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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 Posted on July 19, 2022 in Personal Injury

Whether you ride for exercise, commuting, running errands, or all these reasons, bicycling can be a great, healthy form of transportation. While the infrastructure for bicycling has grown in the past few decades, bicyclists remain vulnerable users of the transportation system. Unfortunately, when a bicyclist has an accident with a motor vehicle, there is a high likelihood of serious injuries and even death. Working with an experienced bicycle crash injury attorney can help you recover compensation from an accident.

Getting There Safely on a Bicycle

Injuries sustained by riders in a bicycle accident can be severe, including broken bones, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other catastrophic injuries. As a victim of a bicycle crash, you may be entitled to compensation. In many cases, the bicycle rider will not be at fault, but will still suffer the pain of injuries sustained in the crash.

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 Posted on June 20, 2022 in Business Law

For many companies in today’s business environment, protecting their business practices and proprietary information is of paramount importance. Many new employees will be asked to sign a non-compete agreement to prevent them from leaving and working for a competitor or starting up their own business using their previous company’s sensitive information. However, there are limits on what a non-compete can cover. Before you sign a non-compete, it is best to fully review the scope and restrictions that the agreement places on future employment if you decide to leave the company.

Details to Understand in a Non-Compete Agreement

As you are starting at a new company or taking on a role with more responsibility at your current employer, you may have questions about how a non-compete agreement may impact your future employment prospects. Items that are commonly included in non-compete agreements that you should fully understand before signing it include:

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 Posted on June 02, 2022 in Car Accidents

Warmer weather in the spring and summer often brings the risk of severe weather, including thunderstorms. If you are out on the road in a thunderstorm, you want to drive safely for yourself and others on the road to prevent a car accident. Here are some safe driving tips that can reduce the likelihood that you will be in a car crash.

Prevent Accidents Before and During Your Trip

Although you cannot control the behavior of other drivers on the road, there are some actions you can take before and during your drive that can help keep you safe. By following these tips and driving conservatively, you are more likely to avoid an accident.

• Maintenance – To be well prepared for any severe weather when driving, you can take certain actions before you pull you even get on the road. Make sure you have a clean windshield and well-functioning wiper blades to increase your ability to see the road and other road users. Inspect your tires to make sure the tread is not overly worn and that they are properly inflated. Worn or underinflated tires can lead to poor handling, especially on wet roads.

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