At some point in life, most people have tripped and fallen to the ground. Most slip-and-fall injuries are caused by a sudden or unexpected change in the walking surface. An accident can occur if we are not previously aware of a change in the surface making us unable to change our behavior to avoid the fall. When a fall is caused by the carelessness of another person, then the fall can be cause for a slip-and-fall claim.

Slip & Fall Injury is a term used for a personal injury case in which a person slips and falls and is injured due to the negligence of another person. These type of accidents fall under the broader legal term, personal premises liability.’ Premises’ means that the fall took place on someone else’s property. The owner of the property may be held legally responsible for the accident. Properties can include a home, business, government facility, public property, town or city property,etc.

There are many situations that can result in a person falling. This can include poor lighting, wet floor, narrow or damaged stairs, a change in the surface of the floor, and torn carpeting. Hazardous conditions such as snow, ice, or rain on the ground, a pothole, cracked pavement, and damaged stairs or escalators, can result in a slip and fall incident.

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It is important to pick a good lawyer in case you ever need any legal work done. You need to know how to pick a good lawyer because the lawyer that you choose will make or break your situation. Here are some tips on how to pick a good lawyer:

The first thing that you need to do is to assess your current situation so that you can select the type of lawyer that you need. For instance, if you are getting divorced you would want a lawyer who specializes in divorces however, if you want custody of your child then you might want a family lawyer.

The second thing that you need to do is to ask people you know if they have ever used an attorney and then they can refer you to the lawyer that they used.

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Cases that involve personal injury that is either physical or psychological in nature require the testimony of an expert witness. In civil cases, the plaintiff and defense acquire the testimony of a medical expert witness. Expert witnesses are normally enlisted to testify in such cases as medical malpractice, vehicle accidents, slip and fall incidents, and much more. Expert witnesses are either provided by the state such as in a criminal trial, or retained by a party in a civil trial. The expert witness is one of the most important witnesses in a trial.

A retained expert witness is an expert who has been retained by a law firm to testify on the firms behalf. This is a witness who has the specific education, training, skills, and experience in a particular area to form an expert analysis and opinion that is presented at trial. These witnesses are usually paid on an hourly basis for their expert analysis and research, as well as for their testimony at trial. They are paid a fee regardless of the outcome of the case. Fees can range from $50.00/hour to $500.00/hour. They only provide testimony regarding the facts of the case and how they arrived at their opinion. Like non paid experts, they have to be certified by the court to be considered an expert. They must have the experience and education that is relevant to the particular issues of the case. The testimony should be candid, objective, and truthful. Most work in the field that they are giving testimony about and they must be able to defend their opinions against tough cross-examination by a prosecutor or attorney.

Although they are paid by a law firm, retained expert witnesses have to adhere to a proper code of conduct and ethics. They must be unbiased and analyze information objectively. They must also have the ability to interpret reports and other applicable information in order to make an informed opinion. Their testimony offers opinion evidence rather than fact evidence. Just like any other expert witness, they must have a solid reputation within their field of expertise. An expert witness with a shady reputation will not help a case. The court is more receptive to a witness who is respected by their professional community. Jurors and judges will be more likely to accept the testimony of a qualified and respected witness. Retained expert witnesses can include: medical specialists, engineers, law enforcement specialists, scientistsetc. A positive verdict is more likely to occur if one uses the testimony of an experienced and respected witness. The expert may also be required to give testimony regarding the severity of damages when the court is considering the amount that will be awarded.

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Anyone going through the process of a divorce should seriously think about hiring themselves a divorce attorney. Although there is a great deal of administration involved with a divorce case, the lawyer will be necessary to protect your interests. There will probably be many things you will not understand but that is what your divorce lawyer is for, to make sense of the procedure and ensure you are straight on all the possible implications.

Despite feelings which may be to the opposite, always expect the divorce situation to get unfriendly when it comes to dividing the property and other assets. You may think that you can handle the divorce proceedings by representing yourself but if you consider this action logically, it is a mistake and a divorce lawyer will be necessary if you want the situation resolved properly.

The divorce laws vary widely from state to state, so don’t always listen to a friend you have in another state as the advice you get may not apply in your state. When alimony is required then the services of a divorce attorney will definitely be required as you cannot really represent yourself in this matter.

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Domestic violence is a serious problem in our society. No one has the right to intentionally inflict harm upon another person. Domestic violence is any type of abusive behavior by one partner that attempts to manipulate, dominate, and gain and maintain control over the other partner. Abuse can occur in any type of relationship such as heterosexual couples, gay and lesbian couples, common law relationships, new relationships, dating relationships, and long term relationships. Abuse takes place in all communities, ages, social classes, and cultures.

There are many forms of domestic violence that include: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, social control, and financial control. Domestic violence can take many forms including physical violence, sexual assault, emotional abuse, or social or financial control.

Domestic abuse does not have to be physical or sexual to be considered domestic violence. No form of abuse is acceptable. The following details the types of abuse that should be reported

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During any court session, a record needs to be made and this is done by court reporters. While most people are familiar with the image of a woman pecking away at a stenograph machine in the courtroom, very few realize just what a court reporter does or that there are actually several different types of court reporters.

The job of a court reporter sounds simple, recording all events and words spoken during the court hearing, arbitration, or deposition. However, this is a position that requires skill and speed, as well as accuracy since the reports will be used for legal purposes. Understanding the different types of court reporters, as well as the benefits and downfalls of each style of reporting will help you choose the best type for your purposes.

There are three basic types of court reporting, which we will look at here.

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There may come a point in your marriage when a breakup is inevitable and if that happens a good divorce lawyer will be the first item on a list of things to do. The best attorney to employ is one who, for at least half their time, is dealing with divorce cases and is fully skilled in mediation techniques. It also follows that you feel comfortable with them and feel confident they will serve you well.

Mediation minded attorneys are more likely to give you problem solving advice, whereas traditional attorneys tend to be more oriented to conflict and their advice tends to be adversarial. To get the most from your divorce lawyer, be well prepared and have everything written down; do not waste your money and time asking questions, the answers to which are readily available.

Make sure you know exactly what you intend to ask and record the answers as each time you contact your lawyer there will be a charge involved so note times dates and durations of conversations. As all costs relating to law and legal advice are costly, try not to visit them at the office unless absolutely necessary; this can be achieved by using the phone or mail.

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The Credit Crisis has hit the Commercial Real Estate Loan market hard recently as borrowers go into default and stop making or in some cases vacate properties with little to no notice. Commercial Real Estate loans are going ‘bad’. That means the clients are unable to pay to keep their doors open. Here are some telltale signs that your lendee has issues that may affect your loans as a lendor.

If you are considering default; there are interim solutions however to the normal default path. The alternative solutions may preserve, extend, and even save both the borrower and the lender from going out of business as a result of no true fault of their own in the tumultuous times.

The Composition of a Commercial Real Estate Loan gone bad:: (1) Payments are late whereas they were on time prior with no indications of breach of contract based on payment; (2) Borrower makes various excuses; payments become later and later; (3) Borrower does not deliver financial data required (Rent Rolls, Operating Statements, Interim Financials, etc); (4) Borrower ceases communication; payments are 30 days + in arrears.

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