California Criminal Defense, Cryptocurrency, Immigration And Personal Injury Legal Blog

Statistics make it very clear that wrongful convictions happen. It's an unfortunate reality of the justice system. In some cases, this happens because eyewitnesses make an inaccurate testimony. In other cases, there are even false confessions. This has become more clear in the last 30+ years, as ...

Just because you've been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, that doesn't mean you have no options. There certainly are legal steps you can take to fight those charges or get them reduced. For example, some drivers will enter into a plea deal. They will plead guilty to a “wet reckless” charge...

If you're a parent who has children that play sports, you know that there are always injury risks. Kids get hurt all the time playing football, basketball, soccer, hockey and many other sports. There's just an inherent risk to these physical games. Injuries even happen in non-contact sports. But ...

Most dogs are very friendly and you're generally safe around them at any time. But there is a chance that you will encounter a dangerous dog, perhaps one that is off-leash and appears aggressive. It can be very frightening to suddenly encounter one of these animals. How you react to this encounte...

If a police officer knocks on the door and asks to come inside, you may have a lot of questions. First and foremost, you want to know why they're at your house and why they're asking your permission to enter in the first place. You may not even be opposed to the idea; you just want to know what's...

Why doesn't predictive policing work? It seems like it should. Essentially, the police enter data into a computer model. It can identify areas where crime happens and the frequency of those criminal actions, and then it can predict where future crime may occur. The police can then be dispatched t...

In California, the law says that you cannot operate a vehicle if you're under the influence. This influence often refers to the use of alcohol, but it could also refer to things like marijuana. Someone whose ability to drive has been impaired is not allowed to operate their car. But what about a ...

The “crime of passion” defense is one that is sometimes used after a violent crime. It is most often seen in situations in which one person has lost their life and the other person is being accused of murder. They will claim that they committed a crime of passion. Essentially, what this means is ...

Technology has certainly changed driving forever. In some ways, this is good, but in some ways, it makes the roads much more dangerous than they used to be. It's clear that technology is here to stay, so it's important to inform yourself about how it can be beneficial and detrimental. Many new dr...

Many different types of injuries can become infected. Dog bites are notorious for this, for instance. But cuts and lacerations suffered in a car accident could also become infected. Even broken bones could lead to infection if they don't heal properly. In some situations, the infection becomes mu...

When you get pulled over, you have to talk to the police – at least for a short time. You're required, as a driver in the state of California, to give them your identification. You'll need to provide the registration for the vehicle and proof that you have insurance. Remember that all drivers are...

The American prison system has a serious problem: It doesn't work. More and more reports are coming out about how the incarceration system simply doesn't accomplish its goals of rehabilitating people. Instead, an increasingly large number of people are simply being locked up for longer and longer...

When some people are caught breaking the law, the reasons may be clear. Maybe someone was shoplifting because they recently lost their job, so they don't have money to buy food for their family. This doesn't mean they haven't violated the law, but someone can easily understand why they did it. Th...

Victims of car crashes often act in fight or flight mode; they face injuries or are in shock and leave the scene beside themselves. While there is no way to predict what would happen if you ever got in a crash, reminders of how to follow up after a traumatic situation may help future you. Should ...

When it comes to DWI laws, California has a zero-tolerance law in place. This lowers the legal limit for underage drivers. People who are under 21 have a legal limit of 0.01%. This is even lower than the limit for commercial drivers. Why is it set so low? Essentially, the idea is that a test shou...

If you're seeking compensation after an injury, you may start with your medical bills. If the treatment has already completed, this can be a bit easier to define. You simply look at the costs stemming directly from the incident – such as a car accident caused by another driver – that you have rec...

You know that you can be arrested for physically harming someone else. But what if you just threatened to do so?  For instance, say that you get into a vocal altercation with someone after the two of you have been drinking. You tell them that you're going to knock them out and start walking towar...

The overall trend for fatal car accidents in the United States is still a downward one. You can see that fatalities peaked in the 1970s and have declined until today. However, when you look at the short-term trends, you'll find that this is not the case. Over the last few years, there is actually...

You can legally buy or grow marijuana in California. This is true for both medical users and recreational users. Many states have begun to legalize marijuana in a way that has never been seen before, with new states being added almost yearly. California was one of the first. As such, people in Ca...

Many people take explicit pictures when they're in a relationship. They may text these pictures to each other or take them together. This has become even more common because now almost everyone has a smartphone with a camera built in. This makes it very easy and convenient, and photos are stored ...

In all states, you're allowed to defend yourself. You have a right to do so, even if you have to use force. If you genuinely believe that your life is in danger, you can often even use deadly force – such as using a firearm. However, there are states in which you are supposed to attempt to avoid ...

If you get involved in a car accident, you may feel bad that it happened. Maybe you're not sure if the other driver is injured. Maybe they just seem distraught and emotional, which is very understandable. You want to help and comfort them if you can. You may be tempted to go up to them and apolog...

Have you ever felt the jolt when you nod off at the wheel for just a split second? You are instantly awake again, aware that you were almost asleep behind the wheel. In fact, you may have been asleep, but not for long enough for it to impact your driving. This should be an indicator to pull over ...

Imagine that the police pull your car over and they would like to search the vehicle. They ask for your consent, but you know that you do not have to provide it. You're well within your rights to refuse to give them consent, so you do. You also know that they don't have a search warrant because t...

The job market can be very competitive. Every little detail matters. When you're looking for employment, you become very conscious of things that may be holding you back. Having a permanent record – for drug charges, for instance – can stop you from getting a job. Many employers will run backgrou...