If you’ve received a speeding ticket, it’s likely that you’ll simply mail in the fine. However, some traffic violations are more serious than others and they aren’t always your fault. If you’ve received a citation for serious traffic violations such as DUI, DWI, reckless driving, fleeing an officer, leaving the scene of the accident, or driving after suspension of your license, it’s advisable that you contact a traffic lawyer. Residents of Annapolis who are charged with traffic violations can have a criminal defense attorney represent them at Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) hearings.

During the MVA hearing, the traffic lawyer will argue your case to improve your chances of maintaining your driving privileges. Your criminal defense attorney may also need to represent you in a criminal court. If so, your lawyer will help you understand what to expect from the process and how to conduct yourself appropriately in court. Your attorney may negotiate for a reduction of charges to lessen the legal consequences.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the topics discussed and does not qualify as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws applicable to each case may differ. If you have a legal matter, you should speak to an attorney to get advice on your particular situation.

Drug laws in Annapolis and throughout Maryland provide for particularly harsh legal penalties. If you’ve been arrested on drug charges, you need to contact a criminal lawyer as soon as possible. Even if it seems that the prosecution has solid evidence against you, a skilled criminal defense attorney may be able to develop a strong case in your defense. There are several strategies that your lawyer may use to discredit the prosecutor’s evidence.

Medical Necessity

If you have a valid prescription for a controlled substance, it is unlikely that the prosecutor will pursue drug charges against you. Some individuals make the mistake of carrying legally prescribed controlled substances in their pockets, rather than in the original pharmacy container. This may lead to drug charges. However, a criminal lawyer should be able to get the charges dismissed once you can produce your legal prescription, provided that the prosecutor does not have evidence that you attempted to unlawfully sell your legally obtained drugs.

Alibi

It is the job of the prosecutor to prove violations of drug laws beyond a reasonable doubt. Your criminal defense attorney may use the specifics of your arrest to demonstrate that your guilt cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. For example, if you are charged with possession and you were arrested while in the presence of other individuals, your defense attorney may argue that there is no proof that the drugs were yours and not someone else’s property.

Legal Rights Violations

Another defense strategy your lawyer may use involves violations of legal rights. Under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, citizens are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. You should fully disclose the circumstances of your arrest to your attorney, including whether you gave permission for a search. If you did not give your permission, the officers did not have a search warrant, and the drugs were not in plain view, then your legal rights may have been violated.

Procedural Errors

In addition to legal rights violations, your criminal defense attorney may bring up procedural errors that can jeopardize the prosecutor’s case against you. These might include the failure to conduct a chemical analysis of the substance you were allegedly found with. If you were found with a bag of white powder, cops will automatically assume that it is a drug. However, the substance may actually be crushed eggshells used in a religious ritual. A laboratory analysis could lead to dropped drug charges.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the topics discussed and does not qualify as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws applicable to each case may differ. If you have a legal matter, you should speak to an attorney to get advice on your particular situation.

It’s never acceptable to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; however, everyone makes mistakes from time to time. If you’ve been charged with DUI or aggravated DUI near Annapolis, it’s time to contact a criminal lawyer. Your criminal lawyer will explain the potential consequences if you are convicted. You may serve time behind bars and you may be placed on probation. The judge may order you to complete mandatory drug and alcohol counseling, pay substantial fines, and fulfill community service requirements.

Contact your DUI attorney and watch this brief video for more information on the potential consequences of a DUI conviction. The criminal defense attorney in this video explains that your auto insurance policy may be canceled or your premiums will increase substantially.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the topics discussed and does not qualify as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws applicable to each case may differ. If you have a legal matter, you should speak to an attorney to get advice on your particular situation.

When you discuss your case at a personal injury law firm near Annapolis, one of the issues the attorney may cover is damages. Damages refer to the compensation you may receive for your losses. Typically, a personal injury lawyer can seek compensatory damages for an individual’s calculable or economic losses, which include medical expenses and lost wages as well as for pain and suffering. Depending on the specifics of the case, it may also be possible to recover compensation for psychological damages such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychological damages are somewhat more difficult to prove than calculable losses, but it is possible to do so in some cases.

Underlying Causes

A plaintiff, who is the individual who files a lawsuit, may be more likely to recover psychological damages if the cause of the personal injury was particularly serious. For example, it may not be easy for a personal injury lawyer to prove that you suffer from PTSD as a result of a minor fender bender. On the other hand, PTSD may be proven more readily if you were the victim of a catastrophic car accident and required the “jaws of life” to be removed from the wreck. To demonstrate to a jury the severity of the incident, your accident lawyer may introduce as evidence photographs of the scene of the incident and testimony from eyewitnesses.

Related Physical Injuries

For personal injury claims, plaintiffs are more likely to recover compensation for psychological injuries if they have been diagnosed with physical injuries caused by the incident. This generally speaks to the severity of the individual’s losses. For example, jurors might award a plaintiff compensation for PTSD if the plaintiff lost a limb in the accident or if the plaintiff suffers from other chronic or severe health problems.

Documented Signs and Symptoms

It is helpful to document the signs and symptoms of PTSD to substantiate the allegations. Individuals who suffer from PTSD may have recurring thoughts or flashbacks, social withdrawal, anxiety, insomnia, and general disruption in day-to-day life. The plaintiff’s physician or psychologist may be called to testify about these symptoms. Additionally, personal injury lawyers may call an expert witness to the stand to testify about the nature of PTSD .

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the topics discussed and does not qualify as legal advice. Every case is different and the laws applicable to each case may differ. If you have a legal matter, you should speak to an attorney to get advice on your particular situation.