Many accident victims do not make a claim because they think they were partly at fault and therefore won’t be able to recover any money. It’s important to remember that in almost every state, you can still recover money even if you are partly at fault for an accident. Your award will just be reduced by the percentage of your fault. For example, if you are 25% at fault for an accident and your damages are $10,000, your award will be reduced by 25%, or $2,500. You will still recover $7,500. Even … [Read more...]

If you let someone drive your car and that person causes an accident, are you liable for the damages? In some states, car owners are liable only if they did something wrong — for example, if they did not properly maintain the car. However, a growing number of states follow a different rule. They hold car owners liable for injuries caused by the negligence of anyone who drives their car with their permission. In all states, however, you can be liable if you loan your car to someone you know is … [Read more...]

On the job injuries are common. If you have an injury or illness from your job, you may be entitled to receive money under workers’ compensation laws. The injury may be from a single act (like getting hurt in a fall or getting in a car accident while making deliveries), or it may be from constant exposure to activities or substances at work (like hurting your wrist from doing the same motion repeatedly or losing your hearing because of constant loud noise). Workers’ compensation laws help make … [Read more...]

If you’ve been in a car, slip and fall or other kind of accident and intend to make a claim, there are several reasons why you need to consult an attorney promptly. One reason is there are time limits (called “statutes of limitations”) for making claims. If you wait too long and the statute of limitations passes, you will be prevented from bringing your claim, even if it is otherwise valid. Courts strictly follow statutes of limitations. In one case, a woman severely injured in a car accident … [Read more...]

The holidays are supposed to be a happy and festive time. But unfortunately, thousands of people are hurt each year during the holiday season in accidents involving holiday products. Many of these accidents are caused by unsafe products or the improper use of holiday items. Here are some steps to help avoid injuries and make sure you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season. Decorations Trees. On average, each year over 200 home fires are caused by Christmas trees igniting. … [Read more...]

These days, we hear more and more about efforts to change our civil justice system. The changes are being pushed mostly by big corporations and insurance companies. Consumer groups are not seeking such changes. And for good reason, since the changes will make it harder for injury victims to get fairly compensated for their injuries and losses. Many of the proposed changes deal with product liability. Businesses want to limit claims for injuries caused by defective products and make it harder … [Read more...]

According to the government, about 50% of marriages end in divorce. If you are married or plan to marry, this means there is a high chance of a divorce someday. Everyone should know the basics. Here are answers to some of the most often asked questions about divorce. Q. How does divorce differ from separation? A. A divorce is a court order ending the marriage. Separation means a couple is still married but lives apart. This is often a first step to a divorce, but sometimes the couple gets back … [Read more...]

Every year, about 2,000 children under age 15 are killed in car accidents and 200,000 more are hurt. Many of these tragedies can be avoided, as they are caused by not driving children properly. There are different ways children are driven in a dangerous manner, including putting them in the wrong safety restraint or not putting them in a restraint at all. Here are tips to make sure that when you drive children, they are properly restrained and are as safe as possible. Use the right child car … [Read more...]

Q. I was in an accident and intend to make a claim. How soon should I see a lawyer? A. Accident victims should get legal help as soon as possible. One reason for this is there are time limits for making claims. If you wait too long and the deadline passes, you won’t be able to make your claim — which means you will have lost the chance to obtain money you otherwise might have received. Another reason why it’s vital to get legal help quickly is that delay can hurt your case. As time passes, … [Read more...]

Driving can be hard enough even when you concentrate fully on the road. But driving while using a cell phone can be distracting and even dangerous. Cell phones may be convenient, but if not used right, drivers with phones put themselves at risk as well as others. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of people using cell phones while driving in recent years. According to government statistics, at any given time over 1,000,000 vehicles on the road are being driven by someone using a … [Read more...]