Posted on December 15, 2022 in Personal Injury

With the price of gas increasing by the day, many people choose bicycles as their primary form of transportation. It is easy to see why; with no gas to worry about and no negative impact on the environment, bikes are great ways to get around and even get yourself to work in some cases. However, bikes often share the road with motor vehicles. Unfortunately, this means that bike accidents are all too common and can have devastating results.

When two cars collide, airbags are deployed, and the structural integrity of the vehicles can protect the occupants inside the vehicles. Bike riders are not afforded this luxury. As a result, when a car hits a biker, the consequences can be horrific and even deadly. If you have been injured in a bike accident, do not hesitate to contact a knowledgeable attorney who can protect your rights and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to. 

Common Causes of Bike Accidents 

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 Posted on December 01, 2022 in Business Law

Whether you are starting a new role at a company or finishing time with your current employer, there is a good chance that you will be presented with an employee contract or severance agreement. Often, these papers may look deceivingly straightforward - so straightforward that you may feel inclined to sign the papers right then and there. 

If you are presented with an employee contract or severance agreement, contact a knowledgeable New York metro area attorney with experience in employee contracts and severance agreements. Doing this will ensure that you know what you are signing and that whatever you are signing is in your best interest.

Why Hiring a Skillful Contract Attorney is Advisable 

Notably, severance agreements refer to a contract an employee may be asked to sign when dismissed from a job. Contract terms will likely include pay and benefits the employee is entitled to once that employer no longer employs them. By hiring an attorney when you are presented with employee contracts or severance agreements, you will absolve yourself from hastily signing documents that, unbeknownst to you, may have a significant impact on your professional future. Other considerations you should include the following:

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 Posted on November 14, 2022 in Car Accidents

When someone chooses to drink and drive, they are not only breaking the law but also endangering themselves and others around them. Unfortunately, according to the United States Department of Transportation, around 30 percent of all car accidents in the United States involve drunk drivers. Furthermore, in 2020, 11,654 of our fellow United States citizens were killed in drunk driving accidents. 

These deaths are preventable, which makes them all the more tragic. If you have been injured by a drunk driver, consider consulting with an experienced attorney who is familiar with these cases and is prepared to defend you and your rights while pursuing the compensation you deserve. 

What Does Compensation Cover in Drunk Driving Cases?

When you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, it is only right that the party responsible for your injuries helps cover the costs related to your injury. For example, in drunk driving cases, compensation can help pay for the following:

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 Posted on October 26, 2022 in Personal Injury

While any injury can have painful, debilitating implications, traumatic brain injuries are often especially life-changing. TBIs are unique in that a serious injury to the brain often results in not only physical symptoms, but also psychological, cognitive, and emotional consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an individual who suffers a moderate or severe TBI is also much more likely to suffer from infection, pneumonia, and other illnesses and has a life expectancy nine years shorter than average. 

If you or someone you care about suffered a traumatic brain injury in a pedestrian accident, it is important to take legal action to protect your rights. You may be able to hold the driver accountable for the harm he or she caused you or your loved one. You may also be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. 

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 Posted on October 10, 2022 in Real Estate

Buying a home for the first time can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. There are seemingly countless factors to consider when selecting a home, and the home-buying process itself can be complicated and confusing. Unfortunately, some first-time buyers are so eager to move into the house of their dreams that they overlook major problems. They find themselves trapped in a situation that has turned from a dream into a nightmare. 

If you are planning to buy a home for the first time, the importance of doing your homework cannot be overstated. Do not rush into anything. Remain vigilant for potential red flags that could indicate serious problems with the property or the home-buying process. 

Red Flag #1: The Owner is Hesitant to Allow an Inspection 

Having a home examined by an experienced professional home inspector is one of the most vital steps in the home-buying process.  A qualified inspector will look for any and all potential problems with the property. If the owner of the property is hesitant to allow an inspection or insists you use an inspector of their own choosing, this is a major red flag. 

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 Posted on September 27, 2022 in Personal Injury

If you are injured in an accident, it is critical to obtain medical treatment right away. Even if you do not think you have been injured or those injuries are minor, it is not uncommon for accident victims to have delayed or even silent symptoms. By the time these symptoms present, the victim could be facing a medical crisis or even death.

Unfortunately, many accident victims hesitate to obtain medical treatment because of the exorbitant costs. Having health insurance is no guarantee of avoiding high medical bills because many insurance plans have high deductibles and/or co-pays. In fact, medical treatments are so high that medical bills are responsible for two-thirds of all bankruptcies filed in this country.

It is important for accident victims to realize, however, that under Connecticut and New York law, if your accident was caused by the negligence of another party, that party is legally liable for all the victim’s medical bills.

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 Posted on September 14, 2022 in Estate Planning

When most people hear the subject of estate planning, they often think this is something only senior citizens need to have. The truth is that every adult should have an estate plan in place, regardless of their financial status. The thought of putting together an estate plan can be intimidating, especially if you are not sure of what you should include in yours. The following is a brief overview of basic estate planning tools. For more detailed information about your particular situation, contact a Connecticut estate planning attorney.

What Is an Estate Plan?

The major components of an estate plan are documents that have been drawn up that specify how an individual wants their assets and property distributed when they die. However, your estate plan can also include directives regarding what should be done regarding medical decisions and what financial decisions should be made should you become incapacitated. Some of the more common tools in an estate plan include a will, trusts, healthcare proxy, and financial power of attorney.  

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 Posted on August 14, 2022 in Car Accidents

According to national statistics, there were just under 48 million drivers over the age of 65 in 2020. That is almost 70 percent more such drivers than there were just 20 years ago. Unfortunately, older drivers are more vulnerable behind the wheel, having a higher crash fatality rate compared to that of middle-aged drivers. Almost 8,000 are killed each year in car accidents and another 200,000 are treated for crash-related injuries. Currently, Connecticut has no special restrictions for elderly drivers.

Aging is inevitable, but how do you know when it may be time for an elderly driver to give up driving?

The Impact of Aging on Driving

As we age, our cognitive abilities can decline, as well as our vision and hearing, and this can have an impact on driving. Many older drivers also have issues with reflexes being slower so they do not react as quickly as they should to sudden activities on the road.

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 Posted on August 02, 2022 in Estate Planning

At Ivey, Barnum & O'Mara, LLC, we encourage all of our clients to make sure they have an estate plan in place, no matter what their level of income and assets are. Estate planning not only includes having tools in place that will address issues when you have passed, such as having a will and naming an executor, but there are also steps you can take that will address elder care issues. Not only will these steps protect the assets you do have, but they can also help protect your loved ones from unscrupulous nursing homes that attempt to collect nursing home debt from residents’ family members.

Nursing Home Debt Collection

A recent investigation into medical debt by Kaiser Health Network (KHN) and National Public Radio (NPR) found that one in seven adults who have medical debt have been threatened with lawsuits and even jail by the creditors they owe bills to. This aggressive collection technique has spilled over into the nursing home industry, which has made it part of their collection process to harass family and friends of residents, trying to collect unpaid debt from them, despite the fact that there are federal laws in place protecting family members from just this type of activity.

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 Posted on July 28, 2022 in Business Law

There are numerous advantages to being a business owner. For example, it can be disheartening to work for another person or company. You may feel unappreciated by your superiors or frustrated at the inefficient way you are expected to do your job. When you own a business, you get to be your own boss. You control how your business is operated and managed.

However, owning a business also comes with a great deal of responsibility and liability. You may need to spend a tremendous amount of time and resources for only marginal growth—especially at first. If you are thinking about becoming a business owner, two options you may be considering are buying into a franchise or starting your own business. There are benefits and drawbacks to both of these choices, all of which should be fully researched before you make a commitment to either path.

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