Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I have been injured in an accident?
Personal injury law has become a marketing nightmare, not only for the various attorneys who practice it, but also for the individuals who find themselves ensnared in the incessant bombardment of both advertisement and claims. In its simplest state, when injured in an accident the individual should seek medical attention so as to quickly as possible return as close to normal as the individual can, and replacement of damages personal property so that life can go on.
In the real world, the medical end of getting better becomes extremely complicated. Eberhard & Weimer, P.C. recommends the following beginning at the onset of the injury:
- If you are able, observe where you are at, make notes at least mental as to what you were doing just prior to the accident, and listen carefully for what other persons in the accident say as well as witnesses.
- If you are able, write down the names and telephone numbers of all witnesses, and be sure to take note of what they have said. Do not be afraid to have people write down what they saw and sign it.
- Do not refuse medical treatment. If you are in pain, if you are bleeding, if you have any form of trauma do not wait and see. Many very serious injuries, require prompt attention and give very little indication of their existence at the accident scene. Always lean towards being safe rather than sorry.
- Immediately begin the process of choosing an attorney. A competent and experienced personal injury attorney can assist you as you make medical decisions, give statements to various police and insurance agencies, coordinate the very complex and confusing arena of wrongdoers insurance, car insurance, health insurance, and uninsured problems. These services might ultimately prove as valuable as any court services in the future.
- Interview your personal injury attorney and choose him or her based on their experience, effectiveness and your comfort level. An attorney that you feel that you can bring an issue to and have a conference with, is much more valuable to you than an attorney at the end of a telephone line or a legal assistant who agrees to get a message to the attorney you hired.
What is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is the implementation of an individual’s final wishes. Many times it is simply a statement as to how an individual would like to have things occur if that individual passes away. Other times, the focus of the estate plan is not only the wishes that an individual might have, but also tax laws and other laws which lay over the top of implementing those wishes. There are many tools that an individual attorney can use when creating an estate plan, but probably the most important one is the experience and knowledge of the attorney preparing the plan. Eberhard, Weimer, Clouse, & Glick have attorneys who have completed thousands of estate plans for hundreds of individuals faced with a variety of legal situations. The attorneys of Eberhard, Weimer, Clouse, & Glick are trained, experienced and ready to assist you with your estate planning needs.
What is Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a Federal Law which permits individuals to be forgiven for certain types of indebtedness. How that forgiveness works, and the extended forgiveness, are part of the bankruptcy rules administered by the Federal Court Judge and a bankruptcy Trustee. Eberhard, Weimer, Clouse, & Glick have attorneys who are experienced in bankruptcy laws, and can assist you in understanding if those laws are available to you for your specific problem, or if there is some other form of debt relief available as a result of your specific problem.
How do I choose an attorney?
Attorneys are human beings. Like human beings, different attorneys have different skill sets. When choosing an attorney, it is important that a potential client chooses an attorney who has the skill set that compliments the problem that the client is faced with. Always interview an attorney and make certain he or she has been properly educated, experienced, and successful in the area of the particular problem. Most importantly, choose an attorney who you feel comfortable with. Make certain when you hire your attorney as to whether you will be dealing with that attorney, an associate, or merely an employee. Make certain as to how subsequent meetings are to take place and if a distance is involved, who will be driving. The attorneys of Eberhard, Weimer, Clouse, & Glick bring a broad set of experience and abilities to bear on the legal problems suffered by our clients. We invite you to arrange for an interview with the attorney who will be handling your problems today.
What is child support and how is it calculated?
Today’s world of multi-marriage families have created a situation where the government has established the appropriate amount of child support which is due in owing from the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent or simply between the parents. The calculation of child support, although simple in its actual implementation has become difficult as a result of all the other factors. Attorneys experienced in child support know and understand different exceptions and deductions which are available based upon an individual’s life situation. If child support issues face you, Eberhard, Weimer, Clouse, & Glick has attorneys who will assist you in determining what you actually owe.