Mornings can be tough, especially if you aren’t a morning person. Sometimes it can be hard to motivate yourself to get out of bed.

Luckily for late risers, there are some easy ways to motivate yourself to get up. The trick is to start the day off well.

Here are five ways you get the day off to a good start.

1. Yoga

Get your blood flowing with some yoga.

Morning yoga doesn’t need to be intense. It probably shouldn’t be anything too complicated, especially if you’re a beginner.

If you haven’t done yoga before, start with some simple stretches.

Try to touch your toes when you wake up in the morning. Or stretch your body out like a cat. Do whatever feels right to you.

When you sleep, you probably aren’t moving much. You might move around some, but not a whole lot. That will make your muscles stiff.

Starting to move without stretching will put stress on your body. You might even pull a muscle if you aren’t careful.

Starting your day with yoga will help you focus.

Yoga isn’t just about moving your body. It’s also about training your mind. (1)

2. Weed

This might surprise most people.

But there’s actually nothing wrong with starting your day with weed.

So long as you are responsible, microdosing can change your life. Microdosing is a method of consuming marijuana without taking enough to make you high.

It takes some practice, so try it out on the weekends.

Try consuming different marijuana weights and strains to see what works best for you. Everyone’s body is different, so it’s important to be patient. What works for your best friend probably isn’t right for you.

Strains that have lower levels of THC are ideal for microdosing.

If you don’t want to smell like weed, microdosing with edibles is another option. This is great if you have to head to work or are meeting other people.

Some weed in the morning is the best way to reduce daily stress.

It’s perfectly valid for people to take other types of medication in the morning. So why shouldn’t you be allowed to relax a bit with breakfast?

3. The News

Start your day by staying informed.

Read the news before you head to work. It’s always good to know what’s happening in the world. And it will impress your colleagues.

The classic way is to read the newspaper. But in today’s digital age, there is no need to subscribe to a real paper. There are plenty of online news resources.

Most classic newspapers even have online editions! These digital options are normally much cheaper. And they are certainly much more practical.

If you don’t want to read the news, reading in general is a good way to start your morning. It will help your mind wake up. Try reading a business book or even just a novel.

An alternative is to do a brain game like a crossword or puzzle.

4. A Healthy Breakfast

There’s a reason it’s the most important meal of the day.

A good breakfast will make you feel ready for everything that’s headed your way. But it’s important to make sure your breakfast is nutritious. Otherwise, you’ll feel sluggish.

Try some healthy breakfast foods like muesli or fruit salad.

Eggs and bacon are delicious, but they are high in fat. They also aren’t a good option for vegans. A vegan alternative would be a tofu scramble with veggies.

Make sure to drink plenty of water with your breakfast. Fruit juices will hydrate you, but they have high sugar contents.

Stick to one cup of coffee if possible.

5. Exercise

It’s important to stay healthy.

Keeping up with your exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle.

Motivate yourself to start your day right and get the hardest part out of the way. You can start as small as you want. Even walking to the end of the block could count as exercise.

Once you start exercising regularly, you’ll look forward to waking up.

And you’ll be glad you have something to brag about at work.

Conclusion

Don’t think of waking up as a chore. Find something fun you can do in the morning.

If you are a business owner and in the process of a divorce, you could wonder how your divorce will impact your business.

The effect of a divorce on a business largely depends on how you handle your divorce. But either way, the impact of a divorce will be relatively significant.

When the family business is the only financial resource for the family, the dissolution of the marriage can have far-reaching consequences. But there is more than one approach to deciding the fate of a family business after a divorce.

Understanding Marital Estate

First, it’s important to consider whether the family business is part of the marital estate. The marital estate is the sum of the assets and debts a couple acquires during the course of the marriage. The course of marriage refers to when the couple became legally married and the date of legal separation.

It is common for the marital estate to be equitably divided between the divorcing parties. But some states only require that the estate be divided fairly while considering factors such as each party’s contribution to the marriage, financial needs, and other financial resources.

If a business is acquired after marriage, it becomes part of marital estate by default. If one spouse started a business before the marriage, it might fall outside the marital estate category. But a spouse could claim partial ownership of a business if it increased in value during their marriage, used family resources to fund the company, or worked at the business and built relationships with customers.

Business Valuation

“Some spouses create prenuptial or postnuptial agreements to address what happens to a business after the dissolution of a marriage. When done properly, these agreements are admissible in a divorce case and generally followed by the court,” says probate and family attorney Samah T. Abukhodeir.

Irrespective of whether a business falls under the marital or separate property category, it’s important to establish the value of a business and all other assets. Establishing the value of assets helps give the parties a clear picture of the worth of their marital estate and the financial resources of each party because they will have a bearing on the subdivision of resources during the divorce.

There are three methods for calculating the value of a business. The first option is calculating all the assets and subtracting all the liabilities. While this is the simplest method, it does not consider a business value based on projected growth. The second option is estimating the value of a business based on the market value. For example, comparing the sales price of similar businesses. This is a good approach, especially if the divorcing couple hopes to sell the business. The third option is the capitalization of earnings which accounts for present and projected earnings. (1)

Business Ownership after Divorce

There are several ways of addressing ownership of a business after a divorce. If one partner is more involved in running the business, they can opt to buy out the other. In most cases, the spouse who’s bought out takes other marital assets of a similar value to their share in the business or has the spouse that takes sole ownership make ongoing payments to the other spouse.

They can also choose to sell the business and split the earnings or run the business as a partnership after the divorce. Whatever option you choose, you must ensure you have a clear understanding of the terms, so it’s best to have a lawyer with you throughout the process.

The gun debate in America has always been emotional, dividing the country into two. But as the debate ranges, innocent Americans, including school-going children, continue to die in mass shootings.

One of the latest mass shootings happened at a Buffalo, New York grocery store. The perpetrator was an 18-year-old Payton Gendron, who, according to police reports and witnesses, committed an act that was hate-inspired.

The attack resulted in the death of ten people. Of the thirteen that were shot, most of them were African Americans.

Red Flag Laws

As the Buffalo community recovers from this horrific event, there are questions about how the shooter was able to buy an AR-15-style rifle even with a record of uttering threatening statements at his former high school a year ago.

Nineteen states, including New York and the District of Columbia, have these kinds of laws, referred to as red flag laws, but their implementation differs by state. Typically, these laws are intended to remove guns from people who exhibit violent behavior or express a desire to perpetrate violence on others.

In most states, including New York, a parent or law enforcement agency must petition the court to issue an order barring the individual in question from legally purchasing a gun. But, New York goes a step further to include an educator as a potential initiator of the petition to have guns removed from a student they deem dangerous. (1)

Gendron’s Initial Threats Dismissed

Gendron had made the “general threat” while still a student at Susquehanna Valley High School last year. When a teacher asked about his plans after high school, Gendron talked about murder and suicide. His answer prompted the teacher to call the police, who had a mental evaluation performed on the then 17-year-old.

Unfortunately, the police did not consider his threat specific enough to warrant further action. As a result, nobody petitioned the court to have any firearms in his possession removed or bar him from purchasing one.

“The red flag laws were created for situations like these, but clearly, there are no proper procedures for implementation,” says criminal lawyer Bill Umansky. The New York government’s website’s explanation of the red flag law exudes a lot of optimism and boasts of New York as having been the first state to enact such laws to avoid school mass shootings.

Safeguard Against Malicious Misuse of the Red Flag Laws

While the spirit behind the creation of the law is noble, questions remain on why it didn’t apply in Gendron’s case.

The red flag law has not been without opposition. According to its opponents, it opens the door for malicious accusations from family members or other people that could hold a gun against a gun owner. But according to Eric Ruben of the Brennan Center For Justice, the law has some safeguards, such as setting a high standard of proof before a person can lose their right to hold or buy arms. Also, the law includes penalties for petitions based on false claims.

While red flag laws may not eliminate the chances of a violent person getting access to a gun, they have proved to work in other places and can certainly work in New York. For example, a study conducted in Connecticut showed that one suicide was prevented for every 10-20 guns seized. In California, the law was used 21 times in 2019 on persons who had made mass shooting threats. (2)

As a motorcyclist, there is always the risk of an accident, whether caused by other riders or motorists. However, certain riding behaviors motorcyclists may make riding even riskier for inexperienced motorists. One of these behaviors is lane splitting, also known as white-lining.

What is Lane Splitting?

Lane splitting is when a motorcycle passes one or more cars in the area between two lanes. These areas are often those with white painted road-line. Lane splitting is a technique motorcycle riders use to avoid stopping in congested traffic.

In other words, lane splitting is usually an attempt to pass slower-moving vehicles by weaving between traffic.

Furthermore, there are other two traffic maneuvers that motorcycle riders use that are comparable to lane splitting. They consist of Lane sharing and Lane filtering.

Lane Filtering and Lane Sharing

The essence of Lane filtering is for intersections with traffic lights. Motorcycle riders use lane filtering to move up to the front of the line at a red light by filtering their way between stopped cars.

By doing this, the riders can take up less room in the lane of stopped traffic with their motorcycle. Then, immediately after the light turns green, the quick acceleration of the motorcycles enables the riders to move ahead and re-enter the traffic lane.

Lane sharing, on the other hand, occurs when two or more motorcycles are moving side by side in the same lane.

Is Lane Splitting Legal?

“Small vehicles weaving in and out of traffic can create issues for motorcyclist visibility,” says Denver motorcycle accident lawyer Amy Gaiennie of Amy G Injury Law Firm. “Because most states consider lane splitting to be dangerous for motorcycle riders, its legality has been a source of debate in the United States”

Even though motorists in other nations may legally practice lane splitting, it is illegal in most US states, either explicitly or implicitly. Individual state legislatures have jurisdiction over these decisions. The rules collaborate with the state motor vehicle division, highway patrol, or state police in states where lane splitting is legal.

Currently, California is the only US state where lane splitting is legal. The California Assembly Bill 51 (AB-51) was approved on August 19, 2016, by then-governor Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) had long tolerated riders splitting lanes even though it was illegal.

But the AB-51 now makes it legal. The law mandated that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) create guidelines for educational lane splitting. It has been a significant win for California motorcyclists because the guidelines direct both law enforcement and education on public driving.

The Goals and Advantages of Lane Splitting

According to a study from the University of California, Berkeley, lane splitting may be safer for motorcycle riders than usual lane riding during traffic congestion. According to this study, motorcycle riders are more likely to get hit from behind by vehicles when there is traffic congestion and no lane splitting.

Lane splitting eliminates the likelihood of this happening because, when motorcyclists pass between lanes, there are no cars behind to hit them. Furthermore, motorcyclists ride at slower speeds during lane splitting.

Thus, injuries from lane splitting are usually less severe. In bumper-to-bumper traffic, lane splitting can also help ease traffic congestion because a motorcycle occupies the same lane space as a vehicle. (1)

Risks Associated with Lane Splitting

Although lane splitting has its advantages, there are also risks associated with it. Drivers often switch to a faster lane in slow-moving traffic. Though these motorists signal their turns sometimes, other times, they change lanes too quickly without any signal.

A sudden switch of lanes without any signal could cause harm to a motorcycle rider about lane splitting. Additionally, many motorists and passengers often hang their arms out the window while stuck in traffic on a hot day. It could be disastrous when a motorcyclist lane splitting comes in contact with the arm.

The following are other risk factors associated with lane splitting:

• Ladders, wood, and other items sticking out of larger vehicles such as pickup truck
• Side mirrors on other cars that are particularly extra-wide
• Pavement hole or cracks between lanes
• Rain, snow, wind, darkness, and other bad weather conditions for riding

Safety Guidelines For Lane splitting

Motorcycle riders where lane splitting is legal should abide by the safety regulations to avoid accidents. The following are a few of these safety recommendations:

• Motorcycle riders should only split lanes that are in between the two leftmost lanes. The number of cars switching lanes for on- and off-ramps is higher in the right traffic lanes
• Motorcyclists should ensure they have enough space ahead to pass safely between vehicles. Motorcycles need two feet of space on either side before passing
• Motorcyclists should always watch out for vehicles attempting to switch lanes
• Motorcycle riders should always cover the clutch and brakes with two fingers to enable a sudden stop if the need arises
• When the traffic flow returns to normal, motorcyclists should always get ready to merge back into the lane
• Motorcyclists should always wear reflective or brightly colored clothing and use their high beams to be easily seen by drivers

Following the safety guidelines associated with lane splitting will go a long way in preventing and reducing lane-splitting-related crashes. (2)

Franchise registration in North Carolina might not be as easy as you think. Being a franchise-filing state, North Carolina has additional laws governing the selling of franchises in the state. These regulations require a franchise owner to register the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with the state regulators if the franchisor does not have a federally registered trademark.

If you have a criminal record, obtaining a franchise registration in North Carolina may be even more challenging. This is because some franchisors conduct background checks on potential franchisees, and having a criminal record, such as a DUI conviction, may disqualify you from owning a franchise. However, it’s important to note that some states offer pardon programs for certain criminal offenses, including dui pardon, which may make it easier for individuals to obtain a franchise registration. If you have a criminal record and are interested in owning a franchise in North Carolina, it’s important to research the state’s laws and regulations, as well as any pardon programs that may be available to you.

While the process is demanding, it is vital to file your FDD to avoid violating the state Business Opportunity Laws. Failure to do so is an unfair and deceptive trade practice under North Carolina law. The FDD is important as it provides sufficient information to the franchisees. North Carolina, for example, requires all franchisors without a federally registered trademark to file a business opportunity registration with their FDD each year and pay a standard fee of $250.

So, what is the procedure to follow when filing a franchise business opportunity in North Carolina? What are the documents required for the successful completion of the process? How will you know when the filing is successful? (1)

Legal Requirements When Filing a Franchise

If a franchisor does not have a federally registered trademark, they must file the following documents:

• Two hard copies of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)- a legal document containing information on yourself, the franchise you offer, and any legal requirements. The FDD should comply with the state and federal franchise laws. Getting a franchise lawyer to help prepare the FDD will make it as comprehensive as possible.
• A cover letter directed to the Secretary of State.
• A check for $250 paid to the Secretary of State.
• Audited financial statements providing sufficient information on the financial status of the franchise.
• Consent to service of process, which guarantees your financial responsibility to the franchise.
• Additional disclosures under North Carolina’s Business Opportunity Act that go at the front of the FDD.

If the Franchise business opportunity filing is successful, you will receive a certificate confirming your franchise registration. The certificate also indicates the registration date and is provided by the North Carolina Secretary of State. The registration is good for one year but must be updated earlier if there are material changes.

If a franchisor has a federally registered trademark, they are technically exempt from any filing requirements. However, as a best practice, they should file the following documents:

• Two hard copies of the FDD.
• A copy of the trademark registration certificate.
• A copy of the trademark license agreement, if applicable.
• A cover letter directed to the Secretary of State.

There is no fee for filing a Notice of Exemption with a federally registered trademark. If the filing is successful, the franchisor will also receive a certificate confirming the exemption. The exemption is valid for as long as the franchisor maintains its federal trademark registration.

Types of Franchises

Franchises in North Carolina are of different types, each with unique features suited for a particular situation. However, the three most common franchises are the single unit, area development, and area representative.

The single unit franchising might be the way out for new franchisors as it is the simplest structure. Here, the franchisor offers their franchise to function in a single specified location.

On the other hand, multi-unit franchising, also known as area development franchising, can operate from various locations. Though not common, the area representative franchising allows a representative to grant permission to single-unit franchises to run in specified locations. (2)

Timeline for Franchising

Franchising in North Carolina could last for about three to six months, depending on the type of business. Preparation for the process may take several weeks but is essential as it ensures the success of the process. As mentioned, having an attorney or lawyer smooths out the process for you as they can correctly draft the required legal documents.

Importance of Franchising a Business

If you have been looking for a sign to franchise your business, here is why you should do it. The obvious benefit is the additional income that franchises provide. They have proven to provide long-term sources of revenue.

Strategically locating your franchise can enable you to dominate market segments. A franchise will help you accomplish your goals by enforcing your brand as a business owner and building connections that will help you in the long run.

“Filing an FDD may have different requirements depending on the state. Therefore, it may be wise to consult with a knowledgeable franchise attorney who can assist with this process.” says attorney Jason Powers of Franchise. Law. An attorney will help you prepare adequate financial statements as well as an FDD.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the leading causes of accidents and deaths among American drivers. Sadly, these are preventable events, but they continue to occur across the United States.

“As technology advances, more effective strategies for reducing drunk-driving accidents emerge,” says criminal defense attorney Matt Hayes of Grand Canyon Law Group. Apple is exploring a Car key breathalyzer feature that would not allow drivers to unlock their cars if they are over the legal alcohol limit. If implemented, this will significantly reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes.

The Effects of Alcohol on Driving Ability

Alcohol has numerous effects on the body. The immediate effects of alcohol make it unsafe to engage in activity that requires skill, attention, and coordinated movement. Alcohol affects the sensory perception, the nerve-to-muscle transmission, decision-making, and general brain functions, resulting in effects such as:

• Altered judgment: Alcohol can affect clear thinking, decision-making, and planning. It can also increase risk-taking behavior. All of which are required skills for driving.
• Reduced concentration ability: Driving a car necessitates far more concentration than most people realize. However, when your ability to focus on the numerous tasks involved in driving reduces, the risk of an accident increases significantly.
• Loss of coordination: Alcohol also affects the parts of the brain that control motor skills. It slows reaction times which increases the risk of an accident.
• Visual impairment: Alcohol also reduces peripheral vision, making it difficult for drunk drivers to see anything that is not directly in their front. These include other vehicles, pedestrians, and other road hazards.

These effects can lead to accidents that can result in injuries to the intoxicated driver and death in some cases. Aside from the drunk drivers, it can seriously injure or kill other road users. (1)

The NHTSA Recommended Tips For Preventing Alcohol-Related Accidents

To help prevent alcohol-related accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recommended a five-point plan for drivers in the United States. The recommended plans include the following:

• Plan a safe ride home before the party begins, and choose a sober friend as the designated driver
• Do not allow anyone you know that has been drinking to drive. Take their keys and assist them in finding a sober ride home
• If you have consumed alcohol, do not drive for any reason. You can call a cab, a ride-hailing service, or a friend that is not drunk
• If you are throwing a party and alcohol will be served, ensure everyone leaves with a sober driver
• Wear your seatbelt at all times. It can serve as your best defense against an intoxicated-driver

How the Car Key Breathalyzer Patent Application Can Help Prevent Drunk-driving Accidents

Apple is considering developing a feature that will lock drunk drivers out of their vehicles for good reason. With the new patent application, Apple hopes to improve its Car Keys Feature by adding a breathalyzer feature.

How Does the Apple Car Keys Function?

Drivers can replace physical car keys with their iPhones using the Apple Car Key feature. It works by simply holding the iPhone close to the door handle of the car to unlock it using the Near-field communication (NFC) technology. To start the vehicle, place the iPhone in the NFC reader or wireless charger once inside.

With the U1 chip in iPhone 11 or later, you can unlock or start the car without taking the iPhone out of your pocket. By default, the Apple Car Key feature does not require authentication and can work with a single tap. Apple ensures that the process is safe and secure by using a unique token shared by your iPhone and your car.

iOS makes use of your location and Apple ID information to prevent fraud. Those who prefer face or touch ID authentication to unlock or start the car can turn off the Express Mode. Furthermore, Apple watches can also have the car key feature. Also, when the iPhone battery dies, the feature can continue to work for up to five hours via Power Reserve mode.

How the Car Key Breathalyzer Patent Application Works

The application aims to discourage drunk driving. It locks the car if the phone, watch, or connected accessory detects a high level of blood alcohol from the user.

In some cases, the driver may be able to enter the car but not move it. In some embodiments, the user must meet one or more unlocking criteria before removing the Secure Credentials. The Criteria include the following:

The Blood Alcohol Level Criteria

Here, a user must meet the blood alcohol level before removing the temporary restriction on the secure credential before the time limit expires. Before the removal, the blood-alcohol level must fall below the threshold value. When the iPhone detects an input, a notification usually appears instructing the user to breathe into a breathalyzer.

The breathalyzer could be an in-built iPhone feature or other accessories that communicate wirelessly with the iPhone. If the blood alcohol level is 0.08 or higher, the blood alcohol level does not meet one or more biometric criteria. The alcohol blood level does not fall below the threshold value meaning the electronic device will keep the secure credential restrictions in place.

If the electronic device receives biometric data indicating that the blood alcohol level is less than 0.08, it falls below the threshold value. Because the blood alcohol level meets one or more biometric criteria, the electronic device will lift the restrictions on the secure credential. (2)

Completing a Challenge, such as the Manual Dexterity Test

In some cases, testing the breath may not be sufficient to meet the criteria of the application. In some embodiments, one or more unlocking standards may require the user to complete a challenge to remove restrictions on the secure credential.

The challenge could be a manual dexterity test like a mental clarity test such as a series of math problems. The aim of completing this challenge is to prove to the app that the driver is fit to drive.

Final Thought

After facing punishments for drunk driving in the US, the law may require a driver to install a breathalyzer in their vehicle. Since this is the case in the US, enforcing the car key Breathalyzer Feature on all drivers convicted of drunk driving will be easier. Imposing the feature on non-convicted drivers will also help to reduce the number of drunk-driving accidents.

If you love digital media, cameras, and filmmaking, you may be considering a career in the videography industry. Video editing is a career that can put your skills to use especially if you are computer literate and have good attention to detail. Pursuing a career in this field usually requires you to get a bachelor’s degree or higher. You will also want to focus on getting the right type of experience. There are several things you can start doing to break into the videography industry to get your dream job.

Get a Degree in a Relevant Field

Many positions in the videography industry focus more on your experience, rather than your degree, but getting a professional degree can give you the chance to develop skills and a portfolio. They can also help you form connections in your network, which can help you find future positions. Professors teaching the classes may have experience in the industry and may be able to serve as professional references for you.

You will also stand out as a candidate if you get your degree from a school known for its video programs. If you are thinking about getting your degree, you may also be thinking about how you will pay for it. Student loans can make school more affordable, although you will want to do your research to make sure you can get approved. If you want to know more, you can review a guide on whether you’ll need a cosigner when taking out a student loan.

Get an Internship While You are Still in School

Internships can help you apply your skills in real-world situations. You can get an internship in a variety of fields, including marketing, television, or film. If you can get one where you do video editing work, you can have an even better chance to build your portfolio and show your skills. If your work is published, it will further strengthen your portfolio. Many times, internships lead to full-time positions, especially because the company will already know your work ethic.

It is less risky for a company to hire an intern they have worked with than a candidate they do not know as well. Consider getting an internship closer to graduation, when you will be ready to commit to a full work week. An internship also lets you network with others at the company. Connections are important in this industry because they can lead to your next job. Another way of building your network is by attending different conferences in the industry. You can also go to job fairs, which will introduce you to others in the industry, including recruiters for different companies.

Practice Shooting and Editing

Spend some time creating your own projects to gain experience and start building your portfolio. There are many video publishing sites you can put the finished product on. You can then link to these in your portfolio and use the portfolio when applying for relevant internships or jobs. Of course, getting a degree usually requires you to shoot and edit video, so you may have work from that for your portfolio as well.

It’s important to try a variety of projects. These will challenge you and help you build up your skills. Try different television and movie genres, and consider venturing into marketing videos as well. When you are applying for entry-level positions, you will be able to prove that you have a diverse skill set and are ready to learn more. You may be able to find clients who need work edited. Wedding or special events videographers may need an editor, or they may want a second shooter when they are on location. 

If you have been injured due to the negligence or recklessness of someone else, you may decide to consider your options for holding them legally accountable for their actions or inaction. To do this, you will file a personal injury lawsuit.  A personal injury lawsuit is a legal claim that allows you to pursue damages from someone who caused you harm.

It is important to hire a skilled personal injury lawyer when pursuing these claims. Why? Because personal injury lawsuits have different rules than many other types of lawsuit.

5 Facts about Personal Injury Law

Put together by a Black personal injury law firm in Atlanta, here are 5 facts about personal injury law that better explain the uniqueness of these cases.

1. There are a Variety of Case Types Within Personal Injury Law

If you say “personal injury” to someone, he or she is likely to immediate think “car accident.” And while car accidents are one type of injury covered by personal injury law, it is far from the only type. Other examples of personal injury law cases include:

• Auto accidents (car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, etc.)
• Medical malpractice
• Slip and fall accidents
• Defective products
• Dog bite injuries

2. There are Always Two Parties in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Personal injury law rests upon the principle that individuals who have been harmed as a result of another person’s negligence can seek assistance from personal injury lawyers.

Therefore, personal injury lawsuits will always have two parties – a plaintiff (victim) and defendant (person responsible). In personal injury claims, the defendant may be an individual, a company or even a government entity. Princess Anne County residents are always reaching out to their personal injury attorneys in Virginia Beach in these cases so they can prove fault more easily. Holding someone liable for the harm they caused is a vital part of personal injury law.

3. Most Cases Settle Before Going to Trial

Lawsuits are sensationalized as being dramatic court processes. In reality, most personal injury cases settle before going to trial. That means that the plaintiff and defendant agree to settle the case for a certain dollar amount in exchange for the plaintiff dropping the lawsuit. Some personal injury lawyers estimate that up to 96% of cases settle.

4. Personal Injury Law has Set Time Limits for Filing Claims

Some types of lawsuit or legal action can be filed many years after-the-fact. In personal injury law, there are very well-established time limits for filing a lawsuit. For most personal injury lawsuits, you must file your claim within two years from the date the injury occurred. If you did not immediately know about an injury, then you have two years from the date your injury was diagnosed.

5. Personal Injury Lawyers Work on Contingency

The vast majority of personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means that the lawyer does not require any money from you upfront. If the lawyer is successful in recovering compensation for you, then the lawyer’s fees and any other applicable fees will be deducted from your verdict or settlement award amount. If you do not receive a financial award, then you will owe the lawyer nothing.