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Car accidents can be devastating and life changing, but you may be able to obtain financial compensation for your injuries and other losses you suffered. A witness statement is a powerful tool that can help you do that. Here’s how you may be able to obtain a statement from any witnesses that saw the collision. Ask at the Scene of the Accident If you are not badly injured after the collision, take note of any witnesses on the scene. You can ask them what they saw and to retell their version of the story, or you can get their contact information so you can follow up with them later. If you are injured and someone else in your party is able to get witness contact information, ask if they will do so. This can be extremely valuable evidence in your case. Communicate with Police Police will generally be called to the scene of even minor accidents to take a report of what happened. Often, they will interview witnesses at the scene or contact them later and discuss what they may have seen. Follow up with the officer that responds to your car accident regarding the police report and any witnesses they may have spoken with at the time of the incident. Contact Nearby Businesses or Homeowners If your car accident occurred near a home or business, it could be beneficial to reach out to the business or homeowners to find out if they saw anything they can provide a statement on. For example, a nearby homeowner may have heard the crash and looked out their window to see what caused the sound. Businesses often have security cameras or CCTV that monitors their parking lot, storefront, and nearby intersections. You may be able to obtain footage from their cameras that shows the accident occurring. This is even better than a witness statement and can paint a full picture of how the accident occurred and whose fault it may have been. Homeowners may also have doorbell cameras that recorded the accident; it may benefit you to ask around the neighborhood to find out if anyone has any evidence that may be of value in your case. Get Help from an Experienced Pasadena Attorney Attorney Grace Lea Chang is an experienced California lawyer who offers a wide range of expertise in legal cases of many different kinds. If you were injured in a car accident, contact our office today for a consultation at (626) 792-5888.

One of the most common legal issues is being pulled over and suspected of driving under the influence. However, law enforcement cannot arrest you without enough evidence that you are operating your vehicle unsafely. Before deciding to arrest you for drunk driving, a police officer should: Assess the Nature of Your Driving Your driving behavior is observed and gauged well before a police officer puts their lights on to pull your vehicle over. A law enforcement officer needs to have what is known as probable cause, or the legal right to stop your vehicle. For example, an officer would have probable cause to stop you if you were driving carelessly or disobeying traffic laws. Evaluate Your Vehicle A police officer is legally allowed to evaluate any readily available signs that you may be driving while intoxicated. For example, the officer can check for the smell of alcohol or marijuana on your breath or in your vehicle and can look with their flashlight at open areas for any contraband that may be visible. Observe Your Behavior While You’re Stopped As the officer engages with you during the stop, your speech, coordination, and cognitive skills will be observed. The officer is looking for signs of intoxication like extreme confusion and lack of coordination. Slurred speech is also a significant reason drivers are charged with drunk driving, even though this can easily be caused by fatigue or a speech impediment. Request That You Submit to Chemical Testing A common part of a DWI stop is to conduct chemical testing to determine scientifically if there are any intoxicating substances in the driver’s bloodstream. This can be done before an arrest using a breathalyzer, however, this does not check for the presence of drugs like opiods. The officer may decide to take you into police custody and transport you to a lab or hospital for a more accurate blood test. Arrested and Charged With Drinking and Driving? Attorney Chang Can Help If you’ve been arrested for drinking and driving — or for another crime — don’t wait to get experienced legal help. Grace Lea Chang is an experienced general attorney that can provide you with a zealous defense. Attorney Chang has an excellent track record with her clients and will represent you with skill and expertise. Call our office today for your initial consultation to discuss your legal needs at (626) 792-5888. We are available now to assist you.

Choosing a lawyer to work with when you have a legal issue is challenging. There are many good attorneys in Pasadena, and many others without the experience you need for a successful case outcome. Before you decide to hire a lawyer, there are several things you should consider first. The attorney you hire to represent you should be: Focused On Your Needs and Best Interests The job of a lawyer is to represent you. Not to look at both sides fairly and without judgment, but rather to simply advocate for your needs and best interests, whatever those may be. Select an attorney who is focused on how your case affects you and what can be done to mitigate any negative impact. Enthusiastic About Taking On Your Case Your lawyer should be enthusiastic and interested in taking on your case. Be wary of attorneys who seem bored or overconfident because they’ve represented dozens of clients in the same shoes. No two cases are exactly alike, even if they look similar on the surface. Work with a lawyer that is as excited to work with you on resolving your legal issues as you are with them. Able to Answer Questions Thoroughly and to Your Satisfaction You likely have a lot of questions about your case and what to expect during the legal process. During your initial consultation, make sure the attorney you’re meeting with is able to answer your questions without much hesitation. If the lawyer you’re consulting with seems like they don’t know some of the answers to your questions or is unwilling to help educate you, it may be in your best interests to seek legal counsel from another provider. Ready to Go to Court If Necessary Some lawyers work hard to avoid going to court. In some cases, this is in the client’s best interests. In other cases, doing everything possible to not litigate costs the client more in the long run. Your attorney should explore potential settlement alternatives before deciding that litigation is likely to garner the best results, however, they should be ready and willing to litigate when needed. Grace Lea Chang — A California Lawyer You Can Trust Grace Lea Chang is an experienced Pasadena attorney that can help you resolve a number of legal issues, including divorce, child custody, probate, real estate transactions, employment discrimination, workers comp, and more. Call today for your consultation to discuss your legal needs at (626) 792-5888.

Have you filed for bankruptcy and received a full or partial discharge of your debts? This can be a great relief, however, it may not be permanent. In some cases, the bankruptcy court that awarded your discharge can revoke it, meaning you’ll have to make payments on your debts again. Here’s the facts about bankruptcy discharge revocation and how an experienced attorney can assist you. When Can a Discharge Be Revoked? When you are granted a discharge in a bankruptcy, you no longer have to pay the bills that were included in the discharge. This can be extremely helpful in regaining your financial footing. However, if the court finds evidence of misrepresentation or fraud, your discharge may be revoked. Your creditors or the trustee overseeing your bankruptcy case can file a motion for a revocation of your bankruptcy discharge. In most cases, a revocation can only be requested within a year of the discharge date or case closure. Revoking a Discharge Under Chapter 7 After being awarded a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, there are some circumstances under which it can be rescinded, such as: You were found to have made fraudulent statements on your bankruptcy application You made a material misstatement that you cannot adequately explain as a mistake to the bankruptcy court Your nonexempt assets were willfully misrepresented or you knowingly failed to disclose them You underwent a bankruptcy audit but did not provide adequate supporting documentation You were ordered by the court to furnish records and you refused to comply Revoking a Discharge Under Chapter 13 It’s often less difficult for a bankruptcy trustee or creditor to request that a discharge be revoked for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, because the burden of proof tends to be lower. The only evidence that must be shown for a court to grant the revocation request is that the individual accused has committed fraud on their Chapter 13 application with the express purpose of getting their debts discharged and that the trustee or creditor remained unaware of the fraud until much later, once the discharge was already granted. When to Speak With a Bankruptcy Lawyer Are you struggling under what seems to be insurmountable debt or are looking at the possibility of having an awarded discharge rescinded? Does it feel like no matter how many payments you make, you just can’t get ahead? Grace Lea Chang can assist you. Call for your consultation today at (626) 792-5888.

Typically with a divorce, one spouse serves the other spouse with a petition. The recipient either agrees or contests the terms of the divorce and files a response. But what if the recipient doesn’t respond at all? Here’s what can happen if you fail to sign your divorce papers. Default Divorce in California Like most other states, California requires that your spouse make every effort to appropriately serve you with the divorce petition. If your spouse is unable to successfully have you served, they may need to file a motion with the court to put a notice in the newspaper. After sufficient time has passed, your spouse is likely to be granted a divorce by default. Your Ex Can Still Pursue a Divorce If you receive the divorce papers and refuse to sign or are otherwise notified of the divorce and don’t respond, your ex can still move forward with the divorce after a period of time. If you do not wish to consent to a divorce, you must respond to the petition by contesting it. Benefits of Allowing a Default Divorce There are some benefits to allowing divorce by default. In some cases, spouses who agree on the terms of the split may decide ahead of time to have one person file and the other “refuse to respond” in order for the petitioner to be granted a default divorce. This may be done to save on attorney’s fees when there’s no reason for either spouse to contest the terms of the divorce. Cons of a Divorce by Default Naturally, there are some caveats to divorcing by default. Sometimes, one spouse will try to pursue a default divorce by doing everything possible to avoid properly serving divorce papers to the other so the other spouse won’t have enough time to respond. Deciding not to respond to a divorce petition means you waive your rights to contest any and all issues in the divorce, and it’s important that you fully understand the potential impacts a default divorce can have before agreeing to it. Get Help From an Experienced California Attorney Today Are you considering pursuing a divorce by default? Or do you believe your ex-spouse may be attempting to obtain a default divorce by intentionally serving you the divorce petition in a way that makes it difficult for you to respond? You need legal help. Contact Grace Lea Chang for your consultation today at (626) 792-5888.

Getting a divorce is never easy, but many people believe if they go along with what their soon-to-be-ex-spouse wants, the divorce will go smoothly and be over faster than if they put up any resistance. While compromise is certainly worthy of consideration, it’s time to put your own best interests first if you’re getting a divorce. Here’s how. What Is In Your Kids’ Best Interest Is In Your Best Interest Remember that if you have children, their best interests should always come first. Now, this may sound counter-intuitive to what was just said about putting yourself first; however, if you’re a parent, you know that whatever is in the best interests of your children is in your own best interests. Consider what you can do in the divorce to make the lives of your children easier. Do you need to fight for sole custody to keep them at their school? Make the needs of your children your own needs and don’t be afraid to say no to a compromise that is not best for them. If it’s not best for them, it’s not best for you. Don’t Back Down on Property Division If you and your spouse share a great deal of assets, it’s likely that you’ll have some disagreements about how property should be divided. Don’t agree to take less than what is your fair share in an effort to gain approval or forgiveness from your ex or to try to make the divorce proceed more quickly. Instead, let your attorney help you determine what a fair property division agreement would look like and don’t compromise for anything but what is fair and equitable. Will You Need Alimony? If you will have substantial difficulty living independently once you and your spouse separate, or if you need additional training in order to obtain gainful employment to become self sustaining, don’t be afraid to petition for alimony. You may be eligible to receive spousal support for a short period of time while you transition into living independently after your divorce. There’s nothing wrong with seeking alimony to help you along your journey to standing on your own two feet — after all, it doesn’t happen overnight. At Chang Mattern, LLP, our divorce lawyers understand how difficult it can be to put your own needs before the needs of your spouse in a divorce. That’s why we’re always looking out for your best interests. Contact our office today to discuss your divorce at (626) 792-5888.

Were you recently hurt in a serious accident? Some of the most difficult symptoms to detect can be those associated with severe whiplash injuries. The support of a dedicated whiplash injury lawyer is important for filing your injury claim in a timely fashion and giving you the best possible opportunity to recover compensation. Whiplash should not be minimalized as an outcome to a crash. A whiplash injury can cause the affected victim pain for a significant period of time and make it difficult or impossible for this person to ever return to work or live their life normally as they did prior to the accident. Whiplash is a neck injury that is associated with a rapid back and forth movement of a neck that frequently occurs in a vehicle accident. Some of the most common symptoms and signs of whiplash includes stiffness, neck pain, and headaches. Many people who have been diagnosed with whiplash will recover in a few weeks by following a comprehensive treatment plan; using tools such as exercise and medication. However, not every person who sustains a whiplash injury will be able to move on with their life so easily. Some people will have chronic long lasting complications such as pain. Some people who have sustained a whiplash injury might also experience memory problems, blurred vision, irritability, sleep disturbances, and depression. Rear end collisions are a major cause of whiplash and a diagnosis of whiplash might not be the only issue that effects a patient. While most people who have whiplash will recover in a matter of a few weeks, others will continue to have pain for months or years after the injury occurs. It is very difficult for a person who has been hurt in a whiplash accident to know how their injury will manifest and how likely it is to follow them. Severe neck pain, headaches, and pains that spread to the arm should be reported to a physician immediately.

Filing For Divorce There’s plenty of advice out there on the various steps involved in filing for divorce and what you can anticipate after you initiate this paperwork. But there are also several steps you can take to empower yourself with the right preparation before filing. It can be very difficult to make rational decisions when contemplating divorce. Frequently, the decision to divorce has been based on negative emotions that can cause you to jump into the divorce process too quickly without considering all of the various implications of your actions. This is why it is recommended that you sit down with an experienced divorce attorney first. The first step to filing for divorce is finding a good divorce attorney. Make sure that you interview several divorce attorneys before selecting one. Make sure that the attorney you speak with has relevant experience practicing family and divorce laws and is open to forms of alternative dispute resolution if this might be applicable in your case. The next thing to consider before filing for divorce is understanding your financial picture. Equitable distribution of marital assets and debts can have big ramifications for your life after divorce. In order to ensure that you get your fair share during settlement negotiations, you must know what is owned by you and your spouse as a couple and what is owed. This means gathering relevant documents for your assets and liabilities. Other details such as proof of income can be extremely important in determining the financial state of the relationship and your individual circumstances. The next phase to consider before filing divorce is making a post-divorce budget. It can be a big adjustment to go from handling things jointly to handling them individually, which is why your divorce attorney plays such an important role in your individual case.  Your lawyer can walk you through what to expect and how to avoid common challenges and problems in your divorce case so that you feel fully prepared for what to expect.