Charles Town West Virginia Legal Blog

What's the real value of a polygraph test?

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law posted in criminal defense on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

Polygraph tests -- also called "lie detectors" -- have been around so long that they're a permanent part of the way American's picture law enforcement operations. In the movies and on television, the police can hook a suspect up to a polygraph machine and make a clean call about their guilt after just a few questions.

Well, it really doesn't work that way. Psychologists say that the machine is better described as a "fear detector," than any kind of lie detector. To detect a "lie," the polygraph machine measures such things as a suspect's:

Rises in blood pressure
Changes in breathing
A quickening heart rate
Increased sweating

Don't destroy your car accident claim

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law posted in personal injury claims on Thursday, October 31, 2019.

A car accident can leave you with a multitude of painful injuries and a pile of unpaid bills. As a result, you're perfectly justified in seeking compensation for your losses.

However, don't count on the insurance company to give up the money very easily. Insurance companies typically look for any way they can to devalue or deny a claim.

Orders of protection: The super-weapon of divorce

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law posted in family protection order - defense on Tuesday, October 15, 2019.

You think that your divorce is trudging along like most normal divorces and then, suddenly, you find yourself served with papers telling you that your spouse and children are under an order of protection -- from you.

What?

Does divorce have to be a painful process?

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law posted in family law on Friday, October 4, 2019.

Most people react to the word "divorce" with dread. Divorces are typically portrayed as messy, unpleasant affairs that pit formerly loving couples against each other in endless squabbles.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

Never ignore these symptoms after a West Virginia car accident

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law on Friday, September 27, 2019.

No one expects to be involved in a collision when getting behind the wheel to drive on a West Virginia roadway. It's a busy world, and you likely drive your car numerous times during the course of an average day. Driving to and from work, running errands, carting the kids to school or extracurricular events, and going to social gatherings all make for a busy driving schedule. You have a right to reasonably expect that the motorists with whom you are sharing the road will adhere to traffic laws.

The problem is that many don't. You have no way of knowing which drivers are cautious, alert and compliant and which are going to be negligent or reckless. Even if you notice potential trouble nearby, you may not be able to react quickly and safely enough to avoid a collision. If you suffer injuries, it could take days or weeks to recover. Some conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, may cause symptoms that last a lifetime.

Possession of drugs and possession with intent to distribute

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law posted in criminal defense on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

What's the difference between the possession of drugs and possession with the intent to distribute?

Legally speaking, a simple possession charge -- while still nothing to ignore -- isn't as serious as a charge of possession with the intent to distribute. Practically speaking, the difference may be more opinion than anything.

Injured by someone's negligence? Follow your doctor's orders!

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law posted in personal injury claims on Friday, September 6, 2019.

There are not many positive things about getting involved in an accident due to someone else's foolish mistakes. More than likely, you've suffered physically and financially and will probably have to seek the services of a personal injury attorney to get fairly compensated.

There is, however, one thing that you absolutely need to do while you're in recovery from the accident: Follow your doctor's orders. Otherwise, you may become your own worst enemy when it comes to getting fair compensation for your losses.

Liberal prosecutors are shaking up the justice system

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law posted in criminal defense on Friday, August 23, 2019.

The United States has problems with its criminal justice system -- particularly when it comes to disadvantages faced by the poor once they're charged with a crime. The inability to make bail or afford private attorneys has created two classes of prisoners: The "haves" and the "have-nots."

That's not how our nation's criminal justice system is supposed to work. The problems have contributed to the rising prison population and the growing distrust of police officers among the general public.

Served with a protective order? What happens next?

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law posted in family protection order - defense on Friday, August 9, 2019.

If you've just been served with a family protective order, you may be feeling a variety of emotions -- anger, frustration and grief among them. However, the biggest thing you may be experiencing is a profound sense of confusion, particularly if you don't think you did anything to justify the order.

So, what happens next? Here's what you can do:

Does your child know how to behave safely around dogs?

On behalf of Bottner & Skillman Attorneys At Law on Friday, July 26, 2019.

As an adult, you have probably interacted with dogs more times than you could count. Based on your own experiences, you probably feel relatively confident interacting with almost any dog you might meet. However, people are not born with this knowledge.

Your child has not had the same experiences you had with dogs, and learning the hard way how to be safe can lead to serious and painful injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children are more likely than adults are to be bitten by a dog, and the injuries children receive are usually more severe than the injuries adults receive. With this vulnerability in mind, it is especially important to do what you can to prevent your child being bitten.