What To Do After a Dog Bite in the Workplace

Any type of workplace injury is cause for serious concern, but a dog bite brings additional complications. Some of the most common occupations at risk for bites are landscapers, delivery drivers and anyone who visits clients’ homes. In the unfortunate event of a dog bite, you should document the injury, seek treatment if necessary and contact a dog bite lawyer.

Document the Injury

Documentation is required in order to file claims with worker’s compensation or an insurance company, and any facts or testimony becomes helpful when consulting a dog bite lawyer. Your employer also needs documentation for the company’s internal processes.

Take pictures of the animal and the surrounding area to document the injury. Include the home or the yard in which the bite took place. Ask witnesses for a statement about the incident. Take photos of the injury itself and be sure to notify your employer.

Seek Treatment

A minor injury from a dog bite may or may not require medical care, but more serious injuries will certainly need treatment from a healthcare center. Your health and well-being are of utmost concern in this situation. Be sure to document any medical treatment administered for the bite.

Your employer may have a preferred healthcare center for work-related injuries, so keep in contact with your supervisor regarding your options.

Contact an Attorney

Dog bites can cause pain, suffering, lost wages, and expensive medical bills. In order to recover these damages, consider turning to a personal injury lawyer. Attorneys in this field have experience with your situation and can help you recover damages from a bite incident.

Meeting clients’ dogs can be a perk of the job, but it carries a risk of injury. In this situation, it is important to seek medical care, gather documentation about the incident and turn to a lawyer for assistance in recovering damages.

Three Reasons to File for Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a powerful tool for individuals and companies to deal with creditors. Filers often accumulate debts over time and may be the victim of unforeseen circumstances that have made them unable to satisfy their obligations. Here are three reasons someone may want to file for bankruptcy.

1. Halt a Court Case

If you are being sued in a civil matter, you may be liable for damages claimed by the person suing you and you may be incurring significant legal expenses. Filing a bankruptcy acts as an automatic stay against litigation, stopping any legal proceedings. Your bankruptcy lawyer will notify the person suing you of your bankruptcy filing. 

2. Stop a Foreclosure or Repossession

If you have fallen behind on your house or car payment, the lender may take legal action against you to take the property back. Usually, the creditor will want a large lump sum payment to clear up any arrears on the loan. Most borrowers who have gotten behind in their payments are not in a position to come up with any additional payment. A bankruptcy will stop the foreclosure or repossession at least temporarily. A bankruptcy lawyer can negotiate an agreement with the creditor to allow you to retain your property. 

3. Reduce or Eliminate Outstanding Obligations

Everyone incurs debts throughout their lives. You may have had a serious medical condition and be burdened by overwhelming medical expenses. A loss of employment can also cause someone to get behind on their credit obligations. You can wipe out some of your debts by filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You can also pay a small percentage on many obligations by filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. A bankruptcy lawyer will review your income and assets to determine which type of filing you qualify for. 

A bankruptcy filing can help you pause many adverse actions against you. In addition, a bankruptcy will help you discharge your debts.

How a Bankruptcy Lawyer Can Help You File for Bankruptcy

Although you can file for bankruptcy without legal representation, a bankruptcy attorney can help you avoid various mistakes and pitfalls that could complicate your financial problems by providing the following services.

Ensure You Choose the Correct Form of Bankruptcy

You can choose to file for Chapter 7 or liquidation bankruptcy based on your state’s income qualifications. Alternatively, you can file for Chapter 13, which puts you on a payment plan for your debt. However, choosing the wrong filing option can delay the process.

Ensure You Understand Timelines

You may not qualify for bankruptcy if you file too soon after a previous filing or you had a bankruptcy case dismissed within the last 180 days. In addition, you must complete a court-approved credit counseling class during the same period. Finally, you cannot file in a state unless you prove you have lived there for at least 90 days before filing. The court will also perform a look-back during this period and not discharge debts relating to luxury purchases over $500.

Help You Understand Which Debt Is Dischargeable

Non-dischargeable debts under Chapters 7 and 13 include student loans, alimony, and child support. If you file Chapter 7, any new debt you incur after your filing is not dischargeable. However, if you file Chapter 13, other types of debt remaining after you complete your payment plan are dischargeable.

A bankruptcy attorney can help ensure that you go into bankruptcy equipped with the knowledge you need to rebuild your finances. For all bankruptcy related needs, visit https://www.brentgeorgelaw.com/bankruptcy/.

What Forms Are Used For Bankruptcy

There are several types of bankruptcy you can file, and the main difference is whether the filing is a person or company action. Each legal process requires different forms, and some can be highly complicated. This article will deal with some of the forms used in Chapter 7, which is the most common personal debt elimination action filed by a bankruptcy attorney within America.

Petitioning the Court

Bankruptcy is not automatically allowed. You must petition the court for permission to eliminate debt liability. The process begins with the Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy form. You will include personal information and estimate your assets and creditors.

Becoming More Specific

Next comes forms with specific details about your secured and unsecured debts. The information required about each debt is specific and detailed, including how it is secured and any co-debtors you may have. Your personal bankruptcy attorney will go over the many documents and the debt summary with you to ensure they are complete.

Listing Your Life

The next documents you will deal with are about your income, expenses and financial affairs. Again, the documents require you to be detailed and list all the money coming in and going out each month. There is also a test calculation for Chapter 7 to see if you qualify.

Bankruptcy is a legal option for removing debts, but it is a complicated process. Relying on a bankruptcy attorney can help you make it through the process with only a few headaches.

What You Should Know Before Choosing Bankruptcy

There are some events in life that may make you seriously consider applying for bankruptcy. The situations may include becoming behind on your mortgage payments or facing extreme monthly credit card payments. Before you contact a bankruptcy attorney, there are a few things you should understand about how bankruptcy works and how it can affect your future.

Problems

Bankruptcy is not meant to be a quick panacea for built-up debt. For that reason, there are problems associated with debt reduction that can negatively affect your life for the next 10 years. Bankruptcy is listed on your credit report. That means that loans, mortgages, and credit cards may become difficult to obtain. The report will also affect your ability to rent an apartment or get a job.

Debts

Sometimes insolvency is the only light at the end of a heavy debt future, and that is why most bankruptcy attorneys offer a free consultation to evaluate your individual case. With a trained professional to advise you on your debt resolution, you can quickly identify which type of bankruptcy is right for you.

Options

There are two types of bankruptcy filings that most individuals can apply for. Each has its benefits and problems, and it is important to understand the limitations.

• Chapter 7 is the most popular because it gathers your assets and liquidates them to pay off your creditors. Although some items are exempt from the sale, most personal possessions are not. Once the items are sold, the money will be distributed to each creditor, and that debt will then be discharged.
• Chapter 13 allows you to keep your personal property, but you are put under contract to pay the listed debts off in up to five years. Your payments must go to a trustee, who then pays the creditor. This type of bankruptcy allows individuals time to prevent home foreclosures.

Repayments

Contacting your bankruptcy attorney should be the first step in deciding which repayment program is best for you. Together you can discharge your debts and begin the process of rebuilding your credit profile.

2 Things To Know About Bankruptcy and Filing for Divorce

Divorce is never easy, given the emotional and physical state of the situation, but divorce has a significant impact on the financial health of both parties. In fact, the cost to file for divorce may leave one or both parties financially crippled. For some, meeting with a bankruptcy attorney Oxnard residents rely on is the only way out of their financial state. If this is your situation, here are two things to know.

1. Your Married State Impacts Filing Criteria

It may be that filing jointly is the best bet if one of the parties intends to live in the family home post-divorce. Married couples are the only way to file jointly for bankruptcy, but this offers the most non-priority debt discharge. However, reporting joint incomes with high earnings may disqualify you from a Chapter 7 filing application.

2. Bankruptcy Doesn’t Remove Support Payments

Filing for bankruptcy post-divorce won’t dissolve any support payments required to be made by the courts. Alimony and child-support debt can be taken through a bankruptcy plan and paid over several years, and discharging other debt through bankruptcy could make it easier to meet the support payments.For the best advice on when to file bankruptcy and how to do it, contact Brent George Law, a bankruptcy attorney Oxnard for expert advice. Like divorce, bankruptcy isn’t a decision that should be made lightly.

Crucial Facts About Bankruptcy Exemptions in California

When filing for bankruptcy in California, you are allowed to choose from two sets of exemptions. These protect your property when you file. A reputable bankruptcy lawyer, such as the associates at Brent George Law, will help you determine what happens to your property that is not exempt. Here is some basic information about these exemptions. 

Using Exemptions in California

While many states let you choose between going with state or federal exemptions, California isn’t one of them. There, you use state laws. However, you will be able to choose between two sets of exemptions. You will work with a bankruptcy lawyer to choose the system that provides the best protection for your situation. 

Avoiding Exemption Issues

If you don’t work through your exemptions carefully, you could end up losing a lot of your property. Be sure to do your research and get help navigating filing. That lets you avoid issues and keep more of your personal property. 

System 1

The first system, called the 704 exemptions, gives you plenty of options and is fairly common. It allows you to exempt your home and vehicle from your bankruptcy case up to a certain amount. This set is also popular because it protects your property from debt collectors even if you don’t file for bankruptcy. 

System 2

System two, also known as the 703 exemptions, can only be used when you file for bankruptcy. Like system one, it protects both your home and vehicle from bankruptcy up to a certain amount. However, certain areas have outlawed this system, so you should speak with your attorney before choosing to go this route. 

Filing for bankruptcy exemptions in California is a little different than in the rest of the country. The biggest thing to remember is that you want to choose the system that works best for you. Seek guidance anytime you want to avoid exemption issues that can cause you to lose your personal property. 

3 Fast Facts on Bankruptcy Law

The economic impact of COVID-19 might have you scrambling for financial relief, but don’t rush out to find a good bankruptcy lawyer just yet. While it can be an effective way to ease the financial responsibilities that are weighing you down, there are some facts about bankruptcy law that you should know.

Fact 1: It Hurts Your Credit

Though you may think that getting out from under debt will give your credit score a boost, it will actually create derogatory marks that stay on your credit report for years. You may be able to help your credit by working with your creditors to arrange payment or settlement amounts.

Fact 2: It Doesn’t Cancel All Debt

Many think that a bankruptcy lawyer can get rid of all the debt collectors and payment responsibilities. Bankruptcy law allows for different types of filing, and in Chapter 13, a repayment plan is the goal of the filing. Medical bills, student loan debt, and court orders aren’t discharged in a bankruptcy case.

Fact 3: It Costs Money

As tight as it may be financially, filing for bankruptcy will cost you more money. The laws and proceedings are complex, so in addition to the filing fees, you may also need to pay for legal counsel.

Bankruptcy is a tool that is available to relieve your financial crisis, but it isn’t for everyone. Carefully study the process before choosing to file.

Traits of a Good Bankruptcy Lawyer

Nobody plans to ever file for bankruptcy, but doing so can relieve one from overwhelming amounts of debt, giving him or her a sense of relief. Filing for bankruptcy can be quite a task to take on by oneself, but with the help of a good bankruptcy lawyer like Brent George Law, the process runs a lot more smoothly. Quality of services can vary from office to office, so before filing for bankruptcy, it is important to familiarize oneself with the traits and characteristics of a good lawyer.

Competence and Skill

Arguably the most important trait of any lawyer is his or her competence and skill. The difficulty of filing for bankruptcy varies on a case-by-case basis, depending upon factors such as the type of bankruptcy and assets possessed by the individual. No matter how difficult or complicated one’s bankruptcy case is, it is imperative to find a lawyer who is skilled and competent so he or she can have confidence that the case is being handled with the utmost care. It may be a good idea to prepare some questions for the bankruptcy lawyer to be asked during the initial consultation, such as about the office’s experience handling similar cases, to determine whether or not the lawyer is a good fit.

Taking the Lead With Paperwork

When filing for bankruptcy, one will have a certain amount of responsibility when it comes to completing paperwork. However, many offices now possess special software that greatly eases this burden, so one’s lawyer should be able to complete the bulk of the paperwork using information the client provides. One should be able to expect his or her bankruptcy lawyer to be prompt with requests for additional documentation, since missed deadlines in a bankruptcy case can cause delays and other issues.

Filing for bankruptcy does not have to be a daunting task. With a good bankruptcy lawyer, the process can run smoothly.

Major Retailers Filing for Bankruptcy

When you think of major retailers, you wouldn’t automatically think about bankruptcy, too. Retail giants are seemingly impermeable—what could possibly cause a brand such as J. Crew or JC Penny to go under? There are a number of ways to answer this question, but of course, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has put undue stress on businesses that may have already been struggling.  The following are three retailers who have recently filed for bankruptcy.

JCPenney

The aforementioned JC Penny announced on May 18 that it would file for bankruptcy and close nearly 250 of its stores. This did not necessarily come as a surprise after the retailer had been struggling for years, but the stress caused by Coronavirus proved to be too much for the company to handle. The company announced that although it would file for bankruptcy, it would keep some stores open in an attempt to recoup losses.

Neiman Marcus

 

Luxury brand Neiman Marcus also announced it would file for bankruptcy. The store carries such high-end brand names as Prada, Kate Spade, Gucci, and Oscar de La Renta. In an economy where many have lost their jobs, it is unsurprising that a brand of such luxury was unable to thrive. The announcement, made on May 7, indicated that the company would liquidate stock at some stores and close the doors, while other stores would remain open.

Tuesday Morning

Purveyor of knick-knacks and home goods, Tuesday Morning, announced that Coronavirus had motivated the company to file for Chapter 11. This discount chain announced the move on May 27, joining luxury brands and mid-range retailers alike who have been unable to weather the storm of coronavirus. The company stated that the filing was a protective measure and that they intended to close some stores but would continue operating 457 out of its 687 stores while the coronavirus pandemic continued.