Perspectives

When handling a personal injury claim for an auto collision case, one of the questions I hear most frequently concerns the medical payments coverage, and how it relates to settling the personal injury claim. First off, medical payments coverage insurance (or “med pay”) is insurance coverage that pays you or others in your car for medical expenses, no matter who is at fault for the car wreck. It is usually included in your auto insurance policy—in fact, it’s mandatory in Wisconsin. It is generally limited to a dollar amount between $5,000 and $10,000, depending on the policy. In tragic cases, this money can also be used to cover funeral expenses. …

• What is the REAL ID Act?
The REAL ID Act sets federal standards for sources of identification such as state driver’s licenses and state identification cards. The REAL ID Act of 2005 was enacted by Congress to reduce fraud and deter terrorism pursuant to the findings of the 9/11 Commission. …

In 2011, there were 72,117 car accidents in Minnesota, resulting in 30,295 injuries and 368 fatalities. Most of these accidents resulted from driver inattention/distraction, failure to yield right-of-way, and illegal or unsafe speed. The consequences for the parties involved can be overwhelming. Medical treatment expenses, an increase in insurance premiums, and the stress of car repair are just a few possible results of an accident. In addition to consulting an attorney to obtain a settlement for an injury, one should also consider the criminal consequences of car crashes, such as the following: …

Have you had debts forgiven? To the unpleasant surprise of many, the IRS counts forgiven debt as income—meaning, it has to be reported as income on your tax return. If you’re in this situation, you’ll often receive a 1099-C Form, sent by the organization that forgave your debt. …

When a person is arrested, charged, and/or convicted of a crime, records of the incident are kept by several different government offices. These include, but are not limited to: courts, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (“BCA”), and other government agencies like the Department of Human Services. Expungement is the process in which a person can appear in court to request that all or some of these records be sealed to prevent the incident from appearing on a background check for employment, housing, professional license, etc. …

The FBI estimates there are over 14 million arrests made each year in the United States. The U.S. Constitution affords arrestees several important rights, including the right against self-incrimination. Most people are familiar with the “Miranda Warning” from television and movies, but there are some common misconceptions. …

Joint bank accounts offer a convenient way for couples to budget, pay shared bills, and ensure easy access to the assets of the account, in the event of one person’s death. A joint account can also offer an exciting opportunity to solidify trust in a relationship. This excitement can quickly turn into a nightmare, however, when a judgment creditor has the account frozen due to one person’s debt. …