Recent Articles

December 07, 2008 15:08

Support the Troops This Holiday SeasonAs families gather for the holidays, some will face a conspicuous absence - their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts or cousins can't make it home because they are serving abroad.Military service requires sacrifice, but service...

Federal Trucking "Hours of Service" Rules announced

November 19, 2008 22:31

Many of you are aware that Avera & Smith is substantially involved in litigation involving truck crashes. Following is an announcement from Public Citizen regarding the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's decision on rules regulating the number of hours a truck driver can drive before a...

Watch for New Scams and More Old Scams....

October 13, 2008 13:20

Particularly in light of the economic situation and the "lending crisis", we all need to be alert to scams intended to steal your money or to trick you into giving your money to someone who acts as though they have your best interests at heart. Here are some things you can do to avoid being the...

Dont Mix Kids & Fireworks this July 4th

July 02, 2008 09:55

Every year, hundreds of chidlren across the country are seriously injured in accidents involving fireworks. Fireworks are dangerous and if your kids use them, they are at risk of suffering a life changing injury. Take my friend, Max. Max was 13 when he attended a July 4th picnic at a friend's...

A Nightmare Without UM

March 01, 2008 13:27

In our February 23, 2007 article, we explained how UM (uninsured motorists) coverage works. We revist this issue to illustrate how important this coverage is based on a horrible experience an elderly couple recently experienced. A new client called Avera & Smith early this year regarding a...

Please consider helping yesterday's tornado victims

February 07, 2008 16:03

Yesterday, families across the south were devastated by a series of tornadoes that, at the time of this writing, were reported to have killed 54 people and left untold families homeless. In times such as this, we cannot think of better charities to donate to than those who respond immediately to...

Adult liability for serving minors: What you must know!

January 26, 2008 13:40

Every year, the lawyers at Avera & Smith are called regarding accidents, injuries, or fights that stem from minors consuming alcohol. Often, that alcohol is consumed at the home of one of the minors with the knowledge and consent of his or her parents. Good idea to supervise the consumption of...

Moving Your Family After Divorce

June 18, 2007 13:55

At Avera & Smith, we receive phone calls almost daily from persons who have divorced, are the primary residential parent of their child or children, and desire to move to another city for any variety of reasons. Randi Dincher, Esq, of Avera & Smtih took a few moments to write the following piece to...

Did you know...?

March 06, 2007 16:28

We often receive calls from people who are contemplating a divorce but are really unsure of what the financial obligations are and how they come into play. Many of you are aware that Florida has child support guidelines to assist parents, attorneys, and the court system in determining the...

Uninsured Motorist Coverage: What is it and do you need it?

February 23, 2007 17:23

For people who contact us regarding auto insurance issues, one of the least understood coverages is uninsured motorist coverage (UM). Why don't you pull out your auto policy and we'll go over this coverage so you understand exactly what kind of coverage you have and how much. Go to the...