Personal Injury Law Blogs

What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Cover?

Processing your work comp claims will be easier and more convenient if you hired an experienced workers compensation lawyer to help you handle matters. This will even be more important immediately after you were badly injured in a work-related accident or have fallen seriously ill because of poor work conditions. The workers’ comp lawyer will take care of processing your claims while you focus on recovering from your injury or illness.

It is important to know that insurance companies are not making money when they are paying out work comp claims. No matter what their advertisements may claim, they’ll try to cut their losses by keeping coverage payments at a minimum. Because insurance companies will have their lawyers help them in this regard, being represented by your own lawyer will level the playing field and will help ensure that you’ll receive the benefits that you deserve. Here’s a rundown of what do workers’ compensation benefits cover.

Medical Expenses

Your employers have to take all the practical means to keep your workplace safe for their employees. The working conditions must be in such a way that the possibility of injuries and illnesses are remote. However, accidents happen despite the safety measures and employers are usually responsible for covering the injured employee’s immediate medical treatment. The employee’s insurance should cover emergency room visits, ambulance rides and any other medical expenses.

Wage Replacement

If you can’t work for a span of time because of the injuries that you sustained, workers’ compensation benefits entitles you to receive at least a portion of your lost wages as you recover. Depending on your company’s workers’ comp policy, you may get a certain percentage of your missed wages or a fixed payout.

Therapy and Rehabilitation

The extent of your injury may require more treatments after the initial treatment. Your injury may be so severe that you’ll require further corrective surgeries or undergo physical rehabilitation. Workers’ compensation also covers the cost of ongoing care in case you require it.

Death Benefits

If the workplace accident is fatal, the workers’ comp can pay for the costs needed for the employee’s funeral. This will somehow let the family of the employee mourn of the loss of their loved one without having to worry about paying for funeral home expenses. Workers’ compensation usually includes benefits for the employee’s dependents in the form of support payments.

Employer’s Liability Coverage

Your company’s insurance policy can also serve to protect it, as well. If you decide to file a lawsuit against your employer, his insurance coverage will help pay for his legal representation, litigation fees, judgments and even the settlement payout for you.

It is important to note that not all workers’ comp policies are the same and state requirements for coverage varies. The list of the workers’ comp benefits above should serve as your guide when researching the kind of coverage that your home state requires from your employer.

Keep in mind that your state also has a deadline for reporting injuries and for filing a workers’ compensation claim. It’s wise to scout for a seasoned work comp lawyer even before your need for one arises. This will be especially important if you work in a high-risk industry.

Easy Steps in Filing for Bankruptcy at Anaheim

This post regarding bankruptcy law in CA is a slight departure from our usual personal injury ones, but it’s worth noting that if you have a personal injury claim, it may be protected even when going through bankruptcy proceedings through exemption (for which it’s worth checking out this post here)

If you think you know a lot about the whole idea and privileges that a person can have when it comes to dealing with financial problems, especially debts, then you may now move on to the next step – filing for bankruptcy (at Anaheim).

Understanding bankruptcy procedures can be complicated, and seem like a daunting task at first. Fortunately, experts in bankruptcy law are more than willing to help and provide this service to anyone in need of it.

To get started and keep this summary short, we can find that according to the book of Christopher McAvoy, published in 2010, with a title, The Bankruptcy Book: The Truth About Ending Your Bill Problems And Getting Back The Good Credit You Deserve, he pointed out the following. Make sure to schedule a free Consultation with a los angeles bankruptcy lawyer to help with your finances.

That filing for bankruptcy is defined as:

“– Any type of bankruptcy whatsoever- immediately triggers an injunction contrary to the continuation of any activity done by any creditor against you or your assets; this is called the “automatic stay”, and it is a critical element of your bankruptcy case. If you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, that injunction extends to anyone else who is obligated to repay your debts.”

Additionally, he pointed out that if one may have an incumbent/present situation falling under the following listings:

  • Criminal proceedings;
  • Actions for an order of family support or the alteration of such order;
  • Arbitration proceedings;
  • Steps to amass support from assets that is not the assets of the survivor; and
  • Tax audits, demands by a taxing authority for you to file tax returns

“If you’re thinking about filing for bankruptcy and have any of these types of problems, it’s best to talk with your bankruptcy attorney before the case is filed about how to deal with the issues that will continue. There may be options to help you work with those individual creditors during your bankruptcy case, but you’ll never know unless you’re working with a fully informed lawyer.”

            With all of these facts or information he presented, one could be familiar or easily know about the process of filing for bankruptcy.

 They are the following:

  1. Collecting one’s documents. Meaning, you may want to secure the whereabouts and original copies of your financial transactions, as it will form a public record you may need and be presented in the Court (when required).
  2. Taking Credit Counselling. Well, aside from overcoming one’s debt problems or preventing one, you can also take advantage of your lawyer’s expertise in credit transactions and get credit counseling from him/her. If there may be other credit experts you can refer from, you may ask for their assistance, to let your lawyer deal actively with your dilemma.
  3. Complete the Bankruptcy Forms. It includes 23 separate forms you need to comply with roughly 70 pages. This is important for records-keeping of your documents or your filing for bankruptcy.
  4. Get your filing fee. In every transaction, make sure that you are capable of paying-off the services and filing fees, if unable to do so, it can be negotiated through other means. And the last one, for this article, before we end,
  5. Print your bankruptcy forms and bring them to court. These documents must be handed to the court, following the prescribed requirement of printing and compiling them, which can be done by doing a Brief Printing .

If you think you need more details regarding filing for bankruptcy, you may want to check out our best Anaheim Bankruptcy Attorneys around. You can also check out this website that has the full details on Filing for Bankruptcy at Anaheim.

How to Handle a Truck Accident

How to Handle a Truck Accident

Big rig companies plying Central California routes likely have Fresno truck accident lawyer services on retainers since accidents involving their super-sized vehicles likely end up being a complex case. Others who drive private vehicles but are also regularly using the same routes should look to experienced big rig accident attorneys first for representation should they ever find themselves involved in a truck accident. Statistics show that nearly half-a-million car accidents occur in the state of California in 2017, with over 3,000 being fatal. And the number increases every year. It will be prudent, therefore, to be prepared for such incidents if you are a regular Central California commuter.

More than just your regular fender bender, according to a car accident attorney truck accidents can be a very scary and traumatic experience. While big rig drivers receive special training and certifications to operate a huge vehicle, they are still prone to making errors. On the other hand, car drivers can also be negligent and make lapses in judgment when driving around big rigs. So what should you do if you find yourself involved in a truck accident?

1.  Check If You’re Injured

You may get shaken up after getting involved in a road accident with a big rig, but if you are able to stay oriented, check yourself for injuries. See if you can move your limbs properly and check yourself in the mirror to see if you are cut or are bleeding anywhere. Remember that you may not feel any immediate pain as you adrenaline will be coursing through your body. If you have passengers, check on them as well. If possible, move your vehicle to the side of the road for the safety of other travelers, make sure to call an auto accident attorney right after the accident .

If you are too injured to move, stay still and ask bystanders for help. From this point on, this article assumes that you are still physically capable of completing the tasks outlined in the next steps. 

2.  Stay at the Scene

Remember not to leave the scene of the accident as doing so constitutes hit-and-run in some states. Take out the emergency car kit and set it at the prescribed distance from your vehicle to warn other drivers of the accident. Set up road flares if driving conditions requires them to make the scene more visible for other drivers.

3.  Call 911

Move a safe distance away from your damaged vehicle and call 911. Wait for emergency services. Allow emergency medical responders to check if you sustained any injuries that you may not be aware of. Calling 911 will also dispatch police officers on the scene who will document the accident and gather eyewitness accounts. The information that they gather will be vital to the case, you should also call a truck accident attorney to get the legal help you need.

4.  Gather Information

If you are able to, take pictures and photos of the scene and the surrounding areas immediately after the accident to receive better accident injury advice. Pay special attention to the damage to the vehicles involved, skid marks, landmarks and any other visual elements that will help paint a clearer picture of what happened and what triggered the accident.

 5.  Exchange Information

Another important step that you should take is to exchange important information with the other driver or drivers involved in the accident. Make sure to exchange each other’s full name and contact details, insurance information, driver’s license number of the truck driver and contact details of the big rig company’s owner/operator.



As mentioned earlier, big rig companies likely have lawyers on retainers for situations such as vehicular accidents. This is why you should also seek out the help of a personal injury attorney to give yourself a fighting chance when filing claims for damage to property and for injuries that you suffered in the incident.

The first and most important thing to remember if you are involved in a car accident is to remain calm while talking to the personal injury lawyer . Once you are able to make sense of what happened to you, follow the steps outlined above.

What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident

What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident

If you drive often around Central California, it might do you well to have a number of a Fresno auto accident lawyer saved on your contacts just in case. According to a local car accident lawyer, nearly half-a-million auto accidents occurred in California in 2017, with over 270,000 injuries recorded. This number increased by around 3% during the first few months of 2018. If the trend continues for the next few years, your chances of being involved in a fender bender increases as well. A fender bender is one thing, but a serious vehicle collision is a whole different ball game where you may suffer injuries or inflict the same upon another. Fatalities are also an unfortunate possibility in major car collisions. In many cases traffic lawyers are contacted due to the severity of the accidents.

Chances are that you haven’t given much thought on what you should do in case you find yourself right in the middle of an auto accident like contacting an auto injury lawyer . Below are some of the more important steps to take if ever you are in a car accident.

1.   Are You Injured?

Regardless of the severity of the accident, always remember to check yourself for injuries, here are the most common types of personal injuries. With adrenaline coursing through your body, there’s a chance that you might not feel any pain initially so make sure to check if you can breathe normally, don’t feel any broken limbs and are not bleeding from any part of your body. If you do find any injuries, make sure to get professional assistance from a personal injury lawyer.

2.  How About Your Passengers?

Check on the condition of your passengers. If you are too injured to move and help your passengers, ask bystanders for help.

3.  Move Away From Your Vehicle

If you can still drive your car, move it to the side of the road. However, if the car is too damaged or unsafe to drive, leave it and if possible, turn on the hazard lights to warn other drivers. You and your passengers should get out of the vehicle and move a safe distance away from the car and traffic.

 4.  Call 911

It might surprise you to know that some in some states, calling 911 if you are involved in a vehicular accident is a legal requirement. Whether the law compels you or not, however, calling 911 is important. Responding officers will also document the incident and make a report, apart from making sure that anyone injured from accident receive proper care. The report that the officers will file about the accident will be vital when you file a claim.

5.  Wait for the Emergency Personnel to Arrive

As you wait for officers and emergency personnel to arrive, turn on the hazard lights of your vehicle if can. Take out your emergency car kit and even your road flares to warn other vehicles about the accident as you reach your lawyer from Leppard Law in Florida.

 6.  Exchange Information With the Other Driver

Exchange the following information with the other driver, if possible.

  • Name and contact details
  • Insurance information
  • Driver’s license

According to an auto accident attorney, you can also make a note of the other vehicle’s license plate number, color, type and model. Take pictures and videos of the scene to have your own documentation the accident.

 7.  Call Your Personal Injury Lawyer

Tell your personal injury lawyer about the incident and follow any instructions that he might have for you. This becomes important if you are still feeling a bit distressed or are shaken up; car accident law is very detailed and it is best if a professional car accident attorney handles it.

Note that your insurance company may not have your best interests at heart which is why independent legal advice from a accident attorney can be helpful – this guide from Rosengard Law Group explains this point in more detail.


While it may be difficult to do so, the first and most important thing to remember if you are involved in a car accident is to remain calm while talking to the las vegas car accident lawyer. Once you are able to make sense of what happened to you, follow the steps outlined above.

Interested In Investing In Real Estate? Buyers Tips To Obtain Property Below Market Value..

When you are looking to make a great investment on your real estate, you should consider doing some repair and remodel work. Youll have a rapid return on investment, thanks to a little elbow grease. In some cases, the increase in property value is greater than the amount of money that you invested into the work.

If you’re interested in investing in real estate, its best to consult with a professional estate law services. at https://www.williampitt.com/search/real-estate-sales/greenwich-ct/, these professionals have access to more research and other useful information that you may not be able to get directly. According to this real estate law firm most brokers have useful tools such as specialized software that can search and sort through MLS listings. Although searching the MLS database is something you can do without any assistance, a realtors tools can help you refine and narrow your search, making the process far more efficient and far less time-consuming while enabling you to unearth wonderful homes and fantastic deals that may otherwise have remained buried.

According to a real estate lawyer buying insurance for your new home should be the first thing you do after purchasing the property, even before you move your family and belongings in. You dont want to put this off because thats usually when bad things tend to happen, and you dont want to have to pay for something out of pocket that insurance would have covered.

If you’re thinking about buying a villa for sale in Sotogrande Spain, you should take into account what may happen in your future. You may be child free now, but sometimes people change their minds. So a look at the local schools can’t hurt.

Most people buying a home are not aware that buying a home is so complex. Remember this advice whenever you are buying property.

Learn more about properties berkshire or Properties Eversley

Is It Crucial to Pay Tax?

There are many who believe that they can easily avoid taxes and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will hardly notice such activities. Many of them have a question does it really make any difference if they fail to pay taxes? It certainly makes a major difference and the worst will happen when the IRS will learn about it.

According to a tax attorney the government considered non-payment of taxes as stealing and you may have to face severe penalties for that. Depending on the status of your tax, penalties will be different

  • Failure to file tax
  • Avoiding taxes completely
  • Penalties for not paying taxes on time

Penalty for not filing tax-return on time

There is no doubt that penalty for late filing will be the simplest one to deal with. IRS affixed 5% penalty per month for late submission, though the maximum penalty that can be tacked is 25%. If you have not filed your tax return for some reason even after that grace period; seek IRS assistance for extending that time period.

In accordance with a tax attorney you will have to fill a form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. This will offer you another 6 months to work on your tax return. You may file form 2868 for further extension and if you do not ask for extension the 5% penalty will be accumulating.

However, requesting an extension is not the way to defer your tax payment for sometime as you have to settle at least 90% of all your tax dues within a limited span of time or face a monthly penalty of 0.5%.

Penalty for failure to pay taxes

If you fail to settle your tax burden even after several months, the fee increases by 1% per month. If this happens for longer period or repeatedly, the IRS will arbitrate by letting you file for a loan or mortgage your assets. They may resort to more severe methods like they can levy bank loans or garnish wage in order to recover your due taxes. You can learn more about equity loans on this website and get control of your finances.

You may consult with IRS officials for assistance regarding payment of taxes. They may suggest installment plans or Offers in Compromise. However, contact with a tax fraud lawyer if you have to speak with IRS officials. The lawyer will consult with these agents and work out a suitable plan for you.

If all these efforts of IRS fail, they will file for criminal and civil charges against the person. Thus, it is always better to take IRS assistance and work out a suitable payment mode with their assistance when the situation is still under control.

How to Know if You’ve Been a Victim of Medical Negligence

Medical negligence is an umbrella term for any occasion when you have received below standard medical care or treatment. This could be anything from false diagnosis to incorrect medication. Medical negligence can be the cause of severe physical illness or emotional distress. In the worst cases possible it can cause fatality. Medical negligence can be committed by all healthcare professionals, including doctors, surgeons, nurses and therapists. This blog will outline some of the most common scenarios of medical negligence, and what to do if you think this may have happened to you or a family member.

Incorrect Diagnosis

When a medical professional diagnoses you with a condition you do not actually have, this can cause significant issues. Firstly, if they begin treatment for this issue, you are then receiving treatment for a condition you do not have, and this could have painful side effects and affect or worsen the condition you actually do have. If this treatment includes surgery, this could cause significant pain and recovery time, potentially causing you to miss work or significant events. Mental stress can also be a factor here, as if you are falsely diagnosed with a very serious illness (eg. cancer), this can cause a lot of emotional distress to you and your loved ones which would be completely unnecessary, since you may be misdiagnosed with lung cancer and others, if this happen to you a Lung Cancer Attorney could be essential to help you in a case like this.

Delayed Diagnosis

A delayed diagnosis is another common type of medical negligence case. If a medical professional does not diagnose your condition soon enough, this could cause the condition to worse. Sometimes the condition can advance so it then becomes untreatable, before the medical professional makes the correct diagnosis. In a case of delayed diagnosis, sometimes it can literally be a matter of life and death, so it is very important the diagnosis is made on time.

A&E

It’s not just surgeons or diagnostic doctors who can commit medical negligence. You could also have experienced it in an Accident and Emergency environment. Occasionally a person in A&E for an injury or illness could have been wrongly sent home. If you were told to go home when you really needed instant medical attention and treatment or to be monitored this is a form of medical negligence.  

Incorrect Medication

When diagnosed with an illness it is obviously very important to be given the correct medication to treat the causes and symptoms. On rare occasions, it is possible for a hospital pharmacist to dispense the incorrect medication. This could be the wrong pills in a bottle, or the wrong bottle completely. Incorrect medication is a very serious thing as not only is your illness not being treated, but this medication you don’t actually need could be harming you or worsening your already existing condition

Defective Products

The products used to treat you in hospital play a big role in your recovery. If the products used in surgery for example are defective, this could worsen your illness or prolong your recovery time. Also, if a medical professional uses these products incorrectly or inappropriately it could have the same effect. It’s very important that the medical or surgical tools used during your treatment are in full working use and implemented correctly.

Poor Hygiene

Obviously, it goes without saying that hospitals and places of medical care should have impeccable cleanliness and hygiene. However, this isn’t always the case and it is possible some facilities have poor standards of hygiene. If you are being treated at one of these facilities, you could develop an infection or there could be complication in your surgery. Examples of this include unsterilized medical tools, or improper disposal of medical waste.

Why should you speak to a solicitor?

If any of these scenarios are sounding familiar to you, it is possible that you have experienced medical negligence at the hands of a medical professional. The best thing to do in this case is to speak to a solicitor so they can advise you on how best to proceed going forward. If you wanted to pursue a personal injury claim, a solicitor could help you navigate it to ensure a financial compensation.

What can Beecham Peacock do to help?

The team of expert personal injury lawyers at Beecham Peacock have a wealth of experience in dealing with cases involving medical negligence. We have been helping people with medical negligence cases for many years, so we have a huge amount of experience and expertise available to assist you in making your claim.

Can you make a personal injury claim?

One of your options Beecham Peacock might suggest after experiencing medical negligence is to make a personal injury compensation claim. If your health or the health of a loved one has suffered then money obviously can’t fix that, but Beecham Peacock are aware of the financial hit people and families can experience after suffering from medical negligence. If you have had a prolonged illness or disability as a result of medical negligence, this may have affected your ability to work. Obviously, this will create a huge financial impact on your lifestyle, and Beecham Peacock can help you claim that money back, as you shouldn’t have to lose out financially because of something that wasn’t your fault.

What’s the next step?

If you think you’ve experienced medical negligence, your next step should be to see a solicitor at Beecham Peacock to discuss your options. If you are busy, or have mobility issues and struggle to get out and about, Beecham Peacock have an online enquiry system which allows you to outline your issue in an online message to the professionals and someone will get back to you to recommend your next step and potentially book an appointment to see a solicitor. Head to their website to get in touch with a professional who will help advise you.

How to Get Your Personal Injury (or Other Type of) Legal Career Started ― Tips on Getting Hired

If your mind is set on becoming a personal injury attorney , you’ll want to start building the brand of your practice as soon as you can. One way of going about this process is getting as much experience as you can under your belt. Whether it is in personal injury, litigation, corporate or real estate, having a good brand is essential in your success in your chosen personal injury attorney practice area. However, you won’t get much traction as far as experience goes if you can’t get someone or some firm to hire your services. So, what can you do to get people to notice and hire you?

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While fresh personal injury lawyers graduates are usually brimming with idealism and enthusiasm, inactivity and the lack of opportunities can wear down these positive qualities easily. Along with building your brand, therefore, put in the extra effort to keep a positive outlook as you work on getting yourself hired. This way, you’ll become more efficient and effective as you follow and apply the following tips on getting hired.

Send Out as Many Applications as Possible

You’ll be surprised how this simple job hunting tip applies effectively to law practice as much as it does for other types of profession. Regardless of the legal practice area that you want to jump into, approaching it just as you would any other competitive job market goes a long way in getting your legal career started. Sending out applications to job openings that you come across increases your chances of receiving job offers. This is also a good way to at least, get the opportunity to fly in the radar of a personal injury law firm.

As with any highly competitive job market, you wouldn’t want to pass up on opportunities that come along. You can’t be picky and hold back in the misguided hope that your dream lifestyle job will find its way to you. By sending out applications en masse, you are swinging the law of averages in your favor. Remember, it is better to start working to level up your experience than end up miserably working in an unrelated industry.

Be Ready to Move

According to a personal injury attorney if you are aiming to practice in California, it will be a good idea not to confine yourself to only a number of cities. Send out applications everywhere in the state with the mindset that you might get the opportunity to practice in a location that you did not expect. Even if you got your degree from a less popular or lower tier law school, you’ll increase your marketability if you took steps to broaden your geography.

Just like the previous tip, you cannot afford to be too picky when it comes to location. While there will be snobs who would rather go jobless than work in an obscure city, you will be better off staying sharp and active while racking up the experience at the same time. Once the offers start rolling in, you’ll even have the luxury of selecting a job that comes closest to your expectations.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

The most important step for you to take in this regard is to review socialbusiness networking accounts thoroughly. Make sure to scrub off any content that you deem will be detrimental to your chances of landing a job and to your career as a lawyer. You should do this even before you start sending out resumes. Imagine your would-be employer seeing a picture of you passed out and half-naked at a fraternity or sorority party. If the picture holds such sentimental importance to you, it will be best that you put such pictures in private mode. In the same vein, should you see any of your past posts that others may deem as sexist, dogmatist, boorish or insensitive, delete them.After making sure that you have your existing social media accounts in order, you are ready to use them to your advantage. Overhaul the look of your accounts to appear suitable for someone in the legal practice. Start sharing content that is relevant to the profession and your target clientele.

For instance, if you’re set on becoming a California attorney, you can create a graphic-based, simplified explanation about a provision for personal injury lawyer If it is share-worthy enough, you’ll get free advertisement by adding your contact details in the graphic. You can also use your accounts to offer occasional pro bono work that will help build your brand even more.

Build Your Network

While this may sound like a cliche, you will find this tip in many job-hunting articles simply because it works. Putting in the extra work in expanding your professional contacts and networks also increases your chances of gaining referrals. Reach out to law firms, legal departments and even staffing agencies that might show interest in your services.

It will also be immensely helpful if you are more visible and active in your community. You can offer to take part community events that offer free legal advice, be present in chapter meetings, attend seminars and rub elbows with personalities who also work in the field to gain a better feel of the legal practice in the area. If you are lucky, you may also get some leads about possible job openings.

Stay Positive

Be conscious of maintaining your enthusiasm as you put in the extra effort to land a job. Allow your positive outlook and enthusiasm to become evident in the way you compose your resume, establish contacts and expand your network. Displaying enthusiasm and positivity will help you make a better impression on people who can be instrumental in helping you getting your legal career started. It will also be easier for them to remember you if you made a good and lasting impression.

Keeping yourself busy also helps in staying positive, especially during periods where job offers come in trickles or do not come at all. Apart from building your network and offering pro bono consultation ― both of which should keep you busy ― you can also seek out a legal professional who is gracious enough to let you shadow him or her. This will not only allow you to get a better feel of the practice, but it also allows you to establish even more connections. Alternatively, you can also try to advance your education by getting a Master of Law degree, preferably in your area of expertise. Having an advanced degree will surely add to your marketability.

Work Related Stress: How Lawyers Can Help You Combat a Real Issue

Work related stress is an issue that can often be brushed under the rug or ignored. Unfortunately this can exacerbate the issue, as stress can continue to build until it eventually leads to severe mental illness. Also, emotional issues can often begin to manifest physically, and cause physical injury or illness. These situations are better off handles as soon as possible to avoid further damage done. Beecham and Peacock can offer you help with your work related stress, and advice on how to move forward with the situation.

What is work related stress?

Work related stress is feelings of anxiety or tension that arise from an uncomfortable or distressing work place environment. This stress can result from feeling like you are being over worked or too much is being asked from you in your role, or from another member of staff making your day to day life in the office unpleasant by bullying or harassing you. As well as making their working life unpleasant, work related stress can eventually take over a person’s home life as well, as they spend all of their time outside of work worrying about going back.

Why don’t people take work related stress seriously?

It can be easy for people who have never experienced it to brush off the notion of work place bullying, as they believe it’s only an issue for children on the playground. However, as Beecham and Peacock deal with cases such as this every day, they can tell you the issue is real and incredibly stressful. Indeed, the Health & Safety Executive notes that over 11 million days are lost at work a year because of stress at work.

Adults can be bullies too and this trait can often manifest in workplace environments, whether it’s a superior behaving poorly towards a junior, or fellow colleagues in a team conspiring against another colleague. Often work related stress can only be made worse by making the victim feel as though they are imagining the bullying, or that they simply need to ‘toughen up’.

By trying to diminish the victim’s feelings, the perpetrator is only furthering the problematic behaviour, and the victim feels less and less like doing something to make a change.

Why should you deal with it now?

An uncomfortable or hostile work environment is troubling at the best of time, but it can be especially hard to deal with in the Winter months. This is because often in Winter, a lot of people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and similar mental and emotional issues. If mental and emotional stability is already at a low for a lot of people, a severe stressor at work can make this worse. While it can be hard in the Winter months to be motivated to make a change, a new year is the perfect time to take the next step in battling your work place stressors. It’s important to start off a new year with a healthy state of mind, and a comfortable and pleasant office environment can benefit you massively.

Why should you speak to a solicitor?

So, what can you do if this scenario is happening to you? If all of this sounds familiar, then it’s possible you’re experiencing work place bullying or work related stress. A lot of people feel such anxiety at the thought of returning to their place of work every day, they opt just to leave. This can often seem like the easy option, to avoid confrontation and remove yourself from the situation. However, this is not always the best course of action, not to mention that it is unfair and unjust to the victim. Also, if the reason for leaving is work place bullying, the perpetrator is never brought to justice, and will continue his or her behaviour with another member of staff, even the victim’s replacement.

What can Beecham and Peacock do to help?

Beecham and Peacock here to offer an alternative to handing in your notice at your place of work. It is usually encouraged for the victim to speak to another member of staff or a line manager. It can be daunting to take these issues to your fellow colleagues and superiors, especially if you are the only one experiencing it. Beecham and Peacock can provide a no obligation confidential meeting with one of our expert team, to hear about your situation and run through the choices of action you have. The expert personal injury team are very experienced in these situations and can handle them with tact and discretion. It’s understandable that this can be an upsetting or sensitive issue so they can help you discuss it in a friendly environment with no sense of intimidation.

Can you make a personal injury claim?

One of the choices that Beecham and Peacock may offer, depending on your situation, is to make a claim for compensation. Money can’t help with the emotional stress of a tense work place, but it can help cover any costs induced. It’s possible the victim may have taken time off work to avoid stress and anxiety but has not been paid for those days not in work. A victim shouldn’t have to lose out on money because of a situation they feel they can not control.

What’s the next step?

Take the initiative to speak to someone at Beecham and Peacock who can help you get the treatment and possibly compensation you deserve. Work place stress is a very real issue and victims shouldn’t feel like they have to suffer in silence. Head to Beecham and Peacock’s website for more information on their services. They also have an online enquiry system which allows you to submit a few details about your situation and someone from their friendly and professional team will get back to you with the appropriate response.

How Were You Hurt? Understanding the Different Types of Personal Injury Claims

Based on personal injury claims laws in the US and generally.

There are a lot of different ways you might end up getting hurt, and not all of them are physical. It’s important that you understand the different kinds of claims and cases available to you – and the different types of claims that could be directed at you, as well.

Note that personal injury claims can also be categorized based on the type of injury – though for the purposes of this piece, we’re going to focus on cause.

Negligence vs. Strict Liability

Before we get into specifics, according to the best personal injury attorney it’s important to understand that each type of injury claim tends to fall into one of three broad categories. The first, negligence, asserts that a defendant’s inaction caused injury to the plaintiff. The second, strict liability, says that the person was responsible for preventing injury, and failed in that responsibility – this holds true even if no negligence is evident.

The third type will be discussed in greater depth later in the piece, and concerns cases where a defendant intentionally causes harm to a claimant. A personal injury lawyer should be able to provide specific details with your individual case.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

According to a personal injury attorney the most common personal injury case in the United States, motor vehicle accidents are only subject to a personal injury claim when there’s clear evidence of negligence on the part of the defendant. Note that some states have a “No Fault” clause in place which require drivers to collect from their own insurers instead of filing a claim in court. Texas is not among them, but your state might be – when in doubt, check with a personal injury attorney.

Motorcycle accidents are a unique subclass of vehicular accidents, with higher magnitudes of injury and greater difficulty in determining liability.

Malpractice

Medical malpractice cases tend to be among the most complicated claims handled by personal injury attorney services. First, each state has its own set of laws pertaining to a physician’s duty of care and level of liability. Second, determining the difference between legitimate negligence and simply a bad patient outcome can be difficult – in some cases, no matter what a physician does, they are unable to help their patient.

Moreover, determining who specifically is liable can be a challenge as well – it’s not always the doctor, in some cases other hospital staff or even entire institutions can be held responsible. Slip and fall cases are predicated on the assumption that a property owner has a legal duty to keep their property free of hazards such as snow, ice, and debris (to name just a few). Whether or not an owner is liable for an injury on their property is a matter of much contention, and as with the other claims, varies by state. In Texas, for example, filing a claim either with a property owner’s insurer or as a lawsuit must be done within two years with the help of a personal injury lawyer.

According to a great personal injury attorney if you are found to bear more than 50% of the blame for your injury, you cannot receive compensation for it.

Workplace-Related

Workplace accidents and injuries are generally handled by worker’s compensation. When you are injured in the workplace, you must immediately notify your employer so that they can file a claim and help you recover your medical bills. If the injury puts you out of commission for a particularly long time, you can also file for disability payments, since personal injuries can happen often in a place we spend so much time at. People who are seeking relief from a personal injury in Bel Air will find comfort in the compassionate Physical therapy on lien offered by Dynamic Physical Therapy. Physician’s order not required and same-day initial appointments available. Click here to learn more about their clinics.

The exception here is if your injury occurred due to unsafe working conditions – if, for example, your employer knowingly instructed you to use cleaning chemicals without proper safety equipment. In this case, you will want to report the incident to the Texas Department of Insurance’s Safety Violations Hotline. You may also need to contact a workers compensation attorney if your worker’s compensation claim is challenged by your employer.

Product/Purchase Related

If a product does not work as intended to the extent that it causes you some form of injury, you have the right to make a product liability claim. Generally, these are class-action lawsuits, as was the case with Ford/Firestone several years ago. It is, after all, highly likely that a product which caused you serious injury is defective, and has injured others.

According to a personal injury lawyer, in this injury case, you don’t need to prove that the company was negligent. Instead, you simply need to demonstrate that the defective product was responsible for your injury.

Defamation of Character

Not all injuries are physical, and libel or slander can be just as harmful to your well-being as a serious fall, albeit in a different way. Unfortunately, many people misunderstand precisely what these two terms mean, and misapply them when seeking recompense. Defamation only occurs when the statements a defendant has made are demonstrably untrue, and those statements have noticeably impacted the plaintiff’s reputation.

If, for example, a customer was cursed out by an employee at a restaurant and mentioned that in an online review, that is not defamation.

Texas law also distinguishes defamation further, with a division between public and private figures. If you are a public figure pursuing a defamation case, you’ve a harder road ahead. You need to not only prove the statements damaged your character, but also that there was actual malice between them – that is, they were intended to harm your reputation, and made with full knowledge that they were false.

In the case of private figures – those with no involvement in the public eye whatsoever – it is enough to simply prove that a statement was made without verifying whether it was true or false.

Animal-Related

The owners of a pet – no matter what kind of pet it happens to be – are responsible for all damages that pet causes to others. Now, given that animals like fish, birds, and cats are relatively unlikely to cause serious injury to another individual, animal-related cases most often surface with negligent dog owners. Texas is what is known as a “one bite rule” state.

What that means is that if you are injured by an animal, you need to prove that either the animal’s owner knew the animal had bitten someone or acted aggressively in the past, or that the owner was negligent in preventing the bite from occurring. It is important to note that this rule does not apply to trespassers. If someone is seriously injured by a dog while trespassing on another person’s property, it is unlikely the owner will be found liable.

Intentional Injury

Last but not least are physical injuries that are directly and maliciously caused. Known as intentional torts and including things like assault and battery, these almost always result in a criminal case against the perpetrator. However, in Texas it is also possible to file a civil suit against an attacker to seek recompense for medical expenses, property damage, lost time at work, or all of the above.

Where these cases get complicated is that you’ll be suing the offender directly. Their insurance company won’t be paying – they’ll usually have to compensate you out of pocket. This means that for most intentional torts, it is difficult to justify a lawsuit.

This is only further compounded by the fact that damages are often difficult to prove except in the most severe circumstances.

Stake Your Claim

There are many different kinds of personal injury claims; it is best to contact a personal injury attorney for guidance. It’s important that you understand what kind of claims you can stake – and what claims you should. Because knowing the different courses of action available to you ensures you’re that much closer to receiving proper compensation for your hurt.  

Ryan B. Bormaster is the managing attorney at Bormaster Law. The law firm practices in a number of areas but specializes in 18 Wheeler Accidents, Accidents with Commercial Vehicles such as Work Trucks and Catastrophic Injuries of all kinds.