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What You Need to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense in Providence

“Crime doesn’t pay” is an adage often used to prevent crimes from being committed. Yet, it is an adage that plays with an assumption – that the people who commit crimes are doing so for selfish reasons that ultimately do not pan out. Often, crimes stem from a spur of the moment mistake. Or, perhaps, a situation in which the person felt that they didn’t have a choice. An experienced criminal attorney understands the mistake in this narrow perception of crime and does everything in his or her power to protect people from a lifetime of consequences.

The severity of the crime, misdemeanor or felony, will greatly influence the type of penalties you could face. Common criminal offenses are DUIs, domestic violence charges, drug offenses, shoplifting, assault, theft, arson, bribery, kidnapping, and murder. How do the courts determine which crimes warrant a felony or misdemeanor? In Providence, there are no “classes” of crimes that distinguish the severity of different crimes, but a simple rule: any crime that is punishable by more than one-year incarceration or a thousand-dollar fine is considered a felony. For many, this clear cut definition results in a felony on their criminal record.

For individuals who feel that they may be found guilty – “nolo contendre” filings are the best opportunity to prevent that. “Nolo contendre” translates to “no contest,” meaning that an individual can accept the punishment without a guilty plea on their record. With this, a defendant would only need to follow the conditions of the no contest filing in order to avoid a guilty verdict. However, keep in mind that this option is only available for first-time offenders or for misdemeanors. If the individual has been charged repeatedly, it may prove to be difficult to negotiate the “no contendre.”

With a strategic Providence criminal attorney, an individual charged with a crime can face their trial with the right tools to minimize the penalties if convicted.

Catastrophic Injuries: How to Get More Compensation in Providence

In one moment, a split-second even, your whole life can change. In most accidents, injuries heal, but not all of them. There are some accidents that will leave you partially or fully disabled for life, and that is unacceptable. The various types of catastrophic accidents include fires, toxic chemical exposure, electrocution, blunt force trauma, and amputations. The distinction between personal injuries and catastrophic injuries in Providence is that the catastrophic injury claims will need to cover current and future (permanent) disability. As you and your family adjust to the new lifestyle, it will be extremely important for you to find another source of funding to pay for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

In these types of cases, it would seem obvious that you deserve compensation for suffering a horrible injury. A word of advice: be cautious in making this assumption. Although you will have strong feelings about receiving justice for your injuries, the courts will still need to focus on the facts of the case. No matter what, you and your attorney need to prove negligence beyond a reasonable doubt. Where they intoxicated? Speeding? Did they suffer from fatigue? Through the collection of police reports and witness statements, your Providence catastrophic injury claims attorney will be able to give you the support you need in order to comfortably transition into your new lifestyle.

Remember, the compensation you receive from the insurance company may not pay for everything – so what should you do? If applicable, file a third party lawsuit so that you can get an additional payout on top of the compensation that you have already received from the insurance company. Of course, this will still depend on the type of injury, but even roadway hazards can be evidence enough for you to get further compensation.

Dealing with a catastrophic injury can be stressful– but it doesn’t have to be. With the right Providence catastrophic injury claims attorney to handle your case, you can succeed.

Boating Accident Lawyer

One moment you are enjoying your time out on the water, the next you find yourself thrown out into that water– broken bones, unconsciousness and possible drowning. Boating accidents are especially traumatizing in that that you are out of your element. You are not in your natural environment but surrounded by water with tides, currents and inability to breathe if you go under. If you have been injured in a boating accident, or a loved one suffered the loss of life, then you need a boating accident lawyer to fight your case and get the compensation you rightfully deserve.

In Providence, there are specific boating factors such as policies on how the boat is maintained, qualifications/licenses in driving a boat, BUIs, and/or mechanical malfunctions that can significantly determine the direction of your case. Similar to car accidents or other personal injuries, there needs to be an investigation to gather evidence from the accident, speak to witnesses, collect police reports and look at the boat itself. During this process that you and your Providence boating accident lawyer will go through in the investigation, you need to remember to stick to the facts. Memories of the accident can trigger emotions, especially if it happened recently, so remember only to focus on the facts of the case. And also make sure that you document medical bills and your injuries to indicate to the courts the extent of the harm that the accident caused you.

Another reason you need to stick to the facts is that insurance companies are not on your side. Even when the injuries by which you have been afflicted are blatantly clear, insurance companies will try to use their correspondence with you to reduce your compensation. Keep to the facts that you can provide with documentation, and make sure that you are documenting the correspondence with the insurance adjuster so you can seek advice from your lawyer.  After a boating accident, you must be vigilant and careful. With the right tools at your disposal, you and your family will be able to receive the compensation you need to and move on with your life.

Injured in a Bike Accident? What You Need to Know

You don’t see it coming; you don’t have time to react, you don’t have the power to stop it. Getting hit by a car is, without a doubt, a traumatizing experience.  You would think that with the severity of possible negative repercussions, such as serious injury or death, drivers would be more careful when sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians. But in some cases, they’re not. Drivers frequently partake in driving habits such as illegal U-turns, not yielding, distracted driving, making unsafe turns, and drunk driving – leaving bicyclists concerned for their safety when out on the road. Keep in mind: bike accidents happen, but if you were involved, you have legal recourse. File a claim so you can get the compensation and justice you deserve.

One common concern is whether wearing a helmet at the time of the accident will determine the type of compensation you receive. Although it is the law in Providence to wear a helmet when bicycling, the courts will not use “comparative negligence” to deny or reduce your compensation if you were not wearing a helmet.

The greatest factor to consider when you are looking to attain justice for the accident is having sufficient proof that the vehicle driver was negligent. In most cases, you will have an advantage in court, one being “distracted driver laws.” These laws explicitly state that the driver must not read or send messages wirelessly while operating a motor vehicle, as well as wear earphones or headphones while on the freeway. Using witness statements, photo documentation and traffic cameras; you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the driver’s negligence that caused the accident.

It is important in lawsuits such as these to protect your interests by hiring a Providence bike accidents attorney. Ensuring that you have all your bases covered; from the scene of the accident to a thorough understanding of bike accident laws, you will be able to achieve justice for yourself.

Auto Accidents in Providence – How to Deal with an Insurance Adjuster

An auto accident has the potential to severely affect your life – but is doesn’t have to. Taking the rights steps to file a claim and find an experienced, tactful and considerate auto accident lawyer will help you get your life back on track.

Keep in mind that filing an auto accident claim and reaching a desired settlement compensation amount can be achieved through patience and strategy. After the accident, you need to report the accident to the insurance company immediately, so the insurance adjuster can determine your coverage. When talking to a Providence insurance adjuster, remain calm and only relay the facts of the accident. The insurance adjuster will want you to talk about your emotional or physical condition and interpret that information in a way that best suits the insurance company. Don’t give them any kind of impression. Let the insurance adjuster know that you will get back to them when you have the official documentation on what type of injury you sustained and how severe it is, from your own doctor.

The next, and most important step is to make sure you collect every possible piece of documentation relating to your auto accident. This means collecting witness information, medical reports, police reports, all your bills and other expenses, and any correspondence with the insurance company. Here’s a quick tip: record your conversations with the insurance adjuster. In Providence, you only need single party consent (yourself) in order to record a conversation legally. If you have a smartphone, you can use a recording app that will work silently as you have your conversations. Of course, always check with your Providence auto accident lawyer before you submit any phone recordings as evidence in court.

Getting compensation for your auto accident is not an easy task, but following these steps, you can conclude your auto accident with compensation that helps you get back on your feet.