Law Firm or Solo Practice, The Personal Injury Lawyer For You

Individuals experience a number of problems within their lives; some of the most serious of these problems involve injury to their self or their property. In a situation in which you or your property has been harmed, the person or institution that caused harm is liable or culpable for the damages that have occurred. If you have been subject to harm in one of these situations you are going to need to contact a personal injury lawyer at .

These lawyers have a number of responsibilities that they undertake when serving you the client and are generally held to a high standard ethical and legal standards. If you are going to contact a personal injury lawyer there are a couple of things that you want to keep in mind including qualifications, court records, cost and licenses to practice law.

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Drunk Driving: Where We Are Today

We’ve come a long way as a society from the days when driving while drunk was written off as a nuisance or minor infraction. Still, each year, more deaths are caused as the problem persists. The National Highway Travel Safety Administration found that alcohol related accidents accounted for nearly 40% of total traffic deaths in 2006. Despite a radical change in public attitude, an avalanche of legislation at the state federal levels, and stricter law enforcement, drunk driving remains a deadly problem.

Society changed its mind about drunk driving, demanding harsher penalties and shunning offenders. Today’s drunk driving problem can be largely laid at the feet of a few hard-core drinkers, and, perhaps more importantly, those who aid them in breaking the law by allowing them access to booze. The continued rate of fatalities shows that monetary penalties, public shame and even jail time are not always enough to stop the hard-core drinker.

criminal-justice-handcuffsStates are taking steps to further increase penalties in order to meet federal guidelines. In order to qualify for federal highway funds, states must have a legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08%. In Minnesota, for example, those convicted of driving while drunk are forced to install an interlock device on their cars. In some cases, the driver loses their privilege to drink alcohol at all and their driver’s license is so marked. Minnesota also issues “Whiskey” license plates to identify motorists who have been convicted.

Some argue that, as a society, we’ve gone about as far as we can go with random traffic stops, public awareness campaigns and lowered drinking levels. Ironically, it may be the civil courts that offer a remedy not always available to the criminal courts. By suing bars, party hosts, restaurants and liquor stores who make liquor available to drunk drivers, lawyers and their clients hit these suppliers where it hurts the most; their pocket book.

A successfully prosecuted lawsuit against those who aid and abet a drunk driver can serve justice in several ways. It punishes businesses who “look the other way” (not checking identification for restrictions, for example), and the compensation received by the victim can help defray the large medical bills, lost work hours, and other damages suffered by the victim of a drunk driver. In the end, of course, nothing can compensate a family for the loss of an innocent loved one, but a successful civil law suit can be one way to achieve at least partial justice.

This website, Tampa DUI attorney, offers assistance to anyone with legal concerns. If you enjoy this article, the posts in this site may be of value to you.

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Finding a Good Miami DUI Attorney When You Need One

  If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence, also known as “getting a DUI,” you need a good Miami DUI lawyer so that you’re sure you get the best representation possible. There are many Miami drunk-driving lawyers available, and you need one with experience to help you navigate the process in the right way.

Don’t take this lightly; you’ll need a Miami DUI lawyer because these days, driving under the influence is a very serious offense indeed.

Finding a good Miami DUI attorney: places to look

* Get a referral

If you know and trust someone who has been represented by a Miami DUI lawyer and they’re happy with the results, check with that person. He or she can direct you to the lawyer he or she used; it’s possible that the lawyer can take your case, or at least can point you in the direction of someone who can represent you fairly.

* Check your phone book — and then do some online research

Of course, there are lots of Miami drunk driving lawyers listed in the phone book, and some of these are better than others. Do your own homework and check out each of these lawyers or firms online. If a particular lawyer or firm has a good track record, and that the firm or lawyer has gotten clients reduced sentences or even achieved complete exoneration, it’s a good bet that that firm or lawyer would do a good job for you too.

* Go to the National College for DUI Defense website

The National College for DUI Defense (NCDD.com) is an organization that lists over 800 attorneys nationwide specializing in the defense of drunk drivers. Check the website for an attorney in Miami who can assist you.

* Martindale-Hubbell International Directory of Attorneys rating

Finally, there’s a rating you should look for, through the Martindale-Hubbell International Directory of Attorneys to get the best Miami DUI lawyer; the highest for competency and ethical standards is listed as “A-V.”

Things to keep in mind

Remember, not just any Miami DUI lawyer is going to do. The lawyer you hire should have extensive experience and time in practice, and should handle ONLY DUI cases. This will help ensure that the attorney you hire is very experienced in the field, and will know all of the details that will need to be addressed.

It’s also important to note that any Miami drunk driving lawyers you consider should NOT make promises as to specific results. Even if the lawyer has a very good track record, he or she cannot promise that you will “win” the case or have your record fully expunged, for example. Instead, a good lawyer is going to look at the specifics of your case, and make recommendations based upon circumstances.

What about fees?

Finally, a good Miami DUI lawyer is not going to be inexpensive. You can of course get “free” representation in court if you can’t pay for a lawyer, but with that, you take your chances. For the best representation, you’ll be required to pony up some cash.

That said, though, ethical and competent lawyers will carefully spell out fees in a written contract, including an explanation as to whether the fee is simply a retainer, or is inclusive. The attorney should break down just how these costs will apply.

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