When do you need an attorney for personal injuries?

There are times when skilled attorneys for personal injury or even the threat of one to an insurance company are well worth the money that you have to pay to have such an attorney represent you. There are reasons that you will want a seasoned personal injury attorney, perhaps your case is extremely complicated or it could be that the injuries that you received are so severe that they demand an award for compensation which is well outside the norm or it could be that the insurance company is intransigent and simply refuses to show good faith with their offer to settle. Any injury that is caused by negligence can be taken to court but there are some injuries that almost certainly will demand the skills of a good attorney.

Long term disability:

There are accidents which are so severe that they impact your ability to earn a living for a long time, perhaps forever. Trying to determine what this type of injury is worth is complicated even for the best, there is no doubt you will need the assistance of attorneys for personal injury to ensure you get the most from your claim.

Medical malpractice:

 In the event you suffer an injury or an illness and the cause was careless or unprofessional medical care from a doctor, nurse or the hospital you can sue for damages. The rules and the medical detail is very complex, there will be a demand for detail and answers that only an attorney who deals in medical malpractice cases will be able to answer to the satisfaction of the court.

Severe injuries:

The compensation for injuries that you received are based to a great extent on the severity of the injury and the measure of severity takes into account your medical bills, the length of time you are off work and the type of injury. As the possible compensation goes up the more you will need an attorney to ensure you get an award at the high end of the range of potential compensation.

Insurance company refuses to pay:

There are times, regardless of the extent of your injuries or the amount of your medical bills and lost income that an insurance company refuses to make a settlement which is fair. In cases like this it is well worth hiring attorneys for personal injury because even after you deduct the attorneys fee the compensation they can get for you is far better than nothing which is what the insurance company were willing to pay.

There are other issues that also may demand a seasoned attorney; the best is if you approach a personal injury attorney to get his professional opinion.

What to expect from a criminal defense attorney

If you have been accused of an offense that may carry penalties of time in prison you will definitely need the best Cincinnati criminal attorney fighting on your side.

Unless you are economically disadvantaged and you are eligible for a court appointed attorney you need to hire the best there is to defend you. The legal system is complex and no matter how intelligent you may be representing yourself in a criminal case is a recipe for disaster. There are no two criminal cases the same and a skilled Cincinnati criminal attorney is able to identify those portions of the case which makes it unique and he can identify arguments and factors that may very well negate or at least mitigate the purported crime. Bottom line; if you are charged with a criminal offense you need a skilled criminal defense attorney to represent you.

The Cincinnati criminal attorney has numerous jobs during his representation of your case, it’s not a simple matter of calling defense witnesses and cross examining prosecution witnesses, he also has many other tasks, such as;

• Negotiate a plea bargain which can reduce the potential sentence or even eliminate some of the charges brought against you.
• Assist in developing an acceptable sentencing program for your situation. For example if the offense was drug related and you are given a sentence of 12 months, a good criminal defense attorney may get the sentence reduced to six months with the remaining six months in rehab.

A Cincinnati criminal attorney can help you psychologically as the trial progresses. The feelings of embarrassment, depression etc can often times be set aside by his council. The attorney; who has years in the courtroom defending people are better attuned to the day to day developments and these experiences can help in providing you with an honest reality check as to what may happen next. These judgment calls by the defendant’s attorney are helpful in aiding the defendant should he be offered a plea bargain by the prosecution.

The criminal attorney knows the ins and outs of the law and he knows how to employ his knowledge in defense of his client. If you were to consider representing yourself, would you know the legal ramifications of the 4^th amendment to the Constitution as regards illegal search and seizure?

The lawyer can explain in detail the ramifications of entering a guilty plea, what are known as the hidden costs. One of these costs is the potential difficulty you may face in regaining employment after the sentence has been served.

Questions to ask a potential personal injury lawyer

If you have been injured and you want to demand compensation from the party that was at fault then you will want to interview a personal injury lawyer before hiring them to represent your interests. It pays to ask questions, if you have a good case the top attorneys will want it and it will cost no more than hiring an attorney with less than a stellar record. Here are a few questions that need answers:

What kind of cases are handled day in and day out? There are attorneys who do a little bit of everything, one day they may be writing a person’s will and the next day they may be handling a personal injury case. If a lawyer does not handle personal injury cases every day then the person who uses them for this is disadvantaged. The legal field is very complex and you will want an attorney who is seasoned in personal injury cases, an attorney who knows this facet of law inside and out.

Experience: Regardless of how long the attorney has been practicing you can expect the same fees to be charged. These attorneys work on contingency, usually one third of the award if the case is settled out of court and 40 percent if the case goes to court. You will be faced with the same fee structure regardless of the experience; two years or 20 years and experience counts.

Track record: The more success a personal injury lawyer has, the better it is for potential clients. The insurance companies in the area are well aware of the attorneys in the area that will pursue a case to court; they use this knowledge when evaluating their risk. The first question an insurance adjuster wants answered in an important case is “who is your attorney?”

Who will handle the case? You may be impressed with the lawyer who conducts the initial consultation but you need to know if this is the lawyer who will handle the case or will it be someone else in the firm? You need to know the skills and experience of your lawyer, not the lawyer you first see unless he or she is going to represent you. As you will be spending considerable time with the attorney it is important that you get along well and that you feel comfortable that your case is proceeding the way it should.

You will also want to know if the lawyer is a member of any legal organizations that are pertinent to his area of law and if they have been given any awards or honors.

Should You Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer in Cincinnati?

Sometimes it can be difficult to know if you need a personal injury lawyer in Cincinnati to handle your case, or if, in fact, you actually have a case. In most situations if you have been injured either accidentally or because of an intentional act, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Personal injury cases fall under the realm of tort law. Tort law includes any civil wrongdoing that results in loss or harm which may the result of negligence or lack of action as well as harmful action. In these types of cases there may not be actual physical injury but the personal will have suffered some type of damage. This damage may be emotional, it may be damage to their reputation, or even violations of privacy or property. Tort cases are decided on preponderance of the evidence, and not on the basis of “beyond a reasonable doubt” as is the case in a criminal charge.

Types of Cases
There are many different types of cases that a personal injury lawyer in Cincinnati can take on. There are some personal injury attorneys that only handle one or two types of cases while others are more general in their scope of services.

The possible cases that a personal injury attorney can handle include car accidents, accidents on the job, medical malpractice cases, slip and fall lawsuits, dog bites, defamation, product liability, intentional inflection of emotional distress, fraud, alienation of affections and duty of care cases.

When to Get a Personal Injury Attorney Involved
In many types of personal injury lawsuits there is a specific timeline to actually file a case. Depending on the type of case it can be a year or more after the incident, but it is always a good option to talk to an attorney as soon as possible. This not only helps you to know if you have a case to file but the attorney can also advise you on what steps to take and what actions to avoid to prevent complications with your case.

Talking to a personal injury lawyer in Cincinnati if you think you have a case is the best option. Most attorneys offer a free consultation that can be completed over the phone. This will allow you to get a quick read on your case and also find out more specifics about your case going forward.

Criminal Offenses And The Law In Cincinnati Ohio

One of the oldest branches of law is criminal law. It defines the rules of how society and its members are to conduct themselves. It also contains penalties to be imposed when someone breaks these rules. In Ohio, laws – statues and ordinances define crimes of all sorts ranging from something as mundane as jaywalking or murder. In Cincinnati a criminal attorney makes this type of law his or her specialty.

What makes the Act or Omission a Criminal Offense?

In order for an act or omission to be considered a criminal offense, it must fall into these categories:

1. The act or conduct is prohibited by law or the individual must fail to perform the act or duty the law requires

2. During the performance of the act, omission or conduct, the individual must be in a state of mind that is defined as guilty or culpable


Furthermore, when an individual is charged with a criminal act, the agency or agencies involved must show one of the following to be valid:

1. The individual acted recklessly

2. The individual was purposeful in the actions or performed with knowledge

3. The action was undertaken with criminal negligence

In Cincinnati a criminal attorney will address these issues prior to and in a court of law.

Classifications of Crimes

In Ohio and through many other jurisdictions, crimes fall into two major classifications. These are misdemeanors and felonies. Of the two types, felonies are the more serious. In Ohio, penalties for felonies are substantially higher than those imposed for misdemeanors are. Aggravated murder is considered the most severe of all felony crimes. It carries the harshest penalty possible – death.

Crimes in the Ohio Criminal Code

In Cincinnati a criminal attorney may handle any of the following, although many specialize in a specific type of criminal law. Categories include:

1. Abduction, kidnapping, false imprisonment, extortion, coercion
2.  Arson, property damage crimes
3. Assault, menacing threats, homicide
4. Bribery, perjury, resisting arrest, harboring criminals, escape, graft, conflict of interest, dereliction of public duty, violation of civil rights
5. Burglary, breaking and entering,  robbery 
6. Conspiracy
7. Drug offenses e.g. cultivation, manufacturing , sale, possession
8. Forgery, fraud
9. Gambling
10. Inciting violence
11. Patient abuse and neglect
12. Racketeering (Corrupt activity)
13. Riot,  disorderly conduct   
14. Sexual assaults including rape, prostitution, obscenity and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles
15. Theft, bad check and credit card offenses
16. Weapons and explosives

If the crime involves violence, as well as “crimes against the person,” it is a felony.

If you find yourself facing a felony or even a misdemeanor, get in touch with a qualified Cincinnati Criminal attorney. He or she will do what is necessary to help you in the circumstances. 

Getting Quality Representation for Car Accident Injuries

Numerous car accidents happen every year all over the United States. The cost due to car accidents is estimated to be over two hundred billion according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Even those with defensive driving skills can fall victim to an automobile accident. Perhaps you take every precaution and keep your car safe and in good condition. This still does not mean that you or a loved one will not be injured or even die in a car crash. Your risk of being involved in a collision increases every day. If you have been the victim of a car accident, you need to seek professional legal advice by calling a Cincinnati car accident attorney. They will ensure that your rights are protected.

Protect Your Rights
When you have fallen victim to a car accident there are many aspects to consider in addition to injuries that have been sustained. Who was at fault? Did you exchange insurance information at the scene of the accident? Were there any witnesses? Who did the police issue a ticket to? With all of the stress and strain that you will most likely be feeling after the accident, it is important to focus on finding an attorney that has your best interests in mind. A skilled attorney will help you secure evidence, and they may even uncover information that you may have overlooked. Depending on the severity of the accident, you will probably need time to heal, so good legal representation is absolutely essential.

Legal Guidance Makes a Huge Difference
Whether you were in an accident with a negligent driver, or your car malfunctioned and you are at fault, an experienced lawyer will be able to help with the legal process. Most auto accidents can be avoided and there are factors such as speeding, texting while driving, a failure to obey traffic laws, fatigue, and bad weather that could exacerbate the problem. Mechanical issues that are out of your control could cause an accident as well, so there are many variables to think about. A reputable car accident attorney could mean the world of difference where your case is concerned. They will be familiar with case law on accidents in your state, and many of them won’t even charge you unless they win your case.