When you have a trial by jury, you face a jury of your peers. This selected group of individuals will sit, listen to the story, the facts, and the evidence presented, and will finally render their decision. And the decision they make as a group will dictate the future course of your life. This means that your life, in no uncertain terms, depends on the decision that jury makes.
Not a day goes by that a client doesn’t ask me what is going to happen in a deposition. I give my clients the simple truth about the nature of a deposition: it is a glorified question and answer session. Unlike the violent, outburst-filled depositions you may have seen on TV, most real-life depositions are pleasant, non-combative exchanges of information between opposing parties in a legal case. But whether your case is one of personal injury or criminal defense, you need to have the right lawyer to defend you. There are things that can happen in a deposition which could create serious problems for your case in the long run.
After a car accident, there are so many things you have to take care of—talking to the police, exchanging insurance information, talking to witnesses, and taking pictures of the scene all while trying to figure out if you’re hurt and planning your trip to the hospital. Even when you complete all of that, you’re likely thinking about your next steps and what you need to do.
Car accidents happen every day. You might not have been involved in the traumatic experience, but your friend or family member was. When someone close to you has been in a car crash and suffered injuries and other damages, you’re likely wondering what you can do for them to be supportive.
The good news is that your desire to be helpful and supportive will likely mean more to your hurt family member than your actions. But your actions will also make their healing easier and let them know they have people behind them rooting for their recovery.
If your insurance company acts in bad faith—uses tactics to avoid fulfilling their contractual obligations—it’s probably time to consider finding an insurance bad faith attorney you can trust to handle your case. Insurance companies hold a reputation for having deep pockets and no qualms about stacking the cards when it comes to business practices. Unfortunately, that reputation is often proved accurate. But those who know their rights also understand the importance of protecting them—and what to look for to know if your insurance company is trying to take advantage of you.
As we discuss these common tactics, keep in mind that not every insurance company or adjuster (someone hired to review and make assessments on accident claims) is out to cheat you out of the compensation you deserve. That’s why it’s important to be aware of these underhanded maneuvers—to help you separate honest companies and adjusters from dishonest ones.
She has joined Palo Alto University’s Clinical Psychology Program to obtain her PhD.
The first step in criminal proceedings is called the arraignment. This is when you are brought in front of the court to hear the charges against you and enter a plea. As a defendant who has been falsely charged with a crime, this is your first chance to state your innocence in front of a judge. There are different procedures that happen depending on whether you are in state court or federal court, but once you have completed this first step, the real work of defending your case begins.
There is one big question criminal lawyers hear again and again from clients who have been arrested: Should I talk to the police? If you interviewed every respectable criminal defense attorney in the United States, you would likely hear the same answer from all of them: No, and absolutely not alone. No matter what you may believe or have heard to the contrary, it is never wise to talk to the police before speaking with your attorney.
When your loved one gets into an accident, they might suffer from serious injuries. If those injuries are severe enough, or if the accident was catastrophic, they could end up passing away from their physical damages. As their surviving family member who is burdened by the costs associated with their death, you might be wondering if this qualifies as a wrongful death.
You should know whether or not what happened to your loved one qualifies as a wrongful death so that you can decide if you’re able to file a claim against the party responsible for their untimely passing. Let’s take a look at the requirements for a wrongful death claim.
As a car accident lawyer in Biloxi, one of the most common questions I hear on a regular basis is: “Should I give an insurance adjuster a recorded statement?” People who have been involved in an auto collision often have so many other important issues to deal with that taking the time to research effective ways to handle insurance adjusters is just impractical and sometimes impossible. Clients who have questions about giving statements to insurance companies are usually dealing simultaneously with contacting car rental companies, fixing their vehicles, asking for time off work, and coping with painful injuries. This question can apply to other types of insurance as well, but the issue most frequently arises in car accident cases.
