Myrtle Beach Legal Blog

How is a wrongful death determined?

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, November 6, 2020.

When a person passes away in a tragic car accident such as a vehicle collision or boating incident, it's important that the cause of death be established. This is important for several reasons: it helps loved ones to understand exactly what happened so that they can get closure, it can potentially help to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future, and it can give clues to who was responsible for the accident.

Wrongful death is a term for a civil action that can be filed against a person when it is believed that their negligence or misconduct led to the death of another. If you lost a loved one in a tragic accident and you believe that another person was to blame, the following is an overview of how wrongful death is determined.

How does marijuana affect your driving?

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, October 19, 2020.

It's unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is because both alcohol and controlled substances can impair your ability to drive safely, and therefore they can increase the likelihood of a collision.

Therefore, if you have traces of marijuana in your system and get behind the wheel, you may be charged with driving under the influence (DUI). You need to understand how marijuana can affect your driving as well as the defense options that you can use if you are arrested on marijuana DUI charges.

Possible defenses to underage drunk driving

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in Drunk Driving on Wednesday, October 7, 2020.

If you are under the age of 21 and you are facing charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, you're essentially being accused of two crimes. First, you are being accused of consuming alcohol underage, and second, you are being accused of operating a vehicle under the influence.

Being convicted of a drunk driving charge could have severe consequences for your future. It may even prevent you from going to college, getting a job, or being able to travel to a job that you do have because of license suspension. Therefore, you need to investigate the options you have for defending yourself -- particularly when the charges aren't warranted.

Can I hold parents liable if a teen causes a collision?

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, September 25, 2020.

Teenage drivers statistically pose a relatively high risk on the road. This is first and foremost because they are inexperienced at driving and at the most, they will have been on the road for just a few short years. Teenagers may also be more vulnerable to peer pressure, meaning that they may be easily convinced to drink and drive or to have many friends in the car who are under the influence. They may also be less risk-averse than the general population.

If you were involved in a collision and the other driver was a teen, you may want to take legal action to hold them liable. But if you can show that they were at fault, you may be able to explore other options for gaining back damages. The following is an overview of why you may be able to hold the parents of a teen liable for the accident.

Obtaining damages after an injury on a vacation property

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in premises liability on Friday, September 11, 2020.

When you go on vacation, it's common to have the highest expectations for the trip you are taking. You have rented a luxury home, the weather forecast looks good, and you have taken time off work to enjoy your time to the maximum. You have the right to expect that the property you have rented is reasonably safe for both you and the other guests you bring along, including your children.

If you or one of your loved ones became injured in the rental home on your vacation because the property was in disrepair, you may feel as though the vacation dream that you were looking forward to for months has turned into a nightmare.

Defending yourself after a bar fight

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, August 28, 2020.

The consumption of alcohol combined with an unpleasant interaction with another person can lead to a toxic situation. Tensions can run high, and you may become fearful of being harmed even before any fists are swung.

If you are facing charges of assault after being involved in a bar fight, it is important that you understand how to successfully defend yourself. The following are some potential defenses that are used against these kinds of charges:

What are the causes of felony DUIs?

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in Drunk Driving on Friday, August 14, 2020.

Most DUI charges result in the temporary revocation of a person's driver's license and a fine. While all DUI charges are serious, not all of them lead to jail time or a felony. However, if a driver engages in certain aggravating factors when driving while intoxicated, they could face a felony and a significant amount of time in jail.

The following is an overview of some of the most common reasons why drivers are charged with a felony DUI in the United States.

Considerations for a wrongful death lawsuit

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, July 31, 2020.

If you have recently lost a loved one in an accident, you'll need to take some time to process what has happened and to grieve. Grief is not a linear process, and there will be days when you'll feel angry, resentful, or even numb. It is important that you take the time to heal from your loss and seek professional guidance for the sake of your mental health.

If you believe that another person's negligent actions were responsible for your loved one's death, you probably want to take action to hold them responsible. You can do this by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. The following are some considerations to make before doing so.

Rehabilitation from a traumatic amputation is a long process

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. on Thursday, July 23, 2020.

When you woke up the day of the accident, you probably thought it would progress just like any other day. You had no idea that your life was about to change forever.

It only took a few seconds for the crash to occur, but you will feel its effects for the rest of your life because you suffered a traumatic amputation. Now, you will spend months, if not years learning to live without a limb.

Why aren't teens better drivers?

On behalf of The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, July 17, 2020.

Older generations sometimes like to complain about younger generations, and teens often feel stereotyped. They feel like they get unfairly criticized for their decisions, life choices, music preferences, entertainment options and much more.

When people complain about teens not being good drivers, though, it's not just a stereotype. It's true. The statistics back it up. It's unfair for teens to ignore that criticism just because they feel like they're being targeted. As long as the stats show that they need improvement, it's fair to point that out.