Learn How A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

I’ve Just Been Involved In A Vancouver Car Accident, What Now?

Washington State, like all other American states, experience the devastating effects of car accidents. In fact, car accidents continue to be the deadliest accident of them all, car accidents cause the most deaths and severe injury annually than any other accident type. In 2005 alone, about 2 million people were injured from car accidents, while about 40 thousand died in 2006 as a result of a car accident, the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration reveals. It is believed the leading cause of car accidents is negligence; people who speed, talk and drive or text and drive, eat, or are under the influence while driving are considered negligible drivers. Negligence isn’t the sole cause of car accidents; other reasons include: weather conditions, construction, car malfunctions, animal interference, or road conditions that could potentially be the cause of a car accident. Being involved in a severe car accident can be one of the most if not the most difficult times of your life; it’s important you know what to do after you’ve been in a car accident.

Seek Medical Assistance

The first course of action would be to seek medical attention immediately after a car crash; regardless if there are not apparent afflictions on your body, it’s better to be safe than sorry, plus if you need medical treatment it supports your case if you plan on pursuing legal action. If you delay medical treatment, attempting to file a claim to earn compensation will be a lot harder and could be dismissed entirely.

Gather Any Documents For Evidence

If you do not to be immediately transported to a hospital, gather any evidence such as receipts, referrals, photos, and insurance information from the other party. Photos are especially helpful in supporting your case.

Do Not Admit Fault

Undoubtedly, the hugest mistake a car accident victim can make is to apologize for the crash at the scene or admit fault to an insurance company. If you do this, your case is practically ruined. Instead of admitting fault, simply gather personal and insurance information, take photos, and submit a police report.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

Tackling Washington’s complex legal system can be a daunting task, thankfully, individuals have given their lives to the study and practice of personal injury law and are here to help you get back on your feet. Vancouver car accident attorneys from CCRS Law can help you obtain potential legal compensation for your car accident injuries and help you put the pieces of your life back together. If you or a loved one have been in an accident, contact Posner Law today to learn whether you should pursue legal action, visit their website today to schedule your free consultation.

How New Tiny Homes Are Affecting Communities and Environment

Today, more and more people are choosing to live in green homes as they become aware of their environmental footprint. Green homes are houses that are both sustainable and environmentally friendly. People can be very efficient in their use of resources while still living comfortably and affordably.

Green home building companies have massively supported this new approach to active living. They often not only spearhead the building project from start to finish, but also provide people with additional green alternatives such as cleaning supplies and compostables, or services to help support businesses and program events. Together with those they serve, an entire community is forming from which others can learn and benefit, and their impact so far is prompting people across the nation to jump on the bandwagon.

Some of the most recent developments in an eco-friendly home building that people are now bringing into their homes include tankless water heaters, paints that emit fewer volatile organic compounds, porous driveways, and low-flow faucets and shower heads. A much bigger step people are taking is opting for the Tiny Home.

Tiny Homes are just that – creative and efficient living spaces of around 100 to 400 square feet. Put in perspective; the average American home is roughly 2,600 square feet. Living smaller does not only result in lower environmental impact. It also makes a living a much simpler experience. People find that the sound financial plans, an adventurous lifestyle, self-sufficiency, and overall life simplification are increasingly attractive aspects of Tiny Homes, at least compared to the purchase, remodeling, and constant maintenance of a house.

Although people lose space, they gain more financial freedom and also find general improvement in their connections with family, friends, and nature. Interestingly enough, as more people feel compelled to live smaller, the Tiny House Movement is emerging, helping other people learn about living in an entirely different way.
As more people reach out to their local green home building company, the community continues to expand. The future of eco-friendly lifestyles are becoming today’s reality as Tiny Homes and green homes alike continue to take root. While some people may only turn off the lights for the sake of lowering their energy bill, others are changing their entire mindset and come to reap the benefits of closer communities and healthier environments.

Three Solid Reasons to Start Social Security at Age 65

The earliest a person can begin drawing Social Security is at the age of 62. A person will face a deduction in benefits when he or she takes Social Security at that earlier point in time. The age at which Americans can draw full Social Security benefits is 66 or 67 depending on when an individual was born.

Recent news reports maintain that 65 is the right age for a person to begin drawing Social Security benefits. These media stories put forth three reasons why 65 is an ideal age to start receiving Social Security benefits.

Full Retirement Age is Not Far Off

A primary reason why drawing Social Security at age 65 is a safer bet than at an earlier age. Because 65 is only one to two years from full retirement age, the amount of benefit deduction will not be as significant as when a person takes advantage at the earliest possible age, which is 62. In other words, the trade-off between beginning benefits a year or two more initial offsets the downside of facing a lifetime reduction in money paid to a person through the program.

Medicare Eligibility Commences at 65

Another prime reason why beginning to draw Social Security benefits at age 65 is Medicare starts at the same time. Although not perfect, Medicare does provide decent healthcare coverage for Americans over the age of 65.

The combination of commencing Medicare coverage and Social Security benefits at 65 can make financial sense for many people. Although there will be a bit of a reduction in Social Security benefits when they are commenced at 65, a person can at least rest assured that he or she will have decent health care coverage through the Medicare program.

Still Young Enough to Enjoy Life

Retiring at 65 is at a point in life at which an individual can still actually enjoy life. A person retiring at the age of 65 is at a juncture at which he or she can engage in a variety of activities that may not be possible as a person ages.

Consult a Financial Adviser

As part of the process of determining when a person should begin to draw Social Security benefits, an individual should seriously consider consulting a financial adviser or a retirement planning professional located near a Social Security Office. This type of assistance can prove to be an invaluable resource to a person making retirement decisions, including when to start drawing Social Security benefits.

Information on Personal Injury Laws in Calfornia

If you have been involved in an accident and sustained injuries, you should make a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. The laws on filing personal injury suits vary depending on the state you reside. The following are some of the fundamental laws on claims of personal injury in California.

Requirements for Damages

Under California law, to recover damages for an injury, you should prove that:

  • The at-fault party was negligent
  • The negligence of the at-fault party was the cause of your injuries

Statutory Limitations

Every state has a set limit of time within which you are supposed to make a claim in case of an accident. According to the California Code of Civil Procedures, a personal injury claim must be made two years from the date of the accident. Failure to make a claim within the two-year period relinquishes your entitlement to damages in the future. In claims against a government agency, county, or city, you are required to make a claim within six months from the date of the incident.

Shared Fault

In a personal injury accident in which you are partly responsible, you stand to get a reduced award for damages. In shared fault cases, California applies the “pure comparative negligence” rule. The amount of compensation you will receive in a case of shared fault is equal to your percentage of blame for the incident. For example, if you are involved in a traffic accident in which the at-fault party ran a stop sign, but you were also driving above the speed limit, you are likely to share 10 percent of the liability for the accident while the at-fault party is allocated 90 percent.

Limits on Injury Damages

California law has some restrictions on the damages that you can recover in personal injury lawsuits.

Under California law, uninsured drivers cannot recover non-economic damages after an auto accident even if the other driver is ultimately liable for the accident. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, physical impairment, and disfigurement. The exception to this rule is when an uninsured driver is involved in an accident with a driver who was driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act also places a cap on non-economic damages in cases of medical malpractice. According to this Act, you cannot recover more than $250,000 worth of damages for medical malpractice.

Understanding DUI Laws in Virginia

The State of Virginia, along with city and county law enforcement, has a very aggressive attitude regarding the implementation of the DUI laws. In fact, Virginia has some of the nation’s harshest sentences for a DUI conviction. According to the Code of Virginia Section 18.2-266:

  • It is illegal for you to operate any motor vehicle if you have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or greater.
  • You are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle “..while … under the influence of any narcotic drug or any other self-administered intoxicant or drug…” defined as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration, including medication that has been legally prescribed to you.
  • Your first conviction on a DUI charge can result in a fine of between $250 to $300, license suspension or restriction for one year, mandatory participation in an anti-driving while impaired program, and installation an ignition interlock device.
  • A second DUI conviction could lead to from one month to one year in jail if the second conviction occurred less than five years from the first offense. A minimum of 10 days in jail is imposed if the conviction occurred within five to 10 years from the first. There are also the usual license restrictions/revocation and ignition interlock provisions.
  • Penalties for a third DUI conviction get progressively worse, and you can expect to serve up to one year in jail and have your license revoked or restricted.

Additionally, there are special provisions in the DUI laws for BACs in those under the age of 21 and commercial drivers (0.04), refusing to take a chemical alcohol or drug test, and open containers. There can also be additional penalties if you are arrested for DUI and you have a passenger under the age of 17 in your vehicle or if you are convicted of DUI in Virginia and you are under the legal drinking age of 21. Also, if you are involved in an accident resulting in a fatality, you can be charged with a felony and face at least a year in jail.

Clearly, the laws of Virginia can be very confusing, and an arrest on the charge of violating the Virginia DUI laws can lead to a host of unpleasant consequences. It is, therefore, important that you obtain representation by an attorney with experience in handling DUI cases in the Virginia courts as soon as it is possible after your arrest.

A DUI attorney will review the circumstances of your arrest to make sure that you were not illegally detained and that every subsequent stage of your arrest was conducted in strict accordance with established principles of law.

Remember that the fundamental principles of our legal system state that anyone who is arrested on any criminal charge is assumed to be innocent until proven otherwise and that everyone is entitled to a fair and impartial trial.

To protect your legal rights after a DUI arrest, you should contact an experienced attorney to handle your case.

Do You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer?

Many people wonder if they need a personal injury lawyer after being involved in an accident.  The answer really depends on the severity and circumstances of the accident.

If the accident caused injuries it is always a good idea to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to ensure you fully understand any legal issues that may need to be considered.

It’s also important to remember that some injuries may not be immediately noticeable right after an accident.  Even if you do not immediately feel as though you were injured, it is a good idea to see a doctor for an examination, just to make sure.

Personal injury laws are complex and an experienced injury accident lawyer will be able to ensure your legal rights are protected.

A good personal injury lawyer can help handle all aspects of the aftermath of a serious accident.  Below are a few things they will be able to help you with after an accident:

  • First and foremost they will be able to advise what your legal rights are and if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.
  • Most personal injury lawyers will be able to investigate the accident and determine exactly who or what caused the accident and what parties may be responsible.
  • They will be able to help arrange medical treatment and negotiate with medical facilities regarding charges.
  • Injury lawyers will negotiate with all insurance companies involved and will ensure your legal rights and well-being are protected.
  • If a fair and just settlement can not be reached out of court, a good injury attorney will prepare your case and take it to trial in an effort to ensure you are compensated according to current personal injury laws.

There are numerous other aspects of a personal injury case that a good injury lawyer will help with, but the bottom line is that you should definitely consult with a qualified injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.

Below are a few online resources that can help you understand personal injury laws, lawsuits and how to find a local personal injury lawyer:

Fatal Accident In Vancouver, WA

 

A Vancouver, WA man was killed when a BNSF Railway train smashed into his vehicle near Southeast Evergreen Highway around 9 p.m.

Police stated the man was 54 years old and a Vancouver area resident and multiple blunt force traumas were the cause of death.

It is unclear why the vehicle was on the train tracks causing the collision with the oncoming train.

This story was first reported in the Columbian.

Woman And Her Two Babies Survive Anaheim T-Bone Collision

A girl was rushed to a local hospital along with a newborn baby and a toddler after a vehicle struck the female’s car after running a red light at Euclid Street and Ball road this Thursday, according to police authorities.

Sgt. Daron Wyatt, the Anaheim police and fire department spokesman, announced that a black Honda Accord flew through the intersection at about 11 Thursday morning, and collided with the woman’s white Toyota Solara and an additional silver Honda Accord.

According to Sgt. Wyatt, the woman that was driving the white Solara sustained minor injuries but was required to be brought to a hospital as a trauma patient due to collision mechanics. He assured the children were not injured. The person driving the silver Accord also suffered minor injuries but was not transported to a hospital, he explained.

The man driving the black Honda Accord lost consciousness along with his female passenger. The cause of the incident is still being investigated, however, police are not convinced drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision. All the injuries victims received are considered non-life-threatening.

Have you suffered either emotional, physical, or financial hardship as a result of someone else’s negligent driving? You may be entitled to earn legal compensation with the help of an experienced Orange County car accident attorney. We are able to assist you in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and more. Time is crucial, you cannot wait. California’s statute of limitation states that you have up to two years since the date of the accident to file a claim against another person, this window is significantly reduced to six months if you plan on pursuing legal action against the state or other government entity.

Guldjian & Fasel Law has successfully represented clients from Orange County for years.   Learn more about  Anaheim accidents and to schedule your free first-time legal consultation to sit with a professional legal representative who will determine whether your case can be successfully presented in a California court of law. Do not hesitate, you owe it to yourself to have someone fighting relentlessly for your rights.