Category: Legal Branding

If it’s your first time getting a very serious personal injury that another party is liable for, you might be wondering what you should do to file a personal injury case. Here are the essential steps you should not forget before you file a personal injury claim.

1. Preserve all evidence

Having evidence of your injury will help strengthen the case so make sure to collect as much of it as you possibly can. File a police report and get copies of it to provide to your lawyer. Take photos of the accident, your injury, and the damaged property, if you still can. Gather copies of medical documents and treatment plans from your doctor.

Also, if you have any witnesses, get their information. In addition, you want to keep records of the income you lost due to missing work. It also helps to keep a written account of the injury while the memory is still fresh in your mind.

2. Get medical treatment and follow your doctor’s advice

The first thing you should do after getting into an accident is to go to a doctor. If you fail to do this, your claim could be drastically reduced. Then, make sure that you follow your doctor’s advice religiously. That means taking medication as prescribed and undergoing treatments and required tests.

If you neglect treatment, you could weaken the value of your case. The defendant’s lawyer will argue that because you only needed minimal treatment, you don’t deserve to get the settlement you’re asking for.

3. Get off social media

Or any public platform where your opponent can potentially find the information they can use against you. Defense attorneys of personal injury cases will scour the internet for any dirt they find proving that you may be exaggerating your symptoms. To be on the safe side, refrain from talking about your personal injury with anyone except your lawyer.

4. Get a good personal injury lawyer

The importance of getting a skilled lawyer cannot be overstated. It doesn’t matter how prepared you are. If your lawyer does not know how to present your case in court, you will get a poor settlement. Make sure to pick your legal representative wisely. You want one who is deeply involved with your case rather than someone who will just pass off your case to a junior associate.

One such firm that understands the importance of personalized service is The Sanders Law Firm. They have handled thousands of personal injury cases and are very well experienced in obtaining compensation their clients deserve. Whether the injury was acquired due to a car crash, defective product, or a dangerous workplace, their lawyers can help get the best outcome for you, especially when dealing with tough insurance companies.

5. Be prepared mentally

Filing a personal injury case is not as easy as showing medical receipts and walking away with your settlement money. Remember, insurance companies do not just pay out willingly. If you ask for a settlement, it is in their best interest to try to reduce the amount, if not, legitimize it. This can be frustrating and stressful on your part. Having a good lawyer around you can make things easier as they do all the heavy-lifting making sure that you win the case.

There’s quite a lot that you should do before filing a personal injury case, but you must remember, to not let it linger longer than you need to. Depending on the state you are living in, there is a certain window of time for when you can file a claim. Find out yours based on the state you are living in and make sure to perform all the steps above before the deadline.

Alcohol consumption is ingrained in contemporary business culture. Movies like the Wolf of Wall Street glamorize the idea of mixing business with booze. However, socializing after work can have devastating consequences.

Could a DWI End Your Career?

According to Tyler Flood, Criminal Defense Attorney, many professionals aren’t aware of the seriousness of a DWI.

High profile corporate positions require employees to be outwardly reputable. DWI convictions reflect negatively on organizations. For this reason, high-profile positions are only tenable by employees who can pass rigorous background checks.

How To Behave When Mixing Business With Booze

Socializing after work shouldn’t be avoided entirely. Employees who remove themselves from social events, risk the stigma of ‘not being team players.’ All that employees need to remember, is not to let their hair down completely.

Rules for Surviving Boozy Office Socials

Drunk driving convictions can jeopardize the employability of even entry-level workers. The first rule of socializing is, therefore, to always leave car keys at home.

Consider Participating without Drinking

Office socials are a fantastic way to better connect with colleagues. However, socializing doesn’t have to include alcohol. Instead, consider choosing soft drink alternatives. Doing so will often command respect from peers and higher-ups.

Keep Your Professional Cool – Even if You Don’t Want To

Crossed communication wires are the number one reason behind alcohol-fueled altercations. In office contexts, there will always be someone with opposing views to your own. In this case, remember to project the same professional persona you do at work, during even informal get-togethers.

Like it or Not, Your Boss is Watching

There is always someone at the office Christmas party who takes things too far. You never want to be that person. Employers, clients, and supervisors will pick up on poor etiquette. As far as they are concerned, you still represent your company, even when not officially on duty.

What to do When Things Go Wrong

When mixing business with booze, you need to be on your best professional behavior. Sadly, other people around you might not be.

• If you see a colleague who seems to be testing their limits, politely pull them aside and advise that they call time on the evening
• Never stand for behavior which would be considered inappropriate in the workplace
• If you find yourself at a DWI checkpoint after an office social, follow the advice of Tyler Flood, Criminal Defense Attorney, and know your full rights

Drunk Driving and Roadside Sobriety Tests

Intoxilyzer breathalizers used by police aren’t 100% accurate. Also, when submitting to chemical blood tests, drivers have the right to have independent tests performed within 2-hours of the original.

Even if you are sure you are under safe driving limits, police tests may show false positives. In this case, always seek professional legal advice immediately after a DWI charge.

Drink driving penalties in Houston vary in accordance with the severity of offenses. Repeat DUI charges are felonies punishable by fines and jail time. Because penalties are severe, it is important to seek legal counsel from a Houston DWI lawyer, as soon as charges are brought forward

Surviving a DWI – Civil & Reputation Consequences

Drink driving penalties in Texas are some of the toughest in the United States. As for why this is, the reason is simple. In 2017, 944 DWI drivers in Texas resulted in 1,018 avoidable road deaths. Those killed in fatal crashes include passengers, other road users, and children.

Legal Advice for a First Drunk Driving Offense

There is a misconception that drink driving penalties for a first DWI offense are minor. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. In Texas, even a first offense DWI can result in up to 180 days jail time.

Drink Driving Penalties in Brief

• First DWI offenses are punishable by $2,000 fines, accompanying jail time and license suspensions
• Where intoxicated drivers have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15, fines start at $4,000. Jail time is often mandatory, and future driving restrictions may apply
• Drunk driving while accompanied in a vehicle by a minor is a felony. Penalties include $10,000 fines and up to 2-years state jail time.

Hiring a Houston DWI lawyer is Not Optional

When charged with drunk driving, you need to hire a Houston DWI lawyer. Without legal representation, the civil and financial consequences of a DWI charge can be devastating.

• Suspended licenses and jail time result in employment becoming untenable
• Fines and jail time can devastate families and family finances
• Many individuals charged with drunk driving, don’t realize what they are up against until it is too late

How a Houston DWI Lawyer can Help

How a Houston DWI lawyer can fight DWI charges, is always case specific. Where arresting officers can’t prove probable cause, DWI charges can be reduced or quashed. When making arrests, Houston police also need to issue sobriety tests following strict guidelines.

A Houston DWI lawyer will check to see that proper procedures have been followed. Lawyers also review evidence of medical conditions which may result in sobriety test false positives.

Can Road Users Decline Police Sobriety Tests?

It is possible for Houston road users to refuse sobriety tests. However, in Texas, implied consent to testing applies to all road users. When drivers refuse to comply with sobriety tests, fines and driving bans are, therefore, applicable.

Roadside Sobriety Tests are Never 100% Accurate

Contrary to what many believe, police issued sobriety tests are rarely 100% accurate. Drink driving penalties can, therefore, be challenged by lawyers, even when evidence seems stacked against defendants. The most important thing for defendants to remember is that legal advice should be sought as soon as possible after DWI charges levied by police.

Startups planning an initial coin offering, need to start investing in professional legal advice. As well as ICO regulation, startups planning an initial coin offering need to be aware of their full tax reporting requirements.

Legal counsel can help legitimize ICOs and increase fundraising success rates. Here’s how:

Tax Law & Legislation – What Do ICOs Need to Know?

Over the past five years, ICOs have transformed the startup business landscape. By using an initial coin offering to raise capital, startups free themselves from having to pitch ideas to conventional lenders. However, ICOs are coming under ever closer scrutiny by regulators.

Legal Challenges Faced by ICOs

There is a misconception that setting up an initial coin offering is easy. In the United States, there are no laws which explicitly ban ICOs. However, as cited by the likes of the ICO Law Group, ICOs are required to comply with U.S. Securities Law.

“It is generally unlawful to raise capital in exchange for your coins or tokens unless you comply with U.S. Securities Law.”

Why Stricter ICO Regulation is a Good Thing

In theory, anyone can set up an initial coin offering. However, as recently cited by Vitalik Buterin, the gold rush days of the cryptocurrency market are over.

“The blockchain space is getting to the point where there’s a ceiling in sight. There isn’t an opportunity for yet another 1,000-times growth in anything in the space anymore.”

As for why growth in the crypto space is slowing, the reason is simple.

In 2017, fewer than 20% of ICOs returned profits to investors. Some startups failed to use raised capital responsibly. Others were outright scams. As a result, all new ICOs are expected to register with the IRS just like regular startups. Much more importantly, if ICO coins can be considered securities, ICOs must register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Do You Need a Professional Business Attorney?

Does registering as a business seem like too much hassle? If so, you shouldn’t be running an initial coin offering.

When ICOs fail, they do so due to a lack of basic business acumen. Selling ERC20 tokens is easy. Putting funds to work and setting up a successful business, is an entirely different skillset. The good news, though, is that a professional business attorney can help.

• Hiring a business attorney can help ICOs identify the best structure for their business
• A business attorney can help startups get to grips with their true cryptocurrency tax reporting requirements
• ICO specific legal advice can increase fundraising success rates by lending legitimacy to projects

ICO Laws Still Vary State to State

When setting up an initial coin offering, it is important to remember that ICO laws and regulations aren’t universal. Some U.S. States require a special license when engaging in altcoin activities. Others require startups to hold equivocal fiat cash deposits when issuing ERC20 tokens.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

To date, several individuals have been incarcerated in the United States. Specifically, for non-compliance with cryptocurrency specific anti-money laundering laws.

In May, 24-year old Eldon Stone Ross from Pensylvania found himself jailed for selling cryptocurrency without necessary licensing. Moreover, anyone identifiable as operating an ‘illegal money transmission business,’ is liable for prosecution.

Does the Term Illegal Money Transmission Business Apply to ICOs?

Anyone who raises funds via an initial coin offering without proper licensing can be charged under different State anti-money laundering laws. This being the case, never risk launching an initial coin offering, before understanding your full regulatory responsibilities. Moreover, when in doubt, always make sure to seek out ICO specific legal advise from groups like the aforementioned ICO Law Group.

If your taxable turnover exceeds £85,000 you are required to register for VAT. If your turnover is less than this amount, you can voluntarily register for VAT. Sales relating to goods and services that are not VAT exempt are referred to as taxable turnover. Health services, postage, and insurance are some of the exempt supplies. 

It’s important for you to think about the schedule of your VAT quarters before registering for VAT. Lining up the end of your VAT quarter to be on the same date as your year-end will make your accountant’s work much easier.   

Since there are several VAT schemes available, you need to take the time to pick the perfect fit for your business:

• Standard VAT
• Flat Rate Scheme
• Cash Accounting Scheme
• Annual Accounting Scheme

The cash accounting scheme may be better suited to your cash flow if your customers take longer to pay invoices.  In this scheme, you are only required to pay VAT after customers pay the invoices; while you reclaim VAT after you pay your suppliers.

Businesses with an annual sales turnover under £150, 000 a simplified scheme, flat rate accounting, is a better match. You are only required to cover a flat Value Added Tax rate on the market sector you operate in. However, you do not qualify for any VAT reclaim.

After VAT registration

It’s upon you to maintain accurate purchases and sales records. Investing in a computerized might be worthwhile for you if you have a huge number of transactions to process. You may be charged with a penalty by the HMRC if they find that your records are lacking when they carry out a routine inspection at your business. 

It’s upon you to ensure that each sales invoice you issue should have a unique number. Furthermore, each invoice should come with your VAT number.

You are also required to maintain VAT return copies and proof to back it up. In the event of an inspection, these documents will be checked according to VATGlobal.

If you have any purchases that you will be claiming VAT on, be sure to request for VAT receipts on them. However, you may not be able to claim VAT on some businesses as they might not be registered.

It’s worth noting that you have to abide by a set of special rules for determining the amount of VAT to be reclaimed on staff travel and motor vehicle expenditure, in addition to the fact that you cannot claim VAT entertainment-related expenses.

HMRC payments covering PAYE, Corporation Tax, NIC, and VAT as well as staff wages are all outside the scope of the VAT. As such, they should be excluded from your VAT return form. Other expenses that should not be in the VAT return include MOT costs, road tax, loan repayments, rates, dividends and drawings paid. 

A C79 form will be sent to you on a monthly basis if you are involved in the importation of goods from a country outside the EU and hire the services of an agent when it comes to handling import duty, VAT payments, and declarations. The form captures the VAT paid on the imports, on a monthly basis, that should be included in the VAT return. These forms are used as proof during VAT reclaim and must, therefore, be maintained.

The VAT return form can be used to record purchase and sales figures when it comes to dealing with goods moving within the EU.

The definition of road rage, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), includes actions a driver takes that endanger other people or property. It can involve an assault with a motor vehicle or the use of a weapon by either the driver or a passenger in one vehicle against the operator or passengers of a different one. Road rage is against the law, but if your vehicle has been damaged, you’ve been injured as a result, or a loved one’s life has been cut short, Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help you get maximum compensation.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 56% of crashes in the U.S. are caused by aggressive behaviour. Also, the NHTSA has found that 66% of auto accident fatalities are caused by aggression and that aggressive behaviour often results in an aggressive response. The organization found half of the drivers on the receiving end of aggression responded aggressively themselves.

What Is Aggressive Driving?

Various behaviours characterize aggressive driving. Road rage is often triggered by anger or being upset. Drivers under stress may exhibit behaviours such as:

• Illegal passing
• Tailgating
• Honking
• Failure to yield
• Going through red lights/stop signs
• Weaving in and out of lanes
• Speeding
• Ignoring traffic signals
• Obscene gestures

However, road rage isn’t always caused by the aggressor. Driving habits that can trigger an aggressive response include using a cell phone, keeping high beam lights on when there’s oncoming traffic, or failing to use a turn signal when changing lanes or turning. Also, check your blind spot when switching lanes. Cutting someone off, even inadvertently, can trigger an episode of anger.

Getting a Handle on Road Rage

If a driver responds to you aggressively, it is important not to escalate the situation. The following tips can help prevent an incident:

• Do not react or retaliate.
• Do not make eye contact.
• Continue to drive safely.
• Realize the other driver doesn’t handle stress well.

Road rage starts due to emotions and reactions caused by many stressors in life. These can include an argument with a spouse or partner, getting fired at work, or disciplining children in the car. A driver may be late to work or an appointment and be in a rush. Road rage can happen to anyone but is more common in young male drivers and individuals with certain psychological problems.

Why Road Rage Is So Dangerous

Not having a handle on your anger or emotions can trigger the characteristic behaviours of road rage. Aggressive drivers are dangerous because they are not in full control. They may be unable to avoid a direct collision or hitting something head on. An aggressive driver is also more likely to crash at higher speeds, increasing the likelihood of severe damage, injuries, and deaths.

Consequences

If you’re caught being an aggressor, you may face criminal charges. This might mean going to court, paying legal fees, and even facing imprisonment. The potential for physical harm and death to yourself and others is too high.

A personal injury attorney can help if you’re a victim of road rage. Your attorney will offer advice on what to do immediately after the incident. They will provide expert legal help and representation throughout the case to ensure you’re compensated for head, neck, back, knee, and other injuries or trauma.

Labelling is an essential part of your business process. In fact, it is a part of your product and brand. Labelling pronounces a host of conveniences during a number of core business activities such as logistics, warehousing, and showroom displaying. Not only the efforts of your staff reduce, but also the cost and time involved in the management and sorting the products repress considerably with right labelling practices.

Did you know, that more than 60% of consumers make buying decision-based on the packaging and labelling of a product?

Did you also know that 65% of products go unseen in supermarkets owing to the chaos in shelves and sections?

These facts make enough sense why a business should be focusing on adding more elements to the visual appeal of their product, packaging and labels. How to build his brand’s recognition in the market is one of the first strategies a forward-looking entrepreneur develops. When it comes to branding, quality is not the only factor that a business should be looking at. Quality without a doubt should be the focal point of any success-hungry brand. It is something that you never have to compromise on. It helps you retain your customers.

But, your packaging and labelling are two key add-ons that support your brand building efforts among your audience. If your product looks good and your label shows useful and valuable information, the customer will most likely see it, pick it, read it, and might give it a try.

Spread the word

The consumer base of an infant brand solidifies swiftly with word-of-mouth marketing done by its first-time consumers. The WOM marketing is effectively free of cost and a brand does not have to invest a single penny on this. However, there certainly are some investments required to add quality to your product and some appeal to your labelling.

Quality in your product will give you returning customers. They will then spread the word about your quality and suggest their loved ones to use your product. Here comes the application of your product packaging and labelling. Your logo or your unique label will help the ones convinced through word of the mouth find or demand your product.

Almost all brands, whether emerging or established, invest in quality and look of their product, just to ascertain that their products catch the attention of consumers at the very first glance. It is, in reality, one of their core strategies.

Increase on-shelf visibility

Not seen not bought. To be seen in the market, your product needs to look good and most importantly, “unique”.

There is a direct connection between your sales and visibility! The more you are seen, the more you are sold. There is no denying that shelf placement also plays a crucial role in your sales.

For a newly-established business, gaining visibility in the market which already is packed with countless similar brands, is among the top challenges. However, if you have got your labels designed and printed by a professional service for custom labels, things will be easier for you.

For better visibility, it is imperative that you design your product’s appeal rigorously; get the first draft printed and quality checked; and then, the final draft printed and distributed.

Display brand information

How would a customer know it is your product if there will be no information about you on your product’s label? Almost every brand makes an effective use of labelling for this very purpose.

You are trying to establish yourself in the market. The best way is to advertise on different media. Another great way is to do it through your uniquely designed labels. You can write about the brand message, in addition to your promise regarding the quality of your product, your post-sale service, or anything persuasive.

The logo also gets a place on your label, and that is how your product gets your identity. It would now become easier for your customers to find and recognize your products.

Promote your offers

What else you can do through labels is to let your audience know about your ongoing promotional offers. This is a very common practice in stores, where each shelf or section has its own label displaying the very offer applicable for that particular shelf or section.

You can get custom labels designed and printed in bulk for each of your upcoming discount-offering deals. And as per the strategically chosen time, paste or distribute those labels in the store to avoid delays.

Promoting your seasonal offers is a great way to promote your brand. Giving your customers freebies such as coffee mugs with a custom printed message along with your logo or brand name can help you establish your brand.

Product Information

So, we have talked about how labelling speeds up the effectiveness of your promotional offers, promotional messages, brand information, on-shelf visibility and consumer base. But, here is something unavoidable.

In many states and countries, the law abides businesses to give all relevant and necessary information about the product on its label. Pertinent inputs including ingredients, how to and how not to use the product, conditions, and other ins and outs about the product should get a mention of the packaging label.

Additionally, the date of manufacturing, the date of expiry, production batch number, weight, and rate should be there on the label. All such pieces of information can be codified into a barcode pattern, which has become a trend these days; plus it brings your customers to your website.

So, never ever miss giving product information on your packaging. Without that, your product might be rejected authoritatively.

Here is an informative piece that explains the step-by-step process of creating product labels.

Bottom Line

There you go. Labelling delivers noteworthy benefits. It helps you establish your brand in multiple ways. Effectively-designed and timely-distributed labels allow you to gain momentum in the market influenced by brands of the same nature. However, what is essential is putting the right label on the right product (at the right time, if it is a part of your seasonal promotional event).

Not just your products, but also your labels and packaging – everything needs to be tested for quality stepwise. It is vital because you would never want your labels to have misleading or textually or grammatically incorrect information. One single misrepresentation can put a mark on your brand image. If you are making efforts to establish your brand, then such blunders can toughen your way significantly.

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