Pages
February 2012
M T W T F S S
« Dec    
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829  

Archive for the ‘Law’ Category

The Costs of DUI

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

One often hears in the news about people being convicted for DUI or being involved in an accident caused by DUI.  DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence.  That means the driver is intoxicated which affects their driving performance.  DUI is against the law and police departments around the country crack down hard on this.

What will a DUI cost you if you are convicted for the first time.  OK it may vary according to the state you are convicted in – but the cost could be in the vicinity of $5,000.  Now that is a lot of money for having some drinks and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.  This amount includes fines and fees associated with the conviction.  This is a lot of money and enough to put most people off drinking and driving.  And the bad news is this cost could be much higher if you have to pay for another form of transport to your place of employment.  That is of course if you do not lose your job.  If that is the case then the cost could be so much higher.

Costs associated with DUI include; fines, court costs, attorney fees, bail, vehicle towing fees, alcohol education school, fees for getting your license reinstated, ignition lock fees as well as additional costs associated with vehicle insurance.  You will not get your license back until you have proof that all these fees have been paid.

The costs associated with DUI go up in increasingly larger amounts for each subsequent conviction.  Plus the amount of time you lose your license for increase with each additional conviction.

Information from the Knoxville DUI Attorney

Rethinking Law and Personal Injury

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

The idea of the law is one that tends to make people uneasy. It’s a very large and looming thing, and one that only seems to come into any real play when things have gone wrong. Usually, dealing with the law is considered to be very unpleasant, ranging from inconvenient at best to punishing at worst. This may well be because laws are there to help things run smoothly, to protect individuals and groups, and to maintain order in the world. They become part of the background noise of the every day, and only come into relief when they are broken.

However, one doesn’t have to be in the presence of a Florida personal injury lawyer in order to appreciate the law in all of its nuances. Nor does one have to be on either side of a court case to benefit from the law. Nearly every sphere of public activity can reveal evidence of the law in some form or another. These are not necessarily tied to personal intrusion, either, but are part of the fabric of how things work. Most laws come from common sense , where rules are necessary to keep people safe, and things running efficiently. If one begins to look at it in this light, then it is easy to see how uneasiness can turn into the kind of security that laws are intended to protect.

You Can Reopen a Denied Social Security Disability Claim

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

The process of applying for social security disability (SSD) benefits is a long and arduous one. Many people make their way through the system only to have their claim denied. These denials may be based on the facts of the case or may be a result of clerical errors. Even after a claim has been denied, you have the option of reopening your case for reconsideration.

The window for reopening a claim is twenty-four months (dated from the initial determination notice from the Social Security Administration. There are three reasons that the SSA would reopen a claim. The first is if there is new evidence which materially changes the claim. Another reason is proof that the original evidence demonstrations that the initial determination was incorrect. Lastly, if the SSA made a clerical error, the claim may be reopened. The appeals process allows for the claim to be reopened by a SSA office, an administrative law judge, or the appeals council.

You will probably want to consult with a social security disability lawyer to determine if your case can be reopened. You may also have the option of refiling a claim, either for a new issue or the same one as your initial claim. Your claim could be treated as a new case or combined with your original claim, depending on the specific circumstances, including where in the appeals process that first claim is.

Defining Criminal Law

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

Criminal or penal law defines actions, and the penalties for such actions, that have a deleterious impact on society. These crimes may be against an individual, but cause a larger social impact that extends beyond the victim. Usually to be convicted, a criminal must be proven 1) to have committed the crime in question, and 2) to have commited the crime with malicious intent or motive, with the second point being moot in strict liability crimes. Criminal law offices all over the world make their living defending individuals against criminal charges. Some of the more obvious criminal acts are murder, rape, assault, and theft. Criminal law also covers so called victimless crimes such as prostitution and drug use. In modern society less physical crimes, such as fraud and identity theft result in criminal prosecutions.

Criminal law codes include not only strict definitions of crimes and what is required as proof, but may include sentencing guidelines. Judges have leeway in many cases, doling out parole, public service, or shorter sentences. However, more and more there are strict sentences attached with certain crimes that tie the hands of judges and prescribe minimum sentences for drug-related crimes and assaults and murders committed under certain circumstances. Locality is everything with state and city laws sometimes requiring stricter punishments than states or federal guidelines. This is why the study of las vegas law is so different from that of the law in Florida or Washington DC. The key to understanding criminal law is to recognize that the crimes are seen in the larger social context and are not just about the criminal and individual victim.