So you've been hit by a car; you weren't in a designated crosswalk. A lot of times that's referred to as “jaywalking” in our common parlance. That doesn't mean that you're always responsible. There are a number of factors that play into that: Were you wearing bright clothes? Was it the middle of the day? Was it night? Was the driver speeding? Understand that drivers are tasked with the responsibility of seeing what is there to [...]
What are your rights if you're hit by a drunk or drug driver? Well, you have an accident claim just like any other accident claim, but you need to make sure that you have an attorney that knows the particular issues unique to dealing with a drunk driving situation. First off, you may have a claim for what are known as punitive damages, which means you can have a claim for the actual injuries that [...]
Every jury trial has risks. There are no guarantees that any juror will rule in your favor. However, there are often strong indicators that a member of the jury is inclined to find that there is a reasonable doubt as compared to other jury members. Every member of the jury has certain prejudices and biases whether it's the color of a defendant’s skin, the way a defendant looks, or automatically believing the testimony of a police [...]
Should you talk to the police? You know were taught that the police are our friends, and they certainly are. They serve a valuable purpose, but when you're charged with a crime or you have the potential to be charged with a crime – perhaps you're a suspect, perhaps you're a witness, but likely you won't know which of the two you are – I would strongly recommend that you exercise your 5th amendment constitutional [...]
Bicycles, snowmobiles, exercise machines, and many other recreational products provide a lot of joy and health benefits for people – when they work. Sadly, many products are defective because the manufacturers fail to design the products properly, fail to use quality parts, and/or fail to provide safe and clear instructions. Defective products can cause spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, muscle damage, and other types of serious health problems. Defective products may also cause [...]
Who is responsible if your child is hurt in a school bus accident? There can be a lot of answers to that question, and here in East Tennessee, I know a lot of us trust our children to the care of a school bus driver and a school bus company on a daily basis. If the school bus is involved in an accident, the first possibility is that another vehicle could be at fault for [...]
Many great movies have been made about criminal cases. Most are fictional, though some are based on true events. Movies about crimes are fascinating because there's always the suspense element of whether the person is guilty of the crime. There’s suspense around the abilities and skills of the lawyers who prosecute the case and defend their clients. While some crime movies are fun, the truly great ones raise moral and ethical questions about the criminal justice [...]
Car accidents cause many different types of injuries including shoulder injuries. Damage to the shoulder normally occurs when an occupant collides with another passenger, the dashboard, the door, or with other parts of the vehicle such as a steering column. Shoulder injuries can also occur if an occupant is thrown from the car onto the ground, from the tightening of a seatbelt, or even when the airbag operates. Accident victims who suffer a shoulder injury normally [...]
Couples going through divorces in the state of Tennessee will always end up with what's called a marital dissolution agreement. That is a contract between you and your former spouse that sets forth your rights and obligations regarding your assets, your debts, alimony, court cost, health insurance, and things like that. It's a contract that the two of you are bound to, and that you have to follow, but it really divides your assets and [...]
Workers at construction sites are constantly bombarded by noise. Many machines and tools, like jackhammers, are inherently loud. Trucks, the constant movement of workers, drills and diggers, and other work activities can affect a construction worker’s hearing on a daily basis. Often, hearing loss occurs slowly over time. Workers may not even realize they can’t hear well until a spouse, friend, or coworker tells them their hearing is bad. An inability to hear affects your ability [...]
