ABA considers proposal for more transparency with law school finances, other changes

The American Bar Association House of Delegates, which determines association-wide policy, will take up a proposed resolution at the upcoming ABA Annual Meeting that seeks more financial counseling and transparency for students considering or in law school... read more

Protecting Your Reputation With a Lawyer

Misdemeanors and felonies stay on your record for years. Public records are more available to employers and businesses than ever before. Get a lawyer to protect your rights and make sure you’re doing the right thing by pleading guilty… read more

What Are the Most Common Misdemeanor Crimes?

In Arizona, a misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable with up to six months a county or local jail. The big difference between a felony and a misdemeanor is amount of time you might spend in prison and where. Some people are under the impression that a misdemeanor doesn’t affect your record as much as a felony conviction will, but in reality, a misdemeanor can follow you after your prison sentence has been served and have dire consequences.

Class 1 Misdemeanors

In Arizona, misdemeanors are classified by numbers. Class 1 is the most serious and carries a fine of up to $2500 and surcharges, and a six month sentence. Common Class 1 misdemeanors are DUI, assault, prostitution, and theft.

Class 2 Misdemeanors

The punishment for a Class 2 misdemeanor is up to $750 fine plus surcharges, up to four months in jail, and up to two years on probation. Common crimes in this class include assault, reckless driving, and criminal trespassing.

Class 3 Misdemeanors

Although Class 3 misdemeanors are the least serious offenses, you may still face up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine plus your court fees. Examples include criminal trespass or criminal speeding. Buying alcohol for a person under the age of 21 is another example.

Trust your future with a good attorney who can help you understand your charges and what your options are.

Visit this website for a criminal defense attorney in Temple if you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor to keep your record clean.

What are the Leading Causes of Workplace Injuries?

Workplace injuries cost employers millions of dollars every year. Some of the most common causes of workplace injuries include falls from a higher level to a lower one, overexertion, an employee performing repetitive motions, and situations involving work-related equipment... read more

Cars May Actually be Getting Safer

Since 1990, fatal and injurious car accidents have significantly decreased in the U.S. Often, how likely it is that a person will die in a car accident depends on what type and size of vehicle they were driving… read more

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

A sudden car accident can completely change your life in a matter of just a few seconds. If you were recently involved in a car accident, or just want to know what you should do in case you were ever injured in one, here is what you need to know.

Seek Medical Care

After being involved in a car accident, it is best to seek medical care for your injuries as soon as possible. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious enough to warrant medical care, it is still critical that you receive professional medical attention.

Gather Information

There are several pieces of information that you should collect in the first few days following the accident. These include the following:

• The names and contact information of any witnesses
• Records for any medical care that you received
• Documentation that outlines how much work you missed and the wages you missed out on

If you had time following the accident to take pictures, you may want to organize the pictures of the cars that were involved as well as the damage that your vehicle incurred. Additionally, you should acquire a copy of the police report from your local law enforcement agency.

Contact an Attorney

As you work on recovering from the accident, you should also consider reaching out to an attorney who can fight for your rights to fair and proper compensation. For more information on an experienced auto accident lawyer in Escondido, please visit this website.

Take Control of Slip and Fall Risks Today

Slipping, tripping, and falling accidents often have severe consequences and need to be taken seriously. In many situations, businesses that have a visitor slip and fall on their property may find that they are held legally and financially responsible… read more

Major Crash between Mid-Size Car and Company Vehicle

This image shows a major accident involving a mid-size vehicle and a company van. The extensive damage to both vehicles sends a strong message about road safety and the physical effects of a car crash... read more

North Carolina Bike Laws: Preventing Accidents

Bicycling can be a great way to exercise, have fun, and get from place to place. Unfortunately, many bicyclers are hit by cars and are often injured or even killed. This is often a result of neglect to follow the law by one or both parties involved. However, there are a few laws in North Carolina that cyclists should be aware of and follow in order to decrease the chances of being injured in an accident.

1. Wear your helmet

Bicyclists and passengers under the age of 16 are required to wear helmets. These must be fastened securely using straps while on paths, roads, and other public passages. Although only those younger than 16 are required to wear helmets, it’s a good idea for cyclists of all ages to follow this rule and find a helmet that properly fits them in order to stay safe while riding.

2. Use a bicycle light

If you are riding your bicycle at night, you are required to have a front light that can be seen from 300 feet away and a rear reflex mirror that is visible from at least 200 feet away. These must be used from sunset to sunrise in order to alert drivers that you are there.

3. Ride on the right

Bicyclists must always ride going to same direction as traffic and stay in the right-hand lane. They are also required to stay as close as possible to the right edge of the road except for when making a left turn, passing another vehicle, riding on a one-way street, or avoiding obstructions.

Although these are some of the most important laws that bicyclists in North Carolina should follow, there are many more rules that riders should be aware of in order to avoid accidents. To learn more about the bike laws and an expert bike accident attorney in Wilmington, visit this website.

Infographic Details Car Safety Facts

This infographic provides information about car safety over a 20-year period. It uses simple pictures and figures to demonstrate that car crashes and deaths are down, while the likelihood of a fatal crash differs by the type of vehicle... read more

Let’s Go NC!

Giving instructors guidance in ways to teach kids about being safe cyclists and pedestrians, this program is an indispensable tool for fighting childhood obesity while encouraging healthy activities and staying alert to danger... read more

Theories Used for Determining Liability for Defective Car Parts

Usually, in order to hold a person responsible for injuries incurred during an auto accident, it must be proven that the person’s negligence was the cause of the injury. However, when trying to show that car parts were to blame, another set of rules must be used. In order to prove that the car accident was a result of defective car parts, or if the injuries that were sustained during an auto accident were intensified due to faulty car parts, the plaintiff must exhibit certain specific details. Those details include injuries and losses, a manufacturing defect, design defect, the failure to warn, and causation of the sustained injury. While many liability theories exist to grant financial compensation to car accident victims, three of those theories are most commonly used: strict liability, breach of express warranty, and breach of implied warranty.

Strict Liability

The plaintiff must demonstrate that the vehicle or specific car part is in fact defective and is the cause of the damage to either the property or the person.

Breach of Express Warranty

Most cars come with a written warranty. If the car part is found to be defective, then it is typically considered to be in breach of the warranty.

Breach of Implied Warranty

While not all cars or car parts come with a written warranty, most states have established certain standards that a product must meet. If it is shown that a car part did not meet those minimum standards, this could be considered a breach of implied warranty.

Keep in mind that it can very expensive to try to prove that a manufacturer somehow made a mistake with your specific part while simultaneously making countless duplicates flawlessly.

But it is possible that there is already an existing class action lawsuit. When given the option, if your losses are small, there is a good chance that it would be more cost effective for you to join the class action suit. But if your losses were serious in nature, it is typically in your best interest to file your own case. For more information about determining liability in the case of a defective car part, please talk to a product liability and personal injury attorney in Wilmington,visit this website.

Invaluable Tips for Truck Drivers

Driving a truck is not an easy job, but can be a rewarding one for millions of those on the road. In order to keep safe and working for the long haul, keep these proven lessons in mind... read more

What Steps to Take Immediately Following a Bicycle Accident

After ensuring that you are physically okay to get up, the first thing you should do is to call the police. Do not talk to the motorist that hit you until after the police arrive. If you cannot avoid talking to the motorist, keep your answers vague. Make sure to NOT give any details as to your physical condition or to who is at fault. While you are waiting for the police to arrive, you will need to get the license plate number of the motorist who hit you. If the driver has fled the scene, see if any witnesses wrote down the license plate number or any identifying information about the vehicle.

Once the police have arrived, it is now the time to exchange information with the motorist. Take down the driver’s license and vehicle registration information and make sure to look at the expiration date on both. Try to take a picture of the license and registration if you can.

Next, look for witnesses and get contact information from them. In the event that you cannot identify any witnesses, ask surrounding businesses if any portion of the event was captured by their security footage.

Finally, in order to make a thorough insurance claim, record details about the event including the location, date and time of the incident, description of how it occurred, name and license plate of any individuals who were involved, proof of insurance, witnesses, and the estimated severity of any injuries that were sustained. Taking photographs of these items will greatly add to the weight of your claim.For more information about what actions to take after a bike accident, or to find a bicycle accident lawyer in Jacksonville, please visit this website.

Steps to Dealing With Workplace Injury

Workplace injuries can be a nightmare for both employee and employer. It’s important to follow the following step-by-step guidelines in order to minimize the impact and facilitate the recovery and rehabilitation of the hurt worker... read more

Miami lawyer and past ABA president takes part in Magna Carta anniversary celebrations

Stephen N. Zack, former president of the American Bar Association, was part of an ABA delegation that participated in the five-day celebration in London and Runnymede of the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta… read more

The Deadliest Jobs in the U.S

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this most recent decade has fortunately witnessed a decline in the rate of workplace deaths. This decline is attributed to the continuous advancements in technology and the reinforcement of safety regulations. When researching the deadliest jobs in America, the ranking depends upon the specific year that you use for statistics. But regardless of the variation that exists from one year to the next, these occupations consistently rank amongst the deadliest:

Fisherman

The biggest threat for fishermen is the swift shifts in weather. Fires, collisions, and faulty equipment are the next largest threats.

Logger

Currently, the logger typically spends the majority of his/her time enclosed in a reinforced vehicle. But the broken tops of trees that remain suspended amongst the other treetops represent a hugely unpredictable, and consequently deadly, factor for loggers.

Airplane Pilot

Flying is dangerous because of three main factors: weather shifts, human error, and faulty equipment.

Farmer and Rancher

This holds an unexpected spot on the list, but the most common factors in the death of farm workers are tractor rollovers, falling into silos, and unpredictable livestock behavior.

Mining Machine Operator

The biggest threats are cave-ins and explosions. Exposure to gases and toxic elements are also huge health risks.

Roofers

Falls are definitely the biggest factor in the death of roofers, but electrical fires and electrical shocks wreak havoc as well.

Sanitation Worker

Sanitation workers spend their long shifts driving amongst traffic and the leading cause of occupational fatalities is car accidents. The handling of hazardous materials and chronic fatigue are also threats.

Truck Driver and Deliveryman

Like sanitation workers, this profession is highly susceptible to deadly car accidents and fatigue.

Industrial Machine Repairman

The misfiring of machines and the toxic chemicals and lubricants used to make those machines run smoothly are the cause of the majority of the deaths for this profession.

Police Officer

Unlike the other spots on this list, the rate of on-the-job death is on the rise for police officers. Some attribute this to a reduction in money spent upon training and staffing.

To find an experienced workmen’s comp attorney in Jacksonville, visit this website.

When Should A Car Seat Face Forward?

The American Academy of Pediatrics updated their child safety seat recommendations on March 21, 2011. They specified that children should remain rear facing until they are too heavy or too tall for their convertible car seat and are at least two years old. An article in the Journal Injury Prevention in 2007 stated that a two-year old is five times safer riding facing the rear that a two-year old facing forward. 

The AAP also stated, “If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back.” Today, the NHTSA states, “Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer”.

Today, most convertible seats allow for children to face the rear up to 35-50 pounds. The height limit requires that there be at least one inch of room between the top of the car seat and the top of the child’s head. This inch allows for the child to slide up in a crash and still have the head well protected.

Some parents think that they should turn their child forward facing when his legs can reach the back of the actual vehicle seat. Parents assume that their child is uncomfortable when this happens. Doctors and studies report that while children at ages two or three can be very verbal, they do not complain that their legs hurt while riding facing the rear. There have been NO documented cases of rear-facing children that have broken their feet, legs, or hips, due to the fact that their feet touch the vehicle seat. Studies show that forward-facing children are likely to experience leg injuries because legs fly up and hit the front seat. There are many documented cases of spinal cord and head injuries due to kids riding facing forward too soon.

Don’t make the mistake of turning your child forward too soon because you think he is a big baby, and big babies are probably stronger. Research shows that there is more risk in a crash for a big baby that is facing forward. A bigger child likely has a heavier, larger head that will pull forward with great force in a crash.

It’s better to be safe than sorry; it makes sense to follow safety guidelines set forth for children. Please visit our website to find a car accident lawyer in Wilmington.

Infographic of Top 10 Workplace Injuries

Share data regarding workplace injuries with this easy-to-read infographic. It lists types of workplace injuries with percentages and comic illustrations of each type, followed by how much the sum of these injuries costs companies each year...read more

North Carolina’s One Bite Dog Rule

If you have been bitten by a dog or are the owner of one, it is important to be aware of the laws related to these pets. In North Carolina, a “one bite rule” has been established, which means that the first time a dog does something vicious such as a bite, attack, or maiming, the owner is not responsible for the animal’s actions. After the first incident, the pet’s keeper is then liable for any attacks that occur. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule where the owner could be held accountable for the first incident, including the following:

1. It was night

If the dog is running around at night without a person watching it, then the owner could be responsible for any damage that occurs during this time. According to North Carolina law, canines over six months old are not allowed to run at large during the night.

2. The dog is labeled as dangerous

Dogs that can be labeled as dangerous include those that bite without provocation, follow their victims for more than 50 feet, injure or kill other domestic animals, or have been trained for fighting. If the canine falls into one of these categories, the owner may be held responsible.

3. The owner was aware

If the owner of the dog was already aware that the animal is violent or aggressive, then they may be held responsible.

If you are the victim of a dog attack that falls into one of these categories, you may be able to make a valid case. To speak with a dog bite attorney in Jacksonville, visit this website.