When it comes to defending individuals who have been charged with crimes , an experienced criminal lawyer near Annapolis can help. A criminal defense attorney must know the court system and relevant state traffic and criminal laws. When you look for a criminal lawyer, make sure he or she devotes a significant part of the practice to criminal defense, so you know you are getting the best legal strategy. Keep reading to learn more about how defense strategies involve solid evidence, a good explanation, and sufficient preparation.

Solid Evidence

To stage a defense, a criminal lawyer first examines the evidence. As any criminal defense attorney knows, not all evidence is good evidence. Still, a good criminal attorney is able to carefully select the strongest evidence that weighs in his client’s favor. For example, even a client who has not broken any drug laws will run into problems if he or she was on the scene when a drug crime was committed. However, being present for a crime is only circumstantial evidence—a criminal lawyer will point out that the prosecution needs more to sway a jury.

Good Explanation

If you have been charged with a crime, the prosecution probably has some evidence connecting you to the misdeed. The next part of your criminal defense strategy involves having a good explanation. Whether you are facing drug charges or have been charged with a violent crime, you and your criminal lawyer will need to work together to explain either why you could not have committed the crime or why your actions were legally justified. For example, in cases of self-defense, some offenses may be legally justifiable.

Sufficient Preparation

The final part of strategizing with your criminal defense attorney involves preparing your case. Remember, your criminal lawyer is your advocate. That means he or she can help prepare your case for a jury, keeping in mind how best to attack the evidence presented by the prosecution and how best to present any evidence in your favor. Preparation may include exhibits and illustrations, witness testimony, or in some cases your own testimony. Your attorney can help you decide whether you should testify or not, and if you do, your attorney can help prepare you for being on the witness stand.

If you have been hurt in an accident that was not your fault, your first step should be to contact a reputable personal injury lawyer serving Annapolis. Personal injury law is complex, and an experienced attorney can help fight for your right to compensation. If the court determines that someone else’s negligence caused you harm, you will be awarded financial damages. Keep reading to learn more about different kinds of personal injury damages, like general damages and special damages, and see how each is calculated.

General Damages

If your personal injury lawyer has suggested filing a lawsuit to pursue general damages, that means there is a clear link between the defendant’s action and your injury. Even if the defendant could not have foreseen the severity of the harm, your personal injury attorney can still seek full compensation for whatever general damages you suffered. General damages may include physical pain and suffering, disfigurement or impairment, mental anguish, and lowered quality of life.

Special Damages

A personal injury claim that involves special damages must prove that the plaintiff suffered a loss with greater specificity. Special damages are all out-of-pocket expenses a plaintiff pays for because of the defendant’s actions. Special damages are designed to compensate a plaintiff for the adverse affects of the defendant’s actions. Common examples include damaged property, lost wages, lost future earning capacity, and past and future medical expenses.

Different Calculations

As your personal injury attorney will explain, general damages are more difficult to estimate because the calculation is subjective. For example, general damages like mental anguish are unique to the plaintiff and the situation. However, your lawyer should be able to provide you and the court with an exact estimation of special damages. When special damages are sought for loss of future wages or for future medical care, your attorney will use expert witnesses and other evidence to support the chosen amount.

Almost everybody has had to deal with a traffic ticket, but not everybody knows how to fight it. If you have received a ticket for a traffic violation near Annapolis , there are several steps you can take. You will need to closely examine your ticket and check to make sure that all of the information it includes is accurate. If any important information is wrong, it can be grounds for having your ticket dismissed. Check to see which city or state traffic code you are accused of violating. When you receive the ticket, make sure that you have the police officer’s name and patrol car number. Then, talk to a traffic ticket lawyer. If the infraction is serious enough to warrant challenging, you may be able to have your ticket dismissed in court. A qualified lawyer will have the knowledge and court experience necessary to represent you and protect your rights.

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.

If your criminal lawyer has suggested raising an entrapment defense , that means he or she thinks you were coerced in some way. If you are charged with a crime due to a police officer’s actions, you should meet with a criminal defense attorney to discuss this defense.

As your criminal lawyer will explain, an entrapment defense states that a crime would not have occurred if government agents had not induced a defendant to commit the crime. A criminal defense attorney uses an entrapment defense when he or she believes the police conceived the idea for the crime and provided the means, motive and opportunity for the defendant to commit the act. When it comes to drugs and crime, the police are forbidden to coerce defendants to break the law. Watch this video to learn more.