Criminal Charges

There are three primary classifications of criminal offenses: infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Each of these offenses is categorized by the severity of the crime, with felonies being the most severe. While each state follows this basic classification system, the specific factors for each offense vary per state. 

Infractions

Infractions are considered petty crimes, which means they are the most minor criminal offenses you can be charged with. Instead of receiving jail time for an infraction, you will typically receive a fine. In most states, you will never have to attend court if you are charged with an infraction. However, if you fail to pay the fine by the given deadline, you may receive a greater charge. If you have many infractions, you can be charged with a misdemeanor or face jail time.

You may receive an infraction for committing the following crimes:

• Violating noise ordinances
• Running a stop sign
• Speeding
• Littering
• Violating building codes
• Failing to wear a seatbelt 

Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors are a step above infractions. States typically classify misdemeanors into subcategories, either Class 1-Class 4 or Class A-Class D. 

All Class 1 misdemeanors are the most severe and carry the most significant penalties. If you receive a misdemeanor charge, you may have to pay a fine, engage in community service, serve time in jail, or be put on probation. 

You may be charged with a misdemeanor for committing the following crimes:

• Trespassing
• Public intoxication
• Vandalism
• Harassment
• Simple assault
• Prostitution
• Indecent exposure 

Felonies

Felonies are serious criminal offenses and come with severe penalties, which almost always include time in prison. A typical felony prison sentence may be anything ranging from a year to a life sentence without parole. In some cases, a convicted felon may face execution. 

Additionally, convicted felony offenders typically lose some of their civil rights, including the right to vote and to own a firearm. Felons are also not allowed to perform jury duty. Felony convictions are difficult to remove from your record, though they can be expunged in some cases.

You may be charged with a felony for committing the following crimes:

• Drug violations
• Rape
• Aggravated assault
• Arson
• Murder

If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, contact a criminal justice lawyer for help. A lawyer can offer professional legal advice and represent you in court. In some cases, a criminal defense lawyer, like the attorneys at Tuttle Law, P.A., can get you a reduced sentence or help you prove your innocence. 

Divorce Lawyer

If you think you don’t need a lawyer even if you and your spouse have an amicable separation, think again. While both of you may think you agree on everything and are capable of splitting your assets equally, you may be missing important factors that you could argue about down the road. As divorce lawyers from a firm like the Law Office of Daniel J. Wright can explain, hiring a divorce lawyer comes with some benefits that will make your divorce fair and easy.

Drafting Divorce Agreements

Splitting assets can make divorce messy. Even if you agree to split everything equally, there are many things you might miss when drafting an agreement, such as:

• Agreeing to the upkeep and sale of the family home, such as repairs, renovations, and bills still owed
• Addressing life insurance and death benefits
• Sharing retirement accounts
• Fairly dividing debt
• Scheduling joint custody of children

Seeking the help of a divorce lawyer may make your former spouse anxious that your lawyer will push you into an unfair deal. However, most lawyers are just as willing to write equitable divorce agreements as they are adversarial ones. By approaching your lawyer with an idea of how you want to split your assets, you not only save time and energy, but you also save money as the hardest part of the divorce can be agreed upon fairly quickly.

Just remember: you and your spouse cannot share the same lawyer. Even though you may agree on everything, you’re still considered adversaries in the eyes of the law. It would be a conflict of interest to represent you both.

Signing a Fair Agreement

While you are welcome to draft your own settlement agreement, it would be in your best interest to get a lawyer to review it for any mistakes. A single missed word in an agreement or an asset overlooked could be the difference between an equitable divorce and an adversarial one. They can also help you understand what the future will look like for you with the settlement you and your former spouse have proposed. A divorce lawyer can also make sure that your agreement gets in front of a judge and is finalized, a situation that can be difficult if you’re dealing with your divorce without representation.

Keep in mind that the decisions you make in your divorce agreement now will affect you for the rest of your life. Having a divorce lawyer on your side will help make sure both you and your ex-spouse get the best outcome. Reach out to one today to see how they can help make this one of the easiest transitions in your life.

Your brain controls your entire body, from the way you think and move to the way you process your feelings and show your personality. If you or someone you love suffered a brain injury, you may experience a significant decline in quality of life. Medical bills, lack of income, and possible personality changes can all be quite overwhelming, but you may be able to get compensation.

Causes of a Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury occurs because of violent movement of the skull or a lack of oxygen to the brain. Many TBIs occur as the result of car accidents, medical malpractice, falls from heights, or accidents on construction jobs. Sports injuries and assault are also common culprits. Symptoms of sustaining a traumatic brain injury may be subtle or severe. They include headache, blurred vision, loss of balance and coordination, fatigue, or loss of consciousness. Over time, a TBI may lead to changes in memory, sensitivity to light, or changes in sleep patterns. Many times, an untreated TBI will lead to permanent mental, social, or physical impairment.

Filing a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit

If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury that has changed your way of life, you may have ground for a lawsuit. You may also file a lawsuit on behalf of a family member who has suffered a severe TBI that led to permanent brain damage. Filing a lawsuit could help you receive compensation for medical expenses, lost income, cost of long-term care, and pain and suffering related to loss of quality of life. 

Proving a Traumatic Brain Injury for a Lawsuit

For your case to be taken seriously in court, you will need to prove several things during a traumatic brain injury lawsuit. First, you’ll need proof that the TBI was not a result of the injured person’s own recklessness. It must be clear that another party is at fault. You must also be able to prove that the other party’s actions or lack thereof are the reason for the TBI. Sometimes, everybody does everything right and accidents still happen, so be sure to consider the reasons why. Finally, if you plan to sue for compensation, the defendant will need to have insurance or assets that will cover the damages related to the lawsuit. 

If you decide that filing a traumatic brain injury lawsuit on behalf of yourself or a loved one is in your best interest, be sure to contact a lawyer first. An experienced brain injury lawyer like one from Ward & Ward Law Firm will know the best course of action to raise your chances of winning your case.