Posted on March 16, 2017 in Personal Injury

Although a slip and fall injury can occur at almost any time of the year, winter can be an especially busy season for emergency room doctors. Often, this is because the dropping temperatures create more ice and snow in parking lots, on sidewalks, and in entrance and exit areas. Learn what you can do to avoid injury, and how to protect rights, should a slip and fall happen to you or someone you love when winter weather strikes.

Give Yourself Extra Time

Whether you are headed to the office, off to a doctor’s appointment, or simply out running errands, it is always a good idea to give yourself extra time during the winter season. This makes you less likely to rush and more likely to see patches of ice or debris that might be covering icy surfaces. Going slower also decreases your risk of experiencing a severe injury, should you end up missing a patch of ice or slick snow.

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 Posted on March 10, 2017 in Immigration

Many individuals are unfamiliar with U visas and are unsure about how and why they are awarded. However, if you are unlucky enough to be the victim of a crime, you may be able to apply for one. Moreover, f you consent to help with the prosecution of your attackers, you may be able to remain in the United States even if you entered without inspection. It is important, though, to be aware of the requirements for a U visa before you begin the application process, especially in recent weeks. Given the current flux in the U.S. immigration system, it is not implausible to think that regulations may change in the future.

Restrictions & Requirements

The U visa is granted to victims of certain crimes, such as human trafficking, prostitution, violent assault, domestic violence, and several others. A person generally has a higher likelihood of being granted a U visa if he or she has been the victim of a crime in which he or she suffered severe abuse (mental or physical), but there are a host of crimes for which one may be considered for a visa. The single most important criteria is that you, as a victim, must be willing and able to assist U.S. law enforcement in attempting to prosecute the people who harmed you. The requirements specifically state that you are “helpful, or likely to be helpful” in the prosecution of your attacker.

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 Posted on March 10, 2017 in Family Law

Couples who are in or nearing retirement are at serious risk for financial troubles if they decide to divorce. This is because, unlike younger folks, they do not have the time to earn back the money they may lose in the process. As such, it is critical that older couples plan carefully before deciding to file. The following covers some potential strategies, and explains how they can effectively mitigate the risk of costly mistakes often made during a gray divorce.

Take an Honest Look at Your Debts and Income

Because the potential for added income is limited as you near or enter retirement, it is crucial that you take an honest look at your income and debts before deciding to file. Not only does this help you understand what sort of situation you are up against, it can assist you in creating a viable strategy, moving forward. For example, if you find that your combined income and debts simply cannot be split without making sacrifices, you can decide, jointly, to sell the home, pay off your debts, and then divide whatever proceeds are left.

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 Posted on March 09, 2017 in Personal Injury

Commerce is driving the flow of goods at higher rates than ever. E-commerce, or-online sales, are increasing the journey of goods from warehouses for distribution all over the country. The vehicles transporting these goods—massive tractor trailer trucks—are sharing the roads with everyday drivers—busy moms, teen drivers, senior citizens and school buses.

However, the sheer weight of these trucks can be problematic. When a truck is not properly loaded, a hazardous driving condition can be created due to an uneven load.

If you have been involved in an serious truck accident and suspect the driver was driving in a dangerous manner, contact a truck accident attorney who can assist you in seeking compensation for injuries and damage you have suffered.

Dangerous Truckers

There are several scenarios where truckers put lives at risk on the road and may include the following:

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 Posted on February 27, 2017 in Family Law

While some married parents choose to divorce, others decide to separate. For some, this is a transition into divorce. For others, it is a chance to determine if divorce is truly the right path. Whatever the case or reason, parents who legally separate have the right to pursue child support. Learn more about this process, and how an experienced family law attorney can assist you, with help from the following information.

How Legal Separation Differs from Divorce

Unlike divorce, which is a complete severance of the marriage, legal separation does not legally end the marriage. Instead, it is a process through which couples develop a formal arrangement while living apart. Married couples do not need this arrangement to live apart, but many choose to pursue this legal documentation anyway. It gives the disadvantaged party the right to pursue financial assistance, including a request for child support and/or alimony (whenever appropriate). It also offers additional benefits above and beyond financial matters.

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 Posted on February 22, 2017 in Immigration

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a law originally passed in 1994, under President Clinton, and has been reauthorized multiple times up until 2013. It is one of the most commonly used methods by immigrants who have been abused to obtain status in the United States. However, in recent weeks, the incoming federal administration has indicated that it might make significant cuts to VAWA’s grant funding, which may cause significant issues for immigrants who rely on it.

Current Application Procedures

As of this writing, VAWA offers a way for immigrants, who have been abused by a qualifying family member, to obtain valid immigration status independent of that family member. Most petitioners are women. However, despite the title of the Act, anyone may apply if he or she meets the criteria, regardless of gender.

The Act itself is permanent—its provisions do not require congressional re-authorization. Still, VAWA’s funding does require re-authorization every few years. Therefore, sometimes the programs and grants offered under the program will vary or have limited ability to affect its recipients.

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 Posted on February 22, 2017 in Personal Injury

In 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 998 deaths attributable to car accidents in Illinois. Of those, 369 fatalities were related to speeding. This means that one out of every three fatal traffic accidents is caused by speeding.

Speed Limits in Illinois

Unless otherwise posted, the speed limits in Illinois are:

• 65 mph for interstate tollways, freeways, and some four-lane highways;
• 55 mph for most other highways and rural areas;
• 30 mph for city/town areas;
• 15 mph for alleys; and
• 20 mph for school zones.

Additionally, some rural highways have a speed limit of 70 mph.

Why Does it Matter if Speeding Caused My Accident?

In every accident, the person who filed the lawsuit must prove fault. One way to prove fault is to determine if one of the cars involved broke any traffic laws at the time of the accident. Your case will be much easier to prove if you have evidence that the party accused of fault was speeding.

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 Posted on February 20, 2017 in Family Law

Baby boomers - or those that are nearing retirement age - are setting a major trend in the divorce arena. Amidst declining divorce rates for most age groups, late-life divorce rates have doubled over the last two decades. Most feel confident about their decision, and many separate on surprisingly good terms. Yet there are still risks associated with these late-term divorces. One of the biggest is the potential for a financial disaster for one or both parties. If you are planning on filing for divorce, the following information can help you understand how to reduce this risk.

Divorce is More Complex Than Most Realize

While most couples have gone through at least one major financial transaction in their lifetime, moving to another state or purchasing a new home pales in comparison to divorce because. Divorce touches every aspect of your life. It can impact your credit and ability to obtain financing. Your car insurance policy, health insurance policy, and renters/homeowners insurance must be changed. Bank accounts, retirement accounts, and other financial accounts are impacted as well. Depending on whether you plan to go through a name change, you may even be changing your driver’s license, social security card, and other legal documents. Indeed, divorce is likely the most complex financial transaction in existence.

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 Posted on February 16, 2017 in Personal Injury

One of the most traumatic life events is being involved in a car accident. Motor vehicle accidents take many forms, including the all too common fender bender and accidents involving excessive speed or impairment which can lead to high speed collisions or side impact accidents. Whichever type, car accidents can cause injuries and long term pain and suffering.

Rear-end accidents are no exception, and the injuries sustained by the impacted driver can be serious. The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration reported that 28 percent of all crashes are rear-end collisions. This demonstrates how prevalent rear-end collisions are and how many negligent drivers share the roads with you.

If you were the victim of a rear-end collision caused by a driver who was not acting in a reasonable manner, you may be entitled to compensation—a monetary award for your injuries. Speaking with a respected personal injury attorney should be your first step in determining if you have a viable case.

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 Posted on February 13, 2017 in Family Law

Parentage is the legal relationship between a child and their parents - both mother and father. Of course, parentage issues usually address matters relating to the father since, in the state of Illinois, paternity is not assumed when the parents are not married. Still, there are issues pertaining to mothers addressed under the Illinois Parentage Act. The following explains further, and provides details on establishing paternity, your rights as a parent, and how to address child support issues.

Understanding Your Rights as a Parent

Under the Illinois Parentage Act, every child’s right to receive mental, physical, and emotional support from each parent. From this, parents can conclude that their rights are, in actuality, privileges. Further, these rights are not in place to benefit the parent; they are there to protect the best interest of the child. Yet the best interests of the child and the rights of the parent do intersect. A child’s right to receive physical and emotional support from each parent provides the father with the right to pursue parenting time and allocation of parental responsibilities, and the child’s right to receive financial support from each parent gives a supporting parent the right to pursue child support.

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