Motor Vehicle

Owning and driving a motor vehicle in the United States is a privilege, and not a right. It is thus subject to certain legal requirements and can be withdrawn if abused. The registration and titling of motor vehicles and the licensing of drivers are required for various reasons, the foremost of which is road safety. Both the federal and state governments have their own set of motor vehicle laws and standards of road safety. State laws vary but the general rule is a motor vehicle cannot be driven without registration or with an expired registration and cannot be driven by an individual without a driver's license.

The most common violation of motor vehicle law is driving without a license. This is a criminal offense punishable by law. Lawfully obtaining a driver's license entails requirements that not all can comply with. Age requirement for a driver's license vary from state to state. An individual who has not reached the legal age required for a driver's license thus cannot legally drive a car. Most states require a social security number or a tax identification number. Some American citizens cannot obtain social security numbers for a variety of reasons, and some immigrants will not qualify for social security numbers or ITIN. Moreover, some states require applicants to bring proofs of identity, usually passports, I-94 cards, or green cards. In cases of illegal immigrants, it is a double whammy if caught driving without a license. Other states will require applicants to show proof of liability insurance. Obtaining this requirement is difficult since it entails paying an insurer. Some insurance companies also do not offer insurance for those who do not own a car, so some applicants may not be able to comply with this requirement. Different driver's licenses are issued for different kinds of motor vehicles. Commercial drivers, such as a bus driver, need to apply for special driver's licenses for them to be able to drive certain vehicles. A driver's license specifically indicates the type of vehicle that the license holder is allowed to drive. Once found driving a vehicle that is not specified in the license, the driver can be accused of driving without a license.

Licenses, being privileges, can be revoked due to a number of circumstances, the common of which is having been found guilty of driving while intoxicated or as a result of a conviction to another crime. As a punishment to being convicted of DUI, the offender may be given limited driving privileges or may have his or her license forfeited.

Penalties accompanying driving without a license depend on the reason why the individual was driving without a license. Penalties can range from fines to jail time, depending also on the state. Jail time can lead to serious repercussions to a person caught driving without a license as this may lead to loss of employment. When facing a case of driving without a license, one must seek the assistance of an expert motor vehicle law attorney who can help reduce the fines or jail time, or avoid them altogether.

Areas of Law

Slip And Fall Law - Legal Information and Resources

Slip And Fall

Slip and fall law is a subset of personal injury law. Slip and fall law governs the liability when an individual slips and falls and suffers injuries as a result to a dangerous condition on the property. When the accident occurs on government property, federal slip and fall law applies. Otherwise, state slip and fall law applies. State slip and fall law varies, but the common elements are the same -- personal injuries and negligence.

The premise of slip and fall cases is negligence. A negligent act must have caused the accident before the victim can file a claim to recover damages. Negligence means a person or an entity failed to perform an act in a reasonable manner expected in certain circumstances. Proving negligence is not an easy task that is left to the hands of the victims. Rather, victims are encouraged to hire a slip and fall law attorney to determine whether there was a negligent act that caused the accident to happen in the first place. A slip and fall victim cannot pursue a personal injury claim if there is no negligence on the part of another party. Proving intent could also elevate the case from simple negligence case to a felony or misdemeanor.

All parties who are possibly responsible for a slip and fall accident must be identified prior to the filing of a suit. The identification of responsible parties may not be very obvious at times and non-identification of certain possible responsible parties could mean lesser recoveries for the victim. Slip and fall laws hold store owners, tenants, and building owners responsible for any negligent act that causes harm to the public. State law also hold responsible insurers to these parties. It is important to seek the aid of slip and fall law attorneys prior to the filing of any slip and fall cases as they know how to use the law to the plaintiff's advantage and use the law so that plaintiffs are rightfully compensated. Slip and fall attorneys would also be knowledgeable as to who to name as responsible parties, saving the victim from any possible regret for not suing in the future. Like all personal injury cases, slip and fall cases are subject to statute of limitations. Without the help of a personal injury attorney specializing on slip and fall accidents, the plaintiff, without intending to, may let the statute of limitations pass and his legal right to seek compensation pass.

Seeking compensation for injuries arising from slip and fall accidents in public places may prove to be a little bit more difficult due to the fact that the government is generally immune from suit. The rule of non-suit against the government has been relaxed in many instances, subject to exceptions. If the victim proves that he incurred injuries as a result of a slip and fall accident in a public place, the victim can sue the government, subject to strict notice requirements and time limits, an expert slip and fall attorney should be knowledgeable about.

Areas of Law