It Is Crucial to Speak to an Attorney Before an Insurance Adjuster

July 17, 2018  |  Adriel B. Villarreal

Insurance adjusters are looking out for the best interest of only one party – their insurance company. If you are involved in an automobile accident that results in property or physical damage, you need to protect yourself and your rights. Whether it’s the at-fault driver’s insurance provider or your own, it is crucial that you speak with an attorney before you speak with any insurance company representative. Don’t Speak Directly With the Insurance Adjuster  You’re going to get calls, probably several, and when you do get those inquires, let someone else speak to them. Because anything that you say to the insurance adjuster can be used against you in court but any statements from your mother/sister/brother cannot! As such, if a property damage adjuster does call you, it is best to have a family member or friend talk to them. Have your proxy relay the name and contact information for the attorney representing you or tell them that your lawyer will be in contact with them within a few days. Keep the conversation as brief as possible, especially with an adjuster from the other side’s insurance company, and use the following guidelines: Do not agree to have the telephone call recorded. It is even a good idea to specifically state that you do…

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EMAIL CONFIDENTIALITY/DISCLAIMERS – use, or don’t use?

July 2, 2018  |  Carole Clark Isakson

We see them every day, that notice at the bottom of an email stating something to the effect that the contents of the email are confidential and that if you have received it in error you should alert the sender immediately and not use the information you have received. The use of confidentiality/disclaimer footers is so common that most of us do not even notice them anymore. They appear below the sender’s signature block and may be emphasized by colored text or capital letters. But regardless of appearance I think we can all agree that few of us actually read them. And even when we do? From a practical standpoint we already read the contents of the email before we get to the disclaimer. One wonders then, is there any point to it? A misdirected email has already been read by the wrong person by the time that person gets to the bottom of the email. So, should your business use a confidentiality footer or not? Does the use of a footer actually protect your information if you send an email to the wrong person? Understandably there are few court cases that address this specific issue, but the themes in the few cases that exist are consistent. A court in Georgia in 2011,…

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Misconceptions About Child Support

July 1, 2018  |  Elizabeth A. Schading

Child support is one of the main issues that can be decided when it comes to divorce. Child support are regular payments that are made by one parent to the other. Despite the concept of child support seemingly being simple to understand, there are misconceptions associated with it that can cause problems when it comes to the divorce. So, let’s take a look at them and clear up questions commonly asked.   Child Support is Optional Many people think that child support is an option after a divorce and not something you have to do if you don’t want to. Well, depending on the ruling in your divorce, if you are ordered to pay child support it can be a criminal offense not to pay. This means you must keep up with your payments or face consequences for it. The amount you pay for child support will be calculated based on your income, as well as insurance costs, childcare costs, and the amount of time the child is in your care. Once set by the court, this is the amount you need to pay; it is not optional.    Child Support is only for Food and Clothing It is often assumed that child support is for the basics that are needed, such as food…

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