Trichilo Law Firm, LLC

Most defendants hang themselves. They think they can talk their way out of things, or they will get a break if they cooperate. It rarely works. Be polite and courteous, but never speak without representation, and NEVER consent to a search. http://www.cnn.com//woods-dui-mistakes-opinion-/index.html

This is a growing trend in some, but not all, county courthouses. http://www.msn.com//jury-trials-vanish-and-jus/ar-BBvn2ie

A new law allows you to drive through malfunctioning traffic lights. You must come to a complete stop before going through the intersection. You must treat the intersection as though there were stop signs on all sides. First come, first go applies. Check it out: http://www.pennlive.com//new_law_eliminates_need_to_wai.ht

Who likes debt collectors? In 1977, Congress passed the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I can’t summarize the entire Act, so I’m attaching a link for your review. You may find the Act informative. People seem to make the same mistakes in dealing with debt collectors. Here are some observations and tips: 1.If a debt collector is chasing you, you should realize that legal action may not be far off; 2.Do not bury your head in the sand, which is the most common mista...ke. Your silence may be interpreted as an admission of liability on the underlying debt; 3.NEVER admit that you are the person who incurred the liability, and never admit that you owe the debt. I am not telling you to lie (although many people do). I’m simply telling you that you do not have to admit or acknowledge that you owe anything thereby making their jobs easier; 4.You can and should ask the debt collector to prove you owe the debt, especially now that identity theft is so rampant; 5.Every time you receive a telephone call or letter from the debt collector, it is imperative that you follow up with your own letter denying any debt. Keep copies for your records; 6.Every time you speak to someone on the phone, you must get their name and operator number before discussing anything with them. You should keep a diary of all phone conversations with the date and substance of the conversation. Next, re-read paragraph five above; 7.You should know that most debts are negotiable after a certain point in time. Tax liens are generally the only debt that you may not be able to negotiate (but some people have had luck). If you can put together enough cash, the debt collector may be willing to settle for a fraction of the debt; 8.Read the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for additional info. I hope this is informative and helpful. http://business.ftc.gov//fair-debt-collection-practices-act

Japanese auto makers are recalling 3.4 million cars for defective airbags. This includes Toyota, Honda and Nissan cars manufactured after 2000. If you are in an accident where the airbag fails to deploy in your vehicle, you may have a legal claim against the manufacturer. You should consult a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your legal rights. Also watch for a recall notice if you own a Japanese car. http://www.reuters.com//us-toyota-recall-idUSBRE93A04D2013

Here is an interesting article with statistics of automobile accidents in PA for 2012. There were 124,062 crashes in 2012. Of those accidents, 1,310 crashes resulted in fatalities. Many of the key statistics were down compared to previous years. I suspect the price of gas and high unemployment rate may be keeping people off the road and less accidents. I also suspect that the number of car accident legal claims is down on a statewide basis. I'm not sure of the cause of ...this trend, but I suspect that people are taking quick settlements from insurance companies because they need quick settlement money. If you are involved in a car accident, please consult with a lawyer before you settle your claim. You may be settling for less than you deserve. I'm not a fan of shameless self-promotion, but I handle car accident cases. I would do my best to help you. http://citizensvoice.com//state-traffic-fatalities-rose-in

You could have a GPS tracking device attached to your car, and you would never know it. The current state of the law, right now, appears to allow law enforcement to engage in GPS surveillance without the necessity of a warrant. As indicated in this article, the first court case to challenge this type of police conduct came out of Philadelphia, and is currently before the 3rd Cir. Ct. of Appeals. I suspect it's only a matter of time before Courts require the police to get w...arrants for GPS surveillance. Regardless, any such ruling won't stop private parties from using GPS surveillance. It's not that difficult to hire a private investigator to attach a GPS device to someone's car. This technique has been used by private investigators for more than a few years. I doubt that this technology will go away regardless of any court's ruling on this subject. You may want to considering alternative transportation if you have something to hide. http://www.wired.com/threatle//03/gps-warrant-requirement/

Here is an article that shows the consequences of not filing your civil claim on time. You probably have heard of "the statute of limitations." Every civil and criminal case has a statute of limitations, which is unique to the particular type of claim being made. For example, most personal injury claims (i.e., medical malpractice, car accidents, slip and falls and dog bites) have a two year statute of limitations. Most breach of contract claims have four year limitations,... but there are exceptions. Some claims have very short limitations such as 90 days or six months. If you ever have a claim against someone for any reason, please make sure you file it before the statute of limitations expires. You should consult a lawyer as soon as possible. Many cases require difficult investigation and preparation before they can be filed with the court. Not many things are worse than losing on a technicality, which could have been avoided. http://www.inquisitr.com//tom-cruise-wiretapping-lawsuit-/

For those of you who have children, there are significant penalties for the purchasing, possession or transportation of liquor, malt or brewed beverages. It is a summary offense for a person under the age of 21 to purchase, consume, possess or knowingly or intentionally transport alcoholic beverages. A summary offense could lead to 90 days of incarceration. It may also lead to a juvenile adjudication. The court may also impose a fine up to $500 for a first offense, or up ...to $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense. There is a 90 day license suspension for a first offense, one year suspension for a second offense and two year suspension for a third offense. The law forbids insurance companies from increasing your rates or cancelling your policy after a conviction. The statute also requires the police to notify the parents or guardian following an arrest. In the event that you learn of such your child's arrest within a few hours of it happening, and your child denies drinking, you may want to get a blood alcohol test done at your local hospital. The result should be admissible in court. However, time is of the essence in having one done. If you found this information helpful, please click like. See more

I suspect that drone use in the United States will make for some interesting legal precedent in the next few years. People are publicly debating whether the government should use drones to spy on its own citizens. There does not appear to be any restrictions on the use of drones right now. State Rep. Angel Cruz in Philadelphia is trying to introduce legislation to limit drone use by police. The proposed legislation would halt police spying unless they have a court order authorizing drone use. If you are concerned about drone use in Pennsylvania, you may want to notify your state representative or senator and ask him or her to jump on board with this proposal. http://doylestown.patch.com//lawmaker-proposes-restricting

Ever wonder what the penalties are for a DUI conviction? DUI penalties depend upon the offender’s blood alcohol level at the time of the offense. Assuming a BAC of .16 percent or higher, the penalties are likely to be the following: FIRST OFFENSE:... 72hrs minimum / Six month maximum/ $1K to $5K Fine SECOND OFFENSE: 90 day minimum / Five years maximum / $1,500 Fine THIRD OFFENSE One Year minimum / Five years maximum / $2,500 Fine The penalties may change depending upon the facts of any case. The penalties may be increased for accidents involving property damage or bodily injury to another. All offenders must attend safe driving school, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation, and comply with any recommended counseling. Court costs and supervision fees typically range between $1,000 and $3,500, depending upon the County. Offenders may also face loss of insurance, or increased rates. Blood alcohol levels below .16 percent will likely receive less severe penalties. First time offenders may qualify for the ARD Program. PennDOT will impose various levels of drivers’ license suspensions, depending upon the facts of the case. Convictions typically result in suspensions between 12 months and 18 months. This is posted for educational purposes only, and is not intended to be legal advice. I hope everyone is careful, and enjoys the weekend.

This article has some interesting statistics on car accidents in the US. Please make sure that your insurance policy has uninsured/underinsured ("UM/UIM") coverage. It's absolutely critical coverage in today's world with so many drivers on the road without insurance. It will cover your losses if you are hit by (1) a driver with no insurance, or (2) a driver with low or bare minimum insurance coverage (Safe Auto commercials). You should have at least $100,000 in UM/UIM coverage. I suggest you buy more if you can afford it, especially if you have a family depending on you. http://www.nytimes.com//how-to-know-if-you-have-enough-aut