So which questions should you ask before hiring an injury attorney?

Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, you can ask him or her the following questions specifically related to his or her background, expertise, education, and experience:

• How many years of experience do you have with personal injury legal representation?
• How can you help me get the compensation from my legal case?
• Are you permitted to go to court for me in my jurisdiction?
• What are your qualifications? Which school is your law degree from, and which associations are you part of?
• Will you be the only attorney working on my case?
• Do you foresee any conflict of interest on your part with becoming my lawyer?
• What types of experience do you have when dealing with an insurance company to gain the highest level of compensation for a client?

Additional questions related to your case

In addition to the above questions, it is a good idea to ask questions specifically related to your case, such as:

 
Feel free to use these questions as a basis for your interview with an injury lawyer. We recommend that you get a great deal of information from the start. That way, you can be informed as much as possible to make the best decision for you and your case.

If you would like to be legally represented by one of our personal injury attorneys at Link & Smith, P.C., we invite you to call us for your complimentary consultation.

Safety Tips When Driving Next to a Big Rig

When driving next to a big rig, it’s important to follow several safety precautions in order to avoid serious accidents. Mark Link and Houston Smith, here at Link & Smith P.C., give you the following safety tips when you’re driving next to a big rig:

• Don’t get nervous. Being nervous while you drive can cause you to make dangerous and reckless decisions. This is especially risky when driving next to a big rig.
• Be aware of truck blind spots! Big rigs have more blind spots than any other vehicle, so realize that the big rig may not see you.
• Watch out for tire blowouts! Tire blowouts from big rigs are extremely common, so be aware of the truck’s tires, and learn how to avoid blown out tires.
• Because a truck is so big, it is very vulnerable to the wind. Be aware that wind conditions can cause a truck to swerve or become unstable.
• Learn how to pass a big rig. Passing a big rig requires you to be very focused. Pass a big rig as fast as possible, and hug the other side of the road. If you stay focused, you should be fine.
• Realize that trucks make WIDE turns. Watch out for a truck that’s turning, and avoid getting in its way.

If you would like to learn more about truck accidents to better ensure your safety, please visit our tractor trailer information page.

Trustworthy Truck Attorneys

Just because you’ve taken the proper safety precautions does not mean that you won’t fall victim to a tractor-trailer accident. Truckers can make mistakes or be careless themselves, and if this accident was not your fault, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.

If you live in Georgia, it’s important to choose a high-quality truck attorney for your accident, and the lawyers at Link & Smith P.C. would be happy to help you! They have years of experience in handling truck accidents, and they will be able to get you the very best monetary compensation possible.

If you would like a complimentary consultation with our attorneys, please call Link & Smith P.C. today at 404-315-8840.

Well, this could not be further from the truth.

There are a plethora of legal penalties to drinking and driving. Let the Atlanta-based DUI injury attorneys at Link & Smith P.C. show you the severe consequences of driving under the influence.

All of the Legal Penalties of Drinking and Driving

Keep in mind that there are a variety of legal penalties associated with drinking and driving, not just an arrest where you can immediately get bailed out. You may believe that just because you haven’t had a DUI offense before, that the police will go easy on you. This is simply not the truth.

If you get a DUI, you can face the following legal penalties:

• Arrest for all offenders
• High bail amounts
• Losing your license
• Long-term jail time for repeat offenders
• Losing your right to vote
• Losing your right to buy a weapon
• Being required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous
• Having one or more felony offenses on your record
• Putting you face-to-face with victims who will tell you their stories of how drinking and driving has hurt them and their loved ones

Needless to say, drinking and driving bears serious legal consequences, so you should think twice before you get behind the wheel after having a drink. Many states have now lowered the legal BAC (Blood Alcohol Content), so you may think you are under the legal limit when, in fact, you are not.

This is why it is of the utmost importance that you refrain from even having one drink before you get behind the wheel.

If you would like to learn more about drinking and driving accidents to ensure your safety, visit our DUI victim page.

DUI Injury Lawyers in Atlanta

Even if you are a safe driver, you can still run the risk of getting injured in a DUI accident due to the carelessness of another driver. An arrest can bring justice to the driver, but what about justice for you, the victim?

A simple arrest won’t cover your medical expenses or other expenses caused by this accident.

This is why you need high-quality DUI injury attorneys as a DUI victim. At Link & Smith P.C., our attorneys specialize in drunk driving accidents, and they provide victims with the highest quality legal representation.

If you’ve been injured in a DUI accident in Georgia, and you need a DUI victim lawyer, call Link & Smith P.C. for a complimentary consultation.

Of course, if you are injured in a boating accident, the boating and jet-ski accident lawyers (based in Atlanta, Georgia) at Link & Smith P.C. would be happy to help! Let these personal injury attorneys give you several safety tips on boating and jet-skiing.

Safe Boating

When you’re on the water, it’s important to keep all safety precautions in mind, especially if you’re driving a boat. Believe it or not, boating accidents can be just as severe, if not more severe than auto accidents.

However, if you follow the following safety tips, you will be better equipped to avoid catastrophic injuries and boat crashes:

• Always wear a life jacket, even if you’re driving the boat. One of the leading causes of death on the water is drowning, so a life jacket can save your life.
• Never boat and drink! Boating and drinking has the exact same legal repercussions as drinking and driving, not to mention that it bears the same risks.
• Be aware of other boaters and jet-skiers. Always be careful to look out for other boaters, especially persons on jet-skis because they can be harder to see than other water vehicles.
• Look out for skiers and wake-boarders. Skiers and wake-boarders follow behind a boat and they are easy to miss when you’re looking at the water.

If you’re a boater who follows the aforementioned safety precautions, then you can certainly avoid injuries.

Safe Jet-Skiing

Remember that jet-skiing is about as dangerous as riding a motorcycle, so you should take the same precautions as you would if you were riding on the highway.

These precautions include:

• Knowing how to operate your jet-ski.
• Being aware of other boaters and jet-skiers. Remember that jet-skis are hard to see, and they often go unnoticed to boaters.

If you would like to learn more about how to avoid boating and jet-ski accidents, please click here.

Boating and Jet-Ski Injury Lawyers in Georgia

Sometimes a boating or jet-ski accident is not your fault. If you’ve been injured in a jet-ski or boating accident, you need high-quality boating and jet-ski injury lawyers. Mark Link and Houston Smith at Link & Smith P.C. are boating and jet-ski injury lawyers who are specialists in the field. So, if you’ve been injured in a jet-ski accident, call Mark Link and Houston Smith today for a complimentary consultation at 404-315-8840.

Therefore, let the Atlanta-based motorcycle injury lawyers at Link & Smith P.C. show you how important it is to choose a low- risk motorcycle as your primary motor vehicle.

How To Initially Avoid Motorcycle Injuries

In order to avoid a motorcycle injury, it’s important to follow several different safety precautions. These include:

• Wear a helmet
• Wear thick clothing to avoid pavement burns
• Take riding lessons
• Know your vehicle
• Be aware of the road

However, these are not the only factors that influence safety. High-risk motorcycles increase the risk of injury or even death. High-risk motorcycles are designed for only the most experienced motorcyclists, and even then, a high-risk motorcycle can cause injury or death.

The Characteristics of A High-Risk Motorcycle

Buying a high-risk motorcycle increases your chances of having a deadly motorcycle accident. There are several characteristics that define high-risk motorcycles, including:

• Streamlined fairing to improve aerodynamics, covering the sides of the engine with a low windshield
• A crouched-forward driving position
• Low, short handlebars
• Foot pegs placed higher and farther back
• Muffler placed at the rear and angled upward
• Two disk brakes in the front and a one disk brake in the back
• Rear-wheel driver by the chain
• Power to weight ratio over .5 hp/kg
• No center stand
• Over-sized frame

These are often the characteristics of speed bikes. A speed bike is one of the most dangerous machines on the market and they should only be ridden by the most experienced cyclists.

An inexperienced rider can increase his or her risk of injury or death by riding one of these cycles. Motorcycle injuries have drastic and even deadly consequences. Therefore, it’s important to educate yourself about motorcycle accidents and injuries.

If you would like to learn more about motorcycle injuries and accidents, please click here.

Injury Lawyers for Motorcycle Accidents

Sometimes it is not your fault if you suffer a motorcycle accident. Faulty machines and careless drivers are frequent causes of motorcycle accidents, so if you have suffered a personal injury you need a motorcycle injury lawyer you can count on.

The motorcycle injury attorneys (based in Atlanta) at Link & Smith P.C. are dedicated to helping riders who have suffered drastic and devastating injuries. If you would like a complimentary consultation with one of our motorcycle injury lawyers, please call our office today at 404-315-8840.

Deserved Coverage for Your DUI Accident

Without contacting a DUI injury lawyer, you may not be able to cover the expenses caused by this accident. There are several other avenues to getting expense coverage, although many may not be able to cover every aspect of the results of your accident.

• Your insurance company should cover all vehicle damages caused by a DUI accident.
• Some insurance companies will cover your injuries, but the compensation may not be completely adequate.

This is why a DUI lawsuit can help you in your time of need. By choosing to sue the faulted party through a personal injury lawyer, you can reach a case verdict or legal settlement that can adequately cover all of the damages caused by your accident.

The monetary amount you receive through either a trial verdict or a settlement can cover:

• Hospital bills
• Lost wages
• Doctor visits
• Lifestyle changes caused by the accident

Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that you contact a DUI victim lawyer who can best represent your case in court, or help you reach the settlement you need to get back to the lifestyle you once had.

A DUI victim lawyer can provide you with the following services:

• Investigating your case
• Giving you legal advice
• Drafting legal documents
• Representing your case in court

…And many more!

If you would like to learn more about DUI victim cases, please click here.

Choosing A Quality DUI Victim Attorney

In order to get the best compensation for your DUI injury, you need a personal injury lawyer who has the knowledge, the experience, and the expertise to best represent your case.

At Link & Smith P.C., we believe that Mark Link and Houston Smith are those lawyers. This is because they have over 40 years of combined experience in personal injury law, work on a contingency basis, and have a history of successful case results with some worth upwards of $40 million.

If you are in need of a quality injury lawyer for drunk driving accidents, our lawyers would be happy to help. Please call Link & Smith P.C. today for a complimentary consultation at 404-315-8840.

What Is The Difference Between a Catastrophic Injury and A Common Personal Injury?

The major difference between a catastrophic injury and a personal injury is the extent of damage. A personal injury may range from bone fractures, breaks, or head injuries. However, catastrophic injuries cause permanent damage.

Catastrophic injuries include:

• Brain injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Other injuries that cause lasting disability

Brain injuries and spinal injuries can lead to permanent physical disabilities, personality changes, and brain damage.

A catastrophic injury does more than just ruin your quality of life; it can also ruin your finances. If you have suffered an injury due to an accident that was not your fault, why should you have to pay for the damage? This is where a quality injury lawyer comes into play when filing catastrophic injury claims.

Quality, Dependable Injury Lawyers

After you have begun the recovery process, it is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. A high-quality personal injury lawyer can help you file a lawsuit against the faulted party, thereby leading to the collection of the monetary compensation you need to cover several expenses.

The expenses that catastrophic injury lawsuits can cover include:

• Medical bills
• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays
• Lost wages
• Lifestyle changes
• Various disability expenses
• Wrongful death

If you would like to learn more about catastrophic injuries, please click here.

If you’re in need of an injury attorney in Atlanta for your catastrophic injury claim, Mark Link and Houston Smith at Link & Smith P.C. would love to help you. These lawyers have over 40 years of experience in the field of personal injury law, they work exclusively on a contingency basis, they have a history of successful case results, and they pride themselves on being accessible personal injury lawyers for Atlanta residents.

Here at Link & Smith P.C., we will be happy to evaluate your case. If you are in need of a complimentary consultation, don’t hesitate to call our office. Remember, if you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury, we can come to you, so call our office today at 404-315-8840.

Just because you are on the water does not mean that you have the license to drink while operating a water vehicle. Drinking and boating accidents can cause injuries and fatalities. Allow the injury attorneys who work with those involved in drinking and boating accidents show you the dangers of drinking and boating, and the legal repercussions of boating under the influence.

The Dangers of Drinking and Boating

As many experienced boaters know, you must treat the water just like you treat the road. You have to exercise the same caution and awareness when you are operating a boat as when you are operating a car.

Just like driving, drinking alcohol while boating impairs your senses in a way that prevents you from adequately operating your boat or jet ski.

When you drink alcohol while operating a vehicle, the following effects are felt:

• Your senses are dulled
• Your response time is reduced
• Your balance is off
• Your judgement is impaired

In fact, being on the water only increases the effects of alcohol due to the following factors:

• Sun glare
• Boat vibrations
• Wind
• Waves
• Water current
• Noise levels

Also, alcohol impairs your ability to swim, so if you are to fall overboard, you are more likely to drown.

If you would like to learn more about drinking and boating accidents, please click here.

The Legal Repercussions of Drinking and Boating

If you are caught boating under the influence, the legal penalties are severe. Drinking and boating has virtually the same legal repercussions as drinking and driving. If you are caught drinking and boating by a Waterways Conservation Officer, you can face the following legal penalties:

• Arrest
• Community service
• Jail time
• Losing your boating license

If you cause a boating accident because you have been boating under the influence, you can also face a lawsuit, specifically if you cause any sort of injuries or fatalities to the other party. A personal injury lawsuit can devastate your finances and even cause bankruptcy.

Boating Accident Lawyers for Personal Injuries

Of course, a boating and drinking injury lawsuit can be extremely beneficial for the injured party. Even if you are a safe boater, you can still fall victim to a drinking and boating accident. If you are the victim of such an accident, our injury lawyers can help you!

By filing suit against the faulted party, you can get the coverage you need to pay for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Lifestyle changes
• Personal damages

If you have been injured in an accident due to a careless drunk boater, our injury attorneys of Atlanta can help! Please call our office today for a complimentary consultation at 404-315-8840.

Allow the injury lawyers who work with texting and driving accident claims at Link & Smith P.C. show you the dangers of texting and driving, and the legal action you can take if you have been injured in a drinking and driving accident.

The Dangers of Texting and Driving

New research has determined that texting and driving is now just as dangerous as drinking and driving. This is because texting and driving and drinking and driving bear the same risk factors; and texting impairs your motor coordination much in the same way as alcohol.

Alcohol impedes your ability to adequately focus on the road. Texting also causes this, so in a way you are still “under the influence” while texting. When you are not focused on the road, you can swerve or make careless decisions ultimately leading to catastrophic accidents.

More and more auto accidents are being caused by careless texting drivers, and both fatalities and injuries caused by texting and driving are on the rise.

This is why a driver should avoid texting at all costs. Not texting can save your life, or the life of another motorist.

What To Do If You’ve Been Injured in a Texting and Driving Accident

Even if you play it safe on the road by not texting, other motorists may not be so cautious. Even if you drive safely, you can still fall victim to a texting and driving accident. If you have been the victim of a texting and driving accident, you need personal injury lawyers who specialize in texting and driving accidents.

You need personal injury attorneys who will actively investigate your case, and fight for your rights as a victim. Texting and driving accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, and you need coverage for your injuries and personal damages.

Both Mark Link and Houston Smith are injury attorneys in Atlanta who specialize in texting and driving accidents. They know the laws associated with texting and driving, and with their knowledge, experience, and expertise, they can guarantee that you will get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

If you would like a complimentary consultation with one of the injury lawyers at Link & Smith P.C., please call their office today at 404-315-8840.

5 Essential Motorcycle Safety Tips

In order to stay safe on the road, you should adhere to every law of the road and all recommended safety precautions for motorcycle riders.

If you adhere to the following safety precautions, you can lessen the chances of suffering injury.

• Know how to ride. As soon as you buy your motorcycle, begin riding classes from experienced teachers. They will be able to teach you exactly how to handle your bike, and show you every single safety precaution you should take in order to avoid injury.
• Know your bike. Every motorcycle is different, so it’s important to know exactly how your bike works and how to fix your bike if a problem should occur.
• Wear a helmet and safety gear! When you take to the road, always wear a helmet with long, thick clothing. Even if your state does not have a helmet law, remember that a helmet and the proper safety equipment can save your life!
• Be aware of your surroundings on the road. Motorcycles are difficult to see, so when you are riding your bike, you should assume that you are invisible. Know how to drive defensively and learn different techniques to avoid accidents.
• Obey traffic laws. Traffic laws are put in place for a reason, and they are designed to keep all motorists safe as they drive.

Following these safety tips can save your life. Motorcycle accidents are common and deadly, and if you would like to find out more about motorcycle accidents, please click here.

What To Do If You’ve Been Injured in a Motorcycle Accident

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident due to the carelessness of another driver, you need to take legal action! Motorcycle injuries can have more disastrous repercussions than auto accidents or other motor vehicle accidents, so you need the proper coverage to handle all of your expenses.

If you choose a quality motorcycle personal injury lawyer, you will be able to get the deserved coverage. Our lawyers here at Link & Smith P.C. will be happy to represent your motorcycle injury claim. If you would like a complimentary consultation with one of our injury lawyers, please call our office today at 404-315-8840.