Blacksburg Law Blog

Whenever Virginia law enforcement officers seek to question you with regard to a criminal matter, you would do well to remember that no law requires you to voluntarily speak with police officers or provide them with any information other than your name and address if they request identification. In fact, just the opposite applies in the United States.

You undoubtedly have heard various iterations of the Miranda warning since you were a child watching TV or going to “cop show” movies. Just to refresh your memory, the Miranda warning’s four parts consist of the following:

1. You have the right to remain silent.
2. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
3. You have the right to an attorney.
4. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.

In Virginia and elsewhere, it is obvious that commercial truck serve a major role in commerce. In a time where more people are purchasing items online instead of the store, large trucks are used to transport packages across the state or several states to their final destination. Because of this, it is rare for motorists to travel on the roadways without sharing the road with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer truck. While this seems commonplace, this also means the risks associated with these trucks are also commonplace. In other words, there are always constant risks of being involved in an accident with a large truck.

How common are truck accidents? The simplest way to put this is that the rate of truck crashes is not going down. With the number of trucks increasing year by year, the U.S. has also experienced an increase in truck collisions. Just looking at the numbers from 2015 to 2016, the number of trucks of the road increased from 11.2 million to 11.5 million.

When police officers are responding to a call or are issue a search warrant, it is likely that unexpected evidence and information is uncovered. This could result in multiple charges being filed and even additional suspects being charged. While evidence is collected, this does not always mean the evidence will remain. A search is not always conducted properly and evidence could be mishandled, which could allow for the accused to assert a criminal defense.

According to recent reports, three Virginia men, including a man wanted for felony assault, were arrested. During a response to a residence to assist detectives with a search for a man wanted on abduction, strangulation and assault charges, authorities discovered numerous controlled substances and firearms.

When starting a small business, it is vital to understand what structure will work best for you and the business. In many cases, partnerships seem to be the most beneficial and the most lucrative for a small business. In these cases, it is important to understand what a partnership looks like and the different types available. This will ensure a small business owner creates a business structure that benefits them and their business.

How does a partnership compare to other business structures? Next to sole proprietorship, developing a general partnership is the easiest type of structure to form. Partnerships, unlike corporations or limited liability companies, do not have formal requirements or paperwork that need to be filed. Only two things need to exist. This includes a business and the sharing of profits. While partnerships are easy to form, they could present difficulties when it comes to managing them and even dissolving them.