Georgia Legal Issues Blog

Criminal defense may be needed for man charged with DUI

On behalf of Morris & Dean posted in criminal defense on Monday, May 20, 2019.

Car wrecks can happen at any time to anyone. When they involve an accusation of impaired driving, the potential consequences can completely change a person's life. The need for comprehensive criminal defense in these types of situations cannot be overstated. This is what one man may be facing after he was charged with several crimes related to a wreck involving several other vehicles here in Georgia.

The incident happened on a recent morning when authorities say that a man was driving south in his car and moved into the northbound lane. He allegedly sideswiped another vehicle, which spun and got hit by a third vehicle in the opposite lane. Officials say the first man's car hit another vehicle, an SUV, before finally stopping on the shoulder of the road. Five people had to be rushed to the hospital, two from the first car, one from the second and two from the SUV.

USDA recommends linking child support to SNAP benefits

On behalf of Morris & Dean posted in family law and divorce on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

Children in Georgia deserve every chance they can get to succeed. When a child's parents are not living together, it is often necessary for one parent to make child support payments to the other to ensure that the child's needs are met. Some parents have difficulty honoring that obligation for valid reasons, such as a change in their income level. However, there are parents who choose not to make court-ordered child support payments without any justification. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hoping to convince state agencies that tying child support to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will help prevent that.

The Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, said that the USDA wants action taken that will benefit children. The department recommends that state agencies require SNAP participants to take steps to ensure that their child support payments are made. The hope is that doing so will continue to lift children and their families out of poverty and assist noncustodial parents to accept responsibility for their children's well-being.

Negotiating with insurance after a major car wreck

On behalf of Morris & Dean on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

The commercials for giant insurance corporations try to make them look friendly and personable. They want you to believe that they're going to do everything in their power to help if you find yourself in need of the coverage you pay for every month.

Unfortunately, reality and television don't share much in common, especially when it comes to insurance companies. Those big companies have become so huge and successful not by paying out generously to their policyholders, but by minimizing their expenses, which include how much they pay on even the most serious and legitimate of claims.

Car wreck claims the life of mother of 4

On behalf of Morris & Dean posted in personal injury on Saturday, May 4, 2019.

A fatal car wreck can devastate an affected family. Besides the emotional turmoil, if a parent dies in a car wreck, his or her children will have lost a provider and guide for the rest of their lives. One Georgia family may be going through this very thing after a fatal car wreck took the life of one woman who was a single parent to four children.

Authorities say that the crash happened on a recent early morning at the intersection of a highway and a local road. A man was driving north and hit the mother's vehicle head-on. Her car was reportedly pushed into the path of oncoming traffic where a third car hit the mother's vehicle from behind. She died due to her injuries. Her four children were also in the vehicle with her and one of them suffered serious injuries.

Credit score can be impacted by divorce

On behalf of Morris & Dean posted in family law and divorce on Monday, April 29, 2019.

When two people decide to end their marriage, they probably realize that the process won't be a simple one. Many soon-to-be-ex-spouses have to determine how to manage childcare, split assets or handle a marital home. Though many people expect that their finances will be impacted, they may not realize that their credit score could take a hit. Fortunately, experts have some advice for those here in Georgia and around the nation who want to minimize the effect that divorce can have on their credit score.

First, it is important to understand why a person's credit score could be affected. It is not as though the status of being divorced shows up on a credit report. A divorce can come with big changes to a person's finances, and that is where the potential impact shows up. If two ex-spouses share a loan or a joint account, for example, just because a divorce decree specifies who keeps the asset, if the other spouse's name is still listed, that person is considered responsible for making payments. If the "owning" spouse fails to make payments, it can impact the credit score of the other.

Woman must focus on criminal defense for drug charges

On behalf of Morris & Dean posted in criminal defense on Monday, April 22, 2019.

Being charged with a crime can turn a person's world upside down, no matter the circumstances. There are the obvious consequences that come to mind, such as potential jail time, a fine and/or probation. But a conviction can have far-reaching consequences across an accused person's entire life. It can affect the ability to gain employment, hold certain licenses and damage a person's reputation, necessitating a focused and meaningful criminal defense. This could be what one Georgia woman is facing after her arrest for drug possession.

Authorities say that the arrest happened on a recent afternoon. They claim that officers on their regular patrol noticed a vehicle parked on the side of the street where it should not have been located. Officers say that when they approached the car, they could smell marijuana emanating from the vehicle.

Sharing the road with semitrucks - tips to keep you safe

On behalf of Morris & Dean on Monday, April 15, 2019.

If you are like other drivers in the Dalton area, you have probably found yourself holding your breath while a semitruck passes you on the road. While most truck drivers follow safety protocols, it is often the other drivers on the road that create problems. For instance, a car two lanes over from you could suddenly cut off a semi and cause the driver to slam the brakes and possibly lose control. This one act could affect you and many other people driving in the immediate vicinity.

When you share the road with large commercial vehicles, safety is a major issue. While you cannot control what other drivers do on the road, the following safety tips can increase your chances of avoiding a crash with a semitruck.

Charges pending re fatal car wreck

On behalf of Morris & Dean posted in personal injury on Monday, April 15, 2019.

When a car crash occurs, it can devastate a person's life, or their family's lives if the wreck proves to be fatal. This is likely the case in a recent car crash here in Georgia that left one man dead and authorities with countless questions as to what exactly happened.

The Georgia State Patrol says that the crash happened early on a recent morning. A man was driving his vehicle south and allegedly rear-ended another vehicle that was traveling in the same direction. Authorities say that the impact caused the second car to hit a tree in a parking lot. The driver did not survive the incident.

3 common reasons for divorce

On behalf of Morris & Dean posted in family law and divorce on Monday, April 8, 2019.

Most people who marry do so from a place of optimism, believing that their relationship will stand the test of time. Sadly, divorce is an all-too-common outcome for many marriages, here in Georgia and elsewhere. The reasons for divorce vary as widely as the people who decide to get married. However, experts say that there are three common causes that may lead a couple to divorce.

The first cause that researchers identified can be boiled down to one simple word -- repair. This refers to a couple's ability to work together after a disagreement in order to improve their shared circumstances. People who cannot repair the relationship after an argument risk getting a divorce because both spouses may feel as though the other doesn't hear them or that there is distance between the two.

30-year high in pedestrian deaths around the nation

On behalf of Morris & Dean posted in personal injury on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

The risks that go along with driving a car are obvious. They are heightened when pedestrians are in or near the roadway. One recent study shows that pedestrian deaths are the highest they've been in almost 30 years. In this regard, Georgia is said to be among the most dangerous states in the country.

The Governors Highway Safety Association report says that over 6,000 pedestrians died as a result of traffic accidents last year. In the town of Macon, one in every 8,000 residents died as a result of a pedestrian traffic accident in the last year. Just five states in the nation account for half of the country's pedestrian deaths, and Georgia is among them.