by Zayed Al-Sayyed

How to File a Personal Injury Claim

Whether you were injured on private property or public land, personal injury covers a large range of incidents and accidents. Not only does the location of your injury matter, but also the nature of your injury. Needless to say, no two personal injury cases are going to be exactly the same, which is why talking to a personal injury attorney can help you determine how to move forward with your case.

In this article, we’ll cover the 3 questions you should ask when deciding how to file a personal injury claim.

1. Will an Insurance Policy Cover This Accident or Incident?

Is someone else legally responsible for your injury? If you believe so, one of the first things to do is see if that person has insurance coverage that would pay on behalf of the negligent party. For instance, if you have been injured in a car accident, does the other driver have insurance? If you fell on someone else’s property, are they carrying any sort of liability coverage? You’ll want to find this information out as doing so can help you determine whether or not you’ll be able to recovery money if you are awarded damages should the case go to trial.

Just because you win a judgment in court does not mean that the defendant has the means to pay you, especially if they don’t have insurance or have little to no assets. Additionally, you’ll want to consider the extent of your injuries. Does your own insurance cover your injuries? Were you seriously hurt? Is it clearly the other person’s fault? Sometimes filing a lawsuit against someone who has no insurance costs more than its worth. If, however, it does make sense to file a lawsuit, you’ll want to ask yourself this next question…

2. Should I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

If you don’t know how to file a personal injury claim on your own, it makes sense to reach out to an expert. Unless the case is very cut and dry, it’s likely in your best interest to at least discuss your case with a lawyer and see what options you have. On many occasions, clients have been given offers to resolve their claims before they hire an attorney. The offers are typically very nominal amounts of money. Insurance companies do this in order to get a person to agree to give up their claim for the small amount of money. In most cases, a personal injury can secure a lot more money for a client with the proper case workup.

Talking to an attorney doesn’t mean you have to hire one, and many personal injury lawyers will provide free consultations to discuss your case and come up with some options for you.

After talking with a personal injury attorney, you can then ask yourself the final question…

3. Should I File a Lawsuit?

Most personal injury cases are settled before they ever make it to trial. In fact, you don’t need to go to court or even file a lawsuit to collect compensation for your injuries. If the at-fault individual has insurance, you can file a 3^rd party claim against their policy. You’ll need to get their insurance carrier and policy number to kickstart the process, but in many cases, this is sufficient to cover your needs.

If you have recently been injured and would like to talk to an attorney about how to handle a potential case, please reach out to us at https://alsayyedlaw.com/ and we will be happy to see how we can assist you.

by Zayed Al-Sayyed

How Long Does it Take to Settle a Personal Injury Claim?

How long does it take to settle a personal Injury claim is a common question asked however no two personal injury cases are alike, so trying to pinpoint an answer to that question can seem daunting at times. If your case involved minimal injuries and was fairly straightforward, it could be resolved fairly quickly. If your injuries were severe and the case was complex, it could take years to reach a settlement.

Here at the Law Office of Zayed Al-Sayyed, we are no strangers to personal injury litigation. The following article helps outline the typical timeline of a personal injury claim and lawsuit.

Getting Medical Treatment

If you are injured in an accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Additionally, if you do not see a doctor after your accident, the insurance adjusters will likely assume that you were not injured or your injury was not severe enough to warrant medical treatment. This could seriously hinder your claim for damages.

Choosing Your Lawyer

After you have received medical attention, contact your attorney. They will be able to map out a plan for you so you can decide how to move forward. Should you choose to hire them, they will be able to begin your case and move on to the next phase.

Beginning the Investigation

Your lawyer will ask you details about the accident, your background, and medical condition since the accident. You’ll need to be up front and honest and try to be as detailed as possible. Your lawyer will then gather your medical records and bills for your accident related treatment in order to build your case for your bodily injury.

Negotiating Your Demands

Most personal injury cases are settled long before a court date ever occurs. If your lawyer knows they can settle your case, they will make a demand on your behalf to the negligent party and/or their attorney or insurance company. If your case can be settled outside of court it will take significantly less time than if it has to go to court.

Filing a Lawsuit

If your case cannot be settled, this is when your attorney will file a lawsuit. Now the clock starts ticking for your trial date. Depending on your state and the complexity of your injury case, it could take one to four years for your case to go to trial.

Entering the Discovery Phase

At this time, each party is investigating what their adversary’s legal claims and defenses are. Each party is entitled to request documents from the other side, request answers to questions, and even request and conduct depositions. A deposition is a discovery technique where one side has the opportunity to question its adversary’s witnesses. This is typically the longest process in any case.

Mediating

After the discovery phase, each side’s lawyer will begin talking about settlement options. If they cannot settle amongst themselves, the case goes to mediation, which is where a mediator will work to settle the case.

Going to Trial

If the case cannot be settled out of court, it will go to trial. Trials can last from a few days to a few weeks, sometimes longer. They are often rescheduled and delayed, but eventually you will have your day in court.

There are many factors that go into How Long Does it Take to Settle a Personal Injury Claim If you have recently been injured and would like to talk to an attorney about how to handle a potential case, please reach out to us at https://alsayyedlaw.com and we will be happy to see how we can assist you.

by Zayed Al-Sayyed

How to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’ve been injured at no fault of your own, you’re likely in the process of figuring out how to find a personal injury lawyer. You are likely adjusting to a temporary or permanent change to your body, dealing with enormous medical bills, and sorting through the trauma of the accident. When you have an experienced lawyer on your side handling your case, you won’t feel as alone. Here are some tips for how to go about your search for a personal injury lawyer.

Look for Relevant, Winning Experience

Every lawyer has their own specialties. Just being experienced practicing law isn’t enough reason to choose a lawyer. It’s vital that you look for a lawyer that has experience with cases that are similar to yours. The more similar their past successful cases are, the better off you will be.

Find Someone You Feel Comfortable With

Some lawyers seem can seem almost robotic. Their clients are treated more like cases than real people. It’s important to find someone that you feel comfortable talking to. You will most likely have a lot of questions during the legal process and when those questions come up, you want to have a lawyer who is ready and willing to talk to you. A good personal injury lawyer will be able to explain the legal process to you and answer any questions you have in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

Your personal injury lawyer should keep lines of communication with you open at all times. While the burden of your injury might be great, the right lawyer who communicates well will make the legal process much less stressful.

Customer Reviews

If there’s anyone that knows what to look for in a lawyer, it’s another lawyer. Maybe you don’t know any personal lawyers, but you can always check out online directories like Super Lawyers and Google My Business. No matter where you’re located, you should be able to get a referral to a trusted legal professional from these sites. The more highly rated a lawyer is, the better off you’ll be hiring them.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix

If you are still trying to find a personal injury lawyer in the Phoenix area, reach out to the Law Office of Zayed Al-Sayyed, PLLC. As highly-rated, award-winning attorneys with extensive experience with personal injury cases, we are the best choice you can make. Get peace of mind by hiring a team that will fight for your good tirelessly!

by Zayed Al-Sayyed

What to Do When Being Arrested

Have you witnessed a recent arrest and wondered what you must do if you ever find yourself in such a predicament? 

Well, do not worry, as this article will give you all the information to safeguard your rights if you ever hear the phrase, “you are under arrest.” 

The first thing you must remember is to stay calm, no matter what. Your legal and civil rights can help if you use them wisely. However, let us look at what accounts as an arrest, and what protocols the police need to follow. 

What Counts as an Arrest

An arrest is when a police officer takes you into custody, and from that moment, you are not free to leave. Typically when a police officer arrests you, they will book you and take you to jail. 

However, it may vary in circumstances, such as when you are under suspicion of having committed a crime. In this case, you will be held for questioning but you would not be under arrest. In this circumstance, you are detained and you are not free to leave. 

Always remember, you have the right to ask an officer if you are free to leave. If they say that you are free to leave, then leave. However, if they inform you that you are not free to leave, inform the officer that you are exercising your right to remain silent. Do not answer any questions after that. 

Your Right to Decline a Search Request

So, the first thing is not to panic and stay put, especially if you are innocent – there is no conspiracy going on to frame you like in the movies. However, if you are not sure whether you are under arrest, you can politely and calmly enquire if you are free to go. 

This is a way of asking the officer if you are under a legal obligation to stay. If the officer gives you a “yes,” you should immediately leave. 

Police usually ask for your permission to search you, your property, belongings, vehicle, or home, when they do not have the legal rights to do so. You are never required to give an officer the right to search you or your property. You can decline the search respectfully.  

The police officer may make it sound like an order or a demand. But keep your cool and remember, he can only ask for your permission and cannot search you without consent. However, do not be rude about it; good manners are always helpful in de-escalating the situation. Plus, your demeanor will help show that you are cooperative and reasonable. 

• 

Do not Resist the Arrest

No matter why the police officer arrests you, whether you are innocent or not, do not contest or fight the officers attempting to detain you. Most importantly, you may end up getting hurt if you resist an arrest. 

Just be patient; if you believe your arrest to be unfair, unlawful, or unjust, the court of law will do its best to determine the truth. Simply put, as soon as the police officer tells you that they are putting you under arrest, this means they will take you into custody. 

Your Right to Remain Silent

You should always remember that you do not have to provide information to officers other than your name, address, etc. You never have to tell officers where you were coming from, where you were going, what you were doing, etc. Just politely let the officer know that you do not wish to speak to him. Do not falsify the information as it is illegal and may work against you in the court of law as an additional charge. 

You have every right to tell the police officer politely that you do not wish to talk to them about anything without your lawyer present. You can also say that “I do not want to speak and please let me know how soon I can have my lawyer here.” 

Things You Must Never Do when being Arrested

So, you know how to stay composed and handle the arrest. However, police can use some minor mistakes against you as evidence, so you must never do the following. 

• Do not talk to the police officer trying to convince them of your innocence. You may end up saying something they will use as a statement. 
• Do not try to run from the arrest. Police may use it as “consciousness of guilt” in court, meaning if you are innocent, why did you try to escape? 
• Do not believe the police officer. It is legal for the police to lie to get you to admit the crime or offense. 
• Do not stare into places you do not want the police to go searching. Remember they have the training to watch your reactions and body language and follow your lead. 
• Do not talk smack or swear at the police officers. This may add charges to your charge-sheet and change a simple misdemeanor charge into a felony for prosecution. 

Speak to a Legal Expert

When being arrested, the bottom line is to wait and speak to your lawyer, even if you have to wait overnight. It is worth the wait than making a statement that may land you in prison. The best way forward under these circumstances is to get legal advice on how to resolve the situation.

by Zayed Al-Sayyed

What to Do After a Car Accident?

Have you had a collision and looking for information on what to do after a car accident? You are in the right place as this post will discuss all details you must focus on when you meet a car accident. Let us dive a little deeper and find out. 

Did you know over 4 million people get serious injuries in car accidents in the U.S. every year? 

Safety Comes First

In case you find yourself in a car collision, safety must always be your top priority. Pull your car on a safe spot by the curbside or sidewalk. Stay calm and put the hazards lights on to alert the oncoming traffic. 

In case you are feeling disoriented and cannot move your car, and have other passengers in the car, take them to a safe distance from the point of collision. Whether you were at fault or not, do not try to evade the accident scene. 

5 Tips on What to Do After a Car Accident

This part is very important as following these tips will help you solidify your position when making an injury or insurance claim. 

• Call the Police as soon as you can

This is the top tip when it comes to knowing what to do after a car accident. Do not touch or move the damaged vehicle from its spot, as this may impact the evidence proving fault in the event that there is a dispute. 

• Note all the Injuries and Always Tell the Truth

Over 2 million drivers sustain permanent injuries due to car accidents every year in the U.S. 

Check for all the injuries carefully, including the passengers. Look around the car for the damage and try to remember them. When the police ask for a statement, be as thorough as possible. Try to report what exactly happened and the injuries to you, passengers, and the vehicle. 

Do not speculate or exaggerate the facts. However, there are chances some aches, pains, and injuries may aggravate hours after the accident. In that case, you can see a doctor and ask them for a medical record as evidence. 

• Record the Evidence 

If you have your smartphone or a digital camera, take pictures of all your injuries and damage to your car. 

• Exchange Information with the Other Car Driver

Mostly, police officers can gather information about all involved in a car collision. However, for any reason, if you cannot get hold of the police, you can obtain this information yourself, including the names, addresses, and contact information of all the passengers and people involved in a car accident. 

Most importantly, you must always ask other driver/s to see their insurance card and note the insurance number for your record. If there are any eye-witnesses on the accident scene, it would be wise to get their information to prove your claim. 

• Seek Medical Help and Maintain a File of All Reports

Call for medical help immediately after a vehicle collision. You can answer the police investigation while getting first-aid or any necessary medical treatment. Moreover, it will help you get all your internal and visible injuries on record due to a thorough examination by the medical team. 

There are chances of you finding out other injuries later during a thorough medical examination and x-rays at the hospital. Therefore, always keep a file of all your medical reports to help make a smooth injury claim. 

The Take-Away

Now that you know what to do after a car accident use this information to your advantage. Always make sure to try to abide by the tips mentioned above. To further protect your rights, it is wise to seek help from an expert attorney to ensure full compensation for personal injuries and damages to the vehicle.

by Zayed Al-Sayyed

What is Cancellation of Removal in Immigration Court

Are you looking for information on what a cancellation of removal in immigration court is? Then you are in the right place to find out. 

Whether you are a permanent resident or on a non-permanent residential status, the cancellation of removal offers you an immigration benefit, it cancels your removal proceedings and grants you a waiver to stay. 

If you are in removal proceedings and you meet certain criteria, you can submit an application to an immigration judge requesting the immigration judge cancel your removal, and in some case, adjust your status to being a lawfully admitted permanent resident. However, you must fulfill specific pre-requisites to avail the benefit of cancellation of removal in immigration court. 

Eligibility for Cancellation of Removal in Immigration Court

The eligibility requirements vary according to your status, i.e., whether you are an alien with a lawful permanent residence visa or someone with non-permanent immigration status. Here is a quick breakdown of what you may need in both cases. 

As a Permanent Resident

As a Lawful permanent resident applying for the cancellation of removal in immigration court, you must be able to prove the following. 

• You have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years. 
• You have been continuously living in the U.S. for at least 7 years after admission. 
• You have no convictions for an aggravated felony. 

As a Non-Permanent Resident

As a non-permanent U.S. resident, you must establish the following. 

• You have been residing in the United States for the last 10 consecutive years. 
• You have been a person of good moral character during the 10 year period. 
• You have no conviction for select criminal offenses.
• Evidence that your removal will result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to your spouse, parent, or child, who is a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident. 

That said, it is upon the discretion of the immigration judge to grant or deny your application. The judge will determine the validity of your request by considering the duration of your residence in the country, your family ties, community service work, and other factors. 

The Procedure’s Requirement

In case you have faced removal proceedings, cancellation of removal is one of the few forms of relief that you can apply for to stop your imminent removal from the United States. However, you will need to present substantial and credible information to the judge to allow these proceedings. 

Consequences of Cancellation of Removal Granted

If the immigration judge grants your application for cancellation of removal: 

For Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)

• Your status will revert to what it was before removal proceedings. 
• The court will clear you of the reasons you became deportable. 

For Non-Legal Permanent Residents

In case you were a non-LPR applicant, the approval of cancellation of removal in immigration court will result in 

• You will become a legal permanent resident of the United States. 
• You will receive a green card, and 5 years later, you can apply for naturalization.  

Bottom-Line

No matter your current status, cancellation of removal in immigration court is a strenuous task and needs attention to detail. A slight error can end up in denial. Thus, you must seek legal assistance from an experienced immigration attorney.