Laws On Self Driving Vehicles

Posted by  Patty

In a perfect world, every driver on the road would be sober, reasonable, logical and in good health. These drivers would also follow all the driving rules to the letter. This will eliminate most of the road crashes and other accidents that normally occur on public roads. Since this is not a perfect world, however, there are traffic patrol officers to identify drunk drivers as well as irresponsible drivers who drive recklessly, or over the speed limit, with the aim of keeping roads safe. There are also insurance companies to cover any liabilities that may arise in one way or another. When you bring self-driving cars into the picture, there is a lot of uncertainty. After all, who will the police charge when these vehicles cause an accident? Since these vehicles do not have drivers, who will protect them from theft and vandalism? What is the speed limit these vehicles can move at? These are just some of the questions that need to be clearly defined in law.

Self-Driving Vehicles Laws

U.S. lawmakers have come to an agreement on the framework for the legislation to govern the design, manufacture and use of self driving cars. It is important to note that most of the tests that have been conducted around the country so far have been approved on a case by case basis with the good will of state and local governments, but there has not been any clear guidelines that make it possible for research and development companies as well as auto manufacturers to try different ideas with self-driving cars.

The new legislation awaiting approval serves to give National Highways Traffic Safety Administration the power to regulate the design, construction and performance of self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles. Since it will be a federal law, states will only be tasked with registering and licensing self driving cars, but they will have no say on the vehicle design and specifications. These changes in law from the rise of self-driving vehicles is what will spearhead the development of improved models of self-driving vehicles.

Since companies will be collecting data when testing these vehicles, the law also seeks to enforce privacy laws by dictating how these firms can store and use the data they collect for the good of the industry, without compromising the privacy of individuals who use these vehicles. It is important to note that these laws are being formulated with humans in mind. After all, they form the bulk of road users.

How To Sue Someone Successfully

Posted by  Patty

Lawsuits are sometimes the only way to make a misdeed or injury right. If you have been the victim of wrongdoing, you may need to know how to sue somone. Many of the details will depend on where you are and what kind of courts govern your city, county, and state. However, these three steps will get you started.

1. Establish Why You’re Suing

First, you’ll need to identify the wrong that was committed against you, and name a defendant. This might be an individual person, a group of people, or even a business or corporation. Make sure it’s something for which you can actually sue. You don’t want to waste time and resources bringing a lawsuit against someone if you have no grounds.

2. Decide if You Need Legal Help

Your lawsuit may be something simple that can be handled in small claims court or even mediated and resolved outside of court. However, it’s always helpful to consult with an attorney when you’re dealing with any legal matters. Suing someone is serious, and you want to make sure you are on solid legal ground. Look for an attorney who can provide a free or low-cost consultation so you know what your chances are, and whether you can handle bringing the suit to court on your own.

3. Go to Court

Once you’ve done all the preparations, you can go to the court and file your claim. Each court is different. In some places, you can begin a lawsuit online. In other places, you’ll need to show up at the courthouse and fill out a lot of paperwork. There may be a fee. Once your defendant is served and a court date is set, it’s your opportunity to share your grievance and have it resolved.

There are many reasons to sue someone, and if you’re sure of what you’re doing and ready to get your justice, go ahead and file the lawsuit. But, if you’re not sure how to sue someone or you have questions about the process, talk to a legal expert. Making even a small mistake can get your case thrown out.

How To Get Compensation In Court

Posted by  Patty

If you are suing an individual or a corporate body for damages or compensation, you need a smart lawyer on your side. This is because litigation is a complicated process. You may have a good case and still lose in court due to legal technicalities. Besides, you can be sure the other party will hire a top-notch defense attorney. This is why you need an attorney to will help you win the case. Below are some steps you should take to get compensation in court.

Consult a Competent Attorney
The first thing you should do is to consult a competent and experienced legal expert. Tell your lawyer exactly what happened and state what you want the court to do for you. The lawyer will ask you a few questions and make some notes as you speak. After going through the notes, the lawyer will tell you if you have a good case or not. Once your lawyer confirms that you have a good case, he will file the relevant papers and the litigation will begin.

The Right Timing
Some civil cases have a statute of limitations. This means that if the case has not been file at a stipulated date, no court will hear the case. This is why it makes sense to sue the other party as soon as you can. This way, you stand a better chance of getting a favorable judgment.

Call Witnesses
In case you want to know how to get the most compensation, the smart move is to get hold of solid evidence. Call reliable witnesses so and get written evidence and other documents that are germane to your case. The factors above will work in your favor so that you get the judgment you want.

Countering the Other Party
You have sued another party and you are seeking compensation. Now, you cannot expect to win the case without a fight. The other party will put up a fight because this is what litigation is all about. However, if your attorney has done his or her homework, the efforts of the other party will not matter much in court. Get the right lawyer and you get judgment in your favor. This is how to get the most compensation.

Hiring A Competent Lawyer In Mississippi

Posted by  Patty

If you are a resident of the state of Mississippi, or you are facing a legal issue in the state, you should hire a local lawyer to represent you. Mississippi law differs from other state law, so it is important you hire a legal professional who has been licensed to offer services in the state and has a lot of experience representing and advising clients on a variety of legal issues. Ideally, you should work with certified experts in the field of interest. For instance, if you would like to divorce your spouse, or you have just received divorce paperwork from your spouse, you should hire a lawyer who has been certified as a family law expert by the local bar association. This will go a long way in ensuring you get quality services.

How Mississippi Law Differs from Other State Law

It is important to note that federal law reigns supreme across all the 50 states in the country. However, it only provides guidelines or frameworks. State law is what dictates the thresholds for convicting someone of certain crimes, the types of crimes a person can be charged with as well as the sentences. For instance, in the state of Mississippi, a felon, escaped convict or someone who has been previously convicted of a capital offense can be sentenced to death if found guilty of a capital offense. The death penalty is normally carried out by lethal injection.

In many states, the death penalty has already been vacated and a life sentence put in place. When you are charged with a capital offense in the state of Mississippi, therefore, the stakes are much higher for you, so you need to hire a local capital offense criminal defense attorney with a great track record defending clients. This will improve your odds of getting a non-guilty verdict or having the sentence reduced through negotiations with the prosecutor.

How To Know When You Should Hire A Lawyer

Posted by  Patty

Legal matters can be complex and costly. There may be some instances where it is best to represent yourself and others when it is not. Matters involving legal issues range in complexity and it depends on the matter itself and your comfort level in dealing with the law and the legal system in general.
In matters involving complex legal issues that cannot be handled simply by yourself and you are not comfortable representing yourself, nor is it advised, you should hire an attorney to represent you.

Possible Jail Time

Matters such as criminal charges being filed against you with the possibility of jail time is when you should hire a lawyer to handle your case. Other legal issues in this realm also include being charged with domestic violence, driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, too many outstanding parking tickets that results in a warrant for your arrest, and also tax fraud or evasion.

Substantial Financial Gain or Loss

When monetary damages are involved, and you may potentially lose or gain a lot of money by filing a lawsuit against the other party or, one is being filed against you, you should consider hiring an attorney. They will be able to advise you concerning legal matters that involve monetary damages that you could lose or gain.

Your Opponent Has An Attorney

If you are involved in a legal matter where the opponent has hired legal representation you should consider hiring legal counsel as well, because you would be at a disadvantage in court going against your opponent’s attorney on your own without having legal knowledge.

Divorce Settlements

In some cases of divorce, it is advisable to hire a lawyer if you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement on the splitting up of assets and other personal property.

Any Bodily or Personal Injury

In injury cases where a bodily or personal injury is involved, you should consider hiring an attorney. This can include vehicle accidents even if you have vehicle insurance, slips and falls on a business’ property, if you are bitten by someone’s dog, or if someone is injured on your property even if you have homeowners insurance. These are cases when you should hire a lawyer to represent you.

There are many other issues and instances regarding the law where you may need to hire a lawyer and these are only examples of when one may be needed. Every case and individual is different and you should determine if your situation warrants hiring an attorney. If you are unsure, you can speak to an attorney during an initial consultation to ask questions regarding your particular case. An attorney will be better able to advise you on whether or not your case warrants legal counsel.

Some Laws That Protect Consumers

Posted by  Patty

Most business owners and manufacturers always say, “The customer is king” but their attitude does not always reflect this reality. In many industries, the ultimate aim is to make profit and expand the business. In the quest for profit, some manufacturing companies sacrifice integrity and customer safety for a high profit margin. Now, this is clearly wrong and this is why there are laws protecting consumers from the excesses of these money-minded business owners.

Warnings on Products
Manufacturers of cigarettes and certain alcoholic drinks are required to include a warning on the products they are selling. The purpose of this caveat is to alert the consumer to the dangers of the product. In cases where this warning is not explicit, the consumer can sue the manufacturer for damage caused by the product in question. In addition, some manufacturers are prohibited from advertising their products because these adverts might mislead the public and glamorize a dangerous product.

Active Ingredients
Another law that protects consumers is the one that mandates manufacturers to list all the active ingredients contained in their products. This purpose of this law is to protect the consumer. You should know the ingredients of any product you want to buy. This way, you can refuse to buy the product if it contains ingredients that are bad for your health.

Expiry Date
Drugs, toothpaste, cosmetics and processed foods must have expiry dates on the pack of each product. This is because these products have a shelf life. This means that consumers should consume or use these products within a certain period. If the products expire, they become dangerous to users and should be destroyed.

Final Word
Officially, the customer is king but business owners and manufacturers do not always treat customers like royalty. This is why regulators have laws protecting consumers from some of these manufacturers.