There are a lot of legal terms that get thrown around on TV shows and in casual conversation. Plaintiff. Defendant. Burden of proof. Beyond a reasonable doubt. Verdict. Acquittal.

But what do all these terms really mean? If you find yourself involved in any kind of real legal matter, you quickly realize how important these words are to your future.

Here is our civil vs. criminal case guide to the legal terms: plaintiff, defendant, and burden of proof. With any questions about a civil or criminal legal matter in which you or a loved one are involved, please contact the Maryland trial lawyers at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC to set up a case consultation.

Our state of Maryland saw several major legislative changes over the past year—police reform laws were passed, medications could legally be sold in vending machines, the Maryland Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs was created, COVID-19 emergency orders were terminated, and the state song was repealed.

A number of new laws in the state of Maryland are scheduled to go into effect in 2022 or will be in effect by the end of 2021. Below is a list of a few of the laws that may be relevant to many of the clients we serve in Baltimore and the surrounding Maryland areas. As always, we invite you to reach out to our law firm at Belsky, Weinberg, & Horowitz, LLC with any questions pertaining to the information in this article.

In the United States, unlike many parts of the world, civil and criminal cases are handled under two separate and distinct areas of jurisdiction. Civil laws are in place to resolve disputes between individual parties, while criminal law deals with offenses that have occurred against the government or state. The type of law that applies to a situation depends on the circumstances. Knowledge of the difference between civil and criminal jurisdiction will help you know how to proceed, should you face a situation which calls for legal action. It is always beneficial to seek the guidance of an accomplished personal injury lawyer if you are unsure whether your situation falls under civil or criminal jurisdiction.

The new year is rapidly approaching. With 2021 right around the corner, new laws and law changes will be put into effect. It’s important to know what Maryland law changes are happening and when so you’ll be up to date with state laws and will know if they will affect you. This way, you’ll be prepared for the upcoming law changes.

One law change focuses on schools and the need to have outbreak response plans to follow should an infectious disease break out. Other law changes have to do with vehicle laws. There’s also an amendment to an employer’s timeframe for when they have to notify their employees of certain changes. Let’s take a look at these laws.

If you’ve been in an accident and are pursuing a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your losses, your lawyer has likely explained the long road ahead. During that time, you could run into financial difficulties—especially if you’ve had to take unpaid time off work to recover physically. If you start researching your options, you’ll likely come across lawsuit loans. While these do have some advantages, it’s important to understand the disadvantages and how signing up for one could impact your future. Let’s take a look at some facts about taking out a loan during a personal injury case.

If you’re considering filing a personal injury claim, it’s likely you’re wondering how the process works—which includes how your attorney receives payment for their services. With most personal injury cases, attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. In general, this implies the lawyer only gets paid if they successfully handle a case. Let’s take a closer look at contingency fees and how they could affect your claim.

If you’ve been injured and are in the midst of a personal injury trial, your lawyer has already explained to you what the path is likely to look like. In some instances, however, there are motions that can delay or stop a trial. If you hear the phrase “conflict of interest” brought against your lawyer during trial, it’s important to understand the implications and how it could affect your outcome. Let’s start by taking a look at the legal definition of conflict of interest.

New state laws are coming your way in 2020. While a number of the laws we’re going to discuss were implemented in late 2019, most Maryland residents won’t notice a major impact until 2020 or later. We’ll also mention laws that haven’t been implemented yet, but they’re ones you should be on the lookout for, as they’re likely to get passed. Let’s start by taking a look at how Maryland is trying to improve our state’s environmental impact.

When you’ve been through a lawsuit and are granted compensation, you have to decide if you want your money in a lump sum or in a structured settlement. Of course, both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Lump sums are beneficial immediately, whereas structured settlements are more helpful for long-term. If you’re thinking of choosing a structured settlement, you’ll need to know the pros and cons of the agreement.

If you’ve been the victim of an accident and are pursuing legal action, you and your lawyer will discuss the concept of negligence. In order to receive compensation for your injuries and losses, you’ll need to prove that the other party caused your accident and that it should have been prevented. No matter how you sustained your injuries, whether it was in an automobile accident, the result of a physician’s error, or because a business owner did not maintain their property, negligence is a factor that needs to be proven. In some instances, when additional recklessness caused the accident, gross negligence may be a factor you and your lawyer discuss.