Custom Green Homes in Portland, Or.

Everyone’s moving to Portland these days. The city enjoys a vibrant arts, music, and cultural scene, abundant natural beauty such as the iconic view of Mt. Hood visible from any point in the city, and proximity to world-class ski resorts in one direction and rugged coastlines in the other. Portland’s mild climate makes it possible for a wide variety of plant life to thrive, but the Rose City is green in more ways than one.

Portland citizens have long been at the forefront of environmentally friendly trends, and its residents have embraced everything from fair-trade clothing crafted from organic cotton to shade-grown coffee. Custom sustainable housing options are also available in Portland. Stone Creek Building has been creating eco-friendly homes for years. Headed by second-generation homebuilder and Portland native Mark Beirwagon, Stone creek Building works closely with customers to create the cost-effective, unique, environmentally friendly home of their dreams. Stone Creek’s skilled staff works hard to create the kind of healthy working relationships with clients that result in optimal satisfaction.

Everyone has their own idea of an ideal dream home, and Stone Creek Building is committed to breathing life into those dreams. We work with you to design the home you’ve always wanted, taking into account the individual needs and preferences of you as well as other family members. Our philosophy is centered around building for life, and as one of Portland’s Earth Advantage certified builders, you can rest assured that you’ll get the utmost in design, quality, attention to detail, and partnership collaboration.

Besides home design, our services include property search acquisition information to help you find the ideal site for your dream home, financing assistance to help you find the right lender, and interior design to ensure that your home interior is as stunning as the view from outside. We also ensure that elements of your outdoor living space such as fences, decks, and landscaping meet your specifications. We also create multi-family projects and have extensive experience in custom building in rural areas. Besides new construction, we also do custom remodeling jobs on existing homes.

To learn more about our services, please feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience. We’ll brew and pour the coffee while you share your ideas about your dream house.

Orange County Motorcycle Accident Attorney

According to an Insurance Information Institute report, thousands of motorcycle accidents occur every year. One of the primary factors that have caused these accidents is the excessive consumption of alcohol. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that … “the percentage of motorcycle riders is greater than the percentage of intoxicated drivers on the road.”

This alarming statistic reveals how easy it is for accidents to occur when individuals are not alert enough to operate a motorcycle. Although this is a primary factor, additional factors include vehicle driver distraction and drunk driving. Other statistics revealed that among the 8.4 million motorcycle rides that occurred during 2014, 92,000 injuries were acquired, and 4,586 fatalities occurred.

Click here for more information on motorcycle accidents.

The Consequences of Motorcycle Crashes

The potential of harming others who are not motorcycle riders also increases when vehicles crash as the result of a distracted motorcycle rider. If motorcycle riders and vehicle riders are injured in accidents, the consequences can lead to death or a lifetime of pain. When victims survive, the long-term medical care expense can steadily increase. Without lifetime health coverage, the expenses can become too much to handle.

Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, there is a way you can protect your rights as a personal injury victim. The Guldjian Law Firm in Orange County provides local representation for clients who are dealing with the aftermath of a motorcycle crash.

Typical challenges include employment or wage loss, ongoing medical treatment, and therapy as well as mental distress. These lingering effects can also take a toll on family members who have to care for injured loved ones.

If you don’t have adequate medical coverage, you will either have to pay for medical services from your savings or forego treatment. While the latter is never recommended, many victims often subject themselves to benefit claim denial and will not ask for legal help.

The attorneys at Guldjian Law work in close collaboration with motorcycle accident victims to ensure that personal injury benefits are obtained to help clients live life without the excessive burden of medical bills.

A motorcycle accident can change your life instantly and your recovery time may take longer than you expect. If you want to prevent severe financial loss and protect your legal rights, contact a motorcycle accident attorney at Guldjian Law today.

How a Irvine California Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Protect Your Rights

The California Highway Patrol reported 156,909 accidents resulting in injury per their latest released Statewide Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions. If you’ve been affected by a car, truck or motorcycle accident in California, it’s vital that you contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Only a personal injury attorney specializing in California vehicle accidents can ensure that you get the full benefit of your legal rights.

The California statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the injury. Many people mistakenly believe that the statute of limitations starts running from the time you discover the injury. You must take action immediately on behalf of yourself or your injured family member to make certain that you have the financial means to deal with any medical complications that arise in the future.

If you’ve lost a family member to a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the two-year statute of limitations also applies. You have final expenses that can wipe you out financially. You must pay the bills and buy groceries while medical bills arrive daily. The last thing that you want to think about is dealing with attorneys, but it’s necessary to protect you and your family. Guldjian Law is experienced in dealing with personal injury and wrongful death cases related to car accidents in California. We can help make your life easier by getting you the money to which you are entitled.

Any motor vehicle accident can result in death, serious injury or permanent disability. “Minor” injuries can keep you from returning to work or school for weeks or months. You may be denied disability even though you’re physically incapable of working. Injuries that seem to heal quickly can cause arthritis or other disabling conditions when you get older. The other party’s insurance company has lawyers that will contact you at home or even come to the hospital and try to convince you to settle the case. The amount of money may sound like enough at the time but will run out quickly. If you’ve lost a family member, you may receive a large sum in a wrongful death suit. If you agree to a settlement, you sign away your rights.

Don’t sign anything before speaking to an experienced personal injury attorney at Guldjian Law. We can tell you if you have a case and how much you may receive if you choose to file suit. Contact us today so that we can help you.

What You Need to Know About DUI Laws in Virginia

In Virginia, a person is driving under the influence (DUI) if they are over the age of 21 and operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. Drivers under 21 years old must have BAC under 0.02 percent, according to DMV.org.

A driver with extremely high BAC levels over 0.15 percent faces additional jail time. Courts impose harsher penalties for each additional DUI conviction. A first-time offender faces a mandatory minimum $250 fine a one-year driver’s license suspension. For the second DUI conviction, a driver may have his license revoked for three years in addition to paying a mandatory minimum $500 fine and serving up to one year in jail. Additional DUI convictions have harsher penalties, and Virginia provides this information in its online pamphlet “Virginia is Tough” at dmv.virginia.gov.

A driver in Virginia may not request a blood test instead of a breath test. He may refuse to take the breath test but may be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor. If he has had two previous DUI convictions or one previous breath test refusal conviction within the last ten years, he may be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and have his license suspended for three years.

A driver must also be aware of other driving and alcohol-related crimes in Virginia. These include driving with an open alcohol container in the vehicle’s passenger area and driving while impaired with a passenger under the age of 17. A driver may be charged with vehicular manslaughter if he kills another person while driving under the influence. If a driver has his license suspended for DUI and he is caught driving, he may have his vehicle impounded for up to 90 days.

Virginia takes DUI offenses very seriously, and a driver charged with a DUI offense needs good legal representation to help him successfully navigate the court system, especially if he does not plan to plead guilty. The driver should consult with an experienced DUI attorney soon after his arrest. In some cases, the prosecutor may offer the driver the option to plead guilty to a lesser charge, such as reckless driving. An experienced attorney can negotiate this plea deal or argue the driver’s case in court. Legal representation may mean the difference between a DUI conviction or a not guilty decision by a jury.

Changes to Social Security Coming

There will be no increase in benefits for 2016 according to the latest reports.  Benefit amounts will remain the same as 2015 based upon no increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Also, Congress has determined that a “loophole” in the “file and suspend” rule will be closed.  Some argued that the file and suspend rule allowed couples to receive more benefits than they should have been entitled to.  There were several variations of how couples could begin to receive benefits before the Social Security laws intended.  Congress worked to close this loophole in 2016 to help reduce costs and to ensure couples only received benefits when they are entitled to.

If you are filing for Social Security benefits or are already receiving benefits, you should visit www.ssa.gov and review all of the changes for 2016!

Below are links to Social Security offices in major cities across the country:

 

Ductless Heat Pumps Are A Great Alternative

Do you have an older home that doesn’t have a lot of room for heating ducts and you’re miserable in the summer because your home doesn’t have a proper cooling system?

You may want to look into the new ductless heat pump systems now available.  The new ductless systems offer all of the comfort of a heating and cooling system typically installed during construction, but do not require all of the ducting!

Trying to put a ducted heat pump system into a home requires a lot of effort tearing into walls, floors, ceilings, etc. and in some homes it is all but impossible to install a duct system.

Ductless heat pumps off a great solution for homeowners that do not want to tear up their homes to install a duct system or have homes that cannot support a duct system.

When researching a local ductless heat pump contractor, it is important to ensure they are fully licensed as HVAC contractors in your state and that they are certified to install the type of ductless heat pump you want installed.

Thinking of Building a Home?

It’s the time of year when many people begin thinking about building a new home.  Building a home is a major undertaking and requires a lot of planning to complete home construction in a timely manner and on budget!

Many individuals are researching “green building” which is ofter used to describe building a home in an environmentally safe manner. Green homes and energy efficient homes are now common in many parts of the world.

If you are looking to build a green home or sustainable home, it’s important to work with a contractor that has been certified in the methods and requirements of building a sustainable home.

There are so many decisions that go into building a home, but the most important decision you will make is decided on a reputable, licensed home builder!  Working with an experienced home builder is important to ensure they understand current building codes and methods of building sustainable homes.

Be sure to meet with any prospective home builder to ensure you feel comfortable communicating and working with them.  Home construction can become stressful at times, so it’s important to work with a contractor that you feel comfortable with.

Fatal Auto / Pedestrian Crash in Portland

An elderly Portland, Oregon women riding a motorized scooter was killed when she was hit by another elderly women driving an SUV.

The driver of the vehicle is cooperating with investigators and no other details have been released at this time.

Unfortunate accidents like this occur frequently and have life changing consequences for all parties involved.  If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence, it is important to talk with an experienced Portland auto accident attorney as soon as possible to ensure your legal rights are protected.