Being charged with driving under the influence, commonly known as a DUI, can have serious consequences. DUIs are not just limited to alcohol—being under the influence of drugs can also lead to being charged with a DUI. Neither is a DUI limited to driving a car. A DUI charge can also be brought against an inebriated person who is operating any motorized vehicle or vehicle with a drivetrain. This includes bicycles, lawnmowers, all-terrain vehicles, boats, and even tractors. Exactly what constitutes being under the influence can vary from state to state, although the usual measure is having a blood alcohol content over 0.08. For substances other than alcohol, it isn’t nearly so clear-cut. Some states have specified limits for the presence of drugs in one’s system, while others simply have a zero-tolerance policy.

 

The chain of events leading to a DUI conviction typically begins when a law enforcement officer observes that an individual is driving erratically. He or she will then initiate a traffic stop to determine if the driver is under the influence. The law enforcement officer may ask the driver to perform a field sobriety test such as standing on one foot and touching their nose with their eyes shut. The driver may also be asked to take a Breathalyzer test. Refusing a Breathalyzer test has its own serious consequences. This can result in having one’s driver’s license revoked from three months to a full year!

 

If an individual is indeed found to be under the influence, they will be arrested for a DUI. A DUI charge can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances. Takajian & Sitkoff can help. A misdemeanor DUI is typically for a first-time offender. A felony DUI is for those who have a history of driving under the influence, or those who have caused injury to others while driving under the influence. It’s also a felony to drive under the influence with a minor child in the vehicle.

 

A misdemeanor DUI conviction can result in a jail sentence from a few days to six months. For those convicted of a felony DUI, they may face a much more severe sentence of several years in jail. Convictions for both misdemeanor DUIs and felony DUIs can additionally result in fines and probation. Fines for either DUI conviction are fairly straightforward, generally ranging from $500 to $2,000. Probation can be a bit more complex, depending on the circumstances of the incident.

 

Probation can take the form of house arrest, community service, mandatory driving education, and mandatory substance abuse counseling. Community service often involves performing manual labor. Mandatory education and counseling can be quite expensive. Beyond these standard consequences of a DUI conviction, individuals may also find that they will have higher car insurance rates or become ineligible for car insurance altogether.

 

Besides the legal and financial consequences of being charged with a DUI, there can be a significant emotional toll as well. Individuals dealing with the consequences of a DUI charge can find themselves experiencing shame, guilt, and embarrassment, since the stigma of drinking and driving is very pervasive. Additionally, as DUI arrests and convictions can both show up on background checks, individuals may feel a sense of hopelessness about their future. However, for some people a DUI can instead be a pivotal moment. A DUI can be perceived as hitting rock bottom, which then propels the person to work hard to improve their life. Whether they choose to become sober or simply to develop a better sense of caution and maturity, a DUI can actually improve a person’s life.

Making the move to file for bankruptcy is a difficult choice for anyone.  For the average person, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the process of filing bankruptcy.  Having knowledge of the process can make filing bankruptcy a little less scary.

Luckily, you’ve stumbled upon just the right piece of information to help you get in the know regarding bankruptcy.  Here is a brief overview, featuring a few things you should definitely understand before beginning the process of filing bankruptcy.

The two most common types of bankruptcy

There are more than two types of bankruptcy, but there are two main classifications that you should know more about as an individual filing for bankruptcy.

• Chapter 7 Bankruptcy – This form of bankruptcy is typically referred to as a liquidation. Chapter 7 will get rid of most of your debts, but you have to pass the “means” test to qualify.

You may also be required to sell things you own that are not exempt in bankruptcy ruling.  Overall, you will likely be able to keep most of your assets by filing Chapter 7.

• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy – Chapter 13 is a much different process, as you will be required to pay most of your debts back over a period of time. It may take up to five years to complete the filing process when you choose Chapter 13, so prepare yourself for a journey.

Filing bankruptcy comes with costs and stipulations

Filing bankruptcy places you at the mercy of the courts and your lawyer.  You’ll have to do what you’re told with your money for a period of time, and be willing to handle following the rules laid before you.

You also have to pay your bankruptcy lawyer in full to successfully complete the filing process.  Legal fees won’t be lumped in with your bankruptcy ruling, so plan ahead to pay your lawyer.

Bankruptcy affects your credit

You should know that filing bankruptcy will hit your credit pretty hard.  The effects of bankruptcy can linger on your credit for up to ten years, and some employers require you to share whether or not you filed before completing the hiring process.

Not everything is discharged by bankruptcy

You can’t always count on bankruptcy to end all of your debtor worries.  Not all debts are discharged by filing bankruptcy.  Back child support or taxes are two examples of debts that will not be affected by your filing status.

Bankruptcy is a public matter

You’ll be subjected to a lot of financial intrusions when you file bankruptcy.  Know that your bankruptcy is a matter of public record, and certain individuals will have the ability to access that information in the future.

 

Getting taken to court by debt collectors isn’t something that anyone wants to happen to them. The average person probably assumes that it could never happen to them, so they avoid their unmanageable debt, so they don’t have to think about it. Unfortunately, debt collection lawsuits are much more common than most people might like to think.

Millions of Americans are taken to court by debt collectors, and in some cases, people’s lives are totally turned upside down. It’s vital that you take the case very seriously rather than ignoring the problem. Believe it or not, the matter will not disappear even if you try not to think about it. There might be a possibility of getting out of paying what you owe; however, the only chance you’ve got is dealing with it head-on.

If you are facing a debt collection lawsuit, make sure that you do the following.

Respond

Even if you can’t pay your debt, it’s critical that you respond to the notice. You may assume that since you can’t pay it, there’s no use responding, however failure to reply on your part will not go well.

The number one mistake most credit borrowers make when sued is not responding. As a result, you may owe a considerable amount of additional costs between attorney’s fees and interest.

Challenge Credit Company’s Right To Sue

Some experts advise that the best way to respond to a debt collection lawsuit is to challenge their right to file the lawsuit in the first place. Normally, by the time the debt has reached the point of a lawsuit, it has most likely been sold already. Whoever owns the debt at this point and is suing you is required by law to show proof that they are within their legal rights.

In the event that you don’t reply, the judge will assume that your silence assumes your responsibility for the debt. Yet when you ask for legal documentation during the lawsuit, the judge will honor your request.

Consequently, the entity suing you should provide a credit agreement with your signature as well as full documentation of the chain of events leading to the original debt from the original creditor. In some cases, plaintiffs aren’t able to provide this paperwork, and as a result, the lawsuit is dropped. While it may not always work in your favor, in many cases, it does.

Hire a Lawyer

Anytime that you’re facing a lawsuit, you should hire a lawyer. Even if you’re not able to pay, you should have an attorney by your side that can offer advice on how to proceed. Many lawyers will provide a free consultation, which can save you legal fees.

 

One of the biggest challenges facing modern lawyers is the prospect of online visibility. If you want to improve your reputation, attract new clients, and beat the competition, you need some way to achieve more visibility for your brand online. But most lawyers are experts in the legal realm; they aren’t sure how to use marketing and advertising strategies to support their firm.

With the right strategies working in your brand’s favor, you can develop your reputation and attract more clients—all without jeopardizing your budget.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): An Introduction

One of the best marketing strategies available to lawyers and law firms is search engine optimization, or SEO. This strategy comprises a number of both onsite and offsite changes designed to make it easier for your website to rank highly in search engine results pages (SERPs). In other words, by practicing SEO, you’ll make it more likely for your website to appear when prospective clients search for terms relevant to your business.

This strategy is especially beneficial to lawyers for several reasons:

• Relatively speaking, SEO is cheap. It relies on onsite and offsite content for the majority of its impact, making it much less expensive than traditional advertising strategies. Plus, the results compound over time, resulting in one of the highest returns on investment (ROIs) in the marketing industry.
• Long-term results. SEO is a strategy optimized for long-term results. It takes a long time to build your domain authority (DA) high enough that you start to see a measurable impact from organic traffic, but from there, it’s easy to keep your campaign steady and grow it over the months and years that follow. Few other marketing and advertising strategies can compare to this level of efficiency.
• Any lawyer or law firm can partake in SEO, from solo practitioners to corporate behemoths. SEO is practical universally, and can be used for nearly any strategic approach.
• Competitive flexibility. SEO is also flexible. By using keyword research, you can select specific keywords (like words specific to your areas of expertise, or local keywords related to your city of residence) that you can build your strategy around. This way, you can avoid competing with an oppressive competitor, while choosing smarter, smaller battles more likely to go in your favor.

How SEO Works

How exactly does SEO work?

First, understand how Google and, by extension, most search engines work. Google wants to provide users with the “best” results possible, which means it needs to consider both the relevance of those results (how closely they match the content of the user’s query) and the authority of those results (how trustworthy each website is).

SEO is a collection of strategies that attempt to improve both your relevance and your authority. From there, it gets complicated, since there are literally hundreds of factors that apply to one area, the other, or both.

For example, the technical structure of your site plays into its perceived trustworthiness. Google prioritizes sites that load quickly, mobile-optimized pages, and other web content that is easy for users to access. You’ll also need to make sure your site is easy to “crawl,” meaning Google’s indexation bots can parse it quickly and efficiently.

That said, much of the power of SEO comes from content. Writing detailed, informative blog posts on your main website will increase the trustworthiness of your site and give you a platform where you can work in various keywords and keyword phrases. Getting offsite content featured with external publishers can help you earn links, which in turn will boost your DA and improve your overall “authority” in the eyes of Google.

Good SEO strategies include a balanced network of different tactics, including technical onsite SEO, onsite content, and offsite content (with link building).

Working With an Agency

SEO is simple enough that you can learn the basics in an afternoon, but it’s complex enough that even after years of experience, you’ll have difficulty with the finer points of troubleshooting. Besides, as a lawyer, you should be focusing your time and effort on topics related to your main profession. That’s why you should work with an SEO agency if you choose to pursue SEO; not only will they free you up to do the work you do best, but they’ll also be able to execute your strategy with greater precision, and higher efficiency.

SEO is a strategy that takes time to develop, so the sooner you get started, the sooner you can ramp up to see massive benefits. Consider reaching out to an SEO agency to discuss the possibilities, or begin doing research on your own to learn more; there’s almost no limit to how far this approach can take you.

Dealing with truck accident lawsuits is more complicated than you would think simply because truck accidents and car accidents are different. The former is more complex and difficult to deal with than the later. Not to mention the fact that truck accident laws differ from one state to another. With this being said, how does one win a truck accident lawsuit? What does winning a truck accident lawsuit involve and require? You can find out the answers to these questions and more by continuing reading this article.

Collect as Much Evidence as Possible

To make sure that your lawsuit will be a winning one, you have to collect as much evidence as possible. Everything from the truck driver’s name, the license number of his vehicle, his or her contact information, the name of the company he or she is working for, the vehicle’s information, the license plate, the insurance information, to the damages caused by the accident.

Make sure to also secure some witnesses who have been there when the accident took place and can recall what has happened there. If possible, take as many photos of the accident scene, the vehicles and their condition, the road and any possible particularities existing there, road or weather conditions, road signs, injuries, and anything you might consider important and worthy of acting as evidence.

Know When to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit 

The first thing you want to consider to win in a truck accident lawsuit is to know when to file for the lawsuit. Obtaining a somewhat acceptable settlement involves many steps along the way. You should know that the majority of the accidents are settled outside of court. This is when the mediation and negotiation process between your lawyer and the insurance agent of the other party involved take place.

This happens because going to trial can be time and money-consuming, especially when you are going against a large truck company. But if the two parties fail to reach an agreement, and if the lawyer of the injured party considers that his or her client could receive more compensation, only then should they file for a lawsuit against the truck driver.

Get All the Help You Might Need

The last thing on this list which can guarantee the success of your truck accident lawsuit is to get all the help you might need. In most cases, this comes in the form of a truck accident lawyer. The first thing that a lawyer can help you with is to offer you the compensation you deserve for your damages.

Your knowledge alone about how to handle such a lawsuit might not be enough when dealing with the fearful and much more experienced lawyers of the truck company. A lawyer has both the knowledge you might lack as well as the tactics and methods to deal with your case.

All in all, truck accident lawsuits might be more complicated than your average car accident lawsuits, but at least now you know what you need to do to get yourself a winning case.

Remember to dress appropriately when going to a trial. Think about what your future images will tell about you. Do you want to underline how smart you are, what a powerful personality you have? Then choose your clothes based on your purposes. Think of the whole image including accessories – they are as important as suits and shoes. Bring more than one suit so that you can change and try different options during the photo shoot to see which one looks the best, bring different outfits.

A DWI lawyer can help you if you have been arrested due to drunk driving. The consequence can be big depending on the type of damage you cause due to your reckless driving such as paying a big fine, going to jail and lose your driving license. It can be hard to come out of your situation without the help of a reliable DWI lawyer. The following are 5 benefits of hiring a DWI lawyer.

1. Familiarity with DUI Laws

A DWI lawyer is familiar with the rules, standards, and requirements of the DUI laws. This allows them to navigate around the courtroom in finding a solution to reduce your sentences. He can give you an answer to any question you have on things like avoiding jail time, and illegal interrogation practices. Many attorneys offer free consultations for their clients. You should make use of the free consultation to seek their advice on your case first. Doing so allows you to determine whether it is possible to get a better outcome if you hire a particular DWI lawyer.

2. Discuss with You about Other Options

DWI Lawyers Fort Worth can discuss with you the available options so that you make the best decision for reducing your sentence. Without the help of an attorney, you will not know that you have other options. The alternative options can prevent you from going to jail. The lawyer can work with the judge to help you get the least sentence. This can make a lot of differences in the severity of the penalty you get. It will result in quicker settlement of the case and save you money in the long term.

3. Detailed Scrutiny of the DWI Case

A DWI lawyer can provide detailed scrutiny of your case. After reviewing the case, the lawyer will know whether the case can be argued. For example, a case can be argued if the law enforcement officer did not behave reasonably during the arrest. The lawyer can ask for the lab result to be reexamined to ensure that it achieves an accurate result. Many innocent people are arrested on drunk driving charges every year. So, if you get charged with a DWI, you could get out of your situation if you seek help from a DWI attorney.

4. Identify Loopholes to Get Your Case Thrown Out

A DWI lawyer can identify loopholes that can get your case thrown out, for example, the police use illegal interrogation practices or collect evidence through breathalyzer without informing an impaired driver. He is knowledgeable in keeping out the bad information from your record so that you don’t lose your license or be suspended from driving.

5. Avoid Permanent Criminal Record

Hiring a DWI lawyer can prevent you from having a permanent criminal record that can ruin your professional life. Drunk driving record can stay for up to 6 years. The record can cause difficulties in finding a job. This is because drunk driving is considered a criminal record and many companies will filter out job applications of individuals who have a history of committing criminal offences. If you have any evidence, you can present it to the DWI attorney. He can help you to evaluate them. He knows which evidence work and can be used in the court to win your favor.