Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident that wasn’t my Fault?

Published on: 21 February 2019 Last Updated on: 08 August 2019
Car Accident

Experiencing a car accident can be a traumatic and highly emotional experience no matter who has caused the collision. Even if an accident is clearly not your fault it is always a good idea to hire an attorney if you experience any personal damages. An attorney will be familiar with the particulars of state laws and will know how to read a police report with an eye for detail. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers who want to make sure they pay as little as possible. A good attorney will get you the money that you deserve.

Self-Representation vs Professional Representation:

Laws regarding personal injury are extremely complete. California is a tort state and insurance companies will fight to keep every penny that the law will allow. They will hire private investigators to watch your every move to insure that you cannot do the activities that you say you cannot perform. They employ actuaries and legal teams who are devoted to cheating you out of your damages. Chances are, you do not have the legal know-how to combat such sophisticated opponents. Even an attorney who is not specifically trained in personal injury lawyers would have a hard time with the research required to build a solid case. It is best to get an attorney who specializes in personal injury law.

Tort Reform in California:

Although it has a reputation for its liberal politics, California does adhere to The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, which has been around since 1975. It has been modified slightly over the years, but most of it held up even when challenged by the Supreme Court. It was designed to reduce the cost of insurance, but studies have shown that the law does not work and only cheats people out of the damages they are owed.

DUI Laws in California:

California ranks squarely in the middle of the country in terms of the harshness of its DUI laws. The punishment for drivers in criminal court includes fines, classes and license suspension. If you are the victim of an accident, you deserve more than the paltry restitution a criminal court judge or jury will award; you deserve a tort which covers all expenses related to your case.

What to look for in a Personal Injury Lawyer in Fresno:

There are a lot of attorneys in California and picking a personal injury attorney in Fresno can be challenging. Make sure to pick one who will be dedicated to your case. There are a few characteristics of any good attorney.

Courtroom Experience:

Although Personal injury attorneys rarely go to court, it doesn’t hurt to have a lawyer who has a quick wit when arguing and has no problem speaking in front of people.

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Child Visitation

 How To Get Child Visitation Rights?

The separation of parents brings in real problems in the life of a child. Children get the best upbringing when they get the time with both their parents. But separation really makes things worse for the little kids. The crack line in the relationship turns such a crater that the couple ends up reaching court to get justice and authority over the child. Are you having a similar problem?Do you intend to seek visitation rights? You need to follow certain guidelines and procedures to lawfully get your Child visitation rights. Yes, we understand you and discuss things with you so that it gives you hope and strength. Please read it… it's for you. What Exactly Is Visitation Right? When the parents work out spending time with their child separately, it is called visitation rights. If you are a legal parent of the child, you must have the rights of the child. Your rights are safeguarded by state laws. Unlike custody rights, which are solely decided upon by the court, visitation rights are the ones that are decided by the court but in consultation with both parents. What you need here is the service of a qualified Attorney that can help you with Child visitation. How To Get Visitation Rights? Now a question might crop up: How to secure your child's visitation rights? The first and foremost thing that you need to do without delay is hired a legal expert. They act on your behalf so that you are able to secure your emotional connection with your kid. Now let's see the other things that come under the subject. 1. Communicating With The Custodial Parents The fastest way to get the child's visitation rights is to establish a connection with the child's custodial parents. If you can do it properly, and discuss things between you two, then you can come to a common consensus. What you need is a little involvement from the family court. Then, things become clear when the court discusses things with both of you, things become clear. So try to establish communication with your partner. The other side will understand your problem and respond to you. But you must keep aside your ego while doing this. 2. Filing A Petition With The Family Court Suppose you cannot really establish a telephonic connection with your partner or fail to convince them of the child visitation; you have no other option left but to file a petition with the family court. The petition will have the same case number which was used in the custody or divorce case. It might be that you are not legally married, then in this case, you need to start a fresh case. In either of the instances, you will need the service of a well-acclaimed attorney that can help you with the assistance on Child visitation laws. 3. Custodial Considerations The court will consider the child's best interest before deciding on the child's visitation. What your attorney will enforce on the point is that your relationship with the child may be affected if you do not really get visitation rights. Some factors come into play while getting the time, including financial stability, emotional support, office schedule, clean domestic track record, and others. The court takes all these points seriously while deciding on child visitation. After the court studies all these points, they call upon both parties to provide an individual plan for child visitation. 4. Mutual Agreement Now the courts are working on the visitation plan, they will discuss things separately, like what time the father and mother will get the child on the summer or winter vacation, the weekly holiday, and other times the child has. The court will also decide on the first right of the parent. Additional information regarding how the parents will divide time will be discussed in detail. The court will do it all, taking both of you into confidence.  5. Final Order After all the discussions, the parents come to a common understanding, and finally, the child visitation plan comes into existence. The court gives its own opinion and takes the opinions and requests of both parents. You might request some alternative arrangements, but all will be diseased upon the preparation of the final plan.  To End… To end things, one can say that a child's visitation rights are extremely serious things if discussed from the point of view of a child. There should be no question about the fact the legislative system is strong enough to dispense equal justice to both parties. Accordingly, the court takes both parents' points of view in giving the final verdict on the child's visitation. Additionals: 4 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Car Accident LawyerReasons of hiring any Personal Injury Attorney is ImportantImportant Terminology In Filing For A Car Accident Claim

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food critic

When Restaurants Fight Back: A Diner’s Failed Attempt to Sue a Food Critic for Defamation

Restaurant reviews can make or break your business. A positive review of your restaurant can keep your cash counter busy and tables filled with loud and happy customers. But, a negative review does the complete opposite, leaving hardly any cash to collect and fewer tables to clean.  Food critics hold power, and restaurants know it. Some establishments accept criticism and learn from it. Others take a more aggressive approach that can backfire badly. This is what happened to a well-known diner when they decided to fight back against a food critic. The results were not what they expected. The Case of Il Giardino A Vancouver-based Italian restaurant, Il Giardino, was a local favorite. It’s known for its classic pasta dishes and cozy atmosphere. But in 2011, the restaurant’s reputation was challenged. The trouble began when a respected food critic, Colin Thomas, wrote a review that painted the restaurant in a negative light. He described the food as bland, overpriced, and lacking the warmth it once had. The owners of Il Giardino were furious. They felt that Thomas’ words were not just harsh but unfair and damaging. They believed his review crossed the line and hurt their business. So, they decided to take legal action and sue him for defamation. The Lawsuit That Backfired This lawsuit was something new and big news indeed. It’s not every day that you get to see a restaurant sue a critic. Many people were curious about how it would turn out. The owners argued that the review was defamatory and claimed it had caused them to lose customers and money. But fighting a food critic in court is tricky. Critics are protected under free speech laws. The court decided that Thomas’ review was an opinion, not a statement of fact. It didn’t meet the standard for defamation. The case was dismissed. Instead of fixing their problem, Il Giardino made it worse. The lawsuit brought more attention to the bad review. News outlets covered the story, and people talked about it on social media. What might have been forgotten in a week was now in the spotlight for months. The restaurant's online reputation suffered more than it did from the original review. Why Suing Critics Is Risky When a restaurant fights back, it backfires on them. And it’s not really a smart move to sue a food critic. Here’s why – 1. Freedom of Speech Critics have the right to share their opinions. If a review is based on an experience and doesn’t include false claims, it is protected as free speech. Courts are careful about setting a precedent that could limit this freedom. 2. The Streisand Effect Trying to silence a critic can lead to more attention. This is known as the Streisand Effect, named after Barbra Streisand, who tried to hide photos of her home but ended up drawing more attention to them. The same happened to Il Giardino. Their attempt to stop the review only made it more popular. 3. Public Backlash People don’t like it when businesses try to suppress opinions. It can make a restaurant look like it can’t handle criticism or is trying to bully a writer. This can lead to backlash and damage a brand’s reputation. Lessons Learned from the McDonald’s Case Even major brands like McDonald’s have faced backlash for going after critics. In 1990, McDonald’s sued two environmental activists in the UK for distributing pamphlets that accused the company of poor practices. The case became known as the "McLibel" trial and lasted ten years. The outcome? A PR disaster for McDonald’s. The activists couldn’t pay damages, but they won public support. McDonald’s spent millions on legal fees and looked like the villain. The company’s reputation took a hit, showing that even large corporations can face consequences when they overreact to criticism. How to Handle Criticism as a Restaurant? It’s not uncommon these days for a brand to get backlash from critics or customers. But how they handle it makes all the difference. Some of the tactics below work really well to handle criticism: 1. Respond Calmly and Professionally A calm response can go a long way. Thank the critic for their feedback and mention any changes you plan to make. This shows that the restaurant values customer opinions and is willing to improve. 2. Focus on Positive Reviews A bad review hurts, but it doesn’t define a restaurant. Focus on encouraging happy customers to leave positive reviews. A mix of reviews shows that a restaurant is real and popular. According to BrightLocal, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses. A few negative reviews won’t hurt as much if there are plenty of positive ones. 3. Improve Feedback Sometimes, criticism has truth in it. Look at what the critic pointed out and see if there are ways to improve. This can help turn a negative into a positive. It shows customers that the restaurant listens and evolves. 4. Invest in Online Reputation Management If a bad review is causing ongoing issues, using an online reputation management service can help. These services can guide a restaurant on how to boost its online image and deal with negative press. Recommendations for Restaurant Owners Before your business has to handle something as harsh, it’s better to build some ground rules that keep your business away from such events.  Think Before Reacting It’s natural to feel upset after reading a harsh review, but it’s important to think before acting. Responding to anger or taking legal action can lead to bigger problems. Provide Exceptional Customer Service The foundation for a good business reputation starts with a business capability of delivering class-A customer service. So, start by training your team. Warm and attentive staff attract more customers and build a good impression about your restaurant among clients. With open communication, your staff will take the business extra mile and exceed customer expectations.  Communicate with Your Team Make sure your team knows how to handle criticism. Training staff to respond professionally and with empathy can keep the restaurant’s image strong. Don’t Compromise in the Food Quality If the raw materials start to cost more, your customers may understand if the price goes high by a little. But, lowering food quality to adjust food prices can do damage to your restaurant in the long run. Always use fresh and high-quality ingredients to make food. Consistency in the quality of your food is the key to how you will succeed. Stay Engaged with Customers Interact with customers on review sites and social media. Show that you care about their experiences, good or bad. This connection can build loyalty and encourage repeat visits. The Takeaway Il Giardino’s attempt to sue a food critic for defamation is a reminder that fighting criticism can often make things worse. Publicly challenging a review can lead to more attention, public backlash, and damage to a business’s reputation. Instead, restaurants should focus on learning from criticism and responding professionally. Encouraging positive feedback and engaging with customers can help maintain a strong image. And when extra help is needed, an online reputation management service can provide the right support. In the end, handling criticism with grace and using it as a tool for improvement will benefit a restaurant far more than a court case ever could. Read Also: Navigating The Maze Of Compensation Claims: Everything You Need To Know When Do You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer: A Guide For Accident Victims Do I Need A Lawyer For Probation Violations?

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Vision Loss Injuries

4 Of The Most Common Vision Loss Injuries That Lawyers Handle

Vision loss is a painful and traumatic experience that can have long-term physical, mental, and emotional impacts that many people do not anticipate. The nature of these consequences typically requires the attentiveness of a specialized lawyer to ensure both legal protections and proper compensation claims are adequately filed if you or someone you know suffers from vision loss due to an accident or injury. In this blog post, we will look at some of the most common types of vision loss injuries lawyers handle so that those impacted can understand their rights in such cases. 1- Burns Burns is a prevalent form of vision loss injuries, so lawyers are often involved in helping their clients get the compensation they need to cover medical expenses and any other costs associated with the injury. The severity of burns and their potential to cause vision problems to vary significantly. Not only can a burn cause reduced or wholly lost vision, but permanent disfigurement or scarring may also result, depending upon the degree of trauma. Hence, consulting with a lawyer experienced in this area is essential to ensure you receive the total compensation possible. Legal representation will ensure that your rights as an injured patient are fully protected and help you navigate the many complex rules, regulations, and insurance issues related to burning victims who have had their vision affected. 2- Physical Trauma Traumatic vision loss, or damage to the eyes caused by physical trauma, is surprisingly one of the most frequent cases that lawyers handle. This could include a sports accident, a motor vehicle crash, a slip and fall incident, and many other situations where physical harm was incurred to the eyes. Inadequately protected or low-quality eye gear such as glasses and safety goggles can also be factored in traumatic vision loss cases. A personal injury lawyer can help victims affected by physical trauma seek justice for their vision loss, whether temporary or permanent. 3- Corneal Abrasion Corneal abrasion is one of the most common vision loss injuries a lawyer can face. This is because it generally occurs due to simple everyday activities, such as rubbing your eyes or wearing contact lenses that are not correctly fitted. It may also be caused by trauma, like a foreign object in the eye, or extended time staring at a computer screen without enough breaks to refresh the look. Every year, corneal abrasions cause thousands of people to suffer from astigmatism and blurry vision, which can lead to disability benefits. With proper legal assistance, those affected by corneal abrasions can bring their cases against insurance companies and get the compensation they need for any medical care related to the injury. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms yourself or know someone afflicted with this shared vision loss injury, consulting an experienced lawyer could make all the difference in obtaining justice and reprieve from the physical stress caused by corneal abrasion. 4- Eye Bleeding Regarding vision loss injuries, eye bleeding is one of the most prevalent cases handled by lawyers in this field. Eye bleeding occurs when the fragile blood vessels in and around your eyes are damaged or broken, preventing them from functioning correctly. This consequently results in fluid build-up and scarring of the eye tissue, which can cause permanent vision impairment. Since it is often difficult to detect without an expert's assistance, many people only seek medical help once their injury has progressed or permanent damage has been done. However, seeking legal representation early on can help protect your rights and interests, ensuring you receive fair compensation for all losses or damages incurred due to this injury. 4 of the Most Common Vision Loss Injuries That Lawyers Handle - In Summary Lawyers can help people injured by vision loss in numerous ways. Attorneys will work with the evidence provided to build a case and obtain the best outcome for their clients. Law firms specializing in vision loss injury cases are specially equipped to handle clients with special needs and provide them invaluable assistance in recovering the necessary damages they deserve. People understand these essential facts about how a lawyer can help if they get vision loss injuries to increase their chances of walking away with compensation or settlements needed to provide for physical and emotional therapy for rehabilitation and improved quality of life down the road. Additional: Things about a Personal Injury Lawyer 5 Things To Look For In A Personal Injury Lawyer Few Reasons Why You Deserve To Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer What Are The Effective Ways To Communicate With A Personal Injury Lawyer

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