Category: Guest Post

The Role of Qualified Criminal Lawyers in Defense Proceedings – Guest Post

  

Criminal lawyer

Criminal law which is also popularly referred to as penal law is the body of law that relates to various criminal cases and punishment. When an act that omits public law is steered by someone, then this is referred to as a crime. The field of criminal law majorly regulates the social conduct & behavior of persons that are harmful, threatening or somehow endangering to the safety, health, moral welfare of property and people. Criminal law involves prosecution and then it is eventually tagged as a crime. Criminal law also includes the punishment of those individuals who tends to violate certain laws. The punishment can be in the form of imprisonment, property forfeiture, capital fine etc. A criminal lawyer usually deals with all types of criminal cases.

What is the role of criminal lawyers?

Criminal lawyers are also known as criminal defense lawyers who specialize in defending the individuals & companies that are charged with certain criminal activities. Most criminal lawyers usually practice privately or run a law firm. Several criminal lawyers are also being hired by corporate companies to manage certain legal affairs. Also, some criminal lawyers work for the government and non-profit agencies. The criminal lawyers have expertise in handling a large range of criminal cases that range from sex crimes, domestic violence crimes, theft, drug crimes, embezzlement and several other forms of crime. The criminal lawyers usually represent the defendants or accused who are facing criminal charges in the different types of trial courts & appellate courts.

The overall scope of a criminal lawyer extensively includes trial, bail hearings, revocation hearings, post-conviction resolutions and appeals. This also includes certain pleas representing the accused in a court of law. The work and responsibilities of a criminal lawyer are to build a very strong defence & develop an effective case strategy. He holds the responsibility of drafting, filing & arguing on the behalf of the accused. A criminal lawyer’s work also involves effectively negotiating with the opposition or prosecution to plea at lesser costs. A criminal lawyer is also responsible for representing the accused at the various appellate stages whenever required. The criminal lawyers have excellent written and oral advocacy skills for arguing with the opposition in front of the court for persuading a jury. Criminal lawyers also possess research & investigative skills which are all crucial in building the cases for the clients & establishing a very strong defence. A professional criminal lawyer is hired by an accused of protecting all his rights and if he does not engage one then the accused can unknowingly waive his rights against his own interests.

In a similar manner, there is a criminal lawyer or prosecutor who is responsible for bringing a case against an accused person in a criminal trial. The burden of proof initially rests on the prosecutor who must prove that the opposite party is guilty beyond a certain doubt. This is all because a particular criminal offender is always taken to be innocent unless proven guilty by the court of law. So, in brief, the job duties of a criminal lawyer also include meeting the clients, discussing the case with them, examining the complainants or witnesses, interacting with the public prosecutor or district attorney and the police team, researching the case law & appearing in the court of law on the client’s behalf.

criminal defence

Conclusion:

A criminal lawyer has a lot of responsibilities and plays an integral role in protecting the rights of their clients in a wide number of criminal cases. One should always preferably choose a qualified criminal lawyer with a proven track record.

Auto Injury Settlement Process – Guest Post

  

Auto Injury Settlement

So you’ve been in a car accident and now you’re wondering what the car accident settlement process is and how it works.

If you have physical or property damage following a car accident, you’re able to file a claim to receive compensation for your injuries, repairs, lost time, and pain and suffering.

Exactly how does the settlement process work? It may not be a quick or easy process, but it’s necessary in order to receive the compensation you deserve.

Filing an Insurance Claim After Your Car Accident

Many drivers carry car insurance to protect themselves and their vehicle in case of an auto accident. Sadly, if you find yourself dealing with the aftermath of being involved in a car crash, you might learn that not everyone carries insurance on themselves or their vehicles.

You also might learn that it’s not easy to have your car accident claim approved by an insurance provider to actually be paid. If the at-fault party doesn’t have insurance coverage, you’ll need to file a claim with your auto insurance.

To file a claim with an insurance company, you’ll need to prepare a few things to send with your demand letter so your claim can be reviewed:

  • The police report from the accident
  • Photos of your vehicle and the accident scene
  • Witness statements
  • Medical bills
  • Medical records
  • Other driver’s information

Once the information is provided to the insurance companies, they’ll do an investigation based on the information provided. They may also send an insurance claims adjuster as part of the information gathering and investigation process.

Understanding the general car accident settlement timeline can help you be prepared. Many insurance companies have a standard formula for a car accident settlement offer, but that doesn’t mean you need to accept their offer for your personal injury claim.

Filing a Lawsuit After Your Car Crash

Sometimes you’re unable to file a claim and reach a settlement directly with the insurance company and you need to move forward with litigation. This may be especially true if you were hit by a person driving under the influence.

Contact an experienced attorney who offers a free consultation so they can learn about your case. Let them tell you how they would handle your case and share what kind of settlement you could expect, along with other legal advice.

Your lawyer will contact the insurance provider on your behalf. They’ll also gather information necessary for your case, contact experts on your behalf, and use their legal knowledge and experience to get you the best settlement possible.

Settling Out of Court

With the help of your attorney, you may be able to settle with the insurance company without having to go to court. Your lawyer will be able to determine what would be fair and reasonable compensation for your case. They’ll negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and work to get you the best settlement possible.

Going to Trial

If you’re unable to settle your claim directly with the insurance company or out of court, you may need to go to trial. Your attorney will file a lawsuit on your behalf. They’ll also assist you with preparing what will be presented to the court and jury who will make the decision on your case.

 

Reaching a Settlement Agreement

Eventually, you’ll reach a settlement agreement in your personal injury claim. Car accident settlements may include compensation for:

  • Lost wages
  • Medical expenses
  • Ongoing medical treatment
  • Pain and suffering
  • Other damages related to your personal injury case

The settlement amount with the insurance company will vary case by case based on the specific details of your case. Contacting a car accident attorney will help you get a fair and reasonable settlement.

About the Author

Christian is a Tampa, Florida, Trial Lawyer with Denmon & Pearlman trial lawyers. A truly progressive firm offers fixed fee engagements, service guarantees and focuses on picking the right process to lead to a principled settlement for clients. He lives in St. Petersburg with his wife and two children.

New UK immigration rules 2021 for overseas – Guest Post

  

immigration rules

The Government has announced plans to tighten the rules for those wishing to join a spouse or partner in the UK from 2021. The new rules will include a minimum income threshold of £25,700 and a much stricter English language requirement. These proposals were contained in a consultation paper published by HM Government on 10 January 2018 entitled “Proposals for Reforming our Immigration System and Reducing Net Migration”, which also included proposals to reduce the number of non-EU workers entering the UK, as well as changes to settlement rights and eligibility for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). In addition, there are plans to end free movement from within the EU once Brexit is implemented.

A summary of current immigration routes to overseas spouses can be found here.

If implemented, the UK government says the new rules for overseas spouses will only apply to those who wish to enter or stay in the UK after 2021. It is expected that most of these changes would be brought into effect at the end of 2020 when the free movement ends following Brexit, however, it is possible that some aspects could come into effect earlier.

The Government also proposes introducing a minimum income threshold for all prospective migrants wishing to settle in the UK from 2021 onwards with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), similar to that already required by ‘points-based’ skilled migration routes. The current requirement for partners joining an EEA national in the UK are set out here. One important difference between this route and other points-based routes is that there is no requirement for the partner to be employed before they come to the UK.

This change, if implemented, would mean that only those with a minimum annual income of £25,700 (or higher where required by an increase in the Annual Immigration Threshold) will be able to apply for permission to join or remain with their partner in the UK. The changes are expected not to affect applications made under current rules by overseas spouses whose visa is current and who continue living together as partners with their sponsor. The Government intends that this route will largely mirror arrangements already in place for non-EEA nationals under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

If these proposals go ahead, it will allow British citizens and permanent residents to bring over a life partner from anywhere in the world without having to meet a minimum income threshold. However, British citizens or permanent residents with foreign spouses will require an income of at least £18,600 (plus higher for non-EEA National dependent children) to sponsor their spouse visa application.

The new rules will also introduce mandatory English language requirements for all partners coming to the UK from 2021 onwards; currently, only EEA nationals are required to prove they can speak English before they come to the UK if their main home and place of work is outside London. This change will therefore affect British citizens and permanent residents who wish to bring their non-EEA national life partner into the UK after 2021.

Currently, only those overseas spouses who are invited by the Home Office to apply under the accelerated ‘approved route’ are exempt from having to meet the English language requirement. The Government proposes that the same criteria will apply for overseas spouses invited to come into or remain in the UK under these new rules. This means that most overseas spouses will have to meet an English language requirement before coming to the UK except those who are invited by the Home Office directly, specifically because they speak English orally, listening, reading and writing at a level of B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

A concession has been made by Government however for those with complex health needs which need care which they cannot access in their home country. Where this is judged to be necessary, part of this care may take place outside England. Those in need of such care will in some cases be able to benefit from the new exemption to English language requirements and this may apply for example, where their ‘complex health needs’ meets UK Visas and Immigration own guidance on what constitutes “exceptional compassionate circumstances”.

The new changes also include extending the current 18-month probationary period when a life partner joins their spouse in the UK, during which time they cannot access public funds. The Government envisages that this extension could increase further to two years if both parties continue to meet the requirements for settlement at the end of the probationary period.

Currently, overseas spouses who join a British citizen or permanent resident in the UK under a marriage visa after they have been living together outside of the UK can apply for permission to settle in the UK after completing a period of 2 years. After this time, the overseas spouse may then be eligible for certain benefits including access to public funds if they can demonstrate that they are still living together as a married couple.

This new rule will also apply to overseas spouses who arrive in the UK without their British citizen or permanent resident spouse under these new rules, but who intend to live with them hereafter 2021. They will have to show that they are continuing to live together for at least two years before applying for leave to remain on the basis of being present and settled in the UK.

The government has advised that it is open-minded about how this probationary period could work in practice and whether checks should be carried out on a regular basis by the Home Office, making sure that British citizens and British permanent residents do not slip into having ‘settled’ status in the UK before their overseas spouse has had an opportunity to apply.

Do You Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits If You Lose Your Job? – Guest Post

   

Workers' Compensation Benefits

When it comes to workplace losses, you have lost your position with larger effects on your life and you want to get financial support to plan a better future, then there are a lot of legal complications to it that you may have to look out and to understand it better you may consider Workers compensation lawyer Charlotte to get better ideas and plan a perfect legal case for your better financial resolution. IN case you lost your job due to injury, you had strong evidence to support your fall or slip and other damages and you want to clear financial terms from your management legally, then you can consult from Workplace accident lawyer charlotte, settle your legal plan and they would defend you much better at court to arrange for your compensation from your management.

Before you start to tempt for such benefits, there are a few things that dictate work terms, and they may include:

  • Any injury while at work
  • Management promises on financial support
  • The main causes behind losing your job

And these are a few things that do affect the benefits and their possibilities which you need to check before considering the legal option around.

Consider work contract first

In such case where you lose your job as a worker, it may always come to contract you signed when you joined in, try to find out the actual details of work promises, what you were settled with when you came in as working personnel, and if there is a provision of work contract finances then you can opt for a legal way to arrange for your compensation and get such certain benefits.

Compensation on injury grounds the other factor that dictates terms at the workplace is related to injuries, there is the certain norm where the management becomes prepared to help any such worker even they have been dropped out to provide financial support and avail them such benefits, and if you did have to face certain injuries and you wish to prove them at court by legal support, then you can be arranged with compensation by your workplace to settle things.

Depends on the final decision

Lastly, compensation promises may be in different terms even if you lose the job at your place, but it is better you prove them at court, if you can arrange a legal person who can help you with proper evidence and better concerns, then it may prove more prudent and this way the last decision held at court would be more accountable to describe whether you may get such benefits or not.

To know more how things can be arranged legally, to have a better understanding to get benefits after losing a job and for proper legal ways to apply things in your favor, you can consult experts in form of Workers compensation lawyer Charlotte who would be able enough to plan for your case, help you clear legal doubts and would try best to arrange for your financial support.

However, if you have a more serious accident while at work, you had to drop out due to severe injury concerns and you want financial support, then you can come in touch with workplace accident lawyer Charlotte, discuss your injury and how it all occurred, and they would look at your workplace term, would prepare a strong case and may settle it all perfectly for you.

 

Your expert place to resolve matters related to compensation at work. Their proficient worker compensation lawyers Charlotte would be perfect to help you get benefits after losing your job as a worker.

4 Examples of When It’s A Good Idea to Hire An Attorney – Guest Post

  

Hire An Attorney

There are some minor legal issues out there that you may be able to resolve yourself. Whether this is by having a plan in place, having thoroughly read your contract, or from prior experience, you may feel well equipped to deal with a legal problem here or there. However, there are many other legal issues that require professional attention and should not be undertaken without someone there to advise you. Here is a list of reasons that you should hire an attorney.

You Have Tax Problems

Tax problems can cause you a lot of headaches, especially if you don’t really understand where you messed up. If you have tax problems, then you end up with levies put on your bank account until you get things cleared up. You can also end up at risk of losing your home or business. Fortunately, you have resources available to you long before things are at risk of getting to that point. An attorney can help you resolve the tax issues that you have by reviewing your taxes, your financial information, and whatever the initial mistake was. They can also advise you on how to avoid similar situations in the future.

You Want to Start a Business

It is in your best interest to call an attorney if you want to start a business. There are many legal hoops and hurdles involved with starting your own business that they can help you deal with. For example, you will have to decide how you are going to structure your business and your finances. You also have to make sure that you abide by all laws both federal and local. Your attorney can help you set up your business properly. They can also make sure that you are in compliance with federal and state laws.

Many people run into legal issues while they are running their business. However, most of those problems could have been avoided if the person would have hired an attorney.

You Have a DUI

If you are caught driving under the influence, then there are many negative consequences that you can face. You may not be able to drive for a long time because you can get your license suspended. Jail time, community service, and fines are other possible consequences. Your DUI attorney can help you avoid those consequences. In fact, it is possible to get the charges dropped completely.

You Have Family Issues

Divorce and child custody issues can take months to resolve. There are also many things that can complicate those cases. Your attorney can help you get family issues resolved. One of the many great things about hiring an attorney is that you may be able to get the family issues resolved without going to court. However, if you do have to go to court, then your attorney will represent you.

An attorney can make your life easier by helping you fix your legal issues. You need an attorney if you have tax problems. You should also hire an attorney if you are starting a new business. A DUI case warrants the need for an attorney. Furthermore, you should hire an attorney if you have family issues.

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max. She can be found at @KaraMasterson.

6 Things About Criminal Law Everyone Needs to Know – Guest Post

   

Criminal Law

Yes, you’re a law-abiding citizen. Yes, you’re well aware of the actions that can get you into trouble with the police. Yes, you know you shouldn’t drink and drive, steal, cheat anyone, and pay your taxes on time. Even though you do steer clear of any wrongdoing, leave alone committing a crime, you can unwittingly get involved in a criminal charge without having done anything wrong. The charges can be dropped later if there’s no proof and the entire situation is an error.

However, the incident will remain on your permanent record and affect your future unless you get your felony expunged. Here’s some added information about criminal law that every citizen should know. Just in case you or a friend or family member is subjected to the legal justice system.

You Must Never Resist Arrest or Misbehave with a Law Officer

If a law enforcement officer ever stops you, never resist arrest or misbehave even if you’re absolutely certain you did not do anything wrong. Follow all the instructions the officer gives you and answer all questions as asked. Provide identification and vehicle registration papers on demand. Remember to be respectful and agreeable even if you’re taken to the station and processed.

You May Want to Refuse to Take the Field Sobriety Test

If you’re stopped on suspicion of drinking and driving or DUI charges, you have the right to refuse to take the balance test. However, in many states, on receiving a driver’s license, it is inferred consent that you’ll take a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test whenever asked. Refusing to take one means that you stand to lose your driving privileges for up to 12 months. But, if the test registers a minimum of 0.8%, you could face even more serious consequences. Without the test results, the prosecutor will have to rely on other evidence to prove your guilt. Incidentally, most field sobriety or balance tests are designed to result in failure.

You Should Invoke Your Right to Remain Silent

The law entitles citizens to the right to remain silent. When facing arrest, do not answer questions or give out any information that can incriminate you or be used as evidence against you. You may only give out your name and identification, and then, request that you’re allowed to contact a lawyer. Even if the officers seem friendly and genuinely concerned about resolving the matter, waiting for a lawyer is advisable. An attorney will inquire into the exact nature of the charges against you and offer advice on what to do next. Most importantly, never try to explain your way out of a sticky situation and certainly not in court. Always rely on an experienced attorney to present arguments on your behalf.

You Need Not Permit Law Enforcement to Search Your Premises

You have the right to refuse law enforcement officers to search your house without a court order. You’ll shut the door and contact a lawyer immediately for directions on what to do next. If they do have a warrant, you must fully cooperate with them and offer whatever information they need.

You Should be Cautious About Social Media Postings

Before posting images and accounts of your activities on social media, you might want to consider if they can be used as evidence against you. Any activity and proof of location can be determined with the help of tools like time and date stamps, and IP addresses, to name a few. Innocent acts can be targeted in any courtrooms, from municipal to common courts.

Dismissed Charges May Not End of the Matter

Don’t assume that dismissed charges are the end of the issue. Criminal charges become a part of your permanent record. Any person conducting a background check can learn about the incident in your past. This can become a problem when you apply for a job or college admission, or wish to rent a home or get a mortgage. Several jobs may be denied to you because of the black mark. Further, your chances of adopting a child or getting custody of your kids can also be impacted.

No citizen intends to commit a crime, but if you do get involved in a brush with the law, here’s what you should know.

How Legal Sector is Implementing Virtual Operations to Gain Flexibility – Guest Post

  

Implementation of virtual operations

Introduction

Technology is dramatically transforming the way law is practiced and what being a lawyer means- whether at a law firm or in-house. A drastic change has taken place today if we look back 10 or 20 years ago at the traditional model. This shift is evident with the capability and luxury to now stay connected to the office irrespective of time and access data anywhere.

Powered by connectivity, long and tedious days at the workplace are increasingly paving the way for more flexible arrangements. In addition, remote work is now a real possibility in the corporate legal sector thanks to the digital transformation happening in other sectors has now proven to be highly successful.

Scalable & Flexible Practices

The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other such technologies is a wide-spreading acceptance of non-traditional work practices in the legal sector. As a result, law firms and legal departments are observing an increment in the ability to upscale or downscale teams as per their need resulting in the creation of the best possible team of legal associates that can deliver high-quality work irrespective of time and location.

In a similar manner that cloud computing has now become a standard feature of numerous legal organizations, legal software of frameworks fueled by artificial intelligence and machine learning will eventually be established as a mainstay in the legal industry and will further assist in freeing lawyers from traditional work models. Hence, lawyers can take on more important matters.

In fact, law firms that adopt a forward-looking vision for their tech-enhanced workforce will acquire a significant competitive advantage in terms of hiring and retention. However, firms that shy away from adapting to the new, flexible work environment will witness their talent pool diminish.

Traditional vs. virtual law firms

Considering the day-to-day operations of a virtual law firm that utilizes cloud compared to that of a traditional law firm, it is no surprise why the former seems more appealing:

Overhead costs: Overhead costs- No more computers, rent, fax machines, printers, and filing cabinets, decreasing the overhead expenses cutting into your revenues. Instead, virtual lawyers utilize purpose-built practice management software that are cloud developed and can run an operating law firm from anywhere and on any device. In addition, it’s more cost-effective this way.

And unlike an in-house solution, cloud solutions are far away from associated IT/ maintenance costs. In fact, traditional firms often get tangled down by all such legacy costs, creating hindrance in their ability to change. On the other hand, for virtual law firms, implementing a lean operation means that they can try several fee structures while giving the same top-notch legal support services.

Client communication: One might develop an assumption that virtual lawyers no longer meet clients directly in person and only furnish services via an online portal. While it is true that clients cannot be hosted in an office by virtual lawyers, they are backed by comprehensive technology to provide services more efficiently than traditional law firms. In fact, they benefit from more time to interact with clients for optimum service representation.

It can be utterly challenging for a lawyer in the traditional landscape to take out time to interact with clients except than via email and phone calls. However, virtual lawyers are more flexible during their working hours to communicate with their clients in more familiar settings, as per their schedules, where they can develop better relationships. This leads to even better client service.

Project Management

Project management is comparatively a new concept in the legal industry. However, it is spreading like wildfire. Even for the law firms that still bill hourly, project management has become vital to ensure certainty and extra value that clients expect. Coming to larger firms or for more extensive litigation, it may not be possible to predict and charge a fixed fee accurately. Even in such a scenario, project management is a tool that combines cost containment and technology to provide a client-focused and frugal representation.

Bespoke Legal Services

Providing unique legal services from scratch is another option. This might include developing customized contracts or legal services for clients having special needs. Crafting such a type of niche practice might be the result of focused networking and marketing or simply fate, falling into a specialized area of practice. In any of the ways, it’s an option to under consideration when thinking about providing unique value to clients.

Another bespoke type of legal service provides customized client service supported by the kind of high-volume/high-touch made achievable by the successful implementation of technology. Hence, clients get face-to-face interaction with the lawyer, and lawyers balance these time-intensive interactions by minimizing redundant work. They leverage technology for process and document automation for this.

Top-notch customer experience

 Employing virtual legal assistants or paralegals makes it seamless to provide a top-notch customer experience to your clients. They assist you in delivering all the promises to the clients and make sure that not a single client is forgotten, which mostly happens in many law firms because lawyers focus primarily on legal matters. In addition, they stay in touch with your firm’s clients by sending them emails on birthdays and other occasions and more. As a result, these virtual paralegals remain one step ahead of all the aspects of their professionalism, right from addressing your clients to administrating their work. This is why major legal firms consider handing over their back-office tasks to firms that provide virtual paralegal services.

Final Thoughts 

The world out there is changing. However, despite some gloomy predictions, it isn’t the commencement of the end for legal associates. But lawyers must take a fresh look at the law practice and its changing methods of conduction to remain relevant.

Technology in the legal industry continues to develop at a rapid speed and to provide tools through which lawyers seeking to become flexible may reimagine and redesign their method of practice to be at par with the needs of their future clients.

Choosing a Drink Driving Lawyer if you have been charged Drink Driving – Guest Post

  

Drink Driving Lawyer

Every year, Officers perform millions of spontaneous breath tests and around 3000 roadside drug testing. According to these statistics, alcohol and drug driving are two of Australia’s most extensively policed offences.

According to NCRB statistics, drunk driving accidents have a greater death rate than other types of accidents.

As a result, as many as 42 percent of the cases in drinking and driving accidents died – a substantially greater rate than the percentage of deaths caused by “over-speeding” (30%), “careless driving” (33%), and meteorological circumstances (36%).

Because of the dangers involved with these actions, the criminal justice system has taken a strong approach against drink/drug drivers.

Suppose you are caught DUI of either too much alcohol or illicit substances. In that case, you potentially face severe penalties such as huge fines, loss of license, a criminal history, and possibly incarceration.

You might face the full extent of the law if you do not have experienced legal representation; therefore, you must pick a criminal defence lawyer wisely.

Drink Driving Lawyers Brisbane made a checklist; it would help you.

  • Expert Knowledge: Make sure the lawyer you hire has experience in the law case you seek assistance in.

For example, drink driving has many practice areas in the legal profession, and most lawyers choose to handle attorney issues. Therefore, you will need a criminal defence attorney who has years of expertise in drunk driving cases. Hundreds of drunken driving cases have been taken by attorneys, ranging from low to high-grade intoxication and drug driving, as well as reckless and culpable driving offences.

If the police were at fault or there was a factual disagreement, a skilled criminal defence team can use these problems to your advantage in your case.

  • Lawyers’ Fees: It is recommended for lawyers to disclose their costs in writing when working for you. However, some jurisdictions today force attorneys to disclose their costs before accepting a job. That being said, no matter where you live, negotiate a price with your attorney ahead of time, so you know exactly what you are paying.

Lawyers’ fees are not usually set in stone. Instead, your potential lawyer’s fee will be determined by their reputation, the amount of overhead incurred in the case, the going price for the legal problem at hand, and their expertise with similar circumstances.

  • The professional team: Some attorneys work alone, but most have solicitors on their team or outsourcing some of their consulting matters to other lawyers. You should know who will be managing your case because this might affect both the level of service you obtain and the price.

  • Communication Skills: When selecting a lawyer, keep in mind that he must communicate effectively. When we converse with a skilled communicator, it’s always a draw for us. A lawyer’s communication abilities might help him or she deliver an exceptional case.

To end, every lawyer will undoubtedly handle many situations and cases at the exact moment; your case is a primary concern for you, and you must guarantee that communication skills are the primary concern.

  • Location: You’ll want to hire a drink-driving attorney who is easy to reach. Having offices in cities eliminates the need to travel across the city to make appointments. Not only are the office locations convenient, but they each also have professional drunk driving lawyers. If you’ve been accused of drunk or drunk driving, it becomes more convenient to get to the offices within minutes.

  • Qualifications: You’ll want to hire a drink-driving attorney who is an expert and completed their certifications. Qualifications must be checked for each area of competence to ensure that their degree and clerkship are adequate.

  • Review: Last but not least, always evaluate attorneys and verify their performance before employing them. Check out their reviews of their work and their past clients. Also, see if they have won the lawsuit you are currently a victim of.

Get in contact with us today:

Drink Driving Lawyers Brisbane is a renowned law company representing drivers accused of driving drunk crimes such as drink driving, being drunk in charge, failing to produce a specimen, or being unfit to drive due to alcohol or drugs.

We have a team of professional drunk driving attorneys on hand to provide legal advice.

Contact Gold Coast Criminal Lawyers now for more information on the breadth of legal advice and representation we can give in drink driving matters, whether fighting a charge or appealing a drink driving conviction.

Kindly contact our team of expert drunk driving solicitors by phone or email to explore your legal options.

Car Insurance Fraud Laws And Penalties In CA State – Guest Post

   

Car Insurance Fraud

Car insurance fraud is when an individual makes intentionally wrong insurance otherwise defrauds an insurance company. Mostly, people do this to get the benefits to which they are not legally allowed. Insurance fraud is normally charged as a felony in California. Also, it carries a punishment of up to five years in state prison.

According to the California Penal Code, you do auto insurance fraud when you commit any of the following. Besides, talk to a professional attorney to get an idea about affordable car insurance quotes.

  • Hide, abandon, or damage your auto intentionally to collect car insurance proceeds.
  • Intentionally submitting a defrauding auto insurance case for a loss due to destruction, damage, or theft of a car.
  • Intentionally present two or more auto insurance cases for the same damage, with a purpose to defraud.
  • Do or take part in an automobile accident with the purpose to fraudulently receive the auto insurance proceeds.

California Laws Related To Car Insurance Fraud

  • Penal Code 549 PC – suggestion to an auto restoration shop for fraud.
  • Penal Code 550 PC – submitting fraud insurance cases.
  • Penal Code 551 PC – illegal suggestion to auto repair vendor.
  • Penal Code 451 PC – arson.
  • Vehicle Code 10501 VC – incorrect report of vehicle robbery.
  • Insurance Code 871 – employees’ compensation fraud.
  • Penal Code 548 PC – abandoning or damaging a vehicle.

Factors That Determine Penalties For Car Insurance Fraud

 

There are all types of car insurance fraud tricks that are being charged by the authorities. To determine whether or not you are going to get any prison or jail time in California. You need to look at several factors mentioned below. First:

  • How much cash is involved? Is it $10,000, $20,000, is it more?/Is it a few thousand dollars?

These questions are going to be the major factors in determining if the judge fails like it is a prison or jail case. The second thing they would want to know is your criminal history:

  • Do you have a clear record or do you possess criminal offenses like assaults?
  • Have you faced a circumstance where you have other robbery-related offenses in your history?

These are aspects that they are going to look at. If you’ve got a previous assault and you pick up a new car or felony insurance fraud-related offense. Then probably you are looking at prison time.

Therefore, you need to have a very qualified lawyer to represent your case in those situations. Additionally, a considerable factor that the judge or prosecutor would look at is the level of sophistication comprised with the crime.

In other terms, there are plenty of cases related to this auto insurance fraud where people are intending accidents or burning their cars.

Hence, plenty of times, related to these car insurance crime cases are, for instance, arson and other similar offenses that make sense. They all depend upon what kind of an offense you are discussing and what the likely scheme is.

Penalties For Not Having Evidence Of Insurance

 

Not all drivers might completely understand that in the majority of the states in the U.S., having a manuscript of evidence of insurance details on hand. It is becoming a basic regulation for traffic stops. In the movies, you might just hear officers at traffic signals inquiring about a driver’s registration and license.

Though, in most states, if the police stop you, they will ask for proof of insurance. Also, if you do not have it, it can cause you some heavy punishments.

Here are a few of the outcomes of not having insurance services details on hand, in order of their related severity.

  • The responsibility of the documentation

If you have insurance but you do not keep the insurance details with you, you might think you are safe.  Though, in a traffic signal, you may be required to give insurance papers within 24 hours. If you do not do this, you probably risk some of the punishments uninsured drivers face, beginning with fines and citations. Commonly, drivers can have a printout of insurance papers and get it to a local office or court within the duration.

  • Fines

For a first-time crime when insurance has failed or a person has not found an insurer, the outcome might just be fine. Police will generally connect with state departments. Police do this to be sure that people who own cars agree with a demand to get licensed for lawfully driving a vehicle on the road.

Citations and fees are the initial phases in the efforts by particular states to keep all the drivers insured. One of the main reasons states are upping punishments is that insurance spends so much of casualty costs in many recent state systems. When someone drives uninsured, others should pick up the tag with something named uninsured driver coverage. Also, it should get added to other people’s rewards.

  • Suspended license

When police find a person without insurance. They might work to suspend the license of that person until they can prove that they have found acceptable coverage. With a fine against them, it might be tough to find this coverage. The prime reason for this is insurers may consider that individual a high-risk driver.

  • Arrest

For offenders who repeat it, again and again, police can imprison people that regularly drive without insurance. Besides, not being able to pay for auto insurance is not a valid excuse when the law has made a pattern of this irresponsible behavior. After the charge, the license will commonly be canceled. and the person may encounter more penalties and fines, or even traffic education regulations.

Conclusion

If you are accused of insurance crime, particularly if you are facing felony penalties. You need to consult a criminal security lawyer as soon as possible in your case. A skilled attorney can help you in understanding the rules and regulations of your area. Also, he/she can counsel you on defenses you might raise. Moreover, an attorney must explain your alternatives, and tell you about your rights. If you want to know more about car insurance, get in touch with any good car coverage insurance services.

How A Bankruptcy Law Firm Helps To Manage Debt In CA State

   

If you are someone struggling with your finances, you are not alone. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people were under burdensome debt. Whether it was due to job loss or reduction in earnings, filing bankruptcy is an effective way to get out of the situation. For most people, understanding and filing a bankruptcy case can be daunting. 

Although you can file the case without any professional help, the complexity of the process is overwhelming for most people and they end up making horrific mistakes. Mistakes such as losing non-exempt assets, denial of discharge of a debt, or criminal fraud charges! This is where a bankruptcy law firm in San Diego, CA helps you to manage your debts safely and deal with issues such as sues by Bank of America.

Keep in mind that filing a bankruptcy case in California isn’t very different from other states but the important attributes of state law will be mentioned where necessary. Instead of the state courts, the bankruptcy cases are filed in federal district courts. 

What Is A Bankruptcy Firm?

A bankruptcy firm is a firm of attorneys and law experts that specialize in handling bankruptcy cases. Along with the legal advice, these firms are also responsible for handling the complete legal paperwork. In most cases, they assign an attorney to your case that will assist you until the case ends. There are several popular bankruptcy firms such as Cavalry and LVNV funding to help consumers across the USA.

How Does A Bankruptcy Attorney Help To Manage Your Debts?

You can either hire a bankruptcy attorney that works independently or get in touch with a bankruptcy firm. Whatever the case may be, things will boil down to you working with a specialized bankruptcy attorney. Here is how they can help you.

  1. Asses The Complexity Of Your Case

The first step first, understands the complexity of the case. The professional will take a look at all the facts and figures of the recent situation. In some cases, bankruptcy may not be the right way to achieve financial goodwill. The attorney will help you pass through the bankruptcy alternatives. In other cases, the lawyers will help you decide which type of bankruptcy to file depending upon your recent situation. 

The two major bankruptcies for individuals include chapter 7 & chapter 13 that are serving different goals. Chapter 7 bankruptcy, commonly known as direct liquidation, allows you to discharge all of your obligations without having to engage in a payment schedule. When consumers know they cannot pay the debts, they choose to file for chapter 7. 

Chapter 13, often known as a “wage earner’s plan,” entails repaying creditors over a five-year or 60-month period. Whether your list of creditors includes Bank of America, Discover Bank, or TD bank, the attorney will help you make the right decisions at this stage.

Prepare And File The Paperwork

The attorney not only assists you with sound legal advice but helps with the preparation and filing of the case. They better understand how to use any special circumstances you present and apply the means test. The calculation indicates whether you qualify for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. 

The next important duty is to value your assets realistically. A bankruptcy law firm in California helps the consumers understand and choose between the two separate lists of assets you can exempt. California is one of the few states providing such two lists for its people. The attorney will help you protect assets by using California homestead exemption systems 1 and 2, motor vehicles, household goods, and, wildcard exemption. 

There are a few debts that never leave you. Expect your attorney to tell you about the debts that will survive bankruptcy cases and the ones that won’t.

Once the preparation work is complete, it’s time to fill the length package of forms. Most of the popular established bankruptcy firms or debt buying organizations such as Cavalry SPV use specialized software to complete the required paperwork.

Represent You At All Legal Hearings

Whether you are working with MCM, or Cavalry SPV, a bankruptcy attorney will represent you at all the legal hearings. Bankruptcy attorneys are known for purchasing credit card debt from major banking institutions such as Bank of America and American Express. Starting from the first meeting of the creditors to the final settlement of your case, the attorney represents your case. They also handle the questions with your creditors and prepare you for what a trustee may inquire of you during the meeting.  

Make a Deal With Your Creditors

Your attorney can arrange a reaffirmation agreement or redemption with a secured creditor if you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Negotiations that go well may allow you to keep your home or car. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, your attorney will work with you to negotiate payment terms, collateral value and interest rates to keep your repayment plan within your budget for the next few years.

Secure You In Case Of Automatic Stay Violation

Once your attorney has notified the debt collectors about the bankruptcy filing, they must stop making collection calls. If someone is still attempting to call you for debts, this is termed an automatic stay violation. Your bankruptcy law firm can file a motion in the court to hold the creditor in contempt providing you the much-needed peace of mind.

Help Resolves Post Bankruptcy Charges

Professional bankruptcy attorneys are good at making sure everything goes smoothly during the case. But what if something needs attention after the case has ended? Although there are rare chances of that happening, the attorney will handle it for you.

How To Hire A Bankruptcy Firm?

Know that bankruptcy is a highly specialized area of law and you cannot afford to make any mistakes. As you are hunting for the best bankruptcy law firms in San Diego CA, start by contacting your state’s bar association. It would be great if you hire an attorney who is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) because they better know things. Ask around for the best recommendations before signing any written agreement.