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“Google update.” These two words can strike a chord of fear into the heart of any business owner that runs their own website. Not to mention send an entire team of search engine optimization specialists scrambling. Sometimes when Google tinkers with its infamous search algorithm, certain websites may be left in the dust. This newest update brings along an important warning: if you don’t update your site regularly, you might be seeing a sudden drop in your web traffic....

You were on the way to work and you got rear-ended by some jerk in a hurry. Now you are late and worried, checking your texts every few minutes for bad news from the boss. Instead, consider using your cell phone to document your accident and ensure that you have all the evidence you need for your insurer or a personal injury suit. So what should you be doing while waiting on the side of the road for a tow?...

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’ll generally need to prove two main elements to win a lawsuit for damages: that the accident was someone else’s fault, and that you were injured. Evidence of your physical injuries, as well as the financial costs of medical care and lost wages, will often be the most important details of your case. So what medical evidence will you need for your car accident case?...

People can be downright nasty, especially in this age of social media. Though people have a First Amendment right to speak their minds, that right is limited. As the old saying goes, “Your right to swing your arms stops at my nose.” If you are the recipient of hate mail, either physical or electronic, and wondering whether your skin is too thin, or if the words are actionable, here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to call the police....

Damage to your property can happen in all sorts of ways. Your car or even your home can be damaged in a car accident. The same could happen from falling trees or branches. Your car might even fall victim to a stray golf ball. No matter how it happens, it may be difficult to get compensated for your damaged property. And insurance may not cover everything. Here’s what you need to know about hiring a lawyer to file a property damage claim....

Freeway “text stops” will now be gracing New York highways, as a reminder to drivers that texting can wait. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the “text stop” initiative Monday, showing off prototype blue and white signs declaring the distance to the text stop as well as the credo “It Can Wait,” The Associated Press reports. Will these signs help drivers avoid tickets for texting and driving? According to the AP, New York state police issued more than 20,000 tickets for distracted driving in the summer of 2013 – about four times the number issued in the summer of 2012....

It may seem odd: you just gave birth to your child, you’re just getting settled at home, and maybe finally going through some mail that piled up, and you see a letter addressed to your new baby. And it’s not just any letter – it’s a bill from the hospital, for vaccinations, “newborn nursery,” or even out-of-network services. So why might your baby get billed for its birth, how do you plan for it, and are you responsible for paying the bill?...

The truth is, very rarely does a perfectly happy couple get divorced. Divorce, while in many ways onerous, can be a legal way to cut the cord and ultimately invite more happiness into your life. The Huffington Post recounts more than a dozen ways in which divorce might change a couple for the better, including lowering anxiety and increasing happiness for each spouse. But it all depends on how you approach the actual divorce process....

Gassy babies are unhappy babies. Hence the need for simethicone, the main ingredient in many infant anti-gas medications you could buy at a grocery store and pharmacy. But it turns out simethicone has a few other uses as well, like reducing bubbles inside the body that can impede visibility during colonoscopies and other procedures. So doctors started injected liquid drops of simethicone into gastrointestinal scopes during procedures. The problem with that tactic, however, is that simethicone may not be easy to clean from the scopes, leading to infection outbreaks....

Despite what president-elect Trump now thinks, burning and desecrating the United States flag is completely legal. On Tuesday, November 29, president elect Trump tweeted out that he believed people who burn the flag should lose their citizenship and face a year in prison. Could he ever make that happen? Fortunately, the First Amendment protects flag burners, and the United States Supreme Court has confirmed the same. While there have been numerous attempts over the years to prohibit flag burning, none have been successful as the Supreme Court returns to the First Amendment protections and explains that burning the flag or desecrating the flag is an act of symbolic speech....

Thousands of Americans own pets. And, many want to ensure their pets live long and healthy lives even after their owner passes away. As a result, pet owners might feel compelled to put their pets in their will. Or, owners may feel the need to create pet trusts. But, while your cat or dog may seem like family, in the eyes of the law they are actually your personal property....

A thief who tried to make off with a flat screen television from a Mass. car wash was caught by Facebook friend request. The manager of a car wash in Taunton, Mass. was able to track down a thief who stole a 27-inch flat screen television from a men’s restroom through the popular social networking site. Nicole Telles, the manager of Prestige Car Wash and Gas Station in Taunton, was able to track down the thief’s name after piecing together his gas purchase with a credit card along with some surveillance video footage, Gather....

As we warned three years ago, the IRS considers Bitcoin and other digital currencies to be property for taxation purposes. Meaning buyers, sellers, and traders of virtual currencies may need to pay real taxes on those transactions. If you haven’t been reporting those gains or losses on tour tax returns, you might be in for a rude awakening come April. The IRS just gained access to information on over 10,000 users of Coinbase, a digital currency exchange....

A New York City developer and landlord is being sued for allegedly tricking an elderly woman into signing an agreement to vacate her rent controlled apartment in the coveted Upper West Side neighborhood. The former resident’s lawsuit claims that when she signed the agreement to vacate, she believed that all she was signing was a receipt to prove that she received documents about renovations that were planned for the building. Unfortunately, the documents stated that she would move out while renovations were being done....

The doctors and nurses who worked through Hurricane Sandy after the power went out in several New Jersey and New York City hospitals are an inspiration. But the hospital administrators who failed to keep emergency systems functioning are certainly not. Most hospitals have a backup generator to keep the power going when something goes wrong. It’s not just about keeping the lights on: That power also keeps heart monitors beeping and oxygen pumping....

As discussed in a prior post on FindLaw’s Decided, the EPA has taken a major step in its fight against climate change and greenhouse gases. Late last year, the Agency released its findings that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses were pollutants that “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.” These findings may pave the way for stricter regulations on the emissions of the pollutants. Now, the state of Texas begs to differ....

The struggle for LGBT equality continues, and while there has been some progress in certain areas, like employment, other areas, like housing, have been more resistant to change. As it stands, the federal Fair Housing Act does not specifically include sexual orientation or gender identity protections. But that doesn’t mean landlords are free to discriminate against LGBT tenants. What it does mean is that asserting your rights as an LGBT tenant may be more difficult....

The corner office with a view, the premier parking spot, the bigger paycheck … being a boss is the life. Except when it comes to firing employees. The inevitably uncomfortable conversation is an often dreaded aspect of being in a position of power, and one that almost every employer is confronted with at one time or another. More than coming up with the right words to say, there are some major considerations every employer should also familiarize themselves with to ensure that they are firing or laying off employees legally....

Injuries at the gym are fairly common. Whether it’s pulling a muscle from doing too many reps or slipping in the locker because an overflowing shower made the floor wet, you may be wondering if your gym membership allows you to recover damages. So can you sue your gym if you’re injured on the premises? Here are a few factors to consider before you file a lawsuit: Most gyms require members to sign some type of liability waiver before joining....

Our churches bring us together and lift us up in spirit. Every now and then, though, our bodies pay the price. Whether by accident or someone else’s fault, injuries at church-sponsored and church-related events happen. And when they do, determining who’s at fault can be difficult and determining if you can and want to sue can be even harder. Here are some legal considerations if you’ve been injured at a church-sponsored event:...