Law

According to studies, a traumatic brain injury is a dysfunction of the brain caused by an outside force. That primarily occurs as a result of a car accident or severe sports injury. Some of the most common symptoms could include blurred vision, confusion, and difficulties in concentration.

For infants, they may cry persistently and show signs of irritability. Some of the most common treatments could involve medication, rest, and surgery.

The truth is, medical science does not have the necessary tools to show all brain injuries. That is because most of these cannot get picked up by MRI studies and CT scans.

What are the varying types of brain injury?

Some of the most common types of brain injuries include:

A penetrating injury where the skull gets fractured, such as a direct gunshot.

A closed head injury where the brain gets injured through being rocked back and forth inside the skull. It happens when the brain makes direct contact with the skulls inside.

An injury where brain cells get disrupted by shockwaves of a blast

What treatment is ideal for brain surgery?

The best treatment for brain surgery varies with the magnitude of the injury. Depending on the severity level of your case, you need to hire professional doctors to help you.

With many rehab centers available, you need to do thorough homework to get the best treatments.

Some of the most common treatments include; physical therapy to assist you to overcome anybody’s weakness, occupational therapy to assist you to resume normal activities such as cooking, driving, cycling, and so on. Speech therapy is also common to help with concentration and memory.

Do you need a lawyer to help with your brain injury case?

If a person has caused you brain injury intentionally, then you need to hire the services of a brain injury attorney. The professional will help you gather all the evidence for the case, ensure that your medical bills get paid on time, and help you get compensation for your disability or compensate your loved ones for their loss.

Brain injury attorneys help to make your brain injury visible and factual. They help choose the best doctors that will do their best to reveal your dysfunction and speak to the relevant people who will help make your life better.

Additionally, these professionals fight for you and give you the best representation.

Sometimes pursuing justice makes clients feel guilty. However, you need to know that you have every right to seek compensation for any damages faced and hold the careless responsible for their actions.

That way, you help reduce vices that result in such severe accidents. And get the compensation you or your loved ones deserve.

To get the best compensation, you need to hire the services of a professional brain injury attorney. Since your case is at stake, doing a thorough background check on the best brain injury attorneys will ensure that you get the best compensation.

The summer of 2019 was a good one. Things were looking up for most of us. The economy was humming along, unemployment was low, and most of us were able to live our lives with manageable levels of stress. Then COVID hit. That is when everything changed. As we emerge, we are discovering COVID’s affects are not just physical.

Millions of people around the world have been infected by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Far too many have died. And of course, COVID shutdowns have devastated world economics. There are entire industries still on the brink of total failure. But even that is not the half of it. The pandemic has even impacted our personal relationships.

Numerous studies cited by Forbes contributor Katie Lynch paint a grim picture. According to the studies, the number of couples looking for information about divorce is up around the world. One study from an American legal services company noted a 34% increase. Meanwhile, a UK law firm specializing in divorce recently reported an increase of 122%

• A Perfect Storm of Pressures

The interesting thing about divorce is that it rarely occurs overnight. Couples are not blissfully happy one day and ready to split the next. Rather, unresolved issues compound year after year until something happens that one or both parties consider the final straw. What we are seeing with COVID is that it offered a perfect storm of pressures that led many couples to that last straw.

COVID-related stresses are many and far-reaching. They include:

• Fear of Illness – People worry about contracting coronavirus and developing COVID. They worry for themselves, their children, and their extended family members.

• Loss of Income – Coronavirus shutdowns have put many people on the unemployment line. Some who managed to stay employed have still experienced loss of income.

• Childcare Issues – A lot of parents, even while dealing with their own work situation, have also had to address childcare issues resulting from schools being closed.

Take these three pressures and combine them with the reality of spending so much time at home and you have a powder keg just begging for a fuse and match. It is no wonder that so many couples are finding their relationships strained as we emerge from the pandemic.

• Seeking the Right Advice

So what do couples do if they discover COVID is affecting their relationships? The same thing they would do if they were ill: seek the right advice. A person suffering from COVID symptoms would seek the advice of a doctor. Therefore, couples whose relationships are suffering due to the pandemic should seek the advice of a trained counselor. And if a relationship is irretrievably broken, legal advice may be appropriate.

ABM Family Law, a Chicago law firm with a staff of experienced divorce attorneys, says that divorce is only one solution to marriage problems. It may or may not be the best solution. Couples should talk things out with licensed professionals before deciding how to move forward.

Couples should also be aware that divorce creates as many problems as it solves. ABM’s family law attorneys cite custody issues, maintenance payments, child support, and division of jointly owned property as examples. But even after all of the court proceedings are concluded and the papers are signed, divorced couples with shared children still have to figure out how to relate to one another.

Unfortunately, COVID pressures have negatively impacted a lot of marriages. Few will be able to say that COVID pressures were the only reason for divorcing; many will be able to cite such pressures as a contributing factor.

Getting injured on the job can be quite stressful to deal with. You would need to deal with your injuries and worry about your lost hours as you recover. Unfortunately, work-related accidents in the U.S. are not an uncommon occurrence. In 2019 alone, approximately 5,333 workers died from work-related injuries.

In the U.S., employers are expected to carry worker’s compensation insurance to protect their employees from financial risks caused by workplace injury. It usually covers the following costs:

• Attorney fees
• Disability payments
• Medical bills and ambulance rides
• Surgery and future medical treatment
• Lost wages and future wage loss

If you have been injured while you were at work, you must immediately file a worker’s compensation claim. Although filing one is relatively easy, settling one is more difficult. To successfully settle a worker’s compensation claim, you would need the help of experienced workers’ compensation lawyers.

Your worker’s compensation lawyer will be able to calculate the value of your claim and will properly explain the legal process to you.

Here are some basic things you need to understand when filing a worker’s compensation claim:

The Amount of Your Worker’s Compensation Claim Depends on the Following:

• Injury
• Type of work performed when the injury occurred
• The risk associated with the job
• State your business operates in

The insurance company will evaluate these factors and attempt to determine how much your claim will be worth. Of course, there will be some instances where the amount may not be as much as you expected it to be. In that case, you can ask your attorney if the amount the insurance company is offering you is fair or not. Your attorney will be able to calculate the value of your claim and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

How Does a Worker’s Compensation Claim Process Work?

When an employee gets injured at work, it’s important that they immediately alert their employer. Otherwise, they may risk losing their benefits. Each state has different deadlines for filing a worker’s compensation injury claim, but it usually ranges from 72 hours to 2 years, depending on where you live. Regardless of where you’re from, it would help if you still informed your employer about your injuries immediately.

Here’s the process that employers and employees usually follow after a work-related injury:

• Give the employee immediate medical attention.
• Conducting a proper investigation of the accident.
• Both the employee and the employer have the right to document what happened. As the employee, you can take pictures of the possible safety issues that caused the accident. You can also collect witness statements.
• File a claim.
• The injured worker usually does this step. They are responsible for filing their own worker’s compensation claim with their insurance provider. Once they filed a claim, the insurance company will either approve or deny it.

How Are Workers Compensation Cases Settled

Once a worker has fully recovered from their injuries and has gone back to work without any pending bills or unpaid benefits, the claim can be closed.

Generally, when closing a claim, a settlement between the insurer and the injured worker must be reached. This negotiation must be done with the help of an attorney. If both parties still have not agreed, then a judge will decide through a hearing.

The settlement process usually begins when the employer and insurance company offers the injured party a settlement amount. This amount must include payment for unpaid benefits, medical bills, and costs of future treatment. If the injured worker were permanently disabled due to a work-related accident, they would be entitled to a disability reward.

The injured worker can receive the payment through either a lump sum or a structured payment plan.

A lump-sum payment will let the employee receive the whole amount in one payment. The payment will include all the medical costs and benefits under the claim.

Meanwhile, through the structured payment, the injured employee will receive the settlement money over a specified period of time. This may include payment for future medical care.

Is It Smart to Accept a Worker’s Comp Settlement in Lump Sum?

Although a $40,000 lump sum may be hard to resist, you have to remember that this is a one-time payment, which means that you may be unable to seek any future reimbursement for the injury.

In the end, it is still up to the injured worker to decide. However, it’s always good to never settle for the first number the insurance company offers you. You must seek the advice of an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer first to ensure that the settlement amount will be fair to you.

Your worker’s compensation lawyer will serve as a helpful legal guide throughout the settlement process. Your role will be minimal as you are expected to focus on recovering from your injuries.

Your lawyer will calculate the costs and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf until a compromise is reached.

Have you been in a car accident? First, take a deep breath. Next, follow these six steps to ensure your physical and legal well-being.

Step One: Pause and Assess

Stop your vehicle as soon as possible. If possible, pull over at a safe, well-lit, and populated location. Put your vehicle into park, turn off the engine, and turn on the hazard lights. Then, take stock of your body. Are you injured? If so, try to move as little as possible.

Step Two: Get Help

Next, call 911. Even if the accident is minor, contact the police. It is important to establish a paperwork trail for future insurance claims. If anyone is injured, tell the phone operator that you need an ambulance.

Additionally, contact an auto accident attorney in Columbia MD. Even if all parties are amicable, it is best to have professional legal advice in situations involving property damage or injury.

Step Three: Gather Information

Collect the names and contact information of everyone involved in the accident, including passengers and pedestrians. Record the driver’s license numbers and insurance policy information of the other drivers. Write down the names and badge numbers of the responding police officers.

To avoid legal complications, never admit fault at the scene. Never say that you are uninjured, either. Many car accident injuries only become apparent in the days after an accident. Claiming that you are “fine” could prevent you from successfully filing insurance claims later.

Note that if there is no one else present besides those involved in the accident, you should stay in your locked car and wait for the police to arrive. If anyone seems aggressive or confrontational, do not engage with them.

Step Four: Document the Scene

Take photos of all the vehicles impacted by the accident. Then, record the license plate numbers, models, and manufacture dates of the vehicles. Lastly, jot down the time and the address or street name at which the accident took place.

Step Five: Pause and Reflect

Take a moment to breathe and remember what happened. Make a written note or audio recording of the events leading up to, during, and after the accident. Add comments about the weather conditions or any other factors that may have contributed to the accident.

Step Six: File a Claim

You can file an insurance claim at the scene of an accident. If possible, do so. If you feel disoriented, still file the claim, and fill in the details later.

Auto accidents can be scary, but there are processes in place to make their aftermaths go smoothly. Make sure to protect your physical, legal, and financial well-being if you are involved in an accident.

Have you been in a car accident? First, take a deep breath. Next, follow these six steps to ensure your physical and legal well-being.

Step One: Pause and Assess

Stop your vehicle as soon as possible. If possible, pull over at a safe, well-lit, and populated location. Put your vehicle into park, turn off the engine, and turn on the hazard lights. Then, take stock of your body. Are you injured? If so, try to move as little as possible.

Step Two: Get Help

Next, call 911. Even if the accident is minor, contact the police. It is important to establish a paperwork trail for future insurance claims. If anyone is injured, tell the phone operator that you need an ambulance.

Additionally, contact an auto accident attorney in Columbia MD. Even if all parties are amicable, it is best to have professional legal advice in situations involving property damage or injury.

Step Three: Gather Information

Collect the names and contact information of everyone involved in the accident, including passengers and pedestrians. Record the driver’s license numbers and insurance policy information of the other drivers. Write down the names and badge numbers of the responding police officers.

To avoid legal complications, never admit fault at the scene. Never say that you are uninjured, either. Many car accident injuries only become apparent in the days after an accident. Claiming that you are “fine” could prevent you from successfully filing insurance claims later.

Note that if there is no one else present besides those involved in the accident, you should stay in your locked car and wait for the police to arrive. If anyone seems aggressive or confrontational, do not engage with them.

Step Four: Document the Scene

Take photos of all the vehicles impacted by the accident. Then, record the license plate numbers, models, and manufacture dates of the vehicles. Lastly, jot down the time and the address or street name at which the accident took place.

Step Five: Pause and Reflect

Take a moment to breathe and remember what happened. Make a written note or audio recording of the events leading up to, during, and after the accident. Add comments about the weather conditions or any other factors that may have contributed to the accident.

Step Six: File a Claim

You can file an insurance claim at the scene of an accident. If possible, do so. If you feel disoriented, still file the claim, and fill in the details later.

Auto accidents can be scary, but there are processes in place to make their aftermaths go smoothly. Make sure to protect your physical, legal, and financial well-being if you are involved in an accident.

Most people view clergy sexual abuse as one of their greatest nightmares. It affects the plans of a victim. However, if you are a victim of clergy abuse, do not walk alone. Hire the services of an attorney to help you in the abuse case.

We shall look at some of the things you need to look out for when hiring a lawyer in California.

What is clergy sexual abuse?

When a clergy member uses their power to abuse, harm sexually, or exploit a congregant. This harassment is in the form of;

• • Sexual touching
  • Unwanted sexual conversation

• Other forms of pressure or sexual language
• Pressure for sexual attention

Clergy abuse occurs within the circles of religious organizations. It is so sad that most of these cases are either covered up or dealt with internally.

• Look for a sex abuse lawyer

It is essential to look at a lawyer’s area of practice before hiring them. The law contains many aspects for one lawyer to specialize in all it. Get an attorney who handles clergy sexual abuse alone.

Since they understand the American legal system, these lawyers will help you navigate through the case.

• Consider their expertise

Find out whether the lawyer you are researching is experienced in clergy abuse cases. Try and inquire on how long that particular lawyer has been practicing law.

The more time they have been in this career, the more they are likely to be well advanced in sexual abuse cases. When you hire an experienced lawyer, you are more guaranteed of winning the case.

• Cost implication

Cost is a factor to considering when hiring a California clergy abuse lawyer. Get a legal representation bill that is sustainable for you. In some instances, legal cases take more time than expected.

You do not want to have a lawyer leaving your case halfway simply because you cannot afford him. Search their pricing on their website, and if needs be, visit them before hiring their services.

• Communication is key

How well does a lawyer communicate when talking to you? Is there a flow in communication between both of you? Do they understand your hopes and concerns?

Communication is one of the critical areas in a compelling legal case. Your lawyer should be able to;

• Understand your case
• Address your primary concerns
• Know your objectives

They should keep you posted on any crucial development in the clergy sexual abuse case. As a victim, you should be able to understand the law in layman’s language.

• Enquire from other people

It would be of help if you found out from other people suffering the same fate as you are. It will enlighten you on the kind of lawyer you want to hire.

Wrapping up

Do due diligence on the lawyer you want to hire for your case. It is disappointing to lose a clergy abuse case bearing in mind the harmful effects of being abused sexually.

An injury involving a child is not an easy battle to win. A child may suffer from an injury because of someone else’s negligence or misconduct. If you know someone who might be struggling with a similar situation, or it is happening to your child, then you shouldn’t be wasting any time and get in touch with an experienced Los Angeles child injury lawyer.

It is very easy for the negligent party to easily blame a child, and to protect from these miseries, one needs to think about getting in touch with a Los Angeles child injury lawyer. Knowing that winning a case won’t be an easy job without the help of someone experienced, you should contact a professional only.

If there is a serious injury claim, the sufferer can benefit a lot from a legal representative. Child injury cases are always unique, and since it is so easy for the negligent party to put the blame on the child, it is better to get in touch with a professional who has a deal with similar circumstances earlier as well. An experienced lawyer will try to evaluate the whole situation and prepare a case as strong as possible. Experienced lawyers know about every move that the opponent part can take. They are ready for that, and they take each move strategically.

Your insurance company is never your friend, and never think that they will feel pity for your kid if, God forbid, something happens to them. The only thing insurance companies try to do is pay you as little as possible. What if a child suffers from a permanent injury or disability? Do you think you should take any compensation that the insurance company offers? The impact an injury can leave on your child’s life is incomparable with whatever the insurance company provides. This is why the settlement the company will offer has to be acceptable. By getting in touch with an experienced lawyer, you will know about the compensation you should be getting. The lawyer will do the calculation and give you an estimate. Anything below that, don’t accept it.

Understandably, children by nature are born curious, but their curious nature shouldn’t be blamed. Everyone knows that kids will be kids, a lot depends on the adults and how we deal with them, and sometimes a few precautions can help us avoid mishaps. Do keep in mind that the negligent party will do everything to put the entire blame on him or her to come out of the hassle. Your experienced lawyer will be ready for all sorts of the blame game. The attorney will become the support system for your child and help you win the trial.

Even though the child injury lawyer will try to do everything from their end, they may still require a few things from you. It is the responsibility of the lawyer to help you as much as they can. But your lawyer will want to know about a few things, such as the time of the accident, the date if there are any witnesses available, and a brief about the circumstances. Apart from this, they will also like to know how badly your child has been injured, medical bills, the treatments your child is going through, and information about the fees paid so far.

Don’t take any chances when it comes to your child. Your child should be blamed for being themselves. They are just kids. Contact an experienced Los Angeles child injury lawyer and let the professional take over your case and help you win.

With dementia now being the leading cause of death in the UK, it’s perhaps more important than ever to consider what would happen in the even that you become incapacitated and can’t make decisions for yourself.

The solution, if you’ve had the opportunity to think about it, is lasting power of attorney (LPA), whereby you donate the power to deal with your financial and/or healthcare affairs to a trusted person, known as an attorney.

There are separate LPAs for financial matters and healthcare matters. Each gives the attorney instructions and the discretion to make decisions on behalf of a person who has lost the mental capacity to make those decisions for themselves.

You can nominate more than one attorney and the attorney is duty-bound to act in the best interests of the donor. Until 2007 LPAs were known as enduring power of attorney, but these were open to abuse and the law was changed.

An LPA doesn’t begin until a person has lost capacity, whereas a EPA began from it being signed. If you took out an EPA it is likely still valid.

Lasting power of attorney can help with the day-to-day decisions in the event you lose capacity and many law firms have specialist teams to deal with lasting power of attorney. Some, such as these solicitors in Chelmsford, also have lawyers with accredited Solicitor for the Elderly status and awarded the SFE Older Client Care Practice Award.

But what if a loved one loses capacity and hasn’t nominated an attorney?

Becoming a Deputy

In this case you can apply to the Court of Protection to become a person’s deputy. As long as there is no attorney, and the court is in agreement that the person has lost the capacity to make decisions for themselves, you can be appointed a deputy.

If there is an existing power of attorney the court will not overrule the person’s decision to appoint that person, so you should always check that there is no attorney before you make an application to be a deputy. If the attorney is deceased, been removed, or has lost capacity themselves you can make an application to become a deputy.

If you can’t find any paperwork and are unsure you can contact the Office for the Public Guardian to see if an attorney has been registered.

How Long to Become a Deputy?

It takes a long time, usually around 6 months, to become a deputy. During that time you cannot make decisions on that person’s behalf nor conduct any financial transactions (such as paying bills) until it is in place. If there are not direct debits in place you will need to contact any creditors and make financial arrangements.

If you pay bills from your own money you will be able to repay yourself upon receiving deputyship from the courts. But the money cannot be taken from the incapacitated person’s funds until a deputy has been granted.

It’s Expensive

Because of the different parties involved it is an expensive process too. But this is because the levels of scrutiny are much higher than if a person was donated lasting power of attorney. The court will need proof of a person’s limited capacity and these medical reports must be paid upfront (and can’t come from the incapacitated person’s funds).

As part of the process the family or close friends of the incapacitated person are notified and a time is given for them to respond, should there be any objections.

Court fees have to be paid upfront too, but again these can be repaid from the incapacitated person’s funds once deputyship has been granted.

But… You Get Help

A deputy is supervised, which can be beneficial to people who have never done it before. Each year a deputy is required to submit a report to the Office of the Public Guardian, detailing any income and expenditure. It’s designed to protect a loved one. You will also be required to pay annual insurance (which can come from the funds of the incapacitated person) in case there is a financial error, such as using the person’s money in a way the deputyship order does not allow for.

Final Thoughts

No-one knows the future, but it makes sense to plan ahead where you can. Getting a lasting power of attorney is the easiest option and can really help when it comes to the day-to-day decisions. You will also have more input if you make decisions while you can.

Lasting power of attorney only starts if you lose the capacity to make decisions for yourself.

If you want more information you can contact the Office for the Public Guardian.

It can feel a bit overwhelming when you experience an employment dispute as an employer. How do you resolve employment disputes and establish harmony in the workplace again? This article outlines a few different strategies for dealing with employment disputes. Read on to find out more. 

Prevention

The best way of dealing with a dispute is to try to prevent it from happening in the first place. This is not always possible, but it’s something to strive for. Companies often have team building days that are designed to help employees get to know each other better and to provide a sense of unity. These types of initiatives can help avoid employment disputes by building a better understanding between co-workers of each other’s personalities and preferences. 

Look at the Employment Contract

When employment disputes pop up, the first thing you should do is look at the employment contract and see if any of its terms apply to the dispute. The whole point of an employment contract is to try and avoid disputes by putting in writing the expectations of both the employer and the employee and what their rights and obligations are by one another. If you’ve done a good job in drawing up a comprehensive employment contract, then it may dissolve any employment disputes that arise. 

Listen

If you’re dealing with a dispute between co-workers, you need to take time to listen to each side of the story. Invite each employee to speak with you in a private space, and assure them that there will be no negative consequences for them sharing what’s on their mind. Ask other employees for their take on the situation if they witnessed the incident so you can get an outside view. Listening well can give you all kinds of clues about what is really going on in employment disputes. 

Mediation

Sometimes when employment disputes come up, it’s necessary to get an objective mediator into the office to work out a plan for moving forward between two parties. A mutually beneficial agreement needs to be put into place so that the dispute can be resolved. Bringing in someone who is outside of the workplace can be a good idea, as it prevents bias. Mediation can be done in a formal way or an informal way – it doesn’t really matter, as long as it works. Mediation can be led by a lawyer or a licenced counsellor.

Harassment  

If it’s deemed that harassment or discrimination has occurred, this needs to be taken very seriously. Discrimination refers to different treatment based on sex, race, disability, sexuality, age, religion and many other labels. Each employer should have a policy and processes to follow in order to rectify cases of harassment or discrimination.   

Call Your Lawyer

If you’re an employer and you’re feeling in over your head with employment disputes, then it might be time to call your lawyer. A good employment lawyer will know all of the latest legislation concerning employment disputes and exactly what your obligations are in all situations. So if you’re not sure what to do about employment disputes, give your lawyer a call to get some clarity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on our courts. Not only has it changed how all parties involved with any given case interact, but it has also significantly slowed the timeframes for verdicts and rulings. 

At the same time, the courts have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of individuals in need of relief from financial obligations to their children or ex-spouses, according to jdsupra.com. Due to the ramifications of the pandemic, including job loss, many parents have reported mounting child support arrears that they have no hope of paying quickly. 

If you find yourself in this situation, there are some actions that you can take to help yourself and your family.

Get legal help. Every state — even every county — is taking different action and precautions amidst the pandemic. Even as some courts reopen to normal procedure, others remain closed to a majority of in-person activity. Reaching out to a family attorney to help navigate the system will be a big help in these situations. The attorney can also help you better understand your options. 

Contact your local child support agency. While some of these agencies may still be closed to in-person appointments, many of them are serving customers via phone and virtually. They are helping parents who are having difficulty paying child support because of the pandemic with requests for payment reviews and adjustments, and also helping them make changes to their child support order when they work out agreements with their co-parent. 

Work out an agreement with the recipient of the child support. It is important to take the initial step of communicating about the situation with your co-parent. This should happen as soon as you know you may have a problem paying the support. If you have a good relationship with your co-parent, an agreement about a temporary modification may be possible. When you are working out this agreement, keep in mind that an oral agreement is not binding. It is essential that you document your communication efforts and any stipulations you and your spouse spell out as part of the child support modification. Not only will this protect you in the long run, the agreement will also need to be submitted to the court for a judge to review and approval.

Consider your unemployment payments. If you have filed for unemployment because of COVID-19, know that those payments will be considered when a court looks at your ability to pay child support. 

Document attempts to find work. As you make the effort to find work so that you can fulfill your child support requirements, you should document those steps so that they are available for your co-parent and the court should they have questions. 

If you find yourself unable to pay child support, it is essential that you take action quickly. If you fail to pay, no matter the reason, you will face repercussions. Unpaid child support can impact your credit score, cause you to lose your driver’s license, or even jail time.