The penalties [...]]]>

If you have recently been arrested for driving under the influence, then it is important you seek the advice of a reputable Seattle DUI lawyer. Law enforcement officials take drunk driving very seriously. Laws concerning DUIs are not only severe punishment wise, but they are also subject to increasingly open interpretation by the courts.

The penalties for a DUI conviction range from heavy fines to prison sentences. Some people have mandatory ignition interlock devices placed in their vehicles. This device requires you to blow into it in order to start the engine, and again every ten minutes while the vehicle is running. There are so many different negative implications associated with a DUI. Some can cause a great deal of shame, and many can be seriously damaging to your career, family and personal freedom.

Your fist order of business is to find a qualified and experienced Washington DUI attorney to help you deal with the pending court proceedings. They will be able to assist you through the confusing mess commonly known as the DUI Process. It seems like finding a Seattle DUI attorney would simple; just grab the phone book and find a lawyer who handles DUI cases. This is absolutely the wrong way of finding an attorney.

Don’t feel intimidated by a Washington DUI attorney. They are there to help you and are normal people just like you. The only difference between you and them is they are experts in the area of DUI law and can help you during your time of trouble.

Here are a few guidelines to follow when interviewing a potential Seattle DUI lawyer:

• Does the lawyer focus only on DUI defense or do they also handle other areas of criminal law? Only hire someone that focuses on and succeeds in DUI defense.
• Are items such as your court hearing, blood work, and expert fees included in their overall cost?
• If the lawyer guarantees they can win your DUI case, contact another attorney. No qualified DUI attorney makes any guarantees.
• Ask for a written contract to record all the expenses.
• Are they board certified by the American Bar Association?
• Are they a member of and certified by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers?

When interviewing a particular Seattle DUI attorney, choose someone who you feel like you can work with, and make sure your needs and concerns are important to them. If you don’t get that impression, contact another attorney until you find the right one.

In 1908 Congress passed FELA, a comprehensive statute to protect the rights of injured railroad workers and their families. FELA applies to all railroads and their employees. FELA is the exclusive remedy for most claims a railroad employee may have against his employer. A FELA case may be brought in either state or federal court. [...]]]>

In 1908 Congress passed FELA, a comprehensive statute to protect the rights of injured railroad workers and their families. FELA applies to all railroads and their employees. FELA is the exclusive remedy for most claims a railroad employee may have against his employer. A FELA case may be brought in either state or federal court. Employers covered by the FELA have an absolute duty to provide a safe workplace and working environment. FELA protects engineers, brakemen, switchmen, and other railroad employees who are hurt or injured on the job.

Most, if not all Railroad industry jobs are inherently dangerous. You work with lots of moving parts and heavy machinery while under constant pressure to get the job done faster and more efficiently. Common railroad worker injuries include: hearing loss, back and neck injuries, chemical and asbestos exposure, shoulder and knee injuries, amputations, burns, and in many cases, exposure to toxic items.

It is very important for any employee involved in an accident to report the accident or injury immediately. Additionally, it is equally important to identify faulty tools or equipment that contributed to the accident and injury on an appropriate accident report form. Common causes of injury include a loose ballast, too large of ballast causing a fall, vegetation too high that caused a fall, bad equipment, poorly maintained equipment, oil or grease on the ladder or stairs, no flashlight batteries, poorly lit areas at night, having to use the incorrect tool to perform a job, having one man do something it should take two to complete, ice, etc. As you can see there are numerous instances where poor working conditions can lead to a railroad employee accident.

If you are hurt while working for the railroad and are considering hiring a railroad accident attorney, please note that you are not required to hire a union-designated attorney. In fact, there are many reasons why you should hire a non-union attorney to handle your claims.

It could seem to some people that companies who settle debt and attorneys who are experts in the field, provide identical services. Some would argue that one is better than the other, but each have advantages and disadvantages. Its all relative to individual customers situations. At the end, both have [...]]]>

Choose Your Debt Settlement Attorney Carefully

It could seem to some people that companies who settle debt and attorneys who are experts in the field, provide identical services. Some would argue that one is better than the other, but each have advantages and disadvantages. Its all relative to individual customers situations. At the end, both have the same result… A reduced sum of money is owed to credit card companies.

An attorney will usually want each case to be resolved as quick as possible. Sometimes these cases can tend to drag out and it is in his or her best interest to make the process a speedy one.

Attorneys who specialize in settlements usually take their fee from the debt taken from the original balance owed.

It may be beneficial to hire an attorney who is very familiar with local laws. They may be able to argue certain legal points which might be overlooked and unfamiliar to a national settlement company.

A lawyer familiar with local laws will act quicker to file legal actions against the settlement company with the intention of reinforcing negotiations. If the total debt is over twenty five thousand dollars, and the deb tee wants the balance settled within two years, a debt settlement lawyer may be the best answer to resolving debt issues. A debt settlement company will tend to drag the case out as long as possible. The intention of course is to earn as much interest as possible.

An attorney can be a great asset. Any debts are vulnerable to lawsuits. Your lawyer can strengthen his negotiation power by filing motions to dismiss any lawsuits to slow the process down.

Its up to each customer individually to decide whether they want the services of a personal attorney, or the help of a debt settlement company.

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You need to hire a personal injury lawyer if you suffer an injury that results in significant damages. But in any given city, there are probably over 20 pages of personal injury attorney listings in the phone book. How do you pick the right one? What do you look for? What questions should you ask?

Here are 7 things you should know before hiring your injury lawyer…

1) The sooner you hire your lawyer the better. Begin looking for your personal injury lawyer within a week or two after your accident. If you’re not physically capable you should have a friend or loved-one start looking. The sooner you start building your case the better.

2) Hire a personal injury lawyer that specializes in your specific type of injuries. Do your homework before signing the retainer agreement. Visit the firm’s website and read up on it’s history and each lawyer’s biographical information. Ask the lawyer for some referrences and ask how much experience they have in handling cases with similar injuries. What settlement awards did they get in those cases?

3) Have a face-to-face meeting with your prospective lawyer. Your personal injury lawyer is going to be your closest advisor during this difficult time. You must feel comfortable and trust your lawyer. The only way you’ll get a feel for the lawyer is by having a sit-down to discuss your case. Any good personal injury lawyer will give you an initial consultation free of charge.

4) Hire a lawyer that will take your case on a contingency fee basis. This means that your lawyer won’t get paid unless you get paid. He will take his fee out of the money you receive for your injuries. You can expect your lawyer to take about 33% of your final settlement – that’s after expenses are taken off the top. Make sure you clearly understand the payment structure before you sign the retainer agreement.

5) Beware of ambulance chasers. The goal of these lawyers is to get lots of minor personal injury cases and settle them quickly – they make their profit from high turnover. So naturally they won’t put as much time and effort into each case as they should. (If you’re looking for a quick settlement be prepared to accept less than what your case is really worth.)

6) Hire a lawyer with a good Martindale-Hubbell rating. This service evaluates lawyers in the U.S. and Canada based on peer review. Their website, Martindale.com has a helpful lawyer locator service and will explain the rating system.

7) Always be completely open and honest when discussing your case with a lawyer. Tell the lawyer as much as you can about what happened. Try to remember every detail. Any documentation and pictures you have of your injuries and treatment will be a big help when evaluating your case.

Bonus Tip:

NEVER give a recorded statement to a representative from any insurance company until you’ve consulted a lawyer. When the rep. asks for one simply say, “I’m not prepared to give a statement at this time.” A recorded statement can be used as evidence and if you’re not prepared you might overlook important details. Anything you miss (or misrepresent) can be used against you in settlement negotiations and in the trial.