• Hiring an Attorney to Fight Violent Crime Charges

    criminal law, violent crimes Violent criminal offenses are considered to be among the most reprehensible. They include charges such as assault and battery, domestic violence, armed robbery, kidnapping, and child abuse—just to name a few. If you’ve been accused of a violent crime , you need an experienced criminal lawyer on your side. Contact law firms in Annapolis that offer skillful representation by criminal lawyers.

    During your consultation with your criminal lawyer, he or she will ask you some questions about the alleged incident and consider what defenses you might have. Remember that anything you tell your attorney is strictly confidential; your attorney is not allowed to repeat confidential information to anyone else, including your family members, without your permission. It’s important to fully disclose your role in the alleged incident, if any, so that your attorney can better protect your interests and uphold your legal rights. If you inform your attorney that you did commit the crime in question, your lawyer will still craft legal strategies to help keep you out of jail. For instance, an affirmative defense in an assault case is self-defense. Your lawyer will use the facts of the case, witness statements, and any available physical evidence to defend you.

    Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the topics discussed and does not qualify as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws applicable to each case may differ. If you have a legal matter, you should speak to an attorney to get advice on your particular situation.

  • Questions and Answers About Personal Injury Case Settlements

    legal settlement, personal injury settlement Each personal injury claim filed in Annapolis involves unique issues. Whether or not to accept a settlement offer is entirely the decision of the claimant. Your personal injury lawyer can offer legal guidance and answer your questions about the settlement offer, but he or she cannot make the decision to accept or reject it.

    What is a personal injury settlement?

    Your injury lawyer may try to negotiate for a settlement offer on your behalf. A settlement is an arrangement in which you agree to drop the lawsuit in exchange for accepting a specified sum of money for your losses. A settlement is not an admission of liability on behalf of the defendants. A settlement offer may be extended at any time. Even if your case goes to trial, a settlement may still be possible before the trial concludes.

    Will I receive more money if the case goes to trial?

    Unfortunately, there is no way for a lawyer to determine the outcome of personal injury claims that go to trial. It is certainly possible for you to recover more money if your case results in a jury verdict that is favorable to you. However, there is no guarantee of this. If your case goes to trial, there is also a possibility that you will lose the case and recover no compensation.

    Is the settlement offer reasonable for my case?

    Your personal injury lawyer will draw on his or her years of litigation experience to assess whether the defendants are offering you a fair settlement, given the facts of the case and your damages. Your lawyer will, with your permission, submit a counteroffer to the defendants to try to negotiate for a higher settlement.

    What should the settlement pay?

    A personal injury settlement should compensate you for all of the damages directly related to the incident in question. If you accrued medical expenses and lost wages, the settlement should cover those losses. The same applies to property damage if the case involved a car crash or similar accident. A settlement should also compensate you for your pain and suffering.

    What happens if I do not agree with the settlement?

    You are not required to accept a settlement offer. If you choose not to accept it, your lawyer will litigate your case in court.

    Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the topics discussed and does not qualify as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws applicable to each case may differ. If you have a legal matter, you should speak to an attorney to get advice on your particular situation.

  • What to Do if You Get a Reckless Driving Ticket

    Traffic violations aren’t always serious matters, although they can result in hefty fines. However, as you’ll learn when you watch this video, a reckless driving ticket may be treated as a criminal offense, depending on which state you’re in. If you’ve received this type of traffic violation ticket in Annapolis, it’s in your best interest to contact a traffic ticket attorney promptly.

    There are a few things you can do to help your lawyer challenge your traffic violations. The lawyer in this video recommends revisiting the scene and taking photos of anything that may help your case, such as traffic signs that are obstructed by trees or construction equipment.

    Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the topics discussed and does not qualify as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws applicable to each case may differ. If you have a legal matter, you should speak to an attorney to get advice on your particular situation.

  • Building a Productive Working Relationship with Your Defense Attorney

    attorney, defense, client, lawyer Criminal lawyers understand that being charged with a crime is a highly stressful event. That said, your criminal lawyer is still likely to have several expectations with regard to your working relationship with him or her. First and foremost, it is of the utmost importance to be completely honest; a criminal defense attorney in Annapolis can only defend you properly if he or she knows all of the facts of the case. If you’re ever unsure of how you can best assist your criminal lawyer with your defense, you should feel free to ask him or her.

    Follow Your Attorney’s Advice

    An experienced criminal defense attorney has an in-depth knowledge of the legal justice system, the local courts, and the prosecutor assigned to your case. Your lawyer will advise you to the best of his or her ability, but this will only help you if you follow this advice. Your attorney will ask that you avoid discussing the case with anyone else, including family members, and that you avoid contacting the alleged victim in the case. Attempting to tell your side of the story to anyone but your lawyer is only likely to compromise your defense.

    Provide a Complete Account

    Defense attorneys are often blindsided by facts of the case that suddenly come to light and that may compromise the defense strategy. During your early meetings with your defense attorney, he or she will need to know all of the facts that are relevant to the alleged incident, even if you think they may reflect poorly on you.

    Remain Available

    Criminal proceedings can take a while to resolve. Throughout the process, it’s important that you remain available to your criminal defense attorney. If your contact information changes, call the law firm and update your file.

    Act with Courtesy

    A strong working relationship always requires acting with courtesy. If you feel that your lawyer is not serving your best interests, it is your right to hire a different attorney. However, be aware that your lawyer truly is working in your best interests. Acting with courtesy also applies to the courtroom. Your lawyer will advise you to avoid speaking unless instructed to do so and to address the judge as “Your Honor.”

    Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the topics discussed and does not qualify as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws applicable to each case may differ. If you have a legal matter, you should speak to an attorney to get advice on your particular situation.