Cape Girardeau Missouri Legal Blog

Many people who are dealing with high amounts of debt consider filing for bankruptcy. Those who do decide to file will do so under a specific bankruptcy Chapter, and the Chapter that will benefit them the most will depend on their circumstances.

Those who decide to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy are usually earning a low income or no income at all. This is because qualifying for Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires that you pass a means test to show that you have a limited income. In addition, those who decide to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy tend to have a limited amount of assets. This is because a high proportion of the debtor's assets will be liquidated. As a result, many high-asset individuals tend to be deterred by this.

When Missouri residents realize that their expenses and debts are far outweighing their income and they no longer have the ability to make ends meet, they may find themselves considering filing for bankruptcy. Many people across the country choose this option as a way to get a fresh financial start and have debts discharged, depending on the category of bankruptcy they qualify for.

To qualify for debt forgiveness through Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the filer must pass the means test. A number of factors, such as a person's income, expenses and family size, are looked into to determine if the filer has enough income to pay debts back. There are two parts to the test. The first part looks at where the household income falls in comparison with the state's median income. While the test considers the last six months for this calculation, anyone with a change in income can present documentation to adjust the time period. If someone is below the median income, they have passed the means test and, in general, can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Auto accidents are devastating for everyone involved, including family members and loved ones who are not even in the vehicle at the time of the crash. A truck accident wreaks even more havoc, due to the sheer size and weight of the vehicle and the materials inside the truck. Motorists, pedestrians and motorcyclists have little protection in a crash involving a truck and many fatalities and personal injuries can result.

While many truck accidents are caused by truckers because of drowsy driving due to overwork or failing to yield, this is not always the case. Any vehicle can cause accidents and the reality is that regardless of the cause, the resulting crash can be disastrous. A recent truck accident in Missouri demonstrated just how true that is, as the truck caught fire and damaged the highway it was on.

When leaving one's house in the morning to go to work, no one expects to become injured in a workplace accident. However, this is a stark reality many Missouri workers contend with on a daily basis, regardless of what type of work they are performing. While construction sites post their own hazards, even retail or bartending jobs are not free from creating injuries related to repetitive actions. When a worker is injured while performing tasks within the scope of their work, they may be eligible to receive workers' compensation.

Workers' compensation insurance is paid by the employer to cover injuries or illnesses sustained by an employee during the course of their work. One of the most important things to know about this system is that it is not based on fault. This means even if the worker was at fault, it would not preclude them from recovering compensation. But, once someone accepts workers compensation benefits, they must understand that they are giving up their right to sue their employer in the future.