Posted on July 24, 2020 in Personal Injury

In many car accidents, the events leading up to the collision are not always agreed upon by all of the parties involved in the crash. Maybe a vehicle ran through a stop sign and into an intersection without stopping. Perhaps a driver became distracted by his or her cellphone while driving on the road and rear-ended the vehicle in front of him or her. Those situations may seem fairly simple, but the details of all cases can be disputed. If you are involved in a car accident and suffer injuries, the last thing you will want to do is dispute with your insurance company over the events of the collision. Having sufficient evidence of your own ensures your side of the story is told accurately and the extent of your injuries and damages are documented properly, which helps in seeking compensation.

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 Posted on July 21, 2020 in Immigration

If you are seeking to stay in the U.S., but are not a full-fledged citizen, there are a few ways for you to do so. You have likely heard the term “Green Card”, but may not know what it is and how it can help you in your position. Your eyes may be focused on immigrating to the U.S. by any means possible, but you should be fully informed about your options and what rights each one gives you. This is especially important for those with children or those intending on starting a family in America. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offers two means by which those who were not born in the U.S. can legally reside and work here: obtaining a Green Card or becoming a U.S. citizen. Based on your background and priorities, you may prefer one option over the other.

Green Card Holders

If you are looking to reside in the U.S. permanently but wish to remain a citizen of your home country, you should apply for a Green Card. This allows you to live and work in the United States as long as you would like to, granting you permanent resident status. You can also petition for immediate family members to be granted a Green Card. Because Green Card holders maintain their citizenship with their home country, there are a number of rights that they are not entitled to. For instance, they are unable to hold a U.S. passport or vote in any U.S. elections. They also have restrictions on how long they can stay outside of the U.S. before losing their Green Card status. If they spend more than six months abroad, they risk losing their status. They should request a permit to leave the United States for over a year if they wish to keep their permanent resident status. Green Card holders are able to apply for full-fledged citizenship after having their Green Card for 5 years.

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 Posted on July 21, 2020 in Family Law

Even under the very best of circumstances, the divorce experience can take a significant psychological toll on everyone involved. The emotional effects of the end of a marriage can become even more complicated when the divorcing couple shares children, as children can be especially sensitive to the overwhelming changes to their household and lifestyle.

Sadly, in cases of a contentious divorce, the conditions can sometimes turn toxic as parents succumb to parental alienation syndrome. This occurs when one parent turns the children against the other parent. This syndrome morphs into a pattern of habitual parent-child relationship sabotage, often resulting in short and long-term psychological damage to the kids.

What Usually Causes Parental Alienation?

Generally, the alienating parent is often the less emotionally healthy of the two parents. Such behaviors can be sparked by a number of factors, but are usually driven by a desire for revenge, even when the alienating parent is the one who initiated the divorce. Three of the most common motivators to trigger parental alienation syndrome according to psychologists include:

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 Posted on July 17, 2020 in Immigration

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) oversees the lawful immigration to the United States. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, many immigration services have been conducted remotely or online as opposed to in-person over the past few months. USCIS has started to safely resume in-person services, but some naturalization ceremonies may still be conducted differently compared to the past. Those individuals who wish to become a natural citizen must complete an Application for Naturalization, which is Form N-400. Once accepted, he or she must take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony, which is the final step in completing the legal process to become a U.S. citizen. There are two different types of ceremonies, judicial, and administrative. The court administers the Oath of Allegiance in a judicial ceremony. USCIS administers the Oath of Allegiance in an administrative ceremony.

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 Posted on July 17, 2020 in Personal Injury

In the United States, the trucking industry plays a very crucial role in the supply chain by distributing goods to consumers throughout the country. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were more than 12.2 million large trucks registered in the United States in 2017, with an estimated 6.6 million drivers employed and operating in both intra- and interstate commerce driving. Trucking has revolutionized the supply chain for American retailers, but trucks have also proven to pose a danger on the roads for many reasons. Of all of the causes of truck accidents, preventing a trucking accident due to equipment malfunctions from lack of upkeep or inspection is one of the simplest.

Common Defective Parts

Because of the sheer size and mass of large trucks, the FMCSA, the policy-enforcing entity for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), requires regular inspections of the equipment and parts that are on the truck. This helps to ensure that the truck is in proper working condition and is safe to drive. Trucking companies are also required to keep thorough and accurate maintenance records for all of their trucks, including the date of the last inspection. When a truck has faulty parts or equipment, it could pose a danger to both the truck driver and other motorists on the road. Common truck part malfunctions include:

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 Posted on July 10, 2020 in Personal Injury

Vehicles that are produced today look very different from the first vehicles on the road, which were little more than a metal frame with an engine and two seat benches. Seatbelts were not even required in vehicles in the United States until 1968. Today, vehicle safety technology has become much more sophisticated and exists not only to protect occupants in the event of a crash but also to help prevent car crashes and injuries from happening in the first place. But does this technology actually work?

Types of Crash Avoidance Technologies

Much research has been done as to the causes of vehicle crashes throughout the country and most of them are caused by human error. Millions of accidents occur in the United States each year because of distractions or one small mistake. After all, multitasking is something that humans do not do efficiently and driving requires a decent ability to do so. However, crash avoidance technologies are beginning to become standard features on many vehicles in the country. Some common types of crash avoidance technologies include:

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 Posted on July 10, 2020 in Immigration

Many people who were born in other countries dream of coming to the United States to live. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is an agency within the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that manages the country’s naturalization and immigration system. In some situations, immigrants to the United States may be deported if they are found to be there illegally. To begin the immigration removal process, DHS will typically issue a Notice to Appear or NTA. An NTA can be delivered in person or via mail by an immigration officer, and it contains important information about the removal proceedings. There are different types of hearings that can be scheduled as part of the process, such as individual hearings, bond redetermination hearings, and rescission hearings. Regardless of the type of hearing, it is imperative to be prepared to secure a positive outcome.

Preparation Is Key

An immigration hearing can last several days, and statements are given under oath. It is an opportunity to build a strong defense against deportation and convince the government that you deserve to live and work legally in the United States. A DHS attorney will question you, any witnesses, and submit documentation and arguments in opposition to the requested grant of relief.

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 Posted on July 09, 2020 in Family Law

Despite our very best efforts to mentally prepare for the emotional pain that accompanies divorce, it is difficult — if not impossible — to brace ourselves for the outcome, no matter how hard we try. Even couples who split amicably, and are still on good terms after the decision to end their marriage, are often surprised by the emotional tide they find themselves swept up in during and after the divorce proceedings. In reality, the end of a marriage takes a toll on anyone who experiences such a transition, but adopting some healthy coping strategies early on in the process can help pave the way for a less painful road to recovery.

What Does it Mean to Cope in a Healthy Way?

There are all kinds of ways people cope during a loss or major disappointment in life and some of those strategies end up causing more harm and more problems when used consistently. Overeating, binge drinking, or excessive spending can all backfire when used as a way to regulate our emotions. In contrast, coping in a healthy way promotes self-care and helps to relax and support our mental, physical, and spiritual health. Throughout the divorce process, practice the following tips to cope with any painful, uncomfortable emotions in a healthy way:

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 Posted on July 08, 2020 in Personal Injury

For many Americans, driving or riding in a car or other vehicle is crucial to go about our daily life. We need to ride in vehicles to get to and from our homes, schools, jobs, and everywhere else. We are so accustomed to vehicles that we sometimes forget how dangerous they can be. Car accidents can produce many types of injuries ranging from simple bruises and superficial scrapes to more serious injuries, such as broken bones, brain injuries, or in some major vehicle collisions, even crush injuries.

What Is a Crush Injury?

A crush injury occurs when a person’s body is stuck between two objects and excessive force is applied. These types of injuries are not uncommon in car accidents and though they can occur anywhere on the body, they most frequently occur to the extremities such as the arms, hands, feet, and legs. Symptoms of a crush injury can include:

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 Posted on July 02, 2020 in Family Law

Regardless of whether or not the decision to end your marriage is mutual, once the agreement to divorce has materialized, both parties can feel as if the worst part — the big decision — is over. However, the reality of divorce says otherwise. It is often the moments leading up to, and those immediately after the litigation process, that can sneak up and cause conflict. Couples who have managed to remain civil and those who are experiencing existing tension have the opportunity to lessen the chances of a contentious divorce by looking for signs of underlying tension.

Signs Your Divorce May Take a Turn

While no two divorces look alike and every couple’s circumstances differ, the following signs are common red flags that may point to conflict on the horizon:

1. Custody Disputes - Anytime children are involved in a divorce, the emotions and stakes are always heightened. While many parents choose to find ways to cooperate with one another for the sake of the kids, the smallest of disagreements when it comes to parenting plans or parenting time can quickly take a turn for the worst. This is especially true if the reason for the divorce was particularly damaging, due to infidelity or an intimate betrayal of some sort. Be sure to address your concerns with your attorney if you or the other parent are beginning to lose your patience with one another in front of the children and you are noticing that you are not seeing eye to eye on parenting issues.

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