How to Shield Yourself from Common Personal Injury Suits
April 28, 2016 | Adriel B. VillarrealIf you are in a car accident and feel you may be at fault, you may find yourself facing a personal injury lawsuit. What can you do to shield yourself from common personal injury suits and protect your financial interests? Here are some steps to take to protect you from legal repercussions in the wake of an accident. Exchange Information Immediately– When you are in a car accident, the first thing you should do is stop and exchange insurance and license information with the other driver or drivers. It is a criminal offense in every state to leave the scene of an accident, and can be used against you in a civil case as evidence of negligence. Never admit fault– Do not admit liability and try not to apologize for the accident, as this can be seen as claiming responsibility. Just ask if everyone is OK and don’t try to explain what happened. Take pictures– Regardless of who is at fault, you should take pictures of the accident scene and vehicle damage. Take close-up pictures and long range pictures, as well as photos of any skid marks, stop signs or traffic lights. If you believe road conditions or partially-obscured signs or traffic signals may have taken part in causing the accident, take photos…
Read More5 Things to Look For in a Personal Injury Lawyer
April 18, 2016 | Adriel B. VillarrealIf you have been injured in an accident, or if someone is suing you for personal injury, choosing the right attorney to represent you is one of the most important decisions you can make. Here are some important things to consider when choosing your personal injury lawyer: Experience– Not only should you look for an attorney who has been practicing law for many years, but you should also make sure her area of expertise includes personal injury lawsuits. Even a good lawyer won’t be of much help if their practice focuses mainly on business law or drafting wills. Ethics– If a potential attorney wishes to charge you for an initial consultation to discuss whether he would take your case, he may not be an ethical lawyer. Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations so you don’t have to come out of pocket before signing the retainer agreement. Trust– Your personal injury attorney should be someone you feel is trustworthy, who will be dedicated to your best interests during the course of the case. A personal injury lawyer in a large firm may try to pass your case off to a junior attorney or fellow associate after you have established a rapport. Make sure your attorney will have sole responsibility for your case,…
Read MoreLegal Separation vs. Informal Separation in Minnesota
April 13, 2016 | Elizabeth A. SchadingInformal separations happen when one spouse simply moves out of the home. As covered in a previous post, this can give the other spouse significant advantages if a divorce occurs down the road. If a divorce is later decided upon as the way to proceed, the person who had remained in the home may have more rights to maintain ownership as well as more access to the items within the home. The person who moved out may find him/herself at a disadvantage if the relationship has now dissolved past the point of being able to negotiate openly and fairly. However, sometimes informal separations are a cooling off period and the couple may decide to remain together. Every couple’s situation is different. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] Legal separation is uniquely different from Informal Separation because it actually goes through the court system. It does not dissolve the marriage, but it still allows the courts to outline the rights and responsibilities of each party during the separation period. Many of the same issues are covered by a legal separation in Minnesota as by a divorce. You may divide up property and debts, decide who maintains possession of the house or cars, and get clarity on who sees the children and when. However, you and your spouse…
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