This is where the stakes are the highest, as criminal law comes with the prospect of being sentenced to jail time. 

Any time you have legal allegations being leveled against you, you need an attorney. As stressful as this situation is, it will be too easy for you to say something that could be taken out of context and used as evidence against you. 

Even a misdemeanor will tarnish your record. It also increases the possibility of bigger charges sticking in the future. Furthermore, those who have already been convicted of previous crimes are shown far less leniency in court. 

No. A charge simply means you're being accused of a crime. You are still innocent in the eyes of the law at this stage of the case. 

This is a suit where one person claims another was liable for an injury they suffered, even if they did not intentionally cause it. 

This is where we clarify the difference between liable and guilty. Guilty means direct and intentional responsibility. When someone is liable, they did not intend to cause harm, but it is ruled that they did not prevent it when they had the power to. 

This type of suit is settled by a civil court, not criminal law. However, you could be required to pay restitution that the court deemed fit to compensate for the damages. 

Personal injury law covers acts of negligence and recklessness. It often has to do with vehicular accidents, such as speeding and driving while distracted. 

In this case, a life was taken, and the one filing the claim is trying to prove culpability.  

In North Carolina, the sentiment for wrongful death law is that if the person were alive today, they would be entitled to restitution from the person held liable. 

In a wrongful death suit, you could be required to pay restitution for the following damages. 

• Medical expenses
• Funeral expenses
• Emotional damage to the deceased and family members
• Therapy expenses
• If the deceased has children, loss of parental support for the minors

It is entirely possible to be considered liable in this situation. If it was a place of business, your company could suffer tremendous loss. That's why your first call needs to be for a lawyer if this ever happens to you. 

This encompasses infractions at any point in the process of driving or parking in a public area. 

Any time you're faced with legal troubles, you will have to make an appearance in court. Ignoring a ticket could lead to far worse consequences, including an arrest warrant. 

You will still need an attorney on your side. Even if there's no prospect of jail time, you could face other life-altering consequences, such as having your driver's license suspended. 

Here is a list of the most common traffic law violations. 

• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Driving too fast or slow
• Texting while driving
• Illegal parking
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Failing to yield