It is always safest to abstain from alcohol when planning to drive. Improve travel safety and avoid legal problems by implementing the tips shown in the following list:
If a person consumes alcohol, it is best to leave a vehicle somewhere safe and arrange for other transportation, such as calling Lyft or Uber for a ride.
When a New Hampshire police officer asks a driver to step out of a vehicle during a traffic stop, intoxication is likely suspected. By understanding state DUI laws ahead of time, a person can make informed decisions and exercise his or her rights during a traffic stop. If taken into custody, determining the most viable defense options will be the key to a positive outcome.
]]>When a collision occurs at an intersection, the initial impact often comes from the side. Perhaps one motorist might fail to stop at a red light, causing him or her to sideswipe a vehicle that is crossing in front at a green light. Rearend collisions are also common at crossroads if a driver doesn’t realize the vehicle in front has stopped.
When you approach an intersection, the tips shown in the following list can improve safety and help you avoid colliding with another car or a pedestrian:
These safety habits can help you safely navigate both secured and unsecured intersections. Unfortunately, if there’s a distracted, reckless or intoxicated driver nearby, even your best efforts might not be enough to avoid a collision.
Severe injuries may occur if another vehicle hits you at an intersection. A vehicle hitting you from behind can cause whiplash or severe concussion. A sideswipe or head-on collision often results in serious injuries like brain trauma or spinal cord damage. It takes months to recover from these conditions, and sometimes there are permanent implications. As you strive for as full a recovery as possible, you would no doubt rely on close family members and friends for support.
Your medical team, and perhaps a physical therapist or visiting nurse, might also play key roles in your recovery. Medical care and other issues associated with recovery, such as taking time off work or gas money to travel to medical appointments, can cause financial distress that you may not be prepared to meet. The good news is that New Hampshire law allows recovering victims to seek compensation for damages against those who are liable for their injuries.
]]>After suffering an injury to the spine in a New Hampshire motor vehicle accident, a recovering victim is likely to spend days, if not weeks, in a hospital. When the doctor signs the release form, the patient might experience mixed emotions, including joy and excitement to be going home, as well as fear and trepidation about life ahead. Adjusting to new daily routines can be challenging and frustrating.
Many recovering accident victims with spinal trauma experience feelings of anger and depression. It is also not uncommon to develop post-traumatic stress disorder following a catastrophic car accident. A spinal cord injury might necessitate a career change or might even prevent an individual from being able to work. Thankfully, there are many resources available to help spinal cord patients adapt to a new lifestyle and cope with feelings of anger, PTSD or other mental health issues.
If another New Hampshire driver’s negligence caused the collision that resulted in a spinal cord injury, there is no reason the recovering victim should have to bear the full expenses associated with medical care. He or she may also be entitled to financial recovery for losses, such as loss of income and medical bills. State law provides recourse for an accident victim who has suffered a catastrophic injury due to another driver’s negligence by allowing him or her to seek compensation for damages.
]]>Knowing that a divorce will disrupt children’s lives and, perhaps, cause emotional stress, most parents want to make careful, informed decisions that focus on their children’s best interests. Creating a checklist can help a concerned parent minimize the negative implications of a divorce. While every case is unique, there are common issues that are important to most New Hampshire parents, such as custody, finances and property division.
A thorough divorce checklist should include a variety of documents that may be relevant to proceedings. Such documents often include tax information, prenuptial agreements, a marriage license, birth certificate, employment contracts, bank statements, and more. Gathering all necessary paperwork ahead of time can save a lot of time and help minimize stress during proceedings.
A divorce checklist should also include issues like child custody, an inventory of all assets and liabilities, as well as a projected budget for a new lifestyle. Financial advisers and legal counselors can provide guidance and support to those preparing for divorce proceedings in New Hampshire. Resolving as many issues as possible ahead of time helps to expedite proceedings and minimize expenses associated with a divorce.
]]>A New Hampshire family court has children’s best interests in mind when making child custody decisions. Therefore, the court must be convinced that it is within a child’s best interest to change or modify its orders. A parent must demonstrate just cause when seeking modification of a custody agreement.
To show “just cause,” means to provide evidence that proves a parent has a legitimate reason for asking the court to change a child custody order. Here are several examples of just cause:
These are all potentially valid reasons to request child custody modification. The court understands that life changes may affect a parent’s ability to meet the terms of a court order. For example, if a work schedule changes, a parent might not be able to pick up or drop off kids at the designated place and time.
As noted, all parents must adhere to the court’s orders regarding child custody in a divorce. If a judge determines that a parent is intentionally disregarding the terms of an agreement, the parent could be held in contempt of court. Any New Hampshire parent who has concerns about a child custody case may seek legal guidance and support from an experienced family law attorney.
]]>This is basically a roadblock that police officers create to stop random drivers for a drunk driving test. During such stops, police might ask you questions, such as whether you’ve consumed any alcohol before driving. They might also ask you to submit to a breath test or step out of your vehicle to take a field sobriety test.
Many people have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of DUI checkpoints. Under normal circumstances, police must have a legitimate reason for making a traffic stop, such as those mentioned earlier in this blog post. Such people say that stopping a line of vehicles at a checkpoint fails to establish reasonable cause for individual drivers and is therefore a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects you against unlawful searches or seizures.
If the police stop you, they are detaining you. This is a type of seizure under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that officers may execute DUI checkpoints lawfully by adhering to stringent policies. Such policies include not targeting certain groups of people; however, if officers determine ahead of time that they will randomly stop every fifth or sixth car, and you are the driver of the fifth or sixth car in line, they can stop you.
Each state has its own protocol and regulations regarding DUI checkpoints. In New Hampshire, police must obtain judicial approval before setting up a sobriety checkpoint. If an officer stops you and subsequently arrests and charges you with drunk driving but he or she did not have judicial approval for the checkpoint, you have grounds for challenging the case.
In addition to judicial approval, police must adhere to other regulations as well. Such regulations include issuing public notice ahead of time that they are planning a DUI checkpoint for a specific location, date and time. Remember that a sobriety checkpoint does not negate your Fourth Amendment rights, which include the right to decline when asked to take a field sobriety test. If you are facing DUI charges in New Hampshire and believe a violation of the Fourth Amendment occurred, you may address the matter in court.
]]>New Hampshire operates under equitable distribution guidelines when dividing marital property in a divorce. These issues may intersect with other issues, such as child custody, since all financial things are included, and financial support of the children is the responsibility of both parents. You are entitled to a fair settlement, and, hopefully, one that enables you to enjoy the holiday traditions and customs to which you and your children are accustomed.
When the court determines how your assets and debts will be split between you and your ex, the judge considers several factors, including theseMarriage longevity
Certain issues may especially influence the court’s decisions, such as if you sacrificed a career or education to stay home full-time and raise your children while your ex became the primary breadwinner in your family.
It is neither greedy nor selfish to want to ensure that you receive all you are entitled to under New Hampshire divorce laws. On the contrary, it is prudent and wise to protect your interests so that you can feel confident that you will be able to make ends meet and provide for your children during the holidays and throughout the coming years. By scheduling a consultation with Backus, Meyer & Branch, LLP, you can obtain guidance and support to ensure a fair settlement.
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