Rodak Law Office, P.C.

3,142 people died as a result of distracted driving in 2019, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA). https://bit.ly/35qMyxp

Divorce for children is tricky, but with the right help, kids can navigate their way through successfully. https://cnn.it/3xuWqCh

The Supreme Court narrowed the reach of the federal Armed Career Criminal Act, ruling that violent felonies committed recklessly do not count in deciding whether 15-year terms are required under the law. https://nyti.ms/3goaIyU

Though adoption is a wonderful thing, the process can be stressful as well as expensive. Thankfully, many families are eligible for relief in the form of the adoption tax credit. https://bit.ly/3aMEISr

Being involved in an accident, even a minor one, can be a nerve-wracking experience, so it's important to know what steps to take afterward. https://bit.ly/3n4oVBM

In prisons around the country, COVID-19 outbreaks have followed transfers of prisoners or prison workers. Many state prison systems had reduced or limited the number of prisoners they moved due to the pandemic, but some lifted those restrictions by September, worrying families of prisoners and correctional officers who work in the prisons. https://bit.ly/3nFV5UC

Police agencies from Hawaii to New York have used drones for years, but mostly in simple, manually flown ways. But the latest drone technology is raising civil liberties concerns, especially as drones gain the power to track vehicles and people automatically. https://nyti.ms/38oMjnv

Most criminal systems in the US divide their crimes into different categories according to the seriousness of the offense. Felonies are the most serious classification of crimes, and may be punishable by prison sentences of a year or longer. A misdemeanor, however, is usually a crime with a jail sentence of a year or less. #CriminalLaw

When a loved one dies due to the negligent, reckless or deliberate behavior of another, the surviving family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against that party. This type of lawsuit allows them to collect monetary damages for their loved one's untimely death. #PersonalInjury

Making the effort to formally establish paternity is about much more than the potential to receive child support. #FamilyLaw

Despite education programs and state laws, phone-based driving distraction is still on the riseand is likely responsible for far more accidents than widely reported, according to a new study. https://bit.ly/3aflg0v

For the first time, the US Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments surrounding a 34-year-old law on computer hacking -- examining how the terms of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act mean everyday activities like browsing Instagram on a work computer could be interpreted as a federal crime. https://cnet.co/3oy4ihN

Divorce adds additional challenges to the already difficult job of being parents. The key for divorced parents can be to stay focused on areas of common ground.

As the use of geofence warrants has grown, so have controversies surrounding them. Defense attorneys argue they’re unconstitutional, and prosecutors say their use is a valid and valuable crime-solving technique. https://bit.ly/3gDr5WV

Even a seasoned driver can feel unsure of what to do after a car accident. Preparing in advance could save your life and potentially thousands of dollars. https://bit.ly/3geJitp

A growing number of police departments are using facial recognition technology, but many view it as flawed technology that has the potential to cause serious harm. https://cbsn.ws/39sOJ6J

Over the past two decades, the law on juvenile sentencing has changed significantly. The Supreme Court primed by research that shows the brains of juveniles are not fully developed, and that they are likely to lack impulse control has issued a half dozen opinions holding that juveniles are less culpable than adults for their acts. And the court has also ruled that some of the harshest punishments for acts committed by children are unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment. https://n.pr/3lruM2q

Child Support typically begins on the date the court order is filed. It is not retroactive beyond the date of the filing which is why it’s so important to begin the process as soon as possible. #FamilyLaw

The coronavirus pandemic has presented some challenges you don’t typically see with other states of emergency--challenges even the most prescient parenting plan may not have accounted for. https://nyti.ms/3lDeogk

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, remember you have important rights, including the right to remain silent, the right to have an attorney present at questioning, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches. #CriminalLaw

It could be assumed that during a pandemic there would be fewer people driving and fewer accidents and road deaths. But research suggests that the picture is much more complicated. https://bit.ly/2Izk902

Developing a plan for paying for college as part of your divorce is imperative to ensuring that your children have the educational opportunities that they deserve. https://bit.ly/2JIkU7g

Having witnesses to back up your story can be valuable when pursuing a personal injury claim. Since memories fade quickly, it's best for witnesses to be contacted promptly after an accident. An attorney can help you track down witnesses, gather statements, or decide who to call.

Law enforcement is tapping the tech for low-level crimes like shoplifting, because there are no limits. But the tool often makes errors. https://cnet.co/37TIpnS

At least 2,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states now have tools to get into locked, encrypted phones and extract their data, according to a new report. https://nyti.ms/2TB2Hu5

When you’re in a car accident, you want to be prepared, whether or not you caused the collision. Preparation will help you protect your ability to make a claim against a driver, and also protect you if another driver falsely blames you for the accident. https://bit.ly/3jmxR2H

A growing number of negligence suits are being filed across the country against nursing homes and other long-term care facilities by families whose relatives died from the coronavirus while living in such facilities. https://bit.ly/3m9LpAG

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether an officer can enter a garage without a warrant when in pursuit of a misdemeanor suspect. https://bit.ly/34npBeV

Going to court to fight for child custody is an emotional time, and many parents make mistakes simply because they're uncertain about what to do. Here are some common child custody mistakes parents make, along with tips on how to avoid them. #FamilyLaw https://bit.ly/37mr9HS

There are few things as revealing as a person's search history, and police typically need a warrant on a known suspect to demand that sensitive information. But a recently unsealed court document found that investigators can request such data in reverse order by asking Google to disclose everyone who searched a keyword rather than for information on a known suspect. https://cnet.co/3iSOu64

There were 145 offenders released in 2019 about five times more than the year before, when 24 people were granted release, according to a report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. https://cbsn.ws/2GZxrSx

A cohabitation agreement can spell out how you will share responsibilities during the time you are living together and help you in the event that you eventually decide to separate. #FamilyLaw

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers up another reason we need to get rid of COVID-19: reckless driving is up, and causing more deaths. https://bit.ly/3liXVgx

Police dogs bite thousands of Americans each year, including innocent bystanders, police officers, even their own handlers. And there is little oversight, nationally or in the states, of how police departments use them. https://bit.ly/2SwRHgR

Nationwide, jail populations plunged by about 25% between March and June, according to a recent analysis. https://bit.ly/3lode7Z

#AutoAccidents are chaotic by nature, and the aftermath can be, too. Have your camera ready and be prepared to file a police report.

Ending a marriage can be difficult, but don't let that deter you from working with your ex to help ensure your children are taken care of financially. https://bit.ly/34emc0H

If you're involved in a serious accident, it's important to seek and document medical care as soon as possible. Medical evidence is crucial to the success of personal injury claims, and prompt treatment can improve medical and legal outcomes.

The nation is grappling with a pedestrian safety crisis that has worsened in recent years: The number of pedestrians killed in the U.S. hit a 28-year high of 6,283 in 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That figure was up 46% from 2010. https://bit.ly/32IkZPu

A person who is formally accused of a crime is generally entitled to certain evidence and information about the prosecution's case. This typically happens before trial, through a process called "discovery." But the prosecution's duty to disclose this material is usually ongoing, and doesn't end when a trial has begun. #CriminalLaw

Police and prosecutor misconduct that distorted evidence or undercut innocence contributed to 54% of false convictions that later resulted in exonerations, according to a report released Tuesday. https://bit.ly/32K5hDv

Even the most amicable relationship under constant duress, such as a national health crisis, can create friction. This is especially true for co-parents navigating complicated relationships with their exes. https://wapo.st/2ZNvvmK

A growing number of states and localities are exploring new ways to reduce or eliminate reduce or eliminate pretextual or pretext traffic stops. In a pretext stop, an officer pulls over a motorist for a minor traffic or equipment violation and then uses the stop to investigate a more serious crime. https://bit.ly/2Z3FQdO

Police increasingly ask Google and other tech firms for data about who was where, when. Two judges ruled the investigative tool invalid in a Chicago case. https://bit.ly/3lV8kR0

Nearly one in 10 of married or partnered people in the United States say they are very likely to separate from their partner or spouse at least in part because of issues related to the pandemic, according to a recent poll. #FamilyLaw https://nyti.ms/351bJYb

After months of closures, many of the country’s court systems are gradually reopening, having embraced technologies such as Zoom and YouTube to safely hold pleas, sentencings and even Supreme Court hearings. But the jury trial, which most feel can only happen in person, has remained largely stalled. https://wapo.st/3gFdzjR

More prisoners in the United States have died of the coronavirus since March than have been executed since 2001, new data show. https://bit.ly/32GrVeW

Divorce happens. For couples with children, what comes after can make all the difference in how family dynamics continue. #FamilyLaw https://on.today.com/3l5QtWN

Lawsuits filed against two of the nation’s largest e-scooter companies allege that the companies failed to properly maintain their scooters, resulting in injuries to nearly 90 plaintiffs. https://wapo.st/32fl1Nb

The proceeding that appears to be the nation’s first virtual criminal jury trial was underway for just a couple of minutes this week, when a moment occurred that would be familiar to many during the pandemic: a juror’s Zoom video feed froze. Courts across the country have moved some proceedings online, but many judges, defense attorneys and public defenders have been cool to the idea of holding virtual criminal jury trials because of concerns about whether defendants could receive fair trials.

If you've been injured in a car accident, it's important to get medical attention right away. Delaying care not only puts your health at risk, but could hurt a potential insurance claim or lawsuit. An insurance company can use your delay in seeking care to allege that you weren't hurt that badly, or that you were injured after the accident in an unrelated incident.

Under normal circumstances, police may enter your home without your permission only if they have a warrant. #CriminalLaw

If you're divorcing and have children, even if they are young, consider the impact the end of your marriage will have on their college plans. #FamilyLaw

More than 300 men and women have been exonerated of crimes they originally confessed to during the past 60 years, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. https://bit.ly/39Cya6t

COVID-19 is changing how police question suspects and witnesses. #CriminalLaw https://bit.ly/3fysXOr

Police and prosecutors have long known that chemical field tests are vulnerable to error. Regardless, defendants, for a variety of reasons, have routinely pleaded guilty before trial based on the chemical kits. Drug evidence from those cases is often destroyed without lab analysis. https://bit.ly/3hSdFWm

Under a legal concept called premises liability, property owners have a duty to keep their property reasonably free of hazards. Property owners could be liable for injuries resulting from hazardous conditions on their property if they had a reasonable opportunity to become aware of the hazard and repair it. If you've been injured in an accident on someone's property, speak to a personal injury attorney to learn if you may be entitled to compensation.

You divorced several years ago and agreed on child support payments. Now, you're re-marrying. You may decide to have more children with your new spouse -- or you may be taking on financial responsibility for your new spouse's children. You may even be thinking about adopting your new spouse's children from a previous marriage. Under any of these circumstances, it's important to know about your legal obligations and options. #FamilyLaw https://bit.ly/31QXEHU

State and federal head counts have dropped 8%, largely because prisons are not accepting new inmates and many courts are closed https://bit.ly/2DkzIG2

Motor vehicle fatalities surged by 23.5 percent in May, as drivers took advantage of open roads to push speeds. https://nbcnews.to/39yfgh5

There are three primary classifications of criminal offensesfelonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Each classification is distinguished from each other by the seriousness of the offense and the amount of punishment for which someone convicted of the crime can receive. #CriminalLaw

Incarcerated people and their families said they are closely watching congressional debates about the next COVID-19 relief bill for proposed legislation that would drastically push down the cost of prison and jail phone calls. https://to.pbs.org/32KMAjy

If financial hardship is keeping you from meeting your child support obligations, it's important to ask a judge to modify your support order. A family law attorney can often work with the custodial parent and a judge to help you reduce your payments.

A statute of limitations puts a time limit on your right to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait too long and miss the deadline, you could lose your right to take your lawsuit to court. An attorney can explain your state’s statute of limitations and how it applies to your case.

As driving begins to return to normal levels across the country after months of lockdown, motorists may fall back into bad driving habits, according to new research. https://bit.ly/2DL3Nit

The "CSI effect" is strong enough that many jurors in criminal trials and even some judges have to be convinced that DNA found at a crime scene does not automatically mean that the person matching that DNA is guilty. #CriminalLaw

While there are many changes when separating from your spouse, managing the finances for your shared children can be particularly intimidating. However, there are steps you can take to minimize the financial stress. https://cnb.cx/32ql7AX

While police generally need a warrant to search your property, a car has fewer protections against searches. Police can search your car if they have probable cause, or if you consent to a search. #CriminalLaw

It’s a practice as old as the mug shot itself: publicizing an unflattering close-up of a person’s face and profile, taken at one of the worst possible moments. And in some police departments and newsrooms across the country, it may be on its way out. https://nyti.ms/2Dg788S

As COVID-19 spread earlier this year, prison facilities across the country suspended visits from family and lawyers. Several months into the pandemic, some states are easing those restrictions. https://bit.ly/2O4dn1q

After thousands of lawsuits from cancer patients or their estates, the company behind Roundup weed killer is settling most of the current and possible future lawsuits for more than $10 billion. https://cnn.it/3ijvWgj

Many criminal cases will end in a plea agreement, rather than go to trial. But in some instances, the defense lawyer can even get the charges tossed before trial, using a motion to dismiss. Many circumstances can justify a motion to dismiss, and a criminal defense attorney can advise you if any apply in your situation.

During quarantine, many families are finding that truly cooperative co-parenting isn’t just best for the kids; it can make parents’ lives better too. https://bit.ly/3gRldJf

An incorrect facial recognition match led to the first known wrongful arrest in the United States based on the increasingly used technology, civil liberties activists alleged in a complaint to Detroit police. https://nbcnews.to/37WBcBA