Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Can I sue after a dog knocked me down and I tore my shoulder?
In Maine, a dog-related injury claim may be possible if the dog’s owner or keeper was legally responsible for the incident and your shoulder injury was caused by the dog knocking you down. In general, the key issues are...
Is it legal for the other driver’s insurer to ask for my entire medical history?
In general, the other driver’s insurer may ask for medical records if you are making a personal injury claim, but that does not necessarily mean they are entitled to your entire medical history. The request is usually li...
Can a car dealership cancel my financing two weeks after I drove the car home?
In Louisiana, a car dealership may sometimes tell a buyer that financing did not go through and that a different contract, lender approval, or vehicle return is needed. But whether that is allowed depends on the paperwor...
Do I have to pay my own emergency room bill after someone else’s dog bit me?
In general, yes, you may have to pay the emergency room bill first, even if someone else’s dog bit you. Hospitals usually bill the patient who received treatment, and your own health insurance, if you have it, may be the...
Can I recover future medical costs if my doctor says I may need surgery later?
In general, yes, future medical costs may sometimes be recoverable in an Ohio personal injury claim if they are reasonably related to the injury and can be supported by medical evidence. If a doctor says you may need sur...
What happens if a contractor used cheaper materials than what was listed in our written agreement?
If a contractor used cheaper materials than what your written agreement called for, the situation is often treated as a possible contract dispute, and sometimes also as a consumer-protection issue, depending on the facts...
Is it legal for a landlord to charge pet fees for a service animal?
In general, a landlord may not charge a pet fee, pet rent, or pet deposit for a true service animal because a service animal is usually not treated as an ordinary pet. Under fair housing rules, assistance animals are com...
Do I have to pay child support if my parental rights were terminated?
In general, termination of parental rights can change a parent’s future child support obligation, but it does not always erase every support-related duty automatically. In Montana, the effect usually depends on how and w...
Is it legal for a landlord to delay returning my deposit for more than 30 days in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, the answer usually depends on the lease terms, the condition of the rental, and whether the landlord is allowed to keep all or part of the deposit for lawful reasons. In general, a landlord does not have u...
Can a landlord send an old security deposit to the state if they cannot find my forwarding address?
In Ohio, a landlord usually does not simply “send” an old security deposit to the state just because they cannot find a tenant’s forwarding address. In general, the question turns on Ohio landlord-tenant law, what notice...
Can I Reinstate My License Before Finishing DUI Classes?
In Massachusetts, the answer is usually: it depends on what the Registry of Motor Vehicles and any court-ordered or program-related requirements say in your situation. For many drivers, DUI education or treatment is part...
Can my landlord charge late fees every day after rent is five days late?
In Kansas, the answer usually depends on the lease and any limits that apply under state and local law. In general, a landlord may only charge late fees if the lease allows them, and the fee terms must be enforceable und...
Is it defamation if someone posts a fake warning about me in a local parents’ group?
In general, a fake warning posted about you in a local parents’ group may be defamatory if it makes a false statement of fact about you and harms your reputation. Whether it counts as defamation usually depends on exactl...
How do I handle a crash where the other driver was texting but the police report does not mention it?
In general, a police report is only one piece of evidence after a crash. If the report does not mention texting, that does not necessarily mean the issue cannot be raised later. In New Mexico, as in many states, fault an...
Do I have to split rental property purchased before marriage but paid from joint funds?
In Rhode Island, the answer is often: maybe, but not automatically. Property bought before marriage is commonly viewed differently from property acquired during marriage, but the way the property was paid for, maintained...