Traffic violations aren’t always serious matters, although they can result in hefty fines. However, as you’ll learn when you watch this video, a reckless driving ticket may be treated as a criminal offense, depending on which state you’re in. If you’ve received this type of traffic violation ticket in Annapolis, it’s in your best interest to contact a traffic ticket attorney promptly.

There are a few things you can do to help your lawyer challenge your traffic violations. The lawyer in this video recommends revisiting the scene and taking photos of anything that may help your case, such as traffic signs that are obstructed by trees or construction equipment.

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.

Criminal lawyers understand that being charged with a crime is a highly stressful event. That said, your criminal lawyer is still likely to have several expectations with regard to your working relationship with him or her. First and foremost, it is of the utmost importance to be completely honest; a criminal defense attorney in Annapolis can only defend you properly if he or she knows all of the facts of the case. If you’re ever unsure of how you can best assist your criminal lawyer with your defense, you should feel free to ask him or her.

Follow Your Attorney’s Advice

An experienced criminal defense attorney has an in-depth knowledge of the legal justice system, the local courts, and the prosecutor assigned to your case. Your lawyer will advise you to the best of his or her ability, but this will only help you if you follow this advice. Your attorney will ask that you avoid discussing the case with anyone else, including family members, and that you avoid contacting the alleged victim in the case. Attempting to tell your side of the story to anyone but your lawyer is only likely to compromise your defense.

Provide a Complete Account

Defense attorneys are often blindsided by facts of the case that suddenly come to light and that may compromise the defense strategy. During your early meetings with your defense attorney, he or she will need to know all of the facts that are relevant to the alleged incident, even if you think they may reflect poorly on you.

Remain Available

Criminal proceedings can take a while to resolve. Throughout the process, it’s important that you remain available to your criminal defense attorney. If your contact information changes, call the law firm and update your file.

Act with Courtesy

A strong working relationship always requires acting with courtesy. If you feel that your lawyer is not serving your best interests, it is your right to hire a different attorney. However, be aware that your lawyer truly is working in your best interests. Acting with courtesy also applies to the courtroom. Your lawyer will advise you to avoid speaking unless instructed to do so and to address the judge as “Your Honor.”

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.

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.

When it comes to defending individuals who have been charged with crimes , an experienced criminal lawyer near Annapolis can help. A criminal defense attorney must know the court system and relevant state traffic and criminal laws. When you look for a criminal lawyer, make sure he or she devotes a significant part of the practice to criminal defense, so you know you are getting the best legal strategy. Keep reading to learn more about how defense strategies involve solid evidence, a good explanation, and sufficient preparation.

Solid Evidence

To stage a defense, a criminal lawyer first examines the evidence. As any criminal defense attorney knows, not all evidence is good evidence. Still, a good criminal attorney is able to carefully select the strongest evidence that weighs in his client’s favor. For example, even a client who has not broken any drug laws will run into problems if he or she was on the scene when a drug crime was committed. However, being present for a crime is only circumstantial evidence—a criminal lawyer will point out that the prosecution needs more to sway a jury.

Good Explanation

If you have been charged with a crime, the prosecution probably has some evidence connecting you to the misdeed. The next part of your criminal defense strategy involves having a good explanation. Whether you are facing drug charges or have been charged with a violent crime, you and your criminal lawyer will need to work together to explain either why you could not have committed the crime or why your actions were legally justified. For example, in cases of self-defense, some offenses may be legally justifiable.

Sufficient Preparation

The final part of strategizing with your criminal defense attorney involves preparing your case. Remember, your criminal lawyer is your advocate. That means he or she can help prepare your case for a jury, keeping in mind how best to attack the evidence presented by the prosecution and how best to present any evidence in your favor. Preparation may include exhibits and illustrations, witness testimony, or in some cases your own testimony. Your attorney can help you decide whether you should testify or not, and if you do, your attorney can help prepare you for being on the witness stand.

If you have been hurt in an accident that was not your fault, your first step should be to contact a reputable personal injury lawyer serving Annapolis. Personal injury law is complex, and an experienced attorney can help fight for your right to compensation. If the court determines that someone else’s negligence caused you harm, you will be awarded financial damages. Keep reading to learn more about different kinds of personal injury damages, like general damages and special damages, and see how each is calculated.

General Damages

If your personal injury lawyer has suggested filing a lawsuit to pursue general damages, that means there is a clear link between the defendant’s action and your injury. Even if the defendant could not have foreseen the severity of the harm, your personal injury attorney can still seek full compensation for whatever general damages you suffered. General damages may include physical pain and suffering, disfigurement or impairment, mental anguish, and lowered quality of life.

Special Damages

A personal injury claim that involves special damages must prove that the plaintiff suffered a loss with greater specificity. Special damages are all out-of-pocket expenses a plaintiff pays for because of the defendant’s actions. Special damages are designed to compensate a plaintiff for the adverse affects of the defendant’s actions. Common examples include damaged property, lost wages, lost future earning capacity, and past and future medical expenses.

Different Calculations

As your personal injury attorney will explain, general damages are more difficult to estimate because the calculation is subjective. For example, general damages like mental anguish are unique to the plaintiff and the situation. However, your lawyer should be able to provide you and the court with an exact estimation of special damages. When special damages are sought for loss of future wages or for future medical care, your attorney will use expert witnesses and other evidence to support the chosen amount.

Almost everybody has had to deal with a traffic ticket, but not everybody knows how to fight it. If you have received a ticket for a traffic violation near Annapolis , there are several steps you can take. You will need to closely examine your ticket and check to make sure that all of the information it includes is accurate. If any important information is wrong, it can be grounds for having your ticket dismissed. Check to see which city or state traffic code you are accused of violating. When you receive the ticket, make sure that you have the police officer’s name and patrol car number. Then, talk to a traffic ticket lawyer. If the infraction is serious enough to warrant challenging, you may be able to have your ticket dismissed in court. A qualified lawyer will have the knowledge and court experience necessary to represent you and protect your rights.

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.

If your criminal lawyer has suggested raising an entrapment defense , that means he or she thinks you were coerced in some way. If you are charged with a crime due to a police officer’s actions, you should meet with a criminal defense attorney to discuss this defense.

As your criminal lawyer will explain, an entrapment defense states that a crime would not have occurred if government agents had not induced a defendant to commit the crime. A criminal defense attorney uses an entrapment defense when he or she believes the police conceived the idea for the crime and provided the means, motive and opportunity for the defendant to commit the act. When it comes to drugs and crime, the police are forbidden to coerce defendants to break the law. Watch this video to learn more.