When you’re gone, the last thing you want is for your family members to fight over your estate and create additional grief within the family. Unfortunately, it happens more often than you may think. Some family members, for example, might get upset if they’re not getting as much as others and get into disputes. The good news is that you can take steps right now to minimize arguments over your estate.

Select the Right Executor

Minimizing fights over your estate starts with choosing the appropriate executor. The person you select should be trustworthy, responsible, organized, and have good communication skills. He or she should take the job seriously and keep beneficiaries up-to-date with what’s happening with the estate. If your beneficiaries know what’s going on, they will be less likely to get nervous and start arguments.

Make Necessary Changes to Your Estate Plan

It’s important to update your estate plan whenever you have a big life change such as a divorce, marriage, birth of a child, or the death of a beneficiary. If you don’t make the necessary changes, your will might not reflect your current wishes and upset your beneficiaries. For example, if you get divorced, you probably don’t want your ex-spouse inheriting major property. If you don’t make the necessary updates to your will, however, he or she may receive some of your assets.

Explain Your Decisions Beforehand

It’s a good idea to inform your beneficiaries about your wishes while you’re alive. This way, you can avoid surprises and hurt feelings later on. For instance, you may plan on giving your oldest child a smaller inheritance than his or her siblings because he or she is more financially stable. If you explain your decision, you can prevent feeling of suspicion and anger when you’re gone.

Avoid Making Someone a Co-Owner of Your Checking Account

It’s not uncommon for people to add a son or daughter to their checking account when they get older. That way, the son or daughter can easily assist with managing money. However, this can end up backfiring on the owner. If you name someone as co-owner of your checking account, he or she will legally inherit all the money after your death. As you can probably imagine, this will lead to fights among the other children. To avoid these issues, name someone you trust as a power of attorney. This will allow him or her to write checks for you should you become incapacitated. 

If you follow these tips, you can help your family members avoid heated arguments after your passing. If you have additional questions, contact a reputable estate planning lawyer, like an estate planning lawyer from Gilbert, AZ.

Thanks to Citadel Law Firm for their insight into some tips to prevent arguments over your estate. 

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is being diagnosed with greater frequency in the United States.  TBI awareness has increased amongst the general public and the medical community based on studies of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in professional athletes and combat-related injuries in military personnel.  Past studies tell us that as many as 60% of TBIs go undiagnosed. For example, one study reported that the diagnosis is routinely missed in the emergency room setting by emergency department personnel who are more focused on visible injuries.  With greater awareness comes more attention from the scientific community and the media. As a result, the reported incidence of brain damage from traumatic causes has increased.

An experienced brain injury lawyer can easily tell you about all of the challenges associated with traumatic brain injuries, including medical providers who failed to make the diagnosis, the lack of objective testing to prove the diagnosis, and difficulty in assessing the degree of impairment.  Add to these challenges the fact that, when diagnosed, organic brain damage from an accident or injury is often misdiagnosed as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression.  

We now know that many types of injuries can cause permanent brain damage in addition to car and truck accidents, such as electrocution, explosions, and falls.  Studies show that even one concussion can cause life-long disability. The effects of post-concussion syndrome are just being studied. New studies show that whatever name is used, TBI, post-concussion syndrome or CTE, permanent brain damage increases the risk of early-onset dementia and other progressive neurologic disorders.  The costs associated with brain damage, in terms of lost earnings and future costs of medical care, can be staggering.

Neuropsychological testing has been developed to identify individuals with cognitive and intellectual impairments from brain damage.  These cognitive and intellectual impairments can manifest as changes in emotion, decreased intellect, lack of executive planning, loss of short and/or long term memory, headaches, dizziness, hormonal abnormalities, tinnitus and lack of concentration.  Even so-called mild traumatic brain injury can lead to job loss, household strife and social isolation, so an overlay of depression is often present, further complicating diagnosis and treatment. Speaking of treatment, there is no known treatment for permanent brain injury.  The brain is an unforgiving organ that does not regenerate like other organs.

Neuropsychological testing can be used to identify deviations in cognitive and intellectual functions from the norm.  Unfortunately, most people do not have pre-injury neuropsychological testing to compare with their post-injury test results.  Therefore, post-injury results can only be compared with societal norms. Thus, neuropsychological testing has inherently limited value.

There are a variety of neuropsychological tests available, including the MMPI.  All of these tests are subject to interpretation, such that insurance company lawyers can find a hired gun expert to argue that the results show malingering or fakery.  In many instances, a personal injury victim may find that they are better served by presenting testimony from a neurologist or physiatrist at trial instead of a neuropsychologist.  Ask an experienced brain injury lawyer in Cleveland, OH for advice when treating for a TBI that is the subject of a personal injury lawsuit.

Thanks to Mishkind & Kulwicki for their insight into personal injury claims and brain injuries.

When the warmer weather approaches, it also brings with it increasing numbers of motorcyclists on the road. Whether you ride as a primary form of transportation or more as a recreational activity, this increased traffic makes motorcycle accidents more likely to occur. To help you protect yourself and your fellow riders, we have gathered some important information about motorcycle safety and tips on how to make accidents less likely to occur.

Motorcycle Accidents and Injuries

According to the latest available statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 4,985 motorcyclists killed last year in crashes. This is a 5 percent decrease from the year before, however, it is still a disproportionate number of fatalities compared to other types of fatal vehicle crashes. There were just under 90,000 motorcycle riders who were injured in crashes.

More than 80 percent of all reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death to the motorcyclist. The most common cause of injury is the rider is ejected from the bike upon impact with the other vehicle.

Protect Yourself While Riding

As a responsible motorcyclist, it is important to be aware of potential dangers on the road and how to avoid them. This includes knowing where motorcycle accidents and injuries are most likely to occur. Many local police departments offer online maps that are frequently updated, to show exactly what section of the town fatal collisions have occurred in recently, based on the date and the type of motorist.

Along with being aware of potential dangers, it is important to practice good motorcycle safety. A motorcycle accident attorney offers these following tips:

·       Choose the right gear: Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes or invest in motorcycle boots and make sure your arms and legs are protected by wearing long sleeve shirts and jeans.

·       Wear a helmet: In addition to being required by law, motorcycle helmets cut serious injury risks by half.

·       Use caution when approaching intersections: This is where half of all motorcycle accidents occur.

·       Avoid alcohol or any intoxicating substance: If you are on medication or planning on drinking, let someone else take the wheel.

·       Check weather reports: Weather in our area changes suddenly. Keep an eye out and avoid riding in heavy fog or rain.

Reach Out to Us Today for Help

In the event a motorcycle accident does occur, a dedicated motorcycle accident attorney in Minneapolis, MN can explain the best course of action in your case. An attorney understands that injuries from motorcycle accidents can be devastating, both physically and financially, and will do all they can to make sure you get the best possible financial outcome based on the circumstances of your case.

Thanks to Johnston | Martineau PLLP, Attorneys at Law for their insight into motorcycle safety.