by Charlie Smith | Aug 24, 2017 | Blog, Evidence, Tips |
You already know that your social media profile can affect whether or not you get a job interview and how you appear to friends and family. But if you’re suing for personal injury, your social media profile could get in the way. Any post, no matter how benign it seems, might undermine a personal injury case in very damaging ways. If your profile isn’t private already, log in and make it so now. Social Media Profiles Can Show You’re Healthy If you’re filing a personal injury case after something like a car accident, part of your case is going to be physical trauma your body suffered. You might have mobility issues, broken bones, or other problems that impede your ability to go about life easily. However, sometimes social media pictures make you look healthy or able-bodied. Whether or not the pictures truly show the reality of your situation doesn’t matter. If the judge sees the pictures and feels you’re physically well, your case might get thrown out. That happened to a woman named Fotini Kourtesis, whose social media pictures disproved her personal injury claim. Your Emotional State Might Come Into Play Personal injury cases also often cover mental distress that comes as a result of an accident. You might be suffering from depression, anxiety, or PTSD because of something that happened to you. Things get tricky with social media because someone snapping a photo of a rare smile, or even posting well wishes on your page, could undermine a depression claim. You need good lawyers to help you advise how to deal with your social media profile because they’ll...
by Charlie Smith | Jun 24, 2017 | Blog, Personal Injury Lawyer, Tips |
If you’ve suffered a personal injury, you need to consider the future. You may soon become saddled with endless medical bills, time off from work, and other financial considerations. Pursuing legal compensation may be necessary, and it’s critical that you select the right attorney. Throwing a dart at the phone book is an easy way to choose, but there are much better ways to proceed. Select a Local Attorney Most people turn to the internet to find just about anything nowadays, so searching for legal help is likely to fall into that category. It’s important that while cyberspace knows no physical boundaries, your future attorney’s license to practice law certainly does. Your search should immediately narrow down to those who are licensed in the state in which the injury occurred. Next, consider only those within driving distance to your place of residence. Face-to-face visits with your legal counsel will be necessary, so you don’t want to travel too far for these meetings. Find an Attorney That Specializes in Personal Injury Law firms practice in several different areas, including criminal law, divorce litigation, child custody, and tax law. Personal injury cases require specific knowledge, such as medical terminology and different types of injuries. Personal injury attorneys typically have ample trial experience, while others (such as real estate attorneys) may have none at all. They’re also good negotiators and can develop a fair out-of-court settlement on your behalf. Choose a Successful Attorney Once you’ve narrowed down your choices a bit, do research into your potential candidates. Find out how many years they’ve been practicing law. What sort of track records do...
by Charlie Smith | Aug 26, 2016 | Blog, Court Cases, Personal Injury, Tips |
Social media, in general, is not good for your personal injury case. You may think that sharing details about your case – even in a private message – will make you feel better or that your friends will give you good advice, but it can actually damage the credibility of your case. Facebook is the first place that your insurance company or defendant’s lawyer will check in order to find information to use against you. Your social media accounts may be private, but there is always a way to access them, especially when a judge orders you to give the defendant’s lawyer your passwords because they believe there is something they could use against your case. Some of the aspects of social media that can be used in opposition to you include videos or photos that you are tagged in or have posted, statuses, and private messages. Defendant lawyers are looking for anything that could potentially prove that you hurt yourself at a different location or negligent person. Just be cautious when posting during a personal injury case and remember that even if you delete a post, it is there forever. The defendant lawyers and insurance companies are there to make your claim go away so they will do anything it takes, which includes reinterpreting your posts’ meaning in order to hurt your claim. The best-case scenario is to not post at all, but if you must post, try to follow these terms to avoid common social media mistakes: Let everyone know not to post anything about you, which includes tagging and messaging. Do not tell them this through...
by Charlie Smith | Jun 14, 2016 | Blog, Tips |
For many, the process of selecting a nursing home for a loved one can seem overwhelming. We are all familiar with reports in which individuals have suffered abuse at the hands of the staff at their nursing home. This concern can be made worse if your loved one is no longer able to communicate. To alleviate the stress this decision can cause, it’s helpful to thoroughly research nursing homes that meet the required criteria. The first step to selecting the right nursing home for your loved one is identifying the type of care they need. Nursing homes vary based on the level of care (among other things). Does your loved one required full, round-the-clock medical care, or just help dressing and bathing? This question will determine whether you need a facility that offers hospital-level care or just assistance. Once you’ve determined the level of care required, the next step is proximity. Ideally, the close4r to you the facility the better, since that will make regular visits much easier. However, keep in mind that it is more important to find the right fit for your loved one than just a home that is close by; your loved one will thank you in the end. Now that you know the facilities that are around you, narrow them down by identifying other criteria that may be important to you, such as religious affiliation, certifications, and payment terms or insurance accepted. Now that you have narrowed down a list of nursing homes that you feel may be a good fit, you’ll need to do the leg work and visit the facilities. This is...
by Charlie Smith | Apr 21, 2016 | Blog, Tips, Workplace Injury |
According to OSHA, nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites across the nation on any given day. The fatal injury rate for the construction industry is higher than the national average in this category for any other industry. It is important to be practical, ergonomic, and safe when working in any construction area. Follow some of the tips below to ensure complete safety when working in a construction area: Common Safety Tips to Follow: Keep eyes and ears protected at all times – this is important as these are often times intense noises and vibrations occurring on construction sites which can cause serious injuries Always be aware of your surroundings Know, understand, and follow the workplace’s comprehensive safety program Don’t use damaged tools Do not carry or pull a tool by is cord or hose Double check work areas Scaffolding Safety Tips to Follow: Nearly 2.3 million construction workers work on scaffolds each year. Unfortunately, fall hazards are likely to occur when scaffolds are misused or erected improperly; an estimated 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities occur each year as a result of scaffolding. Below are important safety tips to follow when scaffolding: Do not support scaffolds or any other uneven surface with unsteady or portable objects Stay at least 10 feet from power lines when working on a scaffold Never overload a scaffold Do not use a damaged or weakened scaffold Never use a scaffold in bad weather Always keep an eye out for yourself and others on the scaffold or below the scaffold – everyone in the vicinity of a scaffold may be in danger...
by Charlie Smith | Jan 22, 2016 | Blog, Tips, Workplace Injury |
Regardless of what your job may be, staying safe at work should be a priority in everyone’s minds. In order to make the most out of your job and work life, it is important to reduce your risk of injury and illness at work. Below are some tips to help you stay safe at work: Understand the risks! If you know and understand the particular hazards of your job or workplace, you can take the necessary precautions to reduce your risk of work-related injuries or illness. Reduce your stress: Although this may be hard, reducing your stress level at work can help in many ways. Common causes of stress may include long hours, heavy workload, job insecurity, or conflicts with coworkers and bosses. Stress can ultimately lead to depression, sleeping difficulties and problems concentrating. Take regular breaks: Taking small breaks in between long hours of work and concentration can help you to stay fresh and alert and in turn allow you to avoid injury or burning out. Schedule your most difficult tasks when your concentration is at its best, such as the first thing in the morning. Protect your back: If you are required to pick up and carry heavy loads, keep the load close to your body and left with your thigh muscles to help avoid injury. Know your workplace rights: There are many organizations that can offer you information and advice on workplace safety issues. Learn more at https://www.osha.gov/ Contact Us: If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, it is important to know your rights. Speak with one of our experienced attorney’s...