Michael Jackson’s Doctor Retains an Attorney

Since the sudden death of the pop Icon on Thursday, June 25, 2009, there have been countless news stories about the life, death, and health of Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson will forever be remembered for his unique and landmark style of singing and dancing. He was a reclusive individual rarely seen in public except for scheduled appearances such as concerts and court dates. His health has been in question for some time and his close friends were concerned about his alleged addiction to pain killers. His death is currently suspected to be as a result of cardiac arrest with suspicion that he had a heart attack.

The police, in an attempt to gather as much information about his cause of death, has requested to question his personal doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist from Houston. Dr. Murray has allegedly hired a lawyer. You may be thinking to yourself that if has already hired a lawyer, he MUST have something to hide. Although I do not have any personal information about the knowledge or involvement of Dr. Murray in Michael Jackson’s untimely death, the fact that he has hired a lawyer merely means that he is being smart in this situation.

We always recommend that people contact an attorney before visiting with the police or investigator about ANY legal matter whether or not they will ever be charged with a crime. There is absolutely nothing wrong about getting advice when you are being investigated by the authorities. On the contrary, an attorney can avoid harm from being done by stopping or preventing questioning that would otherwise be detrimental to you and your future case. We cannot undo harm that you may have done in speaking with the police in connection with a criminal investigation. The police & detectives in criminal investigations are trained professionals. They will ask you everything they can, which will also be a recorded, and hold you to it later when it matters. The district attorney may use those recorded statements as a confession which is difficult to overcome. Repeat these words with me: I WANT TO TALK TO A LAWYER. Always tell this to the police before you talk to them.

Similarly in injury cases, an insurance adjuster will contact you for a recorded statement about what happened and why type of injuries you have. Insurance adjusters are also trained professionals. Don’t give a recorded statement. They’ll ask you specific questions that you couldn’t possibly be able to answer accurately such as how fast was so-and-so going, or how long after the light turned red, etc. These types of “loaded” questions are designed to have you commit to an answer and your claim may be denied promptly. They’ll also be able use your words against you later if you do not describe all of your injuries accurately or if new injures come up later. If you have been injured at all in an accident, contact an attorney immediately for advice—before you talk to the insurance adjuster.

Bottom line is do not talk to the police or an insurance adjuster before contacting an attorney. We are here to help you. If you do not need an attorney, we will tell you, but don’t make the mistake that you cannot undo.

How the new Palm Pre Smartphone Can Help Lawyers….

Sprint has finally released the much anticipated Palm Pre Smartphone. After manipulating it for several hours today, I have decided that it can certainly be beneficial to any lawyer’s productivity. It is very small, about 2/3 the size of my last several phones. It was extremely easy to sync with Microsoft Exchange for Outlook email, calendar and contacts which helps lawyers stay connected with the office when we are away.   The applications that come with the phone allow for viewing of documents and PDFs.  And the large screen makes it easy to see websites fully and clearly. Additionally, it is easy to type on with the slide-out keyboard–much more useful than my last phone.

I am looking forward to the productivity apps–similar to those that the Apple iphone now has–that hopefully will come in the very near future.  I would anticipate that applications that would allow  for voice activated notes and dictation that can then be emailed to a legal assistant for transcription are on the horizon which would allow for even more efficient time for travel time in a vehicle.  For now, however, I am very pleased with this phone. I’ll update again later once I have used it more.

Finding Houston Personal Injury Attorneys to Represent You after an Auto Accident

For most of us, car accidents are a somewhat minor occurrence and are not causes for hiring Houston personal injury attorneys. In fact, these accidents affect millions of Americans each year, with the vast majority resulting in minor fender benders or damages of less than $500. However, some people do find themselves the victim of another driver’s negligence that results in major physical injuries; and in these cases, they may seek the help of a Houston personal injury law firm. If you are in a car accident and are offered minimal compensation for your physical damages, or if your damages are significant, you should consider the services of a Houston injury lawyer.

An auto accident attorney is able to help you recover your losses by negotiating with your insurance company’s claim adjusters, and perhaps by filing your claim in court. Remember that if you try to negotiate with the adjuster yourself, you may not get as favorable a result as you would if you had the services of Houston personal injury attorneys. These insurance professionals are trained to settle your accident claim for as little money as possible—and once you accept an offer from them, your claim is settled and there is not much a Houston personal injury law firm can do to recover more money for you. This may be frustrating if your injuries turn out to be more extensive than you originally thought.

Insurance adjusters always record conversations to try and establish liability and ultimately limit awarded damages, but a Houston injury lawyer is adept at negotiating with the insurance companies. Individuals who hire an attorney to fight their claim will typically receive higher settlements than those who negotiate on their own—even when legal fees are considered.

If paying an attorney is a concern for you, rest assured that most auto accident attorneys will take your case on a contingency fee basis. A contingency basis means that you will not have to pay the attorney upfront; instead your lawyer will receive a percentage of the money that they recover for you—only if they recover money for you. Some services such as expert witness expenses, filing costs and court reporter fees are not included in these contingency fees, however, and are paid separately—only if they recovery money for you.