Finding the Right Injury Lawyer - 5 Practical Tips (for Australia)

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Finding the Right Injury Lawyer: 5 Practical Tips

If you have been injured at work, in a car accident or in another similar situation, you might be thinking about hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you with your case. This can be a much better move than trying to handle things on your own, but it is important to hire the right attorney for the job. These are five tips that can help you do so.

1. Choose a Lawyer With a Convenient Office Location

First of all, you'll want to think about convenience. If at all possible, you will probably want to hire a lawyer who has an office that isn't too far away from you. Since you might have to go in for multiple meetings, this will help make things easier for you.

2. Find Someone Who Specializes in Personal Injury Law

There are attorneys out there who practice in several different areas of the law. For best results, however, you will probably want to look for an attorney who specializes in personal injury law.

3. Look for Someone with Ample Experience

Even though there are some great new lawyers out there, you probably don't want to be part of the learning process for a brand new attorney. Instead, you will probably want to look for someone who has plenty of experience. This can help you ensure that you get the legal representation that you deserve.

4. Consider Hiring an Attorney On a Contingency Basis

Different lawyers expect to be paid in different ways. There are some attorneys out there who prefer to be paid a flat or hourly rate for their services. To avoid having to come up with a large sum of money up-front, consider hiring an attorney on a contingency basis. These lawyers will not require you to pay anything in the beginning, and they will only collect a fee if they win your case. Not only can this make things easier for you during a time when you might not be feeling very financially stable, but it can also help you ensure that your lawyer is working as hard as possible on your case.

5. Pay Attention During the Initial Consultation

It is always a good idea to meet with the attorney for a consultation before hiring him or her. Then, you will have a chance to talk about your case. This will give you an opportunity to meet the attorney. During this consultation, pay attention, and make sure that you choose a lawyer who seems interested in your case, who answers your questions and who you feel like you can trust with handling your important injury case.

If you are dealing with a personal injury case, it is probably important to you that you find the right injury lawyer. Plus, the lawyer that you choose can truly make or break your case. Luckily, if you follow these five tips, you should be able to find an attorney who you can count on.

NALYTICS.COM FROM NALANDA TECHNOLOGY SET TO TRANSFORM PRECISION SEARCH FOR UK LAW FIRMS

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Fast-expanding precision search technology firm Nalanda Technology is spearheading its move into the legal sector with the launch of Nalytics.com - a dynamic high precision enterprise search and discovery solution which has been engineered specifically to support law firms in precision data search. 

According to a report from the International Data Corporation (IDC) we spend almost one-fifth of our day searching for the right information. It goes without saying, especially for busy law firms, that this time could be better spent on more important tasks. However, the information still needs to be found.

David Rivett, COO of Nalytics, explains:

“Nalytics has a number of Use Cases across the legal sector including, M&A (Due Diligence), Contract Analysis, Disclosure/Litigation, Data Preservation and Research. Law firms need the right tools to help them make better business decisions and improve their customer service experience. Nalytics helps them to easily and quickly search and uncover the right information at the right time. Leading full-service law firm Gosschalks Solicitors, use Nalytics and have achievedsignificant cost savings through reduced overheads and management time.

With a precision search functionality that’s second to none, and rapid deployment - it can be up and running in a law firm within 24 hours.”

Take a look at www.nalytics.com/legal to find out more and to request a FREE demo of Nalytics.

As part of Nalytics launch into the legal sector, they have appointed two new business development managers, Neil Derbyshire and Gordon Lindsay.

Neil has over 20 year’s business development experience across a number of industry sectors.  He joins from accounting software company Intuit where he was Senior Channel Business Development Manager providing solutions to large accountancy practices.  

Gordon has been involved with the Technology sector for the last 17 years, and has extensive experience working at Director Level driving business change. 

Nalytics will also be hosting a number of FREE 'AI in Legal' events across the UK and the Netherlands, focusing on how artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting the legal sector. As AI becomes the new ‘norm’ across the industry, these workshops will delve deeper into how legal firms can utilise this technology to improve efficiency and ultimately their bottom line.

For more information and to register for an event visit www.nalytics.com/nalytics-events

Eight Myths About Speeding in England and Wales

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Speeding is the most common type of driving offence, with around one in seven motorists being caught driving over the speed limit every year. Some drivers are repeat offenders and end up being slapped with big fines and lengthy bans, but most receive either the offer of a speed awareness course or a Fixed Penalty Notice – the latter option involves three points and a £100 fine. 

The police in England and Wales normally allow drivers a 10% allowance plus another 2mph without prosecuting. In practice this means you can do any speed below 35mph in a 30mph zone – 3mph plus 2mph – and still avoid points.

As with other legal proceedings and offences, there are some stubborn myths that have led drivers into trouble before – the old copper coin trick to pass a breath test, for example. Speeding is a more straightforward affair, but there are still misconceptions surrounding it. Here are eight of the most common myths that you won’t hear when you take professional legal advice. 

If there are no white lines on the road surface before or after the camera, you can’t be prosecuted

White lines in the road only apply to fixed radar devices such as GATSOS or HADECS. Speed cameras can, and many do, operate without any road markings. If you’re flashed by one, you’ll probably receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution through the post at some point.

If you have fewer than six penalty points on your driving licence, you don’t have to declare them to your insurance provider

This really isn’t a good idea! If you fail to declare penalty points, you run a serious risk of invalidating your insurance policy.

Speed cameras can’t identify you if your number plates are dirty or obscured in any other way

While this may be true, you’re breaking the law before you even get anywhere! The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations Act 2001 means it’s an offence to drive on a public road with dirty or obscured plates. Doing so could earn you up to a £1,000 fine. 

If you’re speeding in a hire car you won’t get caught

The hire company will be informed by the police that one of its fleet was driven over the speed limit and it’s the responsibility of the company to identify the driver. Which means you’ll be fingered!

You can flash your lights to warn other motorists about a nearby speed trap

While you may think you’re being kind to other drivers, by doing this you could end up being prosecuted for obstructing the police. 

A police officer has to wear a helmet to give you a speeding ticket 

Again, just wrong! The officer merely has to be identifiable as a police officer to book you.

It’s not illegal to drive too slowly 

OK, there is no minimum speed limit on most of the UK’s roads, but if police officers think you’re presenting a hazard to other drivers and road users by dawdling in the middle lane, you can be stopped! You’re much more likely to get a verbal warning, but you could be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention or without consideration for other road users. 

There were no warning signs on the speed camera van so no-one can be prosecuted for speeding

The warning symbol – a black and white camera – isn’t a legal requirement. It’s a legal requirement for you to observe the speed limit, though…

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Heads-up for a great site about breakfast cereals and their various gifts over the years. It's at www.cerealoffers.com and is packed full of wonderful information and pictures of the boxes and the gifts which could be found inside. There is also a For Sale page containing a variety of items which might be of interest.

Have You Been Hurt on the Job? A Post-Injury Checklist

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Getting injured at a site of employment is a terrible thing to experience. Not only is the pain and embarrassment often difficult to bear, there are many legal decisions that you’ve got to make, at the precise moment you are least able to make them. If you have a job that is risky, it is important that you know how to behave just in case you ever are injured. If you know how to make the right calls in this crucial time, you can get the kind of financial restitution and other benefits that are due someone in your situation. 

• Did You Document the Injury Personally? If you are injured on the job, it is the role of the employer to document the event. But you should document it as well. This is easier than ever before in the day of mobile phones. If you are hurt, take a picture or video of the injury and the worksite in which it occurred. Try to get a good representation of the scene, including witnesses. If, God forbid, you find out that your employer has misrepresented your injury at some future time, there will be a good document as to the true nature of your misfortune. 
• Did You Get Legal Representation? It is important to act as your own advocate; we’ll touch on this over and over. But it’s also important to have someone who will advocate on your behalf. A solicitor who specializes in workplace injury should be one of your first calls. If you don’t know who to call, talk to a solicitor you know or who is recommended by a friend. He or she can recommend a colleague who can take your case if it is not their area of expertise. Talk to your solicitor daily to ensure that the process is advancing well. Aston Knight Solicitors can help. 
• Did You Make a Formal Complaint to HR? Though they always should, not every HR department goes out of its way to act in the best interest of the worker. If you haven’t made a formal complaint with HR within minutes of injury (or if this was delayed because you had to get to a hospital quickly), see to it that this happens as soon as possible. Your HR team should direct you to all of your options and put your claim on the right track. 
• Did You Work Out Immediate Benefits and Ongoing Pay? If you were injured on the job, it is your employer’s responsibility to help you make it through this difficult time. Discuss with your solicitor and HR what these benefits are. Corresponding with both of these parties ensures that you get everything that is due you. 

It can be really difficult to get through a workplace injury, but it’s imperative that you find a way. The days and weeks that follow a serious workplace injury are some of the most trying times in your life. Get through them by following through with this checklist. It could get you through this tough time in good shape. 

Do You Need a Motor Lawyer?

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When most people are stopped by the police and given a ticket, or are caught on camera and receive a notice in the post, the majority pay the fine and take the points. However, motorists are beginning to realise that they can now challenge these notices, and more are choosing to do so.

Challenging your motoring offence

In England and Wales it is now possible to turn to a company like motoringoffencelawyers.com for targeted advice and help. In many cases, experienced motoring offence lawyers, like these, are able to successfully check, and challenge, the validity of an accusation.

Using insider knowledge to provide a good defence

A good driving offence solicitor knows the motoring law inside out. They understand how the evidence should be gathered and double-checked before fines or notices are issued. 

Using this knowledge, they will pick up situations where the proper procedures have not been followed. If the evidence used is flawed, or has not been properly collected, or handled, it opens the door for the charge against you to be dropped, or reduced. With the help of an experienced motoring lawyer, you can avoid being erroneously prosecuted.

Why you should always consider challenging motoring offences

When people are notified of driving offences, they tend to just shrug their shoulders and pay the fine, at least for the first couple of offences. They only really get worried when they have accrued enough points to be on the verge of losing their licence. 

At that point, many people realise that if they lose their licence for 12 months they are in real trouble. Their life will be turned upside down. 

For example, finding and holding down a job becomes a huge issue. In most areas, public transport is not adequate, so losing the use of your car could easily result in your losing your job. 

If you cannot legally drive, your employment opportunities are drastically reduced. In addition, many employers require staff to hold a full licence, if you do not they are often not interested in employing you.

It is all too easy to end up losing your licence. All you need to do is to get caught speeding several times in a 3 year period to tot up 12 points on your licence, which usually leads to a driving ban. Therefore, if you think you have been accused of a driving offence you did not commit, or have been given the highest possible punishment, it is always worth finding out if you can mount a legal challenge. 

Driving offences that could result in a criminal record

Some offences are considered more serious than others. If you are accused of one of these and are convicted in court, you can end up with a criminal record. Naturally, this makes you an even more unattractive proposition for prospective employers.

Add in the fact that driving offences mean that you will have to pay more for insurance, and you can see they are not something to be dealt with lightly. As a result, if you are accused of a driving offence it is usually wise to seek advice from driving offence solicitor. 

If you are in any doubt that having a criminal record arising from driving offences will have a lasting negative impact on your life, we suggest that you read this article. Doing so will help you to understand the consequences better, and help you to make an informed decision about how you deal with driving offences.

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Fairlinch campsite in Braunton is now open! Special Summer reduction for family pitches 2 Adults + 2 Children £20 per night. Visit their website here. 

The Qualities of a Good Personal Injury Lawyer

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When people are confronted with personal injury for themselves or for family members, they want a lawyer who gives them the legal support they need to get on with their lives. The way to achieve this is to find the best personal injury lawyers in Toronto. Lawyers who specialize in personal injury such as the lawyers at HSH Personal Injury Law will have in-depth knowledge of personal injury law and years of experience in the field. Insurance companies also know the lawyers in their region, and their success rates. This can make a difference whether the insurance company wants to take the risk of going to court.

The Client Needs to Feel Confident

Good lawyers are good communicators. They keep their clients in the loop and establish a good lawyer-client relationship. Clients must feel comfortable asking questions and must get clear answers in order to maintain trust in their lawyer. 

Specialization

Clients not only need a lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases, but also in other aspects of personal injury law. Many clients want to take a settlement offer and need to trust their lawyer to know if an offer is fair or not. The lawyer needs to be willing and able to take the case to court if necessary. If the insurance company sees that the lawyer has never tried a case in court, it may keep any settlement very low in the hope the lawyer will lose at trial. 

Success Is Key

Clients have the right to know if the personal injury lawyer they are considering hiring has a good success rate in his or her previous cases. They will not only want to know how many cases were won, but also how much compensation the lawyer was able to secure. Prospective clients may also ask to speak to the lawyer’s previous clients or look online for testimonials and comments about the lawyer in question. 

Tenaciousness

In order to feel confident, clients need to see that their lawyer will fight for them. Insurance companies generally keep records of lawyers who have won major settlements in court and are more likely to provide a higher settlement to avoid going to court against those lawyers. 

Questions a Client May Ask

• How much time will the lawyer actually spend on my case?

• Who will handle my case? Will it be handed over to paralegals?

• Does the office have adequate support staff?

• How will my lawyer communicate with me?

• Does the law office take every case or only ones it feels it can win? 

In order for lawyers to attract and keep good personal injury cases, clients need to feel valued by their lawyer and have confidence and trust in his or her abilities. Clients can immediately feel as if they are just another case or if their problems are being handled with integrity and compassion. When anyone is facing personal injury, his or her life is disrupted, maybe forever. They may not be able to think clearly and need to rely on their lawyer to organize the way forward. To give the client peace of mind at this time is a great gift, and to win a fair and sizable settlement or to win in court is the best beginning of their life after personal injury.

Drink driving charges: circumstances for defence

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You might think that being charged with drink driving means you will definitely be disqualified but you might be wrong. There may be a valid defence to your charge. However, you’ll need to make sure you contact a professional, such as those at http://drinkdrivesolicitor.com if you want to avoid conviction and keep your driving licence.

The ins and outs of drink driving charges can be difficult for people to navigate, but with the right instruction, you could find out that a charge could be defended.

So, what are some of the most common defences?

1. Failure to provide a specimen?

One of the most commonly contested charges is failure to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. This covers a situation where a person has been required to provide breath at the police station but has not been able to satisfy the requirements of the breath testing machine.

There are different machines used for obtaining breath specimens in England and Wales. These are the Lion Intoxilyser 6000, the Intoximeter EC/IR and the Camic Datamaster, and while each device measures a sample in a similar way, the requirements each machine needs to register a sample are different. Officers are not trained in relation to the different requirements of each machine meaning it could be the instructions given that resulted in the failure not the person accused.

If you have a lung problem which severely restricts your ability to breathe then you could have been unable to meet the requirements of the machine. The police have the power to require blood or urine instead but do not always do so. This could result in the dismissal of the charge against you warrants further discussion with your solicitor.

2. An error in procedure

With such strict and yet differing policies from place to place, errors in procedure can be fairly common. This occurs regularly where the police require specimens whilst the person accused is at a hospital, for example, where they are being treated following an accident

At hospital, only blood and urine specimens can be required for subsequent analysis at a laboratory. This means that the procedure to be followed is more complicated than at the police station and the scope for arguing that it has not been followed correctly is normally greater. The police must also ensure that the person from whom they are requiring samples is in a position to provide valid consent. If a head injury has been sustained this may not be the case and the sample could be ruled inadmissible by the Court. Similarly, if a person has not provided consent to the provision of a blood sample but was not in a position to fully understand the requirement they would be entitled to be found not guilty of the charge.

3. Faulty equipment

As with any machine used to provide evidence and scientific analysis, there is always the potential for it to give an incorrect reading. There has been a great deal of debate in relation to whether electromagnetic waves from mobile phones and police radios can interfere with the result of a breath test. Similarly, anomalies with the calibration of machines may be identified If you are surprised by a reading given (click here for drink driving limits), and feel strongly that the machine may have been faulty then your solicitor can help you to build a case for this.

The vital consideration with each of these circumstances is that you contact an expert drink driving solicitor as soon as possible. Have you had any experience of drink driving charges recently? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.

Weekend video: Bill Gates interview: How the world will change by 2030