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Recent Blog Posts
Am I Entitled to Compensation for Injuries in a Shared Fault Accident?
A personal injury claim can enable an injured person to recover financial compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. However, in order to receive financial compensation through a personal injury claim, the plaintiff must establish the defendant’s negligence or wrongdoing. Whether an injury results from a vehicle collision, truck crash, construction accident, or another incident, there is usually a multitude of factors that contribute to an injurious accident. The injured person’s own actions may even contribute to his or her injury. In cases of shared liability for an injury-causing accident, is the injured person still entitled to compensation?
Understanding Personal Injury Claims Based on Intentional Torts
A personal injury claim is a civil legal action that an injured individual may take against the party that injured him or her. Many personal injury claims are based on the concept of “negligence” or carelessness. Most car accidents, premises liability, and product liability claims are negligence-based claims. However, a personal injury claim may also be founded upon an intentional tort such as an assault, battery, or homicide.
Civil Claims Based on Intentional Wrongdoing
Most personal injury claims are founded upon an accusation of negligence. In a negligence-based claim, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s careless or irresponsible actions caused him or her harm. A personal injury claim may also be founded upon an intentionally harmful act such as:
New York Anti-Eviction Law Offers Relief to Tenants But Not All Landlords
There are few aspects of life that have not been affected by COVID-19. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, had their work hours cut, or were forced to quit their jobs due to COVID-19 related lockdowns. This has led to widespread financial hardship. To mitigate some of the effects of this financial uncertainty, the federal government has released funds in the form of stimulus checks to individuals and businesses. New York state has also extended the moratorium on tenant evictions. Although recent measures have provided financial relief to renters, many landlords are concerned about the effect anti-eviction laws will have on their own finances.
New York Bans Evictions Amid Continued COVID-19 Concerns
Approximately 330,000 individuals have lost their lives due to the COVID-19 virus as of January 2021. Millions more have felt the effects of the virus financially. In order to avoid struggling Americans from ending up on the streets, many states have issued moratoriums on evictions. This has provided many families with valuable time to get back on their feet financially; however, it has also caused considerable financial difficulties for many property owners and landlords.
What Are My Options if I Was in a Crash Caused by a Distracted Driver?
Distracted driving continues to be a huge contributor to serious automobile accidents in Connecticut and throughout the United States. We often associate distracted driving with texting while driving. However, distracted driving occurs when any type of distraction takes a motorist’s attention off of driving or his or her hands off of the wheel. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim.
What Is Distracted Driving?
For seasoned drivers, driving a motor vehicle becomes second nature. Most drivers instinctively know how to move their hands and feet to operate a car safely. However, when a driver is distracted, he or she may make crucial mistakes behind the wheel. Distracted driving can involve any of the following activities or behaviors:
Can I Sue After Losing a Loved One in a Pedestrian Accident?
Car accidents involving pedestrians are often fatal. In 2018 alone, over 6,000 individuals lost their lives in pedestrian accidents. Many of these accidents were caused by drivers who were distracted by technology, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, speeding, or otherwise acted recklessly or negligently. If your loved one passed away after being struck by a vehicle in New York, you may have a valid wrongful death case.
New York Laws Regarding Wrongful Death Claims
You may assume that any tragic death is considered a “wrongful death.” However, New York law specifies the requirements that must be met in order for a successful wrongful death lawsuit to be possible. These requirements include:
When Is a Commercial Property Owner Liable for an Injury?
If you or a loved one were injured on a commercial property in Connecticut, you may have questions about who is legally responsible for the injuries. Premises liability laws govern property owners’ liability for injuries that occur on their properties. Property owners are not expected to prevent every injury, but they are expected to take steps to reduce the chances of people being injured while visiting the property. Property owners may be held accountable for injuries caused by their negligence through a premises liability claim.
Understanding a Property Owner’s Legal Duty of Care
Commercial property owners must meet certain safety standards by law. Owners and occupiers of commercial properties must keep the premises free of hazards and unsafe conditions. If an unsafe condition does exist, they are expected to provide adequate warnings to visitors about the danger. Premises liability laws apply to owners and operators of:
Understanding Remote Notarizations for Connecticut Legal Matters
COVID-19 has dramatically impacted people’s lives throughout the United States and across the world. From employment concerns, to childcare, to legal matters, almost every facet of our lives has been affected. Finding a way to work around COVID-related restrictions has taken a good deal of ingenuity and flexibility. Many people are being asked to adapt to new ways of handling business and legal matters. Fortunately, Connecticut has made estate planning, real estate, and other legal procedures slightly easier to accomplish by allowing remote notarizations.
Notarizations May Be Conducted Virtually
Having a document notarized ensures that the document is not fraudulent or falsified. Traditionally, having a document notarized involves going to a notary, or an individual with special permission to act as a witness, confirming your identity, and then signing the document in front of him or her. However, stay-at-home orders and social distancing needs have made it difficult to have things notarized in the traditional capacity. Fortunately, Connecticut is allowing documents to be notarized virtually depending on the type of legal matter.
Who Is Legally Responsible for Costs Caused by a Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one were hurt in a truck accident, you may be wondering who is liable for the costs incurred by the accident. A serious truck collision can result in overwhelming medical bills and property damage. The injuries may also leave the injured person unable to work. Through a truck accident claim, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost income from missed work, reduced earning capacity, vehicle damage, and more. However, before you can file a personal injury claim, you and your attorney will need to determine the liable party to hold them responsible.
Liability for Truck Accidents
Determining who is liable for a truck accident is often a challenging task. Maintenance records, information from the truck’s event data recorder, physical proof at the accident scene, and other forms of evidence may be used to determine liability. The liable party may be:
How Can I Prepare for a Virtual Deposition in My Personal Injury Case?
COVID-19 has changed nearly every aspect of our lives – including the way legal proceedings are handled. Courts across the country are requiring personal injury depositions and other proceedings to take place remotely in order to reduce the spread of the virus. Although parties in a remote deposition attend the deposition via audio and video software, the overall structure of the deposition remains the same. Many of the same legal requirements and procedures will still apply. If you have been asked to participate in a virtual deposition or remote deposition, it is important to make sure you are fully prepared for a deposition and understand what to expect.
Technology Concerns During Remote Court Proceedings
The technology used for remote court proceedings in Connecticut may vary slightly from case to case, but most virtual court proceedings will involve the same basic setup. Instead of a physical room, your deposition will take place in a virtual environment. Some participants may be in a conference room or courtroom while others are in their homes. To participate in the virtual deposition, you will likely need a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and microphone. The court will send you an email explaining how to set up the video conferencing software or app used for the virtual deposition. You will also receive an email with a secure hyperlink and password for the virtual environment. Make sure the batteries in your device are charged, your Internet connection is stable, and that your microphone and camera are working correctly before the deposition begins.
The Basics of Pursuing Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur when a person receives a sudden and violent blow to the head or when an object pierces the skull and damages brain tissue. TBIs can result from car crashes, slip and fall accidents, assaults, and other incidents. Severe TBIs can cause long-term, debilitating symptoms. Victims of TBI are often burdened by overwhelming medical expenses and left unable to work. If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI, a personal injury claim may help you recover compensation for your damages if another party’s negligent actions led to your accident.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
The brain is responsible for a wide range of crucial body functions, including sensory information processing, memory, thought, muscle movement, and the regulation of breathing and blood pressure. When the brain is damaged, the results can be catastrophic. TBI sufferers may experience headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, inability to concentrate, memory problems, changes in mood, and more. In severe TBI cases, the sufferer may experience these symptoms as well as vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, numbness, inability to awaken from sleep, loss of coordination, and cognitive impairment. A concussion is a common form of TBI that can vary significantly in severity. Some people suffer a concussion and do not even realize it. Others, especially those who develop post-concussion syndrome, may experience incapacitating symptoms for weeks or months after the injury-causing incident.