Coleman Chambers RogersGainesville GA Personal Injury Lawyers | Wrongful Death2024-02-07T20:14:37Zhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1303245/2022/12/cropped-favicon-ccr512-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=507702024-02-07T20:14:37Z2024-02-07T20:14:37Z#1: Establish a routine
Children thrive on consistency and routine, which can be disrupted during a divorce. To minimize stress:
Keep daily schedules as consistent as possible.
Maintain familiar routines around mealtimes, bedtimes, and activities.
Coordinate with your ex-spouse to create a consistent parenting plan.
A stable routine provides a sense of security and normalcy for children amidst the changes.
#2: Encourage open communication
It is essential to create an environment where your children feel safe to express their feelings. You can help achieve this with these steps:
Reassure them that their feelings are valid and that it is okay to talk about them.
Listen actively and provide comfort without judgment or defensiveness.
Avoid burdening them with adult issues or speaking negatively about the other parent.
Sometimes, children need additional support to navigate their emotions during a divorce. Consider a child therapist or counselor experienced in dealing with divorce-related issues. There are also various support groups where children can meet peers going through similar experiences, sometimes offered within the school. It can also help to let the school know about the divorce so they can offer these and other forms of support for your child.
Professional support can help children understand they are not alone and learn healthy coping strategies.
Having a routine, open communication and professionals on your side can help you protect your child’s emotional health while going through a divorce.]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=507622023-09-27T05:32:39Z2023-09-27T05:32:39Zabout 21% of fatal wrecks and causes billions of dollars worth of damage every year.
Why is drowsy driving so dangerous?
When you're tired, your ability to concentrate, make decisions, and react quickly diminishes. This can lead to poor judgment on the road. Fatigue also reduces your alertness, making it harder to stay focused on the road ahead and recognize potential hazards – and your reaction times may be significantly slower than when you’re alert. Drowsy drivers are even at risk of experiencing "microsleeps," brief episodes of sleep that last only a few seconds but can be long enough to cause a catastrophic accident if you're behind the wheel.
How can you combat drowsy driving?
You can do much about any other drivers out there on the road who are sleep-deprived, but you can take steps to reduce the risk of you’ll cause an accident yourself due to fatigue:
Get adequate sleep: The most effective way to combat drowsy driving is to get enough sleep. Adults should aim for eight hours of quality sleep per night since getting even just six or seven hours at night doubles the chances you’ll be in a crash.
Plan ahead for long trips: If you know you'll be driving long distances, plan your trips with breaks in mind. Try to avoid driving during your body's natural sleep hours, typically between midnight and 6 a.m.
Share the load: If possible, share the driving responsibilities with a friend or family member. Having someone else in the car can help keep you awake and alert.
Stay hydrated: Dehydration can make you feel sluggish. Stay hydrated with water (not coffee, which can give you a temporary burst of energy followed by more fatigue).
Watch your medications: It’s cold and flu season, so be careful with over-the-counter medications that make you sleepy.
Finally, listen to your body. Pay attention to warning signs like heavy eyelids, yawning or drifting out of your lane. If you experience any of these, pull over to a safe location and take a short nap or switch drivers, if possible.
You may not be able to tell immediately if a driver who hits you is drowsy or not, especially since the adrenaline from the wreck may mask fatigue. However, every injury victim should explore the possibility of compensation for their losses because there is a possibility that “invisible” factors, like fatigue, could have played a role in the causation of their harm. Seeking legal guidance can help crash victims to uncover the truth.]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=507602023-06-29T13:36:20Z2023-06-29T13:36:20ZThe spouses need to know the fair market value
Some people are far too simplistic when putting together an inventory of assets. They might look at what they paid for certain resources. However, especially with assets that appreciate value over time, like real property, what people paid years ago for the home is likely not a reflection of what it is worth now.
The average selling price for single-family homes has gone up significantly in the last decade, and most people make improvements to their homes when they live there that will increase the value of the property. In some scenarios, the divorcing spouses simply agree on a value, possibly by meeting in the middle if they initially disagree on what the home is worth. Other times, they bring in professional help.
A real estate agent or appraiser can help establish a realistic fair market value for someone's real property during a Georgia divorce. In high-conflict cases, people sometimes have two separate appraisals done and then split the difference between the value set by each appraiser. For most divorcing spouses, bringing in professional help will be important not when valuing major assets. Otherwise, they might make mistakes that result in them giving up tens of thousands of dollars in marital property value, which could ultimately drastically diminish what they have to rebuild their life with after the divorce.
Making sure that one receives a fair portion of the most valuable marital property in a divorce often requires multiple types of planning, including seeking professional guidance with the valuation process.]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=507592023-03-30T16:24:04Z2023-03-30T16:24:04Zleft-turn accident scenario.
How it happens
Left turns are inherently dangerous. If a truck or a passenger car is turning in front of a motorcycle, it means that it has to cross through oncoming lanes. When the driver does this at an inopportune moment, or when they don’t actually have enough space, a motorcyclist can be injured.
For example, you may be approaching a vehicle that has stopped with its blinker on to turn. You assume that they’re going to wait for your motorcycle to go by, so you don’t slow down. But then, at the last second, they start their turn. You have no time to reduce your speed or swerve, and you strike the side of the vehicle.
What should you do?
Swerving to the right and driving onto the shoulder means that you’re serving in the same direction that the other vehicle is turning. But if you swerve the other way, to the left and into the now-open lane, you’re driving into oncoming traffic. This means that motorcyclists often have no option but to hit the brakes and brace for impact.
If this happens to you, you could suffer serious spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures and many other complications. You will need to seek medical care right away. As soon as you can after that, consider seeking legal guidance to clarify your options to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other costs.]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=507532022-12-20T22:15:48Z2022-12-20T22:15:48ZYou and your spouse can retain control
Most couples have the option of setting their own terms for property division matters. The only requirements for them to do so would be that they negotiate a settlement and sign papers that allow them to file an uncontested divorce.
Judges do review property division paperwork in uncontested divorces but very rarely question property division decisions made mutually between spouses. You have the chance to decide what happens to your home and other property.
Some couples may talk it out and realize that they went to sell the home and share the money from the sale. Others may quickly realize that the spouse who intends to have more parenting time should stay in the family home to keep the kids in the same school district. For those who cannot reach an agreement about the home, it may be necessary to go to court.
A judge can make that choice for you
When you are unable to work out a compromise, you can count on a Georgia family law judge to make a decision that would be appropriate for your family. They will use the state's equitable distribution statute as a guide while they make choices related to the division of your property. For many people, letting go of the family home will be an important part of the divorce, they either waxy credit score and income to secure a mortgage on their own or they need a fresh start.
Being realistic about your property division goals will typically result in a better outcome in a Georgia divorce.]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=506442022-12-02T17:46:17Z2022-12-02T17:46:17ZWhen you’re driving around, your steering wheel plays a very important role in keeping you on the right track. Unfortunately, during a collision, this same instrument becomes a serious hazard.
The steering wheel protrudes, which means it can be the first point of impact for various parts of your body during a crash. Outlined below are some of the more common injuries caused by steering wheels.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
If injuries after a car accident were to be categorized, then head injuries would be at the top of the list. The force of a crash can send the driver hurtling toward the steering wheel at a tremendous rate. Sometimes, the driver will be bent in a forward motion toward the steering wheel, with their head striking it and absorbing all of the impacts. Needless to say, this can result in some very nasty head injuries, which ultimately put the brain at risk.
Internal bleeding
Depending on the stature of the driver, the size of the car and the seating position, another part of the body may hit the steering wheel. More often than not, this is the chest area. Your rib cage shields organs such as the lungs and heart. Sadly, the rib cage isn’t always enough and the blunt force of a crash can still severely damage internal organs. This may cause them to bleed profusely, which is a potentially life-threatening situation.These are just some of the more serious injuries that can be caused by a steering wheel. There are numerous others. If your crash and injuries were caused by the negligence of another road user, make sure you look into your legal options. ]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=506422022-11-11T21:35:38Z2022-11-11T21:35:38ZFor married couples that share children, custody matters are often the most contentious aspect of the divorce. Couples who don't share children may still have a very emotional issue to negotiate. They could share a pet.
If you got a kitten in the first year of your marriage, it is probably emotionally important to you and your spouse now that it is an adult cat that you have loved and played with for years. You may both want the cat to stay with you when you go your separate ways. What will actually happen with companion animals in a Georgia divorce?
The courts treat your pets like property
While the cat that you have raised has incalculable emotional value for you and your spouse, at most it may be worth a few thousand dollars if it is a designer breed like a Scottish Fold. The same is true of dogs. For the purpose of divorce, they are an asset worth a certain amount of money based on training, age and breed. The courts won't invest time in the creation of a shared custody arrangement for your pet. They will simply award the animal to one spouse as part of the property division process. For some people, accepting that their relationship with their pet may end in the divorce, especially if they work a high-demand career, can be a necessary and emotionally challenging step in the process. Others have such a profound emotional attachment to the animals that they raised that they find it worthwhile to negotiate a settlement with their spouse where they keep the pet or at least secure visitation rights. Provided that the two of you cooperate, your uncontested settlement could include terms for shared pet custody. Learning more about the property division process in Georgia can help those concerned about assets with financial or emotional value.]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=506372022-11-03T21:16:08Z2022-11-03T21:16:08Zaccidents result in fatal injuries. Other survivors of vehicle accidents have been left permanently disabled or suffered serious injuries.
It’s quite common for people to suffer from some kind of injury, even minor cuts and bruises, after a collision. Typically, injuries from a crash are located in three areas. Injuries aren’t exclusive to these three areas, but they are common enough that drivers and passengers should know where medical conditions might occur.
Here’s what you should know:
Head injuries
The first place people should expect injuries is on the head. People who are hurt in a crash may suffer from injuries outside the head, such as fractures, or inside the head, internal bleeding, for example. Many serious injuries may be prevented, however, if the airbag deploys and passengers wear their seatbelts.
More commonly, people suffer from concussions from vehicle accidents. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head. Symptoms of a concussion may include dizziness, headaches and sensory impairment.
Neck injuries
If a driver does suffer from head injuries, it’s more likely than not that they are suffering from neck injuries as well. There isn’t much a vehicle can do to protect the neck, and because of this, people get injured when the neck jerks around in a collision.
One frequent injury caused by a vehicle accident is whiplash. This occurs when the neck rapidly moves forward and backward. This puts stress on the neck and shoulders and may cause serious pain.
Spine injuries
Some of the injuries experienced to the head and neck may be outmatched by spine injuries. The spine is an extremely sensitive area and the wrong injury could cause paralysis. Depending on the severity of an injury, passengers could suffer from partial or full paralysis. Paralysis may prevent people from using normal motor functions or even leave someone wheelchair-bound.
Your life shouldn’t have to suffer because of someone else's mistake. You may need to know your legal options when looking to recover from your medical bills and losses.]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=506342022-11-01T18:59:15Z2022-11-01T18:59:15ZNo one plans to divorce on their wedding day. Unfortunately, for many Georgia residents, this is how their relationship ends.
During a divorce, you must determine things like child support, alimony and property division. However, before diving into the specifics, it’s important to know the basic requirements for filing for divorce in Georgia.
The basis for your divorce
Georgia allows for no-fault divorces, which are the most common ones filed in the state. With this option, you and your spouse can simply agree that there’s been an irretrievable breakdown in the marital relationship, which allows the divorce process to move forward. However, you can also file for divorce “for cause” if your divorce is contested. These include things like violence, addiction, adultery, insanity, being incarcerated for at least two years and simple irreconcilable differences.
Additional requirements to file for divorce
You must also meet the residency requirements. Your divorce will be denied if at least one party hasn’t lived in Georgia for six months before filing a divorce petition. Additionally, if your reason for seeking divorce is cited as an “irretrievable breakdown,” there’s a mandatory 30-day waiting period. The other reasons listed above don’t require you to wait, and the decree will go into effect when it is filed.
Following the letter of the law
If you have decided to file for divorce in Georgia, it’s important to know the basics of what it entails. Failure to follow the rules may result in your divorce case being delayed. It’s important to know your legal rights and the legal requirements of divorce to ensure that you don’t make mistakes. ]]>On Behalf of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLPhttps://www.colemanchambers.com/?p=506302022-10-16T20:45:04Z2022-10-16T20:45:04ZThere’s a big push for co-parenting. The idea is that two divorced people can openly communicate the intimacies of a child’s daily living and partake in shared activities. However, divorced parents can’t always get along well enough to do that.
In that case, there’s parallel parenting. While parallel parenting isn’t as cohesive as co-parenting, it can have its benefits, too. Here’s an idea of what parallel parenting is and when it might be better suited.
When there’s too much conflict, parallel parenting can work
Sometimes two people just can’t get along. Even if you try to communicate openly, there are certain relationships that just spiral into hostility or one parent might feel like they’re constantly being baited. When communication is not productive, parallel parenting may help salvage the situation.Parallel parenting offers each parent their own time without the input of the other parent. Specific expectations like a drop-off, routine, and behavioral considerations are outlined before the start of each parenting time.Parallel parenting limits the amount of communication each parent has with the other but allows each parent to have maximum involvement when it’s their time with the child. Parallel parenting may be appropriate for:
Parents who have a hard time communicating.
Parents who can’t work with each other.
When there is a no-contact order in place.
When one parent has a narcissistic personality disorder.
Children tend to be the one who suffers the most when parents can’t get along. Instead of constant combat, parallel parenting plans may be better suited.
Deciding what’s right
Tensions are generally high at the very beginning of divorce situations. There are a lot of raw emotions happening. Choosing parallel parenting initially doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to keep the same plan in place forever. If you’re going through a divorce, you might want to become familiar with visitation or child custody laws to help protect your family.]]>