Posted on August 11, 2020 in Personal Injury

Any behavior that removes a driver’s eyes or attention away from the road can pose a danger to others and cause a serious accident, but texting while driving gets much of the attention in distracted driving discussions. Many motorists have access to a smartphone at their fingertips at all times, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that cell phone use was a factor in 14 percent of distracted driving accident fatalities in 2018. If you have been injured in an accident involving texting and driving, you should be aware of the effects that it may have on your ability to seek compensation. In some cases, a negligent driver may be found liable for your pain and suffering.

Legal Implications of Texting and Driving in Illinois

Under Illinois law, texting and driving can be a factor in both civil and criminal litigation. Cell phone use behind the wheel may affect your case in the following ways:

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 Posted on August 10, 2020 in Immigration

There are many reasons why a person from another country may want to move to the United States, including to care for relatives, obtain a graduate degree, or to find a better occupation. In some cases, though, an individual may be fleeing religious or government persecution. In many cases, life in America can offer them many benefits.

What Is an H-1B Visa?

The U.S. government offers different types of visas for which immigrants can apply if they want to enter the country legally. These include H-1B visas, family-based visas, student visas, employment-based visas, and temporary visas. H-1B visas allow foreign nationals to work in the United States within specialized industries for a temporary period of time. However, applicants must meet specific criteria in order to be eligible for these visas, including a certain level of education.

Upon receiving the H-1B visa, the immigrant can report to work for his or her sponsoring company. After moving to the United States, the employee is allowed to seek employment with a different employer, or transfer to a different company. H-1B visas may be complicated due to certain issues, such as initial approvals and employment transfers. That is why the legal guidance of a skilled immigration lawyer can help ensure a smooth process.

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 Posted on August 06, 2020 in Family Law

Just like every couple, every divorce is unique. Some couples struggle to make it through the proceedings without arguing over every subject, while others manage to work together to create their divorce agreement. The way that the divorce proceedings are handled is not necessarily reflective of the quality of the divorcing couple’s relationship, but more telling of their communication skills. Divorce is bound to be an emotional and difficult life experience to go through and everyone responds to these feelings in their own way. Not all divorces require court intervention, and there are a few alternative dispute resolution options available to you and your spouse if you are planning on divorcing.

Divorce Mediation

Some divorcing couples have excellent communication skills and think it would be best to work together to create their divorce agreement. For those who are able to compromise when necessary and work through any disputes without court intervention, divorce mediation may be a good option. In mediation, a couple creates a divorce agreement with the help of a third-party mediator. The mediator does not act as either party’s attorney or legal representative, though many mediators are also attorneys. This neutral third party will provide suggestions to the couple and keep them on task, resolving any minor disagreements that may arise throughout the process. Mediation allows the couple to have complete control over their divorce agreement, including any determinations regarding property division, spousal maintenance payments, child custody arrangements, and more.

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 Posted on August 05, 2020 in Personal Injury

Semi-truck accidents can be extremely dangerous and cause severe injuries because of the size and weight of trucks compared to other vehicles on the road. If you have been injured in a truck accident through no fault of your own, you may already know that you can seek compensation from the truck driver who caused the crash. However, it is not always obvious when the trucking company that employs the driver shares in the liability. If the company has committed any violations to regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), you may be able to pursue damages for a resulting accident.

Regulations for Truck Drivers

Truck drivers have different schedules and work environments compared to other types of employees, such as office workers, who typically work eight hours during the weekdays in a building. That is why truckers must follow certain rules and regulations to ensure safety on the roads. The following are a few examples of these federal restrictions for truck drivers:

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 Posted on July 28, 2020 in Family Law

Whether you have just begun the process of initiating divorce proceedings or are in the early stages of contemplating ending your marriage, imagining what your life will look and feel like when you are on your own again can be emotionally crippling. It is not uncommon for couples to remain in relationship limbo for that exact reason — the idea of living alone can be overwhelming, to say the least. Thankfully, the decision to move forward and take the next step into your newly single life can also be a prime opportunity to nurture yourself in ways you may have never done before. An experienced divorce attorney can assist you with the legal steps of ending your marriage so you can focus on reinventing yourself.

How and Where to Begin

Psychology experts remind us that people often lose themselves in relationships, so it is not surprising how challenging the task of figuring out how to live alone can be following a divorce. As you take a leap into what feels like the great unknown, practice the following tips to help yourself prepare and adjust to your new life:

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 Posted on July 24, 2020 in Immigration

Many foreigners come to the United States looking to start a new life by becoming permanent, lawful residents. Maybe you are a student hoping to study at an American university, a person seeking more employment opportunities or a parent who wants a better life for their family. Anyone looking to become a lawful permanent U.S. resident will need to properly apply and obtain a Green Card. For those with family members who are already U.S. citizens or permanent residents, they are eligible to begin the immigration application process with the help of their family and an experienced attorney. Since the immigration process is very detail-oriented, time consuming and momentous to those looking to become permanent residents, it is important to have an immigration lawyer working by your side.

Green Card vs. Citizenship

The difference between lawful permanent residents, also known as Green Card holders, and U.S. citizens can be confusing for those considering immigrating to the United States. Those with Green Cards are not considered U.S. citizens, but are able to legally reside and work within the U.S.. The main difference between permanent residents and U.S. citizens is their ability to vote in U.S. elections. Citizens are able to vote, while permanent residents are not able to do so. Permanent residents are also unable to travel outside of the United States for a prolonged period of time as it could affect their residency status. Additionally, Green Card holders are not eligible for all forms of federal assistance until they have resided in the U.S. for at least 5 years. There are a number of ways that one can become eligible to obtain their Green Card, but it is important to know which category of familial relatives you fall under so that the application is properly completed.

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 Posted on July 24, 2020 in Personal Injury

In many car accidents, the events leading up to the collision are not always agreed upon by all of the parties involved in the crash. Maybe a vehicle ran through a stop sign and into an intersection without stopping. Perhaps a driver became distracted by his or her cellphone while driving on the road and rear-ended the vehicle in front of him or her. Those situations may seem fairly simple, but the details of all cases can be disputed. If you are involved in a car accident and suffer injuries, the last thing you will want to do is dispute with your insurance company over the events of the collision. Having sufficient evidence of your own ensures your side of the story is told accurately and the extent of your injuries and damages are documented properly, which helps in seeking compensation.

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 Posted on July 21, 2020 in Immigration

If you are seeking to stay in the U.S., but are not a full-fledged citizen, there are a few ways for you to do so. You have likely heard the term “Green Card”, but may not know what it is and how it can help you in your position. Your eyes may be focused on immigrating to the U.S. by any means possible, but you should be fully informed about your options and what rights each one gives you. This is especially important for those with children or those intending on starting a family in America. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offers two means by which those who were not born in the U.S. can legally reside and work here: obtaining a Green Card or becoming a U.S. citizen. Based on your background and priorities, you may prefer one option over the other.

Green Card Holders

If you are looking to reside in the U.S. permanently but wish to remain a citizen of your home country, you should apply for a Green Card. This allows you to live and work in the United States as long as you would like to, granting you permanent resident status. You can also petition for immediate family members to be granted a Green Card. Because Green Card holders maintain their citizenship with their home country, there are a number of rights that they are not entitled to. For instance, they are unable to hold a U.S. passport or vote in any U.S. elections. They also have restrictions on how long they can stay outside of the U.S. before losing their Green Card status. If they spend more than six months abroad, they risk losing their status. They should request a permit to leave the United States for over a year if they wish to keep their permanent resident status. Green Card holders are able to apply for full-fledged citizenship after having their Green Card for 5 years.

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 Posted on July 21, 2020 in Family Law

Even under the very best of circumstances, the divorce experience can take a significant psychological toll on everyone involved. The emotional effects of the end of a marriage can become even more complicated when the divorcing couple shares children, as children can be especially sensitive to the overwhelming changes to their household and lifestyle.

Sadly, in cases of a contentious divorce, the conditions can sometimes turn toxic as parents succumb to parental alienation syndrome. This occurs when one parent turns the children against the other parent. This syndrome morphs into a pattern of habitual parent-child relationship sabotage, often resulting in short and long-term psychological damage to the kids.

What Usually Causes Parental Alienation?

Generally, the alienating parent is often the less emotionally healthy of the two parents. Such behaviors can be sparked by a number of factors, but are usually driven by a desire for revenge, even when the alienating parent is the one who initiated the divorce. Three of the most common motivators to trigger parental alienation syndrome according to psychologists include:

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 Posted on July 17, 2020 in Immigration

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) oversees the lawful immigration to the United States. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, many immigration services have been conducted remotely or online as opposed to in-person over the past few months. USCIS has started to safely resume in-person services, but some naturalization ceremonies may still be conducted differently compared to the past. Those individuals who wish to become a natural citizen must complete an Application for Naturalization, which is Form N-400. Once accepted, he or she must take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony, which is the final step in completing the legal process to become a U.S. citizen. There are two different types of ceremonies, judicial, and administrative. The court administers the Oath of Allegiance in a judicial ceremony. USCIS administers the Oath of Allegiance in an administrative ceremony.

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