Friday, June 29, 2007

Should I Hire a DUI lawyer?

The main reason anyone would ask that question is because they have been charged with some form of DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated). If this sounds like you or someone you know you need to hire a lawyer as quickly as possible.

There are several reason why you need a qualified DUI lawyer working hard for you. Primarily they will know your legal rights in regard to the specific charge against you. Thus, they will be able to help prevent you from self-incriminating yourself or any other mistakes you are likely to make.

Moreover, if the charge is a serious one, which hopefully it is not, they will know how to defend you in court. You need the experience of a good DUI lawyer because they understand how to talk to judges, juries and the prosecution. And once again they will know the law far more throughly than you will, given their years of legal experience.

Probably the most common argument against hiring a DUI lawyer is that they are expensive. Well this is a valid point any good DUI attorney is going to be expensive, but that is because of the value they provide. For example, how much would you pay to avoid going to jail even for a few months. For many people the cost of the DUI lawyer when compared to the potential fines and/or jail time of not; find that hiring one is a good investment on their part.

There are however some common misconceptions about what a skilled DUI lawyer can and cannot do. Most importantly they are not miracle workers. If you have driven drunk and killed someone there is no way that you are going to get away with only a fine. People often see shows such as Law and Order and think that lawyers can get people out any situation.

The truth is that if you are guilty of killing or seriously injuring some one while DUI you will face jail time. However, even in these cases it makes sense to hire a good DUI lawyer because they may be able to get your sentence reduced somewhat, especially if you plead guilty.

The situation where DUI lawyers work best though is for first time offenders. They can ensure that the fines and/or jail time will be as minimal as possible. Think of them as your get out of jail free card, that you can only use once. The more serious the DUI offense or the more DUI convictions you have the less leeway a DUI lawyer will have with your case.

Thus, if you have been charged with a DUI or DWI you need a lawyer on your case. Just remember that they are not miracle workers. They have to work with the particularities of your case and history. In the end though you will be glad you did. Better yet, don't drink and drive in the first place and you will never have to ask this question again.

Monday, June 25, 2007

DUI Defense

DUI (Driving under the influence) or DWI (Driving while intoxicated) is regarded as the most serious misdemeanor offense. In many cases, repeat offenders are considered felons. Worst case scenario, the offense can be marked and will forever go on your record, whereby you will suffer socially and financially.

A number of people charged with this offense are not always guilty. Scholarly research shows that most of the sobriety tests performed are inconclusive. In many cases, chemical tests, breath analyzers (Intoxilyzer 5000), or infrared breath machines are not considered valid. Many of the field sobriety tests performed to judge whether the driver's motor skills are impaired are considered faulty, as they are not performed uniformly and in many cases the police officers improperly guide and instruct the person. In the hands of an adept criminal lawyer or a DUI lawyer who can argue the credibility of the tests, you can avoid the damages that DUI charges may bring. DUI Lawyers can also obtain a pre-trial ruling through which the sobriety tests can be excluded from being produced as evidence on the grounds of lack of a adequate scientific analysis.

Effects of DUI charges:

  • Guaranteed suspension of driver license and driving privileges. In some cases, if you hold driver licenses in more than one state, you can lose both. Suspension can last anywhere from 90 days to 5 years.

  • Your vehicle can be sent for impounding.

  • Probation.

  • Time doing Community Service.

  • Heavy fines.

  • Mandatory counseling.

  • Incarceration (even for first timers).

  • House arrest.

  • And in most cases, time in prison.
  • Most of the proficient and experienced DUI attorneys and Criminal Defense Attorney's will tell you that the majority of people charged with DUI/DWI are not irrational juveniles, but average, law-abiding citizens who were slapped with heavy fines and charges after just two glasses of wine. As laws get tougher, equally tough are the criminal lawyers who can tackle most of the charges. Do not go to an average lawyer who might naively expose you to more liabilities. DUI/DWI offenses are ugly, and if not handled correctly, the charges can accumulate.

    If you are wrongly charged, by law you have no reason to be facing charges. So remember the law is on your side. Hire an excellent criminal lawyer with whom you can go through all of the details of the trial. Discuss with them the reason for the charges, and all possible allegations and charges that the opposing counsel might throw at you. Also try to find outstanding character witnesses who will stand by you. Therefore, it is important to hire a knowledgeable DUI lawyer who will guide you in the preparation for the trial and make you aware of all the penalties you may face.

    Wednesday, June 20, 2007

    Is It Worth It To Invest In A Radar Detector? What Is A Laser Detector? What Is A VG-2 Device?

    As many of you know a radar detector allows a driver to know that the police is nearby. It operates on wave bands or frequencies. There are primarily three bands: X, K, and Ka. X operates on 10.525 GHZ. K is a little higher at 24.150 GHZ. And the highest Ka, at 33.400- 36.00 GHZ. Why the three bands? An electronic war between the police and radar producers!

    When X band came out, use by the police, radar companies produced X band detectors. The police then went with a higher frequency device, namely K band. The war went on until the police finally ' up the ante ' by going laser. The laser focuses a narrow light beam. Actually the correct term for laser is Lidar, which stands for light detection and ranging.

    The question is, "is it worth it"? Only if you purchase a detector that has both radar and laser capabilities. They tend to be much more expensive than standard radar detectors. They are worth it though! If you avoided a ticket the unit pays for itself. And with high insurance rates on the rise, well you understand.

    What's a VG-2? It's a detector used by the police to detect your radar detector. Why? Some states have banned radar detectors. They don't want you to know that they are lurking. Read on!

    Here's the truth. Those states that ban radar detectors are actually violating federal law! If you ever receive a ticket for having a radar detector, fight it in court. There is a little known law, obviously unknown to many states or ignored by states that give you the right to own a detector. The Law: The communications act of 1934. It guarantees any citizen the right to receive radio tranmission on any frequency!

    If you are driving through a state that doesn't allow it, simple purchase a detector that's capable of detecting a VG-2 unit nearby. YES, the radar companies have did it again ! There are now detectors that can detect ALL bands, including laser and VG-2. After your detector warns you of a VG-2 device nearby, simply take your detector off the dashboard.

    I'm not suggesting to anyone to break any speeding laws. I'm just simply advising any driver about the dynamics of radar and laser technology.

    Drive safe, obey all laws,

    Tuesday, June 12, 2007

    Frequently Asked Questions About An Asbestos Law Suit

    Asbestos litigation is one of the longest-running and most expensive mass torts in the history of the United States. For those who do not know the term, "mass tort" refers to a class-action lawsuit. This means that a mass tort is a lawsuit which involves a group of people instead of just one individual.

    Currently, asbestos litigations involve more than 600,000 people suing more than 6,000 claimants. If you are one of the people who think that a company has put your life in danger and who wishes to gain justice by bringing that company to the court, then there might be a few questions you want answered. Here is a list of the Frequently Asked Questions by people regarding Asbestos law suits:

    How soon after I am exposed to asbestos should I file a law suit?

    Many people are frequently unsure regarding whether or not the time is right to file an asbestos law suit. This may be because they are yet unsure regarding whether or not they will be able to claim damages. One of the best pieces of advice that people can give you would be to consult a doctor first. This is because exposure alone to asbestos cannot serve as grounds for litigation. You need to show that your health has been adversely affected by exposure to asbestos before you can start a law suit. An asbestos law suit should definitely have a strong base if it is to go far. You need to remember that some asbestos-related illnesses can be hard to diagnose. This means that you need to be very sure before you attempt to file an asbestos law suit.

    If you have been exposed to asbestos but have not yet developed symptoms, then you should definitely try to monitor your health very carefully. Some asbestos-caused illnesses like mesothelioma actually only show about 20-50 years after the person has been exposed to the substance. Watch for any telltale signs of illnesses and then contact a doctor right away. This is because some states have a statute of limitations which prevents people from suing a company when a certain time period has passed after they learn about the disease.

    What is a contingency fee?

    If you plan to go ahead with an asbestos law suit, then you may be thinking hard about how to pay for it. Most firms actually understand how hard it must be to face the disaster caused by asbestos in your life and they do not want to further add to your burden by charging you for every hour of their advice. In fact, most firms today accept payment in the form of contingency fees.

    What exactly are these fees? Well, a contingency fee is a fee that the law firm collects only after the case is finished. A contingency fee is actually based on the amount of damages that you will be receiving as this is often stipulated in contract as being a percentage of the total proceeds of the case.

    You have to be careful when agreeing to contingency fees. Some firms take the contingency fees out of the gross proceeds of the case. That is, they take the agreed upon percentage out of the total amount and then subtract the legal fees from your share. This means you will only keep a very small percentage of your cash. Try to look for a firm which deducts the fees from the net proceeds. By doing this, they will bear an equivalent share of the legal fees that you have incurred during the case. If you wish to know the percentage which you might have to part with as a contingency fee, most firms actually charge 1/3 or 33.33 percent.

    How much money do litigants get?

    This question cannot really be answered without enough information regarding your case. The amount of cash which a company will be willing to part with in your case depends on the particulars of the case. Some people can be hurt because of the fact that the damages that a person receives in an asbestos law suit often depends on how important his or her case is in the light of other people's complaints. This is because to every person, especially those whose lives have been shattered because of their exposure to asbestos, their case is the biggest one.

    What is the first step in filing an asbestos law suit?

    Always consult a lawyer first. The lawyer will be able to help you by handling all of the details which you may need to complete in order to get on with the asbestos law suit. When you consult a lawyer, you would then be required to cooperate in the information-gathering process. That is, you would be required to disclose any information which is possibly relevant to the case. There are steps following these, but the two described above ought to get you started in an asbestos lawsuit.

    Monday, June 11, 2007

    Ways To Effectively Sue Your Lawyer

    Being a responsible citizen, it is not only your right to ask for justice but also your duty to punish people who are involved in legal malpractices.

    Here are some tips that will help you to effectively sue your lawyer:

    • Make sure you have kept immaculate records of your case, contract with him, all your meetings with him, phone calls, etc.

    • It is essential to give strong evidence to prove beyond doubt the amount spent as legal fees and other related expenses.

    • When you decide to sue your lawyer, bear in mind that you should have all the documents that are needed to establish clearly that the lawyer did not act properly. That is, dereliction of duty must be established well.

    • Breach of duty and negligence should be proven.

    • A proof that shows that the lawyer's lack of interest and misrepresentation caused you heavy financial loss should be kept ready.

    • Also, ensure that you have the required documentation to show how the case proceeded and where the lawyer slipped.

    • Also, maintain a record of unreturned calls, cancelled meetings, and non-appearance at hearings.

    • Also, try to prove that your case held no commitment or interest for the lawyer.

    • If your lawyer did not personally take care of the case and had handed it over to an assistant or junior, prove the same in court to sue him.

    • As suing a lawyer is quite expensive, it is always better to take a second opinion from a lawyer who is unknown to your lawyer and unrelated to the case that you are fighting.

    All the pros and cons should be weighed before you take a final decision.

    Thursday, June 7, 2007

    Protect Yourself with Background Reports

    With crime, fraud, and scams on the rise, many concerned people are looking for ways that they can use to protect themselves. It can be a horrible feeling, not knowing if you can trust your employee, your tenant, your babysitter, or even your doctor. Believe it or not, there are actually some ways that you can utilize to start protecting yourself. Background reports are an excellent way to take a look at a person and their past in order to find out if they can truly be trusted or not. If you are ready to start protecting yourself and your family, you need to start using background reports in your life.

    Protection for Employers


    Employee background checks are a great way to protect yourself as an employer. More and more employers are beginning to use these employment background checks before hiring staff to prevent a variety of bad situations. Schools often use these for their teachers, to ensure that the teacher has no problems in their past that would disqualify them from being a teacher and put the children in danger. Many companies use these background checks in order to avoid lawsuits by firing someone later if a problem is discovered. Usually employers run both criminal background checks and credit background checks as well for the optimum protection for their company.

    Protection for Landlords


    If you are a landlord you may also want to think about using background reports to protect yourself as well. Many landlords end up dealing with loss of money and destruction of property by renting out to the wrong people. Having tenant background checks done can help to prevent some of these problems. When you are considering various tenants, you will want to make sure that you rent your properties to someone who is going to pay the rent, and pay it on time. You may want to run credit background checks on your prospective tenants to find out if there are any credit or payment problems in their past. You may also want to check into their criminal history as well, especially if you are renting the property in an area that has many children around. It is important that you keep yourself and your other tenants safe, and background reports can definitely help.

    Protection for Your Children


    Protecting your children is of the utmost importance, and with so many bad stories about abusive nannies and babysitters, you may be a bit wary of hiring someone to take care of your children. There is actually a way that you can check into a child-care provider's past, and that is by getting background checks done on the applicants before you hire someone. Be sure to do criminal background checks so you can feel comfortable leaving your child with the person your hire. Many children could have been saved some trauma if their parents would have used the protective measure of running some background reports before hiring a nanny or babysitter.

    Protection for Your Health


    It is also very important that you protect your health, and with recent scams involved supposed doctors who should never have even been practicing, just choosing a doctor for you or your family can be a bit scary. You can help to protect your health by running background checks on doctors before you make that important decision. The great thing is that you can actually run these checks online, so they are quite easy and affordable for you to have done. Now when you go to your doctor, you can go with confidence that your health is truly in good hands.

    Background reports are a great way to start protecting your business, your family, your health, and even your property. While in the past it was a bit more difficult to have background checks done, now there are online background checks that you can do from the comfort of your own home. Most are reasonably priced, and you can quickly find out the important information you need to know. In today's world, protecting yourself is important, so be sure that you use background reports to keep you and your family safe.

    Monday, June 4, 2007

    Defending Yourself Against Criminal Time - Defense Attorneys

    Attorneys are one of the more respected careers and the one that is hated the most. It may depend on which side of the court you are. Your attorney can be the link between having a clear reputation or one that is stained forever. A criminal defense attorney, is not excused from, this type of problem or situation.

    A criminal defense attorney will stand up for those who have been accused of wrongdoing. The type of crimes differs in nature and the level they are committed. Someone who has been charged with a drug crime may have been involved in selling, buying, or simple possession of the illegal drugs. A defendant who has been charged with a crime of violence that caused injury or death of another person may have done this on purpose. Being violent to women and children, prejudice, or murder for any reason is involved in this type of crime. Other crimes a criminal defense attorney deals with are sexual abuse, sexual assault, lewd acts, and robbery. Each of these has sub categories and varying degrees of offenses under it and each with its own set of laws.

    The criminal defense attorney may use all the tricks in showing the evidence, juggling with point after point, and giving oral pieces to change the minds of the jury and the audience sitting in on the trial. It does not matter if you accused because you are guilty or just falsely accused; the attorney is there to do what is necessary to make you look innocent. If the accused is found to be guilty without any hope of change, the defense attorney is there to make sure you get the lesser amount of time for the crime. This is great for anyone who is facing death row because it is possible to bring it down to life in prison.

    A criminal defense

    attorney does not only give the client a face in court and defend them to a not guilty plea but they can act as a counselor also. The attorney will give the client their rights and the possible amount of money, physical, or emotional effects the case will have. Anyone convicted of a crime will have a criminal lawyer on their side to find a way to get them free from legal obligations to the level of not having anything on their record at all. This is dependent on the case and will be different with each state. The defense attorney can help you petition the court for appeals, retrials, and habeas procedures to a larger court. All of which, if not done correctly, can get you into more trouble, or out of the trouble you are in.

    The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is a group that is holding the responsibility of moving ahead with the important things that criminal attorneys need to be successful in America. Its dream is to provide a fair trial to any person blamed of committing a crime.

    Friday, June 1, 2007

    Finding The Right Divorce Lawyer For You

    When you married you thought you can not get Better partner than him or her. A few days, months or years later you realized, you can not have Bitter partner than him or her. You are one the verge of breaking marriage and living together now seems to be a nightmare. Actually it's the time when you are looking for a divorce lawyer. You have never been in such a situation and have no idea about whom to go, where to go and what to do?

    With reference or personal contact, you came across a rich and famous attorney. He assured to help you in getting divorce from your present spouse. WAIT! Before hiring him for the service ask him about the fee which he is going to charge for the service he/she is about to offer. Can you afford the fees? If yes go ahead or look for cheaper options.

    There are 1000s of legal firm in United States. Do not hire any one without checking others. The experience and knowledge of attorney is definitely the first and foremost thing to be considered but there is no dearth of qualified divorce attorney in United States. And to your advantage this attorney can offer you divorce help from counseling to court room service in less than a dollar per day.

    You are already tensed because of your estranged married life. Do not take any extra burden as that will steal your mind peace. Work with a lawyer who is experienced enough to turn the case in your favor and at the same time does not pinch your pocket.

    Finding the best divorce lawyer through Internet can be one of the practical solutions for your problem. Use your internet and find the best divorce lawyer in your area. Save time, money and above all remain free of financial burden.

    Child support and child custody are some of the most critical issues in most of the divorce decrees. An experienced divorce lawyer can help you settle all these issues with ease. Get the best help at least price by spending just a little time over internet.