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Generally, if you are in H-1b status, then you would not be subject to the quota if you change employers. However, if you have been working for a non-profit organization or an institution of higher education (who are cap-exempt), and you are looking to change to an employer who is not cap exempt, then you will probably be subject to the cap. It is advisable to contact an experienced immigration attorney to discuss your particular situation. -
If you are still married to your spouse, you can apply for citizenship after three years, rather than waiting five years.
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My employer wants to sponsor me for a green card, but is unsure of what steps to take. Can you help?
We have experience working with employers. We will walk you and your employer through all the required steps.
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If it can be done safely, you should probably leave your car where it is and call the police. Often, the police will make a written report of the accident, and make a preliminary determination of who was at fault. Frequently, the insurance companies will rely on the determination of fault made by the police officer at the scene.
You should gather their names, addresses and telephone numbers of the parties involved and any witnesses. Sometimes police officers write down this information and then lose it. Therefore, you should keep this information, including insurance information, for yourself.
If you have the opportunity to take pictures of the damage caused by the accident, you should do it. Pictures can often indicate the seriousness of an accident and can be powerful evidence.
If you were injured, you may want to seek medical attention. Health care providers take notes every time they see a patient, and therefore, besides providing the medical care you need, they provide good evidence of your injury.
You should also contact your insurance company and notify them of the collision. Under most insurance policies, there is a requirement that you notify your insurance company promptly if you are involved in an accident. If someone makes a claim against you, or if you end up needing coverage under your own policy, you do not want your insurance company denying coverage because of your failure to notify them.
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If you have any intention of pursuing a personal injury claim, you should contact a lawyer immediately to discuss your case. There are numerous restrictions and deadlines that can affect the value of a personal injury claim. The other driver's insurance company has no duty to explain the restrictions and deadlines that apply to your case. Once you know your rights and obligations, you can make an educated decision whether you need to hire a lawyer.
We often speak with people who believed they would save money by pursing an injury claim without a lawyer. The insurance companies know that it is difficult for a non-lawyer to negotiate a fair settlement, because they know that a non-lawyer is unlikely to file a successful lawsuit. This gives the insurance company a big advantage over an unrepresented person. Often, the insurance company who said it would take care of everything later becomes uncooperative and unresponsive. You may not need a lawyer, but it is best to speak with one before proceeding alone.
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It is important to have adequate auto insurance. In Virginia, the law requires that you carry minimum liability coverage of 25/50. For example, if you hit a car carrying two people, and they are both injured, each could get no more than $25,000 from your 25/50 policy. If you injure three people, none of them could get more than $25,000, and your insurance policy would not pay out more than a total of $50,000, no matter how bad the injuries.
If you injure someone badly, or worse, if you injure a carload of people badly, you can see that it is easy to run out of coverage with the minimum 25/50 policy. Your insurance company still has a duty to provide an attorney for you if you are sued, but they do not have a duty to pay a verdict or settlement higher than your policy limits. If you have assets (a house, stocks etc.), you are putting them at risk if you only carry minimum policy limits. A person who you injure may take you to court and get a judgment of $100,000. Your insurance company is only obligated to pay $25,000. The injured person may try to get the full amount of the judgment from your personal assets.
It is very important to carry high uninsured/underinsured limits in your policy. If you are severely injured by someone without insurance or with low limits, your own insurance policy may pay you for the liability of the negligent person. If you carry $300,000 in uninsured/underinsured coverage, you will be better off, even if you are injured by someone without insurance.
In Virginia, and many other states, you can buy medical payments coverage as part of your policy. Medical payments coverage will usually cover a vehicle occupant's reasonable and necessary medical expenses caused by the collision up to a certain amount, no matter who was at fault for the accident. There are different amounts of coverage you can purchase. Ask your insurance agent about medical payments coverage.
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Even though the other guy was negligent, you may not have a case if you were guilty of contributory negligence or if you did not suffer a physical injury.
In Virginia, a personal injury lawsuit may fail if the injured person was partially responsible for the injury. In other words, if you were only 1% responsible for your injury, you may not have a case, even though the person who injured you was 99% at fault. Of course, you are only required to behave as a reasonable person would in the circumstances of the case. If you behaved reasonably, a judge or jury is likely to compensate you for your injuries, even though the person who injured you might blame you for the accident. Each case is different, and a legal evaluation of your case may help you decide whether to make a claim.
Negligence claims can also be defeated if there was insufficient damage caused by the negligence. For example, imagine finding a foreign object in your food. There is a good argument that the person who prepared the food was negligent. However, if you were not injured by the object, there is no point in making a claim. A valid personal injury claim requires a physical injury.
Even if you have a case, it is not necessary that you pursue it. Sometimes, people are horribly injured and they do not want to make a claim. Some people do the opposite and make a claim. It depends on your circumstances, and you should make up your own mind after speaking with a lawyer and those closest to you. It is a personal decision.
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It depends on your situation and your goals. If it is a minor ticket without the possibility of jail time or a license suspension, and if you don't mind paying the ticket and taking points, then you might not need a lawyer. However, if you are innocent, facing potential jail time or the loss of driving privileges or immigration benefits, you should talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer may be able to help reduce or eliminate a traffic charge, which may be very important to you depending on your situation.
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A power of attorney is an authorization to act on someone's behalf in a legal or business matter. Many institutions, like banks, hospitals and the IRS, require a power of attorney to be in writing. A power of attorney may be general or specific, and can be used for simple acts like signing checks, or complicated acts like buying or selling a house.