Category: Blog

If you have been accused of a criminal act, you need skilled legal representation for your case to have the best chance at a positive outcome.

Your attorney’s effectiveness in navigating the justice system and advocating for your rights could be the difference between a harsh sentence and much lighter penalties.

Review the frequently asked questions and answers below to learn more about the criminal justice system and find out how an attorney can help throughout the legal process.

CAN THE POLICE ARREST ME WITHOUT PROOF OF MY GUILT?

The police can arrest you only if they have probable cause that you carried out the crime. If they do, you could be subject to three types of arrests:

• Lawful arrest – If the police think you committed the crime, they can enact a lawful arrest. Once you are in custody, your arraignment typically occurs within 48 hours.
• Flight risk – If the police do not think you will flee, they can submit your case to the district attorney’s office. You will receive a mailed letter requesting you to attend an arraignment.
• Voluntary surrender – The police can ask you to surrender at a nearby police station.

SHOULD I MAKE A STATEMENT OR SPEAK TO THE POLICE?

It is usually in your best interest not to sign any documents or make any statements to police. You should immediately hire a skilled criminal defense attorney who can advocate on your behalf and prevent you from making statements that could be used against you in court.

WHAT IS AN ARRAIGNMENT?

The arraignment will be your first appearance in a courtroom. At this proceeding, your lawyer will receive the complaint stating the charges against you and police reports in your case. Your lawyer can argue for bail.

WHAT IS A PRELIMINARY HEARING AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THIS HEARING?

A preliminary hearing is one where you are charged with a felony and you appear in a courtroom. The judge will decide if there is probable cause to show that you committed a crime and your attorney will dispute evidence against you.

After the hearing, your case can be sent to another court if the judge decides there is enough evidence that you committed the crime.

WHAT IS A PRETRIAL CONFERENCE AND WHAT OCCURS AT TRIAL?

At the pretrial conference, your attorney can discuss a plea bargain or argue pretrial motions to exclude evidence from trial or dismiss your case due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The trial is a courtroom procedure that includes a jury, evidence, cross-examination of witnesses and closing statements. The jury deliberates and issues a verdict.

If you have been accused of a crime, contact the skilled Savannah criminal defense attorneys at The Nye Law Group. We will aggressively defend your rights and guide you through the legal process so your case has a chance to have the best outcome possible.

Contact our attorneys today to schedule your free consultation. Call 855-856-4212.

If you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and have a medical condition that was caused or aggravated by your military service, you may qualify for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

One of the most frequently asked questions about veterans’ disability benefits is: How much compensation will I receive?

This is determined by your disability rating. The Nye Law Group’s veterans’ disability attorneys in Savannah explain these ratings below. Contact us today to find out if we can help you apply for benefits.

When you apply for benefits, the VA will review your medical documentation and determine if you are eligible.

If your application is approved, the VA will use a rating system to determine the amount of compensation you will receive for your illness or disability.

The VA can rate you anywhere from 10 percent to 100 percent disabled. The higher your percentage of disability, the higher your amount of monthly compensation.

For example, if a veteran is found by the VA to be 10 percent disabled, he or she will receive $123 per month. If a veteran is 50 percent disabled, he or she will receive $770 per month, while a veteran who is 100 percent disabled will be given $2,673.

Veterans with severe injuries or disabilities like the loss of a limb, blindness or deafness, are entitled $96 in extra monthly compensation per injury. Other conditions like permanent bedridden states can entitle veterans to $3,327 each month.

The Secretary of the VA is permitted by law to approve increased payments for severe disabilities up to $4,667 per month in total compensation.

VETERANS WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES

When veterans have multiple disabilities, the VA ranks each disability from most severe to least severe.

If the most severe injury leaves the veteran 40 percent disabled, he or she is 60 percent efficient. If the rating for the second disability is 20 percent, the VA will calculate 20 percent of the 60 percent efficiency rating. Then the VA will add that percentage to the rating for the most severe disability. The VA will repeat the process for the remaining disabilities to get a final disability rating.

CONTACT OUR VETERANS’ DISABILITY LAWYERS

If you suffered an injury in the armed forces, contact The Nye Law Group to speak to our experienced Savannah GA veterans’ disability attorneys.

We have years of experience helping veterans with disabilities navigate the VA benefits process. We can help you every step of the way, from your initial application through the appeals process.

Your initial consultation with our experienced attorneys is free and we do not charge legal fees unless we obtain fair compensation.

Call our Savannah personal injury lawyers today at 855-856-4212 or complete our Free Case Evaluation form.

Monday is Halloween and if you plan to be driving, trick-or-treating or accompanying children who are trick-or-treating, you should take extra precautions to avoid a potentially deadly accident.

Considering all of the people who will be on or near the streets on Halloween, drivers should be extra cautious and use the following strategies to avoid an accident:

• Practice defensive driving. You should always do this, but it is particularly important when there are so many pedestrians on or near the street.
• Keep your eyes open for children trick-or-treating. Take special care when entering or exiting driveways and parking lots. You should also watch for children on roadways, curbs and medians.
• Be wary of other drivers. Take extra precautions on Halloween and do not assume that other drivers will follow posted signs or rules of the road.
• Avoid driving between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. if possible. These are the prime trick-or-treating hours. There are also more drunk drivers on the road during these hours.
• Always use your headlights. This increases your chances of being seen, even at twilight.

Parents accompanying trick-or-treaters need to take extra precautions because many of the fatal accidents that occur on Halloween involve drunk drivers. In 2015, more than half of the fatal crashes that occurred on Halloween involved drivers or motorcyclists who had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.

Parents should take the following steps to keep themselves and their children safe:

• Accompany children while they are trick-or-treating.
• Take care to encourage pedestrian safety habits, including looking both ways before crossing the street.
• Use traffic signals as appropriate and stay in crosswalks as much as possible.
• Make sure children have reflective clothing or bags to help drivers see them.

Unfortunately, accidents can happen on Halloween no matter how many precautions you take. However, if tragedy strikes, you may be able to obtain compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.

The Savannah, GA car accident attorneys at The Nye Law Group handle accidents involving cars, motorcycles and pedestrians. If you are entitled to compensation, we will aggressively pursue everything you deserve.

For help with your potential damages lawsuit, contact a Savannah personal injury lawyer at The Nye Law Group today by calling 855-856-4212 or completing our Free Case Evaluation form.

Car accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries to various parts of the body. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these are the most common injuries that occur in auto accidents:

• Spinal cord injuries. These injuries occur when discs, ligaments or bone fragments penetrate or bruise spinal cord tissue. Spinal cord injuries can destroy the parts of nerve cells that carry signals from the spinal cord to the brain and other parts of the body, possibly resulting in paralysis and loss of feeling below the affected area.
• Brain and head injuries. These injuries are caused by a violent blow to the head from the dashboard, airbag or something else in the vehicle. Depending on the area of the brain that is impacted, symptoms may be mild to severe, including bleeding, bruising and brain swelling.
• Back injuries. Car accidents often cause lower back injuries from herniated discs, fractured ribs, sprains or strains. Severe back injuries often take a while to cause symptoms, but they can cause disabilities and significant pain.
• Neck injuries. This can include strains, whiplash and more severe injuries like cervical dislocation, injured larynx and fractured neck. Neck injuries often happen in rear-end and head-on collisions.
• Facial injuries. These injuries can happen when a driver’s head hits the dashboard, steering wheel, seat, windshield or side window. These impacts can cause severe bruises, fractures, cuts and deep lacerations. Facial injuries can also cause serious disorders that affect teeth and the jawbone.

If you have suffered these or other injuries in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, it is important to speak to a lawyer about your legal options. Our car accident lawyers in Savannah offer a free, no obligation legal consultation to help determine if you are entitled to compensation for physical, financial and other damages.

Call a Savannah personal injury lawyer today at 855-856-4212 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form and learn more about your legal options.

Hurricane Matthew caused the deaths of 17 people in the United States, and some reports estimate that it has caused billions of dollars in damage to homes, vehicles, and commercial or government buildings.

Insurance will play a big role in the recovery from the storm in the coming weeks, months and even years. However, dealing with insurance companies can be a contentious and difficult process.

If you follow the steps outlined below, you can help make the process run more efficiently, resulting in a faster recovery for you and your family.

1. Document everything. Once you are able to return to your property, take photos of the damage to your property as soon as you see it, and before cleaning anything up. Take photos of each side of your home and yard using wide angles. Then, move in closer to document specific damage. Move to the inside and take photos as well. Be sure to get a wide shot of each room and then get closer shots to follow up.
2. Cover damaged property to prevent further harm. Avoid additional water problems by covering property that is exposed to the weather with tarps or plastic. Preventing further damage is not only generally a good idea, it can also help you deal with the insurance company. If the insurance company determines that you were partly to blame for the damage because you did not protect your property, it could deny your claim or reduce the payout amount.
3. File your claim quickly. The sooner you file your claim the better. Your adjuster can visit your home faster and you will hopefully recover faster as well. Filing quickly will also prevent any arguments that your insurance company may have regarding late notice or filing.
4. Find an experienced insurance attorney. If you have a dispute with the insurance company, you should contact a reputable personal injury attorney right away. Insurance companies are sophisticated repeat players in the legal system, so you need an experienced attorney to have the best chance of receiving all of the compensation you are owed.

Contact a Savannah personal injury attorney at The Nye Law Group today to review your situation and find out all of your legal options.

Call 855-856-4212 or complete our Free Case Evaluation now.