Motorcycle Helmet Laws: 4 Facts

Posted by jmr on Nov 19, 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments Personal Injury Lawyer Riding a motorcycle can be thrilling and offer you many adventures on the open road. As you travel, you may wonder about how each state in the country views and enforces helmet laws. These laws tend to vary, and knowing a few facts about helmets before you use your motorcycle can help keep you safe and understand the rules of the road. Age Plays a Factor  Some states have mandatory helmet laws for minors or those who are under the age of 20. Texas is one such state while Colorado, Idaho and Kansas require those aged 17 and younger to wear a helmet, whether they are driving a motorcycle or riding as a passenger. You may want to review the laws in states you plan to pass through if you are planning a long-distance trip. If you plan to carry minor passengers, it is important to have helmets available that fit properly, as one that is too large may not protect a smaller passenger as it should. Law-Free States Exist Three states have no helmet laws at all: Iowa, New Hampshire and Illinois. This makes wearing a helmet completely optional without the risk of being ticketed as you travel. However, since wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries in an accident, you may want to protect yourself and your passengers by making them available. If you do decide to wear a helmet, look for one that is approved by the Department of Transportation and that protects your face as well as your head. Some States Have Mandatory Laws  Over one dozen states in the U.S. make helmet usage mandatory for all riders. The District of Columbia, California, Alabama, and Maryland are just a few of these states that try to protect riders with this law. The cost of violating the law varies by each state, but since tickets and fines might affect the cost of your insurance, you may want to consider understanding and obeying the mandatory helmet law where it exists. Insurance Coverage Can Lower Helmet Cost  Some insurance companies that cover motorcycle riders offer different coverage options for riding accessories, including helmets. Since a quality helmet can cost more than $200, this type of coverage can be useful and help you save money when you need to replace or buy an additional helmet for passenger use. The varying helmet laws across...
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Motorcycle Accidents: Dispelling the Myth That You Don’t Need an Attorney

Posted by jmr on Nov 15, 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments If you were in a motorcycle accident, you may deserve to receive compensation for your injuries or property damage. Before you file a claim, you may wonder whether or not you need a lawyer. After all, there are a couple of myths that usually have people wary of hiring a lawyer in a civil lawsuit. It’s important to know the myths and the truth behind them, Lawyers Only Want Your Money A lot of people believe that lawyers are too expensive or that they are only interested in the payment that you provide. This is far from the truth. A motorcycle accident attorney wants to help you. He or she wants to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve. Most motorcycle attorneys work for a contingency fee. This means that they receive a portion of your settlement when you receive it. You don’t have to have the money upfront. Accident Victims Can File Lawsuits Alone This isn’t so much of a myth as it is misleading. It is within your rights to file a motor vehicle accident claim against another driver. You do not have to have a lawyer to file a lawsuit or to fight in a civil suit. However, it may not be the best decision. A lot of drivers who represent themselves make a lot of mistakes early on. Mistakes are enough that it can get an entire case thrown out. For instance, where a lawyer may know all of the different deadlines that you have to meet, will know all of the varying court fees that have to be paid, you may not know this information by heart. It is easy to forget something that you need. If you forget a filing date or if you do not fill out your paperwork properly, then the judge can dismiss your case. When you’re alone, you also don’t have anyone to help you negotiate against insurance companies. After all, insurance companies may try to offer you a lower deal and you may not recognize how much your accident is worth or that you can still fight against them. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident against a passenger vehicle, then odds are you deserve compensation. You do not have to fight the battle on your own, however. When you have a motorcycle accident lawyer, at your side, you are more likely to receive the...
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Repetitive Motion Injuries and Workers’ Compensation

Posted by jmr on Nov 14, 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments When you think of a work injury that might entitle you to workers’ compensation, you might think of a huge slip and fall accident or a back injury. While these things can qualify for coverage, big issues such as these aren’t the only types of accidents and injuries that do. There’s a high percentage of workers who develop a repetitive motion injury, which does entitle the worker to workers’ comp coverage. Some Examples of Repetitive Motion Injuries A repetitive motion injury might go by another name as well, including a repetitive stress injury, but they’re all basically the same thing. There are various injuries that fall under this category, with the following being just a few. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – More and more people in the nation are completing their work duties from behind a computer screen than ever before. With the repetitive motion of typing and the use of a computer mouse, the nerves in the wrist are going to receive a certain amount of pressure. This damages the nerves and the tendons in the carpal tunnel, which leads to weakness, numbness and pain. This condition is known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Tendinitis – Your muscles are connected to your bones by tendons. Anywhere in your body where you use those certain muscles over and over again could cause the tendons to inflame. This is known as tendonitis and presents itself with swelling and tenderness. Tennis Elbow – Although the name derived from a tennis injury, anyone who repeatedly bends their elbows can sustain tennis elbow. You’d feel pain on the outside of your elbow, and may also experience the loss of strength in your grip. Some Common Jobs That Result in Repetitive Motion Injuries Almost any job could result in a repetitive motion injury, but there are some that cause more of these injuries than others. Cashiers, healthcare workers, janitors, firefighters, musicians, secretaries and professionals in similar positions could develop carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, tendinitis and a wide range of other types of repetitive motion injuries. Filing a Claim for Workers’ Compensation As soon as you realize you are dealing with a repetitive motion injury, you should bring it up with your employer. Next, you should speak with a doctor about it. The sooner you get an actual diagnosis, the sooner you’ll be able to seek compensation. Your lawyer can help you complete the paperwork for...
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Common Causes and Consequences of Motorcycle Accidents

Posted by jmr on Nov 13, 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments If you love riding your motorcycle, you should also be aware of safety regulations and the laws of the road. You no doubt understand the risks you take when you get on your bike. An accident on your motorcycle can be more serious than if you were in a car or truck. If someone else causes your injuries, you could be justified in filing a personal injury lawsuit. It’s helpful to know what can lead to crashes and when another driver would be liable. Speeding Driving at excessive speeds is one of the leading causes of collisions on the road. If another vehicle is exceeding the speed limit and hits you while you are on your motorcycle, your injuries could be devastating and life-altering. Not only will the offending motorist likely be ticketed, but you have solid ground to stand on if you wish to file a lawsuit. Your attorney could show that the speeding driver was driving recklessly and carelessly. Driving While Distracted Distracted driving is another common way that accidents occur. This can range between drivers texting or talking on their cell phones to trying to find a radio station to talking to people in the backseat. It doesn’t take more than a second of distractions for a motorist to lose control or become disoriented. Distracted driving can cause head-on collisions as vehicles veer from one side of the road to the other. They can also lead to rear-end wrecks when the distracted driver doesn’t realize that traffic has stopped ahead. Road Rage Perhaps the biggest case you would have to file a lawsuit for a motorcycle accident would be if another driver was deliberately trying to hurt you. Road rage is dangerous and can cause severe injuries or even death. Someone could become enraged at you because you inadvertently cut off him or her. You may also have been driving too close to a car in front of you or not going fast enough for another driver behind you. Driving Under the Influence Drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs would also be grounds not only for the offending individual to lose his or her license and serve jail time but for you to file a lawsuit. As a motorcyclist, the effects of a collision in this situation could be catastrophic. If you have questions about a car accident case, contact an auto accident...
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Is It Cost Effective to Hire an Attorney to Fight a Speeding Ticket?

Posted by jmr on Oct 30, 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments Depending on how fast you were going, the fine for speeding can be several hundred dollars. Because the fine may be similar to, or even less than, what it would cost to hire an attorney to help you fight the ticket, you may wonder if it is worth the extra expense. However, the costs of a speeding ticket may extend beyond the fine and may take some time to accrue. Often, it is more cost-effective to hire an attorney and challenge the ticket. Hidden Costs of Speeding Tickets On average, it costs about $250 to $350 to hire a traffic attorney. Depending on the seriousness of your offense, the fine for your speeding ticket may be close to that amount or even less.  However, the costs do not stop when you pay the fine. Paying a speeding ticket is an admission of guilt. When your insurance company finds out about the ticket, it will likely raise your premium rates. On average, you will pay an extra $25 a month for three years. This amounts to $900 extra that you will pay if you do not hire an attorney and challenge your ticket in court. Of course, there is also the option of representing yourself in traffic court. This may save you attorney fees, but you will still have to pay court fees. If your case is not successful, you will end up paying the fine and the increased insurance premium anyway. Not only that, but you will have to take time off from work to go to court, which could result in less pay depending on the arrangement that you have with your employer. Other Advantages of Hiring an Attorney Your chances of successfully defending yourself against a traffic infraction increase dramatically when you hire an attorney to represent you in traffic court. Your attorney is more familiar with the law than you are and has more experience in court. Additionally, the attorney likely knows the judge that may hear your case and how to get on their good side. Hiring an attorney can save you time. You do not need to go through the process of gathering evidence and accessing your driving record yourself. Your attorney has the resources to complete these tasks for you more efficiently. It may not be appropriate to hire a traffic attorney in every case, but often it is the more cost-effective course....
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