Sadly, it's estimated between 115,000 and 400,000 American soldiers have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In addition, many stateside Americans suffer TBI as well. The injury is all too common, with devastating results.

What is TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the brain is injured as the head suffers extreme outside force. Common causes are a car accident, medical malpractice, sporting event, domestic abuse, an explosion, or a fall.

Picture someone in a car accident with his head being thrown against the dashboard or against the car door - or a patient falling of a gurney with her head slamming against the floor or a table - or - a woman being pushed down the stairs by her boyfriend - or - a guy playing pickup football, hit intentionally by another player -or - a misdiagnosed patient fainting at home and hitting his head on the counter - or - a soldier stepping on an IED and being thrown against a building, truck, or tank.

It's traumatic just to think about it or picture someone suffering brain injury.

It's traumatic just to think about it or picture someone suffering brain injury.

TBI can kill, maim, and horrendously discomfort - and the symptoms are slow to heal, if they ever do. In the most severe cases, the injured are left helpless. In severe cases, the injured may have an entirely different personality.

Common TBI symptoms include: memory loss, chronic pain, lack of concentration, attention deficit, confusion, lack of self-control, tired eyes, lethargy, fatigue, bad taste, insomnia, ear ringing, dizziness, mood swings, headaches, and loss of hearing.

The injuries are so severe that they often severally limit day-to-day functioning and the ability to work. Thus, medical, financial, and legal support are needed.

If I Have TBI, Do I Need an Attorney?

Whether it's appropriate to consult with an attorney depends on the circumstances of your situation - what caused your brain injury?

• Personal injury attorneys help people who were injured at the hands of another person or company such as in a car accident, medical accident or misdiagnosis, or in a personal attack such as domestic abuse or a fight.
• Veterans benefits attorneys help veterans, who were injured or became ill because of their military service, get disability benefits from Veterans Affairs.
• Disability attorneys help people who are too injured or ill to work - and have worked and paid into the system - get disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Where Do I Find an Attorney that Will Help with My TBI case?

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it's wise to at least find out whether you have a case and are owed financial compensation and/or disability benefits.

You are quite welcome to use our attorney referral website (www.attorneys.org) which has a ton of information and listings of attorneys, whom you can contact for a free case evaluation. The site is free and private - and your free case evaluation - comes with no obligation.

If you have a loved one, who has also suffered TBI, she may be able to refer you to her attorney - or - your local bar association may have listings of personal injury, veterans, and disability attorneys.

If divorce is now part of your everyday vocabulary or thoughts, it's in your best interests to collect your thoughts as well as financial documentation. A high stress time is a hard time to think straight, make good decisions, and know what to do next. We understand. This article and your divorce attorney will help you to do all those things.

If you are considering divorce, use this pre-divorce checklist to get you started along the right path. To be sure you have a complete checklist customized to your state law and your personal situation, consult with a qualified divorce attorney for proper legal advice.

Exhaust all reconciliation efforts.

It's okay to take your time with divorce; there is usually no legal need to file for divorce immediately.*

Meet with a therapist and spend some time thinking through the long term consequences of divorce. Some folks wait a year or so before actually filing.

Bottom line - Wait to file until your anger has subsided, some time has passed, and you've spoken with a trained therapist. It is okay to consult with a divorce lawyer and find out your rights and choices, even if you're not sure you want to file immediately.

*If you are in an abusive (verbal, physical, emotional, etc.) relationship, don't wait. Get out now. Get help now.

Meet With a Therapist

We mentioned meeting with a therapist above, but because it's such an important concept, we'll make it an individual checklist item.

Bottom line - Never use your children or your lawyer as sounding boards. Work with a trained therapist.

Consult With an Attorney Who Vows to Work Cooperatively

Cooperation is the key to success. If you have an attorney who reminds you of a pit bull or shark, attacking his or her prey, walk away, quickly. That aggressive attitude will pull you down, land you in court, increase your fees, and get you less of what you want.

On the other hand, an attorney who will work with your spouse's attorney to create your own Marital Agreement or guide you through mediation, will be a trusted advisor, keep your fees to a minimum, and get you more of what you want all at a lower emotional and financial cost.

Jot down a list of your questions, thoughts, and concerns. Be sure to include issues such as your children's best interests, whether you should move out of the family home, whether you should take assets out of joint accounts, your rights to your spouse's retirement benefits, life insurance, health insurance, credit cards, the family business, vacation home, covering future expenses, and anything else you think of.

Bottom line - Hire a "good guy/girl" attorney, collect information, and ask your questions. You'll reap the benefits.

Collect Documentation

Immediately start the treasure hunt for credit reports, financial statements, tax returns, loan applications, expense lists, all income and assets, and real estate appraisals. If you think there are hidden assets or your spouse if self-employed or employed in a family business, be sure to let your lawyer know.

Gather evidence of future and separate living expenses for you and your children.

Bottom line - The more information you can gather, the better picture your divorce lawyer will have of what's fair in a property settlement, spousal support, and child support.

Both you and your spouse will have to compromise throughout the divorce and if you have children, into the future as well.

When your emotions are high, everything feels like a big deal. Please say this word to yourself three times (and no less) whenever you feel those emotions go through the roof, "compromise", "compromise", "compromise". Three very deep breaths also help.

Your Real Life DUI Defenses

If you are convicted of DUI, your entire future may be in jeopardy “ this means that you need to analyze your arrest, blood alcohol testing, and your most formidable defenses. Law enforcement and judicial mistakes are made on a daily basis and there are legitimate defenses to drunk driving charges.

Do you have a valid defense to the DUI or DWI charges against you?

You might and not even realize it. Drinking and driving “ even being arrested “ don't necessarily mean that you will be found guilty of DUI “ if you have a strong defense.

Why are DUI Defenses are So Important?

A DUI conviction results in serious negative fallout. If you're not actually convicted, the fallout will be greatly reduced.

What are My Potential DUI Defenses?

Fortunately, a DUI arrest is not the same thing as a DUI conviction. There are legitimate defenses.

Was My DUI Stop Legal?

If the stop during which you were arrested for DUI was not legal, you cannot be convicted of drunk driving. Police can only stop you to check for DUI in two circumstances.

Lack of Evidence

As you likely know, under the American legal system, you are innocent until proven guilty. This standard applies to all criminal cases, including DUI and DWI cases.

If the evidence is not sufficient to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, you are innocent. Reasonable doubt means that the prosecution must show that all elements of the crime happened and only an unreasonable person could think otherwise.

Improper Procedure

There is a legal doctrine called "fruit of the poisonous tree". The rule says that if evidence is illegally obtained, it can't be used in court against you.

This is why you cannot be convicted of DUI if the initial stop was improper.

There are other procedures that must be followed in DUI cases as well.

Here are the details to discuss with your DUI defense attorney. If proper procedures aren't followed, you have a strong defense.

Where do I Get Help with My DUI Defense?

Legally, you have the right to investigate your own drunk driving case and identify and assert potential defenses. However, if you choose, you may work with a DUI defense attorney who knows how to interact with investigators, the court, witnesses, and the prosecutor and formulate your strongest defenses.

You can find a DUI defense attorney by asking a friend for a referral or by calling the bar association and asking for a list of criminal defense attorneys. However, if you want to keep your DUI arrest on the down low, you can use our free “ private “ confidential site, www.attorneys.org. You're entitled to a free “ no commitment case evaluation if you contact an attorney from this site.