will be denied.

The Employee Was Under the Influence When They Sustained the Injury.

It is expected and included in the job contract that an employee must never be under the influence of any substance while on the job. If under doctor’s prescribed medication, the employer should be aware. This is particularly enforced for certain job descriptions. If, in the course of an investigation, it is found that the claimant sustained their injuries while under the influence, the application will undoubtedly be denied. It is even grounds for termination of appointment.

Discrepancy Between Accident Report and Initial Medical Records. 

Proof of an injury is always backed by verified medical investigation. If there is a discrepancy between what the victim claims happened and what the medical report shows, the application for worker’s compensation will likely be thrown out.

Conclusion.

Having a lawyer involved in a work injury compensation claim case greatly increases the chances of being granted because the lawyer will ensure that all the required information and evidence are properly …

A car accident may not be your fault or within your control, but it is important to take certain steps when you find yourself in such situations. It has been said that about 1.3 million people die from car accidents globally each year, and about twenty million people get injured or disabled. Based on these statistics, there is likelihood of you being in a car accident at least once in your life span. 

In situations where an accident is not your fault, it may be someone else’s fault and that it is why it is important to know what to do when you get involved in a car accident.

Here are some steps to take when that happens:

DO NOT LEAVE THE SCENE

Even if an auto accident seems minor, it is not advisable to leave the scene of the accident. 

SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

In some cases, people tend to overlook the importance of seeking medical assistance after getting into an accident because they have little or no physical injuries, but that can be detrimental because some injuries only manifest themselves after some time or after you get over the shock and trauma of the accident. Sometimes, injuries can be internal and not handling them on time has fatal consequences. 

CALL THE POLICE

If your health permits you, you should call the police and let them know even if you did not sustain serious injuries. In some cases, you may have to provide a police report to claim your insurance. When you do get in touch with a police officer, try to give as accurate a record as you can. Snap pictures if you have to.

DO NOT SPEAK WITH THE OTHER PERSON’S INSURANCE COMPANY 

Avoid giving any written statements or recorded interviews with the other party’s insurance company before talking to your lawyer. You are legally not obligated to give statements to them despite what they may make you believe. When you find yourself in that situation, simply tell them your legal representative will be in touch with them.

CONTACT A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY 

There are so many things that can come out of an auto accident even if it doesn’t seem serious and you need someone who can help you navigate that. A lawyer can handle many things on your behalf especially when you are at fault and help you negotiate the best terms. If you get into an auto accident, you can contact a personal injury lawyer. 

It is not advisable to try to handle an auto accident on your own or post pictures on social media because insurance companies can scour social media for any inconsistencies and that can be used against you. 

Whether you are at fault or not, it is important to follow the above steps for your best interest, and most importantly, be careful and conscious on the road and try to obey all the rules and regulations. …

Car accidents occur due to numerous reasons, but the most common cause is negligence. A car accident, also known as a motor vehicle accident, car wreck, or car crash, happens when a car hits another car, pedestrian, animal, traffic object, or some other stationary object, like a tree, post, or building. 

Traffic laws and rules regarding safe driving and maintaining reasonable driving conditions exist to protect against these types of accidents, but sometimes they are not enough. In these cases, the person who was at fault will often be liable for the damages that appear. However, it’s not easy to prove that the person actually caused the car accident and negligence was involved.

Human Error

One of the most common causes of car accidents is human error. No one is perfect, and traffic accidents are no exception. Whether you are at fault for the accident itself or not, sometimes human error can come into play. 

Although it seems unlikely, if you were following too closely or made an unsafe lane change, you could be in the wrong. Other common causes of traffic accidents are fatigue driving, drunk driving, and texting while driving. Many times, the driver of the other car didn’t even know what he or she was doing, and it’s all thanks to a phone call from a cell phone that changed everything.

There are also other types of car collisions. They include being involved in a collision with an animal, solid debris, or other objects. These objects are commonly referred to as collision hazards because they force a vehicle to abruptly stop or slow down. Some common injuries resulting from collision include whiplash, back pain, neck pain, and broken bones.

More About Negligence

As already mentioned, a common cause of car accidents is negligence on the part of one driver but both drivers can be at fault. For example, rear-end collisions often result in injuries to the back, including lacerations and spinal cord injuries. And collisions between vehicles can also happen on busy highways and freeways.

Faulty mirrors can also cause injuries from car accidents. Mirrors can be very distracting and dangerous for both drivers and passengers. In these cases, the negligent parties are responsible for their actions and accidents, no matter how they happened.

What Happens After The Accident?

When a driver is found to be at fault in any car accident, the best solution is usually to fix the problem rather than pointing fingers. You don’t want to point fingers at someone, but you do need to be responsible for your actions. With the help of an experienced car accident attorney, you should be able to get the compensation you deserve.

The attorney will conduct an investigation so he finds out exactly what party is at fault and what degree at fault exists, according to law. You will quickly be able to find out exactly what happened and you will be much closer to the maximum compensation that you deserved to cover all medical …

Typically, workers’ compensation will pay for damages like lost wages and medical expenses if you are involved in a work-related auto accident. The problem is that you might also be allowed to sue a third party when it is considered liable. Experienced Detroit MI auto accident lawyers can become very valuable in such situations. 

What To Do When Injured In Work-Related Auto Accidents

The first thing to do is to call 911. Then, you need to get treated. At the same time, you have to give a notice of injury to the employer. This is what will trigger the workers’ compensation policy and help you get the compensation you are entitled to. 

When you contact the employer, you need to share details about the accident and the injuries you suffered. Get medical records from the hospital or from any doctor that treated you. Also, it is a very good idea to talk to a representative of your union but this is not considered to be contacting the employer. 

It is tempting to refuse to get treatment so you can complete whatever task you were doing when the incident happened. Do not do this since injuries often appear at a later time. Delay in notifying your employer can be seen as the insurance company as a reason to deny or minimize your claim. 

Will Workers’ Compensation Cover Everything?

The aim of the workers’ compensation policy is to give resources to the injured workers so that they can maintain a suitable standard of living. The problem is that how much money is given only covers a part of what is lost. Because this is the only right you have against your employer (unless he is at fault for what happened), you have to fully understand your rights and employer obligations, according to law. 

Why Do You Need To Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer?

When injured in a work-related auto accident, it is always recommended that you hire an experienced personal injury attorney. This is because of some very important reasons, like:

• It is possible that the employer will deny your workers’ compensation claim. Often, the argument is that the collision was not related to work. 
• The insurance company of the employer often tries to reduce or modify benefits. This is done by different tactics like claiming the worker could have gone back to work faster or that the subsequent pain felt is not connected to the auto accident. 

We should also think about the fact that responsibility for the auto accident might be shared by a third party. This means you can sue for receiving extra damages. 

When you hire an auto accident attorney, you make sure that the outcome of your case is a positive one. Several steps have to be taken to file workers’ compensation claims. The experienced lawyer will make the entire process a whole lot easier. Also, the specialist will review settlement types so that the best one will become reality. 

The bottom line is that work-related …

If you have children and you are going through a divorce, fighting for custody may be foremost on your mind. Visualizing a life without the noise, chatter, and clutter of your little ones is unimaginable, so you need to do everything you can to show the judge you are capable. Here are some helpful hints you can use to get custody of your kids.

1. Follow Instructions

If you have already met with the judge and received preliminary instructions, follow them closely. Whether the court ordered you to gather paperwork, attend court ordered anger management classes, or get witness statements, do it right away.

2. Become Dependable

Your children need you in their lives, but they also need your money. Just because you have more expenses because of your new housing arrangements, it doesn’t mean your children don’t require the same standard of living they had when you and your ex-spouse were together. Be dependable in your monetary contributions, and even give a little extra when possible.

3. Visit Often

Visit with your children as often as possible. Help them with homework, participate in life activities, and arrange for weekend adventures with the little ones. To help the court understand your efforts, keep a log of the time you spend with your children and the activities you participated in with them.

4. Live Big

You cannot live in a one-bedroom apartment and expect the judge to grant you custody of your children. If you are serious, get an area with a sleeping room for each child and allow a play or study area. Yes, it may be a big expense, but the judge will appreciate that you are prepared with ample living space.

You can work to get custody of your children by using the four hints listed above. Listen to court instruction, be dependable, and visit your children often. The judge will notice your efforts.…