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Estate Planning Considerations For Parents Of Dependent Children

If you have minor or otherwise dependent children, it is important to make sure that you have a comprehensive estate plan in place. It is also important to make sure that your estate plan is up to date at all times. Failure to make necessary changes to an existing estate plan can leave your loved ones—and the courts—unsure of what your true wishes may be in the event of your death or incapacitation. Similarly, if you do not have a legally enforceable estate plan in place at all times, you will leave your children vulnerable to the processes imposed by the state in such situations.

You need to make sure that your wishes are articulated in ways best described as “crystal clear” and to make sure that your estate planning documentation reflects shifts in these wishes or circumstances as time ticks by. The experienced Memphis, TN estate planning lawyer team at Patterson Bray PLLC can help you to achieve and maintain these critical objectives.

Estate Planning Lawyer – Memphis, TN

Not so long ago, most individuals drafted simple wills and … Read the rest

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What Is Estate Planning?

Estate planning refers to the development of instructions that dictate how your estate will be managed after you pass away. Having an estate plan will ensure that the state will follow your orders regarding how you want your assets distributed. If you have intended beneficiaries, naming them in your plan makes it much easier and faster for them to receive any inheritance that you pass down. 

What should be included in an estate plan?

An estate plan contains important documents that provide information about your wishes for your estate as well as your preferences for the medical care that you will receive in the future. These documents include a will, living will, trust, and medical directives. Should an event occur that results in your incapacitation and inability to clearly communicate, your medical team and loved ones will refer to your estate plan. 

What mistakes should I avoid?

Many people tend to put off working on their estate plan until a major life event or emergency happens. However, an estate plan should be developed well before you have to go through … Read the rest

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Steps to Take In A Personal Injury Claim

Whether your personal injury resulted from a car accident or slip and fall accident, it’s important to take the proper steps in order to receive fair compensation.

• Take Photos: If you are physically able, it’s a good idea to take a few photos of the accident scene. If you were involved in a car accident, a personal injury lawyer in Memphis, TN might suggest taking photos of the damage to your vehicle, photos of any nearby traffic signs, and photos of skid marks on the road.
• Talk to Witnesses: If there were bystanders present at the scene of the accident, don’t be afraid to ask for their names and contact information. A personal injury lawyer Memphis, TN clients trust may call these witnesses to testify on your behalf in court.
• Seek Medical Care: Seeing a doctor for your personal injury is crucial, as a personal injury lawyer Memphis, TN residents count on can confirm. A doctor will examine your injury and determine the best treatment for it. Make sure to ask for copies of all relevant medical

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Insurance Claims After An Accident

When your Memphis personal injury lawyer files a claim on your behalf with an insurance company, there are several different types of damages that he or she may pursue. Compensation for medical expenses may be awarded, as well as lost wages from being unable to work. Pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and other losses you have suffered might also be included in an injury claim.

The claim your attorney files will likely be either a first-party claim or a third-party claim. A first-party claim is one where you file a claim for your injuries with your own insurance company. This may happen if the accident was your own fault, or if you live in a “no fault” states. In these states, you file a claim with your own insurer regardless of who caused the accident. Other reasons why you might file a first-party claim for your injury would be if you were injured in a hit and run accident, if the other driver was underinsured, or if the other driver had no auto insurance. A personal injury lawyer Memphis, TN … Read the rest

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Types of Personal Injury Cases

There are a variety of ways that a person may succumb to an accident. If you have sustained damages such as injuries or financial loss, you may consider taking legal action in the form of a personal injury claim with our Memphis personal injury law firm. Taking legal action is a way to obtain damages from the party responsible for the accident. There are many ways that a personal injury case can occur. Our passionate team has represented a wide range of personal injury cases:

• Car Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Trucking Accidents
• Injuries in the 
• Workplace
• Premises Liability

Our Memphis personal injury law firm may first recommend that you first pursue an insurance claim in an attempt to settle your case outside of the courtroom. Victims have the advantage of resolving their case in as timely a manner as possible. While, in some cases, we may recommend filing a lawsuit, we will first work to resolve your case through the insurance claims process. 

Signs You Need Help from a Memphis Personal Injury Law Firm

In the wake of an accident, you … Read the rest

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The Basics of Personal Injury Lawsuits

When you or someone you love suffers an injury through someone else’s negligence, it may be tough to recover. Financial devastation may occur as a result of medical bills and a lack of income. Filing a personal injury case against the responsible party may be the best way to try and recoup some of what you lost. Understanding how the process of the litigation and the recovery of damages occurs may better prepare you for the road ahead. Lawsuit Filed  When a lawsuit is filed, the court dictates proper procedures. Your Memphis personal injury lawyer and the opposing side will go through a period of discovery; or rather, the time when all evidence relating to the incident that caused injury is exchanged. These include your medical records, work records, and any other pertinent info that would help a judge determine the outcome of your case. The Trial  If the parties involved cannot settle, the case proceeds to court. It is here that a judge, and possibly a jury, will hear the allegations and facts of the case side by side.… Read the rest Continue Reading

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US Traffic Deaths Hit 16-Year High

Here are the numbers: 42,915 people.

That’s how many people the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates died in motor vehicle crashes last year in the United States. 42,915 lives lost. It’s a 16-year-high statistic; in fact, it’s a 10.5% increase from the previous year. It’s a crisis, and a national tragedy.

But it’s more than that: each of those people whose lives were ended on America’s roads leaves behind an empty seat at the dinner table; many leave behind children, parents and loved ones – unbearable pain. Traffic fatalities don’t just end lives; they tear apart families and disrupt the survivor’s lives.

And they’re happening more and more. (Research places this alarming statistic behind only South Africa and Thailand.)

If a family member is killed in a car crash, what should you do? Here are some suggestions:

• Speak with a licensed therapist. The loss of a family member — be it a primary parent, a beloved cousin, or whomever — is often fraught with grief. Feelings may include rage, survivor’s guilt, self-destructive tendencies, or some combination thereof. It’s understandable

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Catastrophic Injury 

Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury is one that happens suddenly, without warning, and leaves its victims with long-term injuries that permanently prevent them from performing gainful work. Catastrophic injuries usually occur in the form of physical harm to the brain or spinal cord, which has severe long-term effects on an individual’s ability to function. However, there are many other common catastrophic injuries. As long as the injury results in a permanent and debilitating injury or deformity, it is typically considered a catastrophic injury.

Common Types of Catastrophic Injury 

Neck & Spinal Cord The most common types of catastrophic injuries are neck and spinal cord injuries. These typically occur from falls, car accidents, or trampoline accidents. Neck and spinal cord injuries are often debilitating and can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. Victims of these injuries often require lifelong medical care and rehabilitation and also suffer severe emotional trauma from their injuries, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.

Burns Another common type of catastrophic injury is a burn injury. Severe burn injuries nearly always leave victims permanently disfigured and scarred. … Read the rest

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Top 7 Things You Need To Know If Injured On Someone Else’s Property

If you are injured on someone else’s property, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the property owner. Laws vary from state to state, so it is important to speak to a Memphis personal injury lawyer from Patterson Bray PLLC to learn what your options are. If you have been injured on someone else’s property, here are the top seven things you need to know:

1. You Must Show That the Negligent Party Owed You a Duty of Care

Tennessee law requires that you prove the negligent party’s carelessness caused your injury. To do this, you must show that the person or business had a duty to care for your safety. An experienced Memphis personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.

2. The Negligent Party Must-Have Breached That Duty of Care

Once you establish that the other party owed you a duty of care, you must prove they breached their duty in some way. The most common breach is when someone fails to take reasonable steps to prevent another … Read the rest

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