Who Pays Medical Bills in a Car Accident Claim?

After a car accident, you may have extensive medical treatments to undergo. This can lead to costly medical bills. If you were not at fault during the accident, who is responsible? If you are filing a claim against another driver, what happens with your bills in the meantime?

Should You Accept an Early Offer?

The medical bills are beginning to stack up and you feel like you may drown in them. This is what many people feel after a serious accident. Most do not have money to pay medical bills easily. If you have insurance, this can help you with the bills before you can reach a settlement. If the other insurer offers you a settlement right away, you need to think hard about it. Odds are, you should not accept it.

Early offers are tempting because you want the money as soon as possible. No one wants to have to go through a long trial process before receiving any compensation. This is why it is important that you hire a good personal injury attorney, like a personal injury attorney … Read the rest

Virtual Child Visitation

What Is Virtual Child Visitation?

Over the past few decades, the ways in which Americans communicate and connect with each other have changed dramatically. Emails and texting have generally replaced physical letters and short, informative phone calls. Nearly every adult in America has access to a cell phone, and the Internet connects individuals in ways that probably would have been perceived as science fiction only a few decades before it became widely available.

It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that child custody and visitation agreements are increasingly addressing the concept of virtual visitation or virtual parenting time. These arrangements provide whichever parent is not physically caring for their child at any given time access to them via virtual means. It does not matter if parents have joint custody or some other arrangement. Virtual parenting time essentially just helps parents and kids remain connected and involved in each other’s lives when they are not physically located under the same roof.

Creating Virtual Parenting Time Expectations

Virtual parenting time clauses contained within custody agreements are generally approved by the courts unless they interfere … Read the rest

Slip and Fall Hazards

Slipping and falling, especially in a public place, can be embarrassing. But even more so, a slip and fall can result in a painful injury for the victim, including injuries that can result in the need for medical treatment, lost wages, and more. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident that occurred because of a negligent property or business owner, call a law firm to find out what legal options you have.

Slip and Fall Accident Statistics

According to national data, there are more than 30,000 people killed because of slip and fall accidents each year. These fatal accidents happen at businesses, homes, and work.

The most common places where slip and fall accidents occur are:

•       Areas where spills occur frequently (i.e. fast food restaurant self-serve drink area)
•       Doorways
•       Hallways that have lots of clutter
•       Heights that are unguarded
•       Ladders
•       Ramps
•       Stairways
•       Uneven walking surfaces
•       Wet or icy areas

How to Prevent Slip and Fall Incidents

There are steps that people can take – both the property owner and the potential victim – that can help … Read the rest

Do I Get Any Privacy After Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

After you file a workers’ compensation claim, you are entitled to privacy just as you were before the claim, but that might start to look a little different for you. Before your accident, you never had to worry about someone keeping an eye on your life and your habits because there was no reason for anyone to do so. Now that the insurance company is trying to protect themselves against potential false claims, there may be someone watching your public interactions.

What an Insurance Company Can Do Legally

The workers’ compensation insurance company will want to look out for themselves to ensure your claim is legitimate. Every year they lose money to false claims, so it’s understandable they wish to do this. In most cases, once they determine your injuries and your claims are real, the surveillance will discontinue. Some tactics they can legally perform include the following.

• Running a background check
• Surveying your home
• Searching your public social media posts and comments
• Taking pictures and videos of you when you’re outdoors
• Ordering medical evaluations of surveillance video of you

Another Fatal Shooting at Country Squire Apartments

Violent crime isn’t limited to urban centers, or run-down properties. Areas in eastern Shelby County, including Cordova, TN are experiencing violent crime, often at what many people would consider to be luxury apartment complexes.

Earlier this morning another victim was shot and killed in the 200 block of Glen Park Drive at The View at Shelby Farm Apartments in Cordova, TN. This apartment complex was formerly called Country Squire Apartments, and this is not the first such incident that has occurred at this complex.

DID YOU KNOW THAT APARTMENT OWNERS MUST PROVIDE REASONABLE SECURITY?

In Tennessee, apartment owners are generally required to provide reasonable security measure to tenants and guests of the property. What is “reasonable?” It depends on the circumstances, such as the type of crime committed against a victim and the history of crime on the property and in the surrounding neighborhood.

Every single apartment shooting case is different. We can’t help but wonder if in the Appling Lakes and Country Squire shooting cases, security measures could have prevented the victims’ deaths and injuries.  We do not know … Read the rest

My Legal Options After a Car Accident

Auto Accident Lawyer

The aftermath of a car accident can be a very confusing time, especially if you were significantly injured as a result. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the at-fault driver’s insurance company may be pressuring you to make hasty decisions in regard to settlements. However, it is in your interest to take the time to evaluate all your legal options before you make a decision. If you are not sure of what your options are, read on.

1. Accept the Insurance Company’s Initial Settlement Offer

This is generally NOT the recommended course of action. The initial offer will almost always be less than your case is actually worth. The insurance company may try to take advantage of your confusion and lack of firsthand knowledge about the process to avoid paying you what you deserve. Before you even consider accepting the initial offer, there are a couple of steps you should take.

First, you should receive medical attention for your injuries. Not only is this best for your health, but you can find out from the … Read the rest

How Much Alimony A Judge Might Grant You From Your Spouse

Personal Injury Lawyer

As you head toward divorce, you may be wondering how much alimony a judge might grant you from your spouse. In actuality, you may not receive an alimony award, as a divorce lawyer might tell you. There are several factors that the Judge will consider when determining whether or not one of the two spouses will receive alimony, and if so, how much and for how long. This is not to say that the Court cannot be swayed to rule one way or another when presented with certain facts and insight from a divorce lawyer who represents one of the spouses. If you are considering getting a divorce, give us a call to discuss your circumstances with a skilled divorce lawyer.

Alimony Determination Factors

During the divorce court proceedings, the presiding Judge will make a determination of alimony if either party petitions the court to receive alimony from the other party. Alimony is also referred to as spousal support, and in some instances, it’s also called palimony. When considering whether or not to award alimony to the … Read the rest

Wrongful Death Claims

While you might have a strong suspicion that someone’s negligence or direct intent led to the death of your loved one, the suspicion is not the same as knowing or proving fault. Wrongful death claims are notoriously tricky legal actions because, like a criminal case, they depend on evidence. Unfortunately for the surviving family members, emotion is not the same as evidence, and belief in the guilt of the defendant is not enough to carry a lawsuit through trial. Wrongful death claims are complex actions, and there are at least three things you should know before you file a suit.

1. Application

The term wrongful death is not applicable to every situation where a death occurs. The use of a wrongful death claim can typically be siphoned down to three instances: intentional killing, medical malpractice and negligent accidents. While criminal trials are usually held for murderers, it is possible that a person can be found innocent at a criminal proceeding and found guilty in a civil action. For example, O.J. Simpson was sued for wrongful death after being found not guilty … Read the rest

Tips on Finding a Private Defense Attorney

Tips on Finding a Private Defense Attorney

If you are accused of a crime, you usually have options available to you regarding representation. You may have the choice to represent yourself, although a judge will make the final decision whether to allow this. The judge may also assign you a public defender depending on your financial circumstances and the seriousness of the charges. Regardless of the situation, however, you also have the option of hiring a private defense attorney.

It is almost always in your interest to have a defense attorney represent you. However, not all private defense lawyers are equally skilled, and if you decide to hire your own, you want to be sure your money is well spent. Here are some tips on how to find a good private defense attorney to represent you.

1. Don’t Choose the Most Expensive Attorney

There seems to be a perception in the mind of the public that the more you pay for an attorney’s services, the more competent or skilled the attorney is. This is not necessarily the case. Fees are … Read the rest

What Is Considered Medical Malpractice?

Medical Malpractice

A medical malpractice attorney can ensure that your right to fair compensation is protected. Medical malpractice is a concern, and incidents of negligence by healthcare providers occur every day in America, resulting in serious or fatal injuries to patients. Though the vast majority of medical professionals are highly capable, some are not, and even the best doctors can make a mistake that results in harm to their patients. If you or your loved one suffered an injury because the caregiver was negligent in their care or lack of care, or if there was an error in diagnosis, treatment, or management of the condition, contact a medical malpractice attorney.

What criteria must a medical malpractice claim meet for eligibility?

When medical malpractice attorneys review a case, they will make a determination as to whether or not the claim meets the legal criteria necessary for the victim to receive compensation. For a claim to have merit, all of the following must be true:

1.       The victim was a patient of the healthcare provider, whether that provider was a doctor, nurse, … Read the rest