Last month, a gigantic explosion rocked the small town of West, Texas. A local fertilizer plant blew up, killing 14 people. Hundreds were injured as the force of the blast destroyed homes. The explosion left behind a 90-foot-wide crater and could be felt as far away as Dallas.

New insights into the blast’s nature indicate that it might have been the result of ammonium nitrate that was ignited by a fire that was raging at the plant when the explosion occurred. Ammonium nitrate has nitrogen ions that are easily absorbed by plants as nutrients, but the substance is also commonly used as an ingredient in explosives.

Ammonium nitrate does not blow up on its own and typically has to be exposed to some other chemical for a reaction to occur. Due to what appears to be a combination of poor record keeping and lax regulation, investigators are unsure how much ammonium nitrate was present on the site.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been giving displaced citizens hotel vouchers, but the town will have to wait a little longer for answers into exactly what happened.

The aftermath of an automobile accident can leave you shaking, stressed out, and sacred. Not only are you concerned with your own safety, but also the safety of anyone else in your vehicle and the driver of the other car. And while the moments following an accident may seem like a blur, it is important that you focus, stay calm, and respond appropriately.

By having a plan and knowing how to respond after an accident, you can avoid a number of potentially serious mistakes that could hurt your chances of recovering financial compensation from your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company through a civil lawsuit.

If you are involved in a car accident, you should respond the following way:

• Check the safety of everyone involved and call 911 if necessary
• Talk to witnesses and get contact information from those who saw the accident
• Do not admit fault to the other driver for the accident
• Take pictures of the accident scene to have proof of damage to your vehicle for the insurance companies
• Contact your insurance company to report the accident
• Talk with a car accident lawyer before accepting any offer

By following these simple steps you can be proactive in getting the financial compensation you need to pay for car repair bills and medical expenses.

A medical malpractice case has made its way to the Supreme Court, and the outcome of the case could have substantial implications for medical malpractice victims’ ability to receive the compensation they are owed following a successful settlement of their case. The case involves Emily Armstrong and her parents, who successfully sued the doctor who delivered Emily and the institution at which he worked for medical malpractice after a difficult delivery left Emily with a debilitating case of cerebral palsy. The doctor had a history of prescription-drug abuse, and he was forced to surrender his license mere months after the botched delivery occurred.

As a result of the injuries sustained during childbirth, Emily was rendered unable to walk, talk, see, or speak, and state officials estimate that nearly $2 million has already been spent in state Medicaid funds in order to provide her with the care she needs. As a result, the state placed a lien on a portion of the malpractice settlement in order to recoup some of the costs of its care. However, the family is challenging the legality of this law, claiming that it conflicts with federal laws prohibiting states from placing liens on the property of Medicaid beneficiaries for their care.

The family has hired a medical malpractice attorney with experience at the New Jersey state level, and the case will soon be decided by the Court. The outcome could have substantial consequences for the ability of families throughout the country to receive the full amounts of settlements decided by state courts.

The aftermath of a car accident can leave you with a number of physical and emotional injuries, but it can also cause serious financial damage. Depending on the severity of your accident, you may be facing vehicle repair bills, medical expenses, lost wages, and a number of other expenses. These can quickly add up and may cause serious financial struggle and even bankruptcy.

Following an accident, you make a number of calls. Along with calling emergency crews, your family and friends, and possibly even a personal injury lawyer, you will also have to call your insurance company to file an accident report. Dealing with all of these individuals can be a very complicated and stressful time, especially if you have never been in an accident before.

You need to contact your insurance company so you can recover financial benefits to help pay for the damages you suffer as a result of your accident. Before speaking with your insurance company, it is important that you know what you should and should not say to your insurance company to increase your chances at recovering financial benefits.

When speaking with your insurance agent, avoid the following phrases:

• Any sort of contact immediately after the accident – Your insurance agent shouldn’t be on speed dial or even on your first list of people to call after an accident. The emotions you may be feeling after an accident could influence what you say. Take care of your health first and worry about calling your insurance company later.
•  “The accident was my fault…” – Make sure you don’t apologize and don’t confess to anything. Even if you were at fault for the accident, the other motorist could also be at fault for the accident. Make sure you don’t confess that accident was your fault to the other driver or police officer at the scene either.
• “I am not hurt…” – Not all injuries surface immediately after an accident. In fact, one of the most common injuries, whiplash, may not surface until weeks after the accident. You may also develop bruising or neck or back pain days after the accident.
• “I do not have an attorney…” – If you say you don’t have an attorney, your insurance company may not take your case very seriously. An experienced attorney can use his or her experience to keep pressure on the insurance company so they do what is right. An attorney can also make sure you receive the appropriate amount of financial compensation to pay for all present and future damages.
• Any contact information for friends, family, or doctors – If you give out this information, your insurance company may try to contact your friends and family for more information about you or your case. You are not required to give out this information so make sure you don’t get forced into releasing this information.
• “I accept…” – A number of accident victims are desperate for compensation and make the mistake of accepting the first offer. Insurance companies almost always lowball you on the initial offer so make sure you have an attorney and let him or her handle the negotiating.

If you have been injured in an accident due to someone else’s reckless actions, you may want to take legal action and file a civil lawsuit against the responsible party so you can recover financial compensation. When looking for the right attorney for your case, you should make sure to ask him or her questions to determine whether or not he or she is the right lawyer for your case.

The initial consultation is very important for your case and not only determines whether or not you have a case at all, but whether or not you should pursue a lawsuit with this specific injury lawyer. When meeting with your potential attorney, it is important that you aren’t afraid to ask questions along the way.

The questions you should ask during your consultation cover a number of areas such as the lawyer’s experience, background, and fees. Some questions you should make sure to ask include the following:

• How long have you been practicing law? – It is important to know whether or not the attorney is a veteran or is in his or her first year.
• What cases do you typically handle? – Ask about the lawyer’s experience and background. Find out what kind of cases he or she typically handles or has dedicated his or her career to. If you were injured in a car accident, you want a lawyer who has experience in those types of cases as opposed to one who handles medical malpractice lawsuits.
• What is your success rate with these cases? – Don’t just ask about the cases they handle but ask about whether or not they are winning these cases. You want an attorney who has success in the courtroom.
• Have you represented cases that are similar to mine? If so, how did they turn out? – Each case is unique but there are some types of cases that have similarities. Ask if he or she has seen another case similar to yours and how the attorney handled it.
• What kind of experiences have you had that will help you with my case? – You are looking for more than just a law degree in this answer. Some areas like DUI law require special training or knowledge to handle so make sure this attorney has additional experience or education.
• How much will hiring you cost? Do you work on a contingency base? – Before hiring the attorney you want to make sure you can afford him or her. Many personal injury lawyers do not collect money unless you win your case. This is called “contingency” so ask your attorney if this is the case before hiring them.
• Do you have time to dedicate to my case? – Many attorneys take on too many cases and end up having to pass them off to other attorneys you may not know.
• What are my legal options? – Ask about alternate options for resolving your case other than appearing before a judge in court.
• What is the probably outcome of my case? – Ask your attorney whether or not they believe you can have success with your case

Along with looking over your résumé, cover letter, transcripts, and even conducting a face-to-face interview, a number of law firms and other corporations use psychometric testing to determine the aptitude and personality traits of a potential candidate to determine how well he or she will fit at the company. And while a large majority of corporations around the country use psychometric testing, there is still a debate as to whether or not these tests are accurate judgments on one’s character and ability to complete a job.

There are both advantages and disadvantages of psychometric testing. Some advantages of these tests include the following:

• The tests are fairly cost beneficial and could save the company money in the long run
• It prevents the hiring of a candidate with only “good interview skills”
• Test is standardized so every candidate gets the same questions and is given the same opportunity
• Gives applicants with weaker interview skills or candidates who are shy a chance to prove they can be valuable to the company

There are also disadvantages. This includes the following:

• Some candidates do not always answer questions truthfully
• Does not guarantee success simply because the candidate does well. This is especially the case when assessing the candidate’s personality.
• There are a number of tests that claim to be “psychometric tests” but in fact are not. If there is a lack of training in those giving tests, they may not give job applicants the correct test.

If you are a law student and have to take a psychometric test when applying for a job, make sure you prepare accordingly to give yourself the best chance at success; however, you should also remember that if you don’t do well on the test, it may also mean that a job wasn’t right for you so don’t lose hope.

Psychometric tests are used by a number of companies and even law firms to look at how well a potential employee will complete his or her job and also fit in with said firm or company. In fact, for many law students, a psychometric test may be the only thing standing between them and a job following graduation.

Contrary to common belief, there are ways one can prepare and tips to follow in order to improve one’s score. Law students typically take psychometric tests in order to test their verbal reasoning skills, but these tests also focus on other area of your knowledge like numerical reasoning and even personality traits.  Fortunately, there are ways to practice and prepare.

Some helpful tips to keep in mind while taking a psychometric test include the following:

• Stay calm and do not panic if you do not finish. One way to improve your confidence is by practicing against the clock so you can learn to manage your time.
• Do not get frustrated with seemingly repetitive questions.
• Remember that psychometric testing results are only an indication of how you would do at a company or in a job not a definite answer.
• Be prepared and do some practice problems beforehand. This is an area you can prepare for so make sure to take full advantage of it.

Remember that if you do not get a job because of the psychometric test results it may mean that you were not right for that job anyway.

Another person’s actions can have a significant impact on your life, especially if he or she chooses to act negligently and causes an accident. There is never a good time for an accident. If you are involved in an accident you could suffer a number of injuries that may leave you disabled and unable to work. This can be a very trying time in your life, especially if you have to support a family.

Fortunately, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit and pursue financial compensation to help pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Recovering compensation can be extremely beneficial in keeping you financially stable during these uncertain times.

If you are thinking about filing a civil lawsuit against a negligent party, you need to make sure to avoid a number of mistakes that could hurt your chances of recovering compensation. By consulting with a skilled legal representative, you can avoid a number of mistakes such as:

• Leaving the scene of an accident right away. Make sure you stick around and take note of all relevant facts that lead to your accident. Take pictures, get witness reports, and do everything else to strengthen your case.
• Waiting too long to file your accident claim until after statute of limitations has expired. The statute of limitations sets a time frame on how long you have to file your accident claim and if you wait until after it has expired, you could lose your chance of filing altogether.
• Not getting medical attention immediately following an accident. If you wait too long after the accident, not only will your injuries worsen, but insurance companies may look at it as suspicious and may even believe the injuries were caused by another incident.
• Failing to abide by the medical treatment advised by your medical professional following an accident. If you do not follow out your doctor’s orders with medical treatment, the insurance company may assume you weren’t as seriously injured as once believed and could deny your claim or not pay you as much.
• Not hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you with your claim and instead trying to handle it on your own. You need a personal injury lawyer on your side to help handle every step of your case and work with the insurance companies to maximize the amount of compensation you recover.
• Accepting the initial offer from the defendant or insurance company. Many plaintiffs are desperate for financial compensation to pay for damages and will say “yes” to the first offer. This can be extremely costly financially. Many insurance companies significantly lowball the initial offer. You need to make sure you are recovering enough compensation to pay for all damages.
• Believing you can file another claim against the same defendant if you are not pleased with the outcome. This cannot be done. Under the legal principle “res judicata” plaintiffs cannot file a second lawsuit against the same defendant for the same injury.

For additional questions, make sure you speak with a skilled and experienced legal professional.

As a law student, taking tests has become a part of your life. From the LSAT to midterms and finals, to even the State Bar exam so you can legally practice law, the thought of taking one more test may be extremely frustrating and exhausting. However, before getting a job or even a promotion, many law firms or other corporations make candidates take psychometric tests.

Psychometric tests are standardized tests used to measure a person’s verbal reasoning, mathematic skills, overall aptitude, and also personality to determine whether or not he or she is the right candidate for a specific job. Above all, a psychometric test is used to learn more about a candidate you may not necessarily get from just a resume or face-to-face interview.

Although many people debate whether or not they are an effective way to measure or assess one’s abilities and personality, the tests have a reputation for producing fairly accurate results. That is if the test follows these guidelines:

• The test must be completely objective and not influenced in any way by the tester’s beliefs
• It must be standardized across the board
• The test itself must reduce the risk of errors
• Cannot be discriminatory toward any group on factors like gender, race, etc.

And while these psychometric tests do produce reliable results in predicting a candidate’s strengths and overall ability to complete a job efficiently and effectively, candidates can prepare for these tests and increase their chances of performing well by highlighting strengths and improving weaknesses.