Category: Legal
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The Effects Of Drinking And Driving Under The Legal Age Of 21
Consequences Of A DUI: Drunk driving is still a widespread problem in the United States, especially among young people. Individuals 21-34 years old are currently responsible for more drunk driving fatal accidents compared to all other age groups. These young adults are involved in more drunk driving fatal accidents compared to all other demographics, where 8 out of every 100,000 individual deaths are caused by a drunk driver. There are numerous organizations these days that are trying to bring awareness to this problem, like Fathers Against Drunk Driving (FADD) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Despite the serious consequences of drinking and driving under 21 years old, many young Americans continue putting others and themselves at risk when they drive after drinking. Those frightening statistics remind us to exercise extreme caution at all times while out on the road and to be on the lookout for signs of intoxicated drivers. If you notice a driver driving at unsafe speeds, making any erratic movements, or swerving, then you should keep your distance, and as soon as you can call 911. You could save someone's life by doing so! What is DUI? A DUI is Driving Under the Influence. It has been shown in studies that a majority of individuals will drive 87 times while drunk before they are first arrested for a DUI. The penalty laws do vary from one state to the next, however, when a driver has a higher than 0.08 Blood Alcohol Content, they are considered to be over the legal limit for alcohol. A zero-tolerance policy is in place for minors, which means a DUI will be charged with a BAC over 0.01. In such situations chances of getting arrested become high. Furthermore, to prevent the bail bonds in Pasadena tx serves the best way to get out of jail A majority of DUI arrests show drivers having an average 0.16 BAC. In the state of California, the following can result from a first-time offense: More expensive auto insurance premiums DUI school Probation of 3 to 5 years Suspended License for a maximum of 6 months Fines up to $1,300 A second-time offender may receive a 2-year suspension of their driver's license. Individuals with 2 DUI offense or more will be frequently mandated by the court to AA meetings, alcohol, and drug treatment, or a jail sentence. However, 50-75 percent of individuals with a DUI continue driving even though their license has been suspended. Dangers Caused By Drunk Driving in the U.S. According to Gwinnett county dui laws, anyone caught while driving under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicant can face serious charges. This can amount to jail time in a juvenile prison or an adult jail if you are above 18 years of age. It also means that you will have to carry a DUI record on your name for the rest of your life. This can severely restrict your chances in areas like college admissions and job applications. Working with a good and experienced DUI attorney is the best possible option for teenagers and young adults that are caught in such charges. Approximately 16,000 individuals die every year in the U.S. in an accident related to drunk driving. One out of 3 Americans are involved at some point in their lives with an alcohol-related crash. Alcohol impairs brain function and many people don't realize that they are too drunk to be able to drive before they get behind the wheel. While they are drunk, delayed response time is experienced by a drunk driver and they are not as likely to obey traffic signals. Just one drink can potentially impair driving skills. Over the Thanksgiving holiday is when the drunkest driving fatalities take place. How is your ability to drive affected by alcohol? Alcohol is a kind of depressant drug. When it is consumed it slows down the central nervous system of a person and reduces mental inhibitions as well, which affects the person's situational awareness and brain function. The impairment can cause the individual to take risks that are unnecessary when driving out on the road and increase the risk of being involved in an accident substantially. Alcohol has the following effects that impair the ability of a person to drive: Difficulty multitasking Overconfidence Reduced sensory perception Drowsiness Reduced reaction times Impaired vision Many teenagers have a tendency to binge drink alcohol and then drive while drunk. Frequently teenagers give in to peer pressure or are unable to control how much they drink. Alcohol can cause teens to feel overconfident, just like adults, and they will end up driving when they are told they have drunk too much. The leading cause of death among teenagers is car crashes and one out of three of these crashes have alcohol involved. Over 3,000 teenagers die from an alcohol-related auto accident every year. Organizations such as FADD and MADD are working hard to help bring more public awareness to the consequences caused by drunk driving. Read Also: There Is A Pothole Problem In America – How To Protect Your Car From Damage? How Do Self-Driving Cars Really Compare To Human Drivers In Terms Of Safety 5 Benefits Of Car Title Loans And One Important Warning
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Picking the Right Law Firm for You and Your Family
The law field is a very lucrative industry in the modern business world. No wonder you will see so many law firms cropping up within the region. Most of these firms have very big names but the most important thing is the level of service provision. Here are some tips on how to choose the right law firm for you and your family. Area of Specialization Different law firms specialize in various areas of practice. For instance, you cannot expect a personal injury lawyer to handle a real estate case with high levels of precision. You need a specialized firm to handle your case depending on the nature of the legal battle. You can find both general and specialized law firms. Most people will advise you to go for a specialized law firm whenever you are looking for legal expertise. However, even a general firm should have specialized attorneys in your area of interest. For instance, a firm like Wyskiel, Boc, Tillinghast & Bolduc handles cases related to injury, social security disability, compensation of workers, trust, probate & estate plans, zoning and real estate transactions, divorce, child custody, and business law issues very well. You can be sure that such a company will handle different legal issues for your family without compromising on the quality of service. Level of Experience You also want to look at the number of years the preferred firm has been in operation. A good firm should have been in this industry for several years. You need to hire a brand that has passed the test of time. a high level of experience shows that the company has handled different types of cases. It is easier to evaluate a firm that has been in existence for a long period. Therefore, you should not hesitate to ask the law firm how long they have been operating a business in this industry. The legal experts should also share with you some of their success stories and pitfalls over time. It is important that you consult with an attorney and find out the exact court hours in an experience that they have had. Higher the years of experience, more suited are they to represent your legal case. A good experience is also a sign of extensive networking. In other words, someone who has been in the legal circuits for a long time, knows the law enforcement officials, all the judges, and all the other officials working in the judicial departments. This can help you with everything from favorable treatment with the police to getting your paperwork filed in time. Professional Background of the Practitioners You also need to hire well-trained legal professionals to serve you and your family. Professional training forms the foundation of a successful legal career. On the other hand, the right experience is the building block for legal practice. Therefore, you need to combine the right training and experience to get the best that the market has to deliver. Make sure the attorneys who are serving you have the right credentials from leading law training universities in the region. Certification A good law firm should be certified by a professional body that operates within your region. Certification talks so much about the level of professionalism. Confirm whether both the law firm and individual lawyers are certified. Always choose certified legal practitioners over those who are not certified. Licensing of the Firm This point may seem to be obvious but you need to do your due diligence and make sure that you are employing a licensed professional. Licensing shows that the firm has met some minimum requirements to operate in the industry. No licensed business wants to engage in non-ethical practices because the authority may withdraw the permit. You will be sure of being in safe hands if you choose a law firm whose licensure status is up to date. Pricing Cheap is not always the best when looking for the right law firm. The most important thing is to get the value for your money. look for a law firm that will give you the best service at the most cost-effective price. The only way to achieve this objective is to do a lot of research on the available law firms in the region. Reputation Some businesses over-promise clients but end up underdelivering. Reputation in the market is critical when looking for a lawyer. Go through the company website and other online sources to see what past and existing customers have to say about the service provider. The good thing with past clients is that they will always give an objective view of the kind of services they receive. Conclusion You need to be extremely careful when choosing a lawyer for you and your family. The above tips will help you to make informed decisions when looking for the right law firm. The most important thing is to get everything right from the onset so that you don’t regret it afterward. Read More: Choosing & Relying Upon The Best Personal Injury Lawyers Citizenship By Investment Program At CSB Group
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Citizenship by Investment program at CSB Group
Citizenship by investment is the process of granting citizenship status to an individual on the basis of a quantifiable and specified investment in the country. As there are only a few countries offering residence to the investors, there are special laws which need to be overviewed in order to fulfill the requirements. CSB Group is renown citizenship by the investment service provider which delivers its outstanding services in Malta by following the regulations as per the Maltese Citizenship Act by the Government of Malta. Being the first UE approved citizenship program, investors can avail residence by following the simple procedure as set by the organization. Why to chose Malta as a place to obtain residence? Malta, being a member of the European Union is a part of Schengen since 2007 and has the lowest tax rates in Europe. Individuals who apply for Maltese Citizenship are entitled to all of the benefits which are currently being offered to Maltese nationals. As the rights allow the residents to ender, remain and work in Malta, right of free movement throughout Europe is announced as well. Along with the right to travel across 160 countries in the world, you can avail several other benefits by choosing csbgroup.com/citizenship-by-investment scheme. CSB Group is now recognized under the Individual Investor Program (IIP) for which the applicants need to fulfill the application processing criteria. Cyprus Scheme for the naturalization of Investors In order to attract a high number of foreign direct groups into Cyprus, the Cypriot Government has defined a number of different incentives including the citizenship by investment program. Offering complete Cypriot citizenship rights, the successful applicants are given rights to live, work and invest in the country. Any of the Non-Cypriot citizens can apply for the program through Naturalization by Exception if they meet the investment criteria options as provided. St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program Yet another great Citizenship program solution delivered through the GSB group, St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program is designed to attract foreigners who wish to bring business incentives to the country in return of full citizenship. Depending upon your investment requirements, the program starts with an initial sum of USD 400,000 for the real estate developments and other taxes as well. St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program is the best solution to avail lifetime residence and work permit. Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program CSB Group offers Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program which delivers amazing benefits in exchange of a St Lucia Passport. The program was launched in Monaco to allow qualified individuals for investing in approved real estate projects. As the aim of the Saint Lucia Citizenship program is to boost the growth of the local economy, it has also created more employment facilities and residence opportunities for the applicants. With the freedom of movement to more than 100 visa-free countries including the Schengen area, Hong Kong and the UK, the applicants can avail a wide range of business opportunities as well. Summary CSB Group is a leading Citizenship by the Investment service provider which has to offer beneficial solutions for its customers. Starting from the initial guidelines until the completion of the application procedure, each aspect is handled and overviewed by our legal experts. Whether you are applying for a residence permit or wish to invest in the real estate sector to avail citizenship, CSB can help you achieve life goals without any hassle. Furthermore, citizenship programs also allow individuals to travel through 160 countries from all over the world. So, if you are excited about availing the Citizenship by Investment opportunity in Malta, CSB Group is surely the best option to be considered. Read More: Can A School Be Legally Responsible For A Student’s Suicide? Protect Your Rights Today With Domestic Violence Lawyers
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Injured At Work? Claim Your Compensation!
If the world were a perfect place, when you sustained a personal injury at work the steps would be simple – unfortunately, knowing what to do when you get injured at work is not always so straightforward. In an ideal world, you would report your injury to your boss and the WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board), go through the medical examinations, and be compensated fairly until you'd healed up and were ready to work again. The reality of it, however, is not so simple: getting through your personal injury and obtaining fair compensation can be a far more complicated process. Even if you don't think you will immediately require an attorney, you will want to have one on hand just in case. Why is it so important to have a knowledgeable lawyer involved with your on-the-job personal injury case? A skilled WSIB lawyer usually offers a free initial consultation, specialized service, excellent communication skills, and doesn't require any retainer on slip and fall or motor vehicle injuries related to the workplace. A WSIB lawyer does not demand contingency fees, which means you don't pay until your case is settled. Toronto area work accidents usually fall into one of three categories: slip and fall, car accident, and work accident. In a slip and fall case, when the victim is injured on someone else's property, the case is governed by the Ontario Occupier's Liability Act and requires proof of negligence on the property owner's part. If you have a WSIB lawyer, the process of gaining such proof will be in capable hands. If you work in the Toronto area and are injured on the job, only legal professionals who have worked closely with the WSIB will be able to understand the complexities of compensation laws. It is extra helpful to find an attorney who was either employed by or has colleagues who were employed by the WSIB (even paralegals who worked with the WSIB would be helpful). The will allow you to be recompensed not only for your injury, for loss of future earnings and other peripheral costs. Other areas of case expertise a WSIB lawyer should have deal with Future Economic Loss Awards, Non-Economic Loss, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Benefits, transition back to work disputes, survivor benefits, WSIB appeals, back and neck injuries, occupational disease, repetitive strain and stress injuries, chronic pain, and disputes arising from WSIB decisions or actions. A good reason to contact an attorney after a workplace-related injury is that there is usually a time limit of six months in which you can submit your claim. When you are recovering from an injury, that time can go by quickly. When you have the legal representation they can walk you through the processes of submitting your claim. They can also mediate benefits and help negotiate when you are required to go back to work. Dealing with a personal injury claim can be frustrating, and overwhelming. You are entitled to a worker's benefits, and hiring a lawyer will help you navigate the process. Read More: Protect Your Rights Today With Domestic Violence Lawyers
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Protect Your Rights Today With Domestic Violence Lawyers
Domestic violence is the physical, mental or verbal abuse of a spouse, a child, a family member, a cohabitant, or a loved one. It may involve kicking, hitting, punching, pushing, calling offensive names and bullying. Emotional and physical abuse is often associated with domestic violence. Domestic violence is considered a very serious crime and is one of many violent crimes that are not reported. Because of this, it is important to work with a criminal defense attorney who can protect your rights if you are charged with domestic violence. Domestic violence can take many forms and can happen at any time or only once in a while. An important step to help yourself or to help someone you know is to recognize the warning signs. These warning signs include: Malicious insults and malicious mistakes Intimidation Stopping a partner from getting or keeping a job Physical, Actual or Threatened Damage Sexual assault When the police respond to a domestic violence call, they will assess the situation, and if they feel that someone has committed a domestic violence crime, then they will arrest the aggressive party - whether or not the victim files charges. Also, when a person is arrested for domestic violence, a restraining order is always enforced by the court. This type of protection order will have specific instructions by a judge ordering the abuser to be absent from the victim, their address, their employment, and their school. It will also indicate that the abuser should be absent from any other family member, friends or cohabitants of the victim. Therefore, in cases where there are children involved, the abuser cannot see them until the court determines. The Consequences of Domestic Violence In a domestic violence case, even if the victim refuses to file charges against the accused person, the district attorney's office can still prosecute charges. There is a common misconception in criminal defense of domestic violence cases - many people think that if the victim decides they do not want to proceed with charges against their partner, then prosecutors will reject the charges. This kind of thinking could not be further from the truth. When police arrive at a domestic violence home and there are allegations of violence or evidence of injury, the police will arrest the alleged defendant. It is common for the victim to change his mind and try to back off charges against his partner for several reasons. Sometimes the husband or wife is the person who pays the household expenses and the victim realizes that he will be financially damaged by an accusation. At other times, the alleged victim did not realize that the ramifications of involving the police would be so serious. If you are convicted of domestic violence in California you will face a sentence of more than 1 year in a county jail or 4 years in a state prison. You may also be ordered to pay a fine of $6,000 or more, restitution to the victim, and attend community work and management classes. At the Law Offices of Randy Collins, criminal defense attorneys have defended thousands of domestic violence cases through Southern California Criminal Defense and have a full understanding of the law and how to defend their freedom. Southern California Criminal Defense As domestic violence lawyers, Law Offices of Randy Collins offer the most outstanding resources, advice, and legal representation for individuals charged with domestic violence in California. Law Offices of Randy Collins will conduct an investigation on the charges against you and form the best strategy to defend your rights and freedom. The Law Offices of Randy Collins will challenge the evidence against you, conduct your own interviews and seek weaknesses in the case of prosecution. In some cases, domestic violence lawyers can get the charges against you reduced or dismissed. If you have been charged or detained for domestic violence, contact Law Offices of Randy Collins today for a confidential and free consultation.
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Choosing & Relying upon the Best Personal Injury Lawyers
Do you want to work with some professional lawyers that will help you deal with any personal injury problem fast and easy? Then Hupy and Abraham personal injury lawyers are the right fit for you. This is a team of lawyers focused on bringing in quality, value and efficiency in a very good package. We are focused on value and we work very hard to ensure that you never have to worry about any type of problem regardless of the situation. You never have to work too much to handle your Rockford IL personal injury problem. We are here to help, and with Hupy and Abraham personal injury lawyers you receive the very best results on the market without any hassle. We always deliver the ultimate attention to detail and we believe that the best approach we can have is to bring you the efficiency and quality that you always needed. Whenever you want to work with a team that you can trust, you will come to Hupy and Abraham personal injury lawyers. Why is that? We are fully committed to helping our customers get the ultimate set of results and in the end it will be one amazing experience to say the least. It’s important to note that each time you work with us, you will be more than committed to getting value and some outstanding experiences. We are always concerned with the situation that you are going through and we are constantly trying to find a way to help you deal with it. There are no problems we can’t face, which is why you should consider working with the Hupy and Abraham personal injury lawyers as fast as possible. Our team is very dedicated, focused and committed on bringing you the success and quality you need regardless of the situation. Yes, there are many times when you have to handle a personal injury case and odds may not be in your favor. But we are more than happy to help you get the experience you want, which is what you want to have in the end. It’s an incredible way to solve your problems and move on with your life. Once you hire our team, you will see that the Hupy and Abraham personal injury lawyers can help you reach outstanding results in no time. Yes, you will need to get in touch with us and let us know what type of personal injury case you are dealing with at this point. Once you do that, we will be able to assist and we will bring you our professional approach to start handling these problems in no time. If you always wanted the best quality on the market, then our team is here to help. We are very focused on quality and value, and you can trust us to bring you all the results that you may need. It’s all about finding the best experience, so just get in touch with the Hupy and Abraham personal injury lawyers and you will never be disappointed! Read also: Along For The Ride: Passenger Rights In Vehicle Accidents
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Follow These 5 Tips To Avoid Mistakes In Immigration Application
The immigration process is not an easy task. There is a lot of documentation and formalities included in the submission of an immigration application. Unfortunately, people get disappointed when they find out their immigration application has got rejected by the higher authority. This application should be written with perfection and after having complete knowledge of all documentation. Read the following guidelines to avoid mistakes while writing an immigration application: 1. Don’t Forget These Essential Documents Immigration paperwork contains a lot of documentation work. This paperwork usually differs from country to country. For example, if you are applying visa to the US, it relatively contains heavy paperwork which may include lots of essential documents. Usually, in most cases, this paperwork includes the requirement of your passport photos, birth certificate, medical documents, entry documentation, etc to check the identity of the immigrant. You should keep photocopies of all these essential documents that can be needed in the immigration process for the countries that have a two-fold submission. Photo Studio Calgary offers professional services for your photo requirements, do check them out online. Most countries do not require original copies of your document, so need to submit photocopies of your all documents. Forking over your all document to get your application accepted is not appropriate-- all you need to do is to submit a photocopy of all papers. Only submit your documents with your original signatures and follow the rules carefully. In most cases, mistakes like forgetting one of the important documents can result in the rejection of your immigration application. So, collect original copies of all documents that are required and make photocopies of all these documents. 2 to 3 copies are good to keep. These copies can be helpful in case your immigration application has been denied or lost. It is always better to have a back- up in those cases when you misplace any document. 2. Respect The Time One of the most important aspects of the immigration process is its deadline. You do not compromise with the deadline given by the authority of the country to which you are migrating. The visa authorities of all countries are not flexible to accept every application submitted by immigrants. They are very strict about the rules of the immigration process. So, try to follow the right guidelines rather than regret it later. If they have given you the deadline for getting married in case of a fiancé visa then you have to get married within the specified deadline. You cannot be late! Submit your immigration application at the right time and use the most convenient and fastest source of submission. The immigration process can take its time- make sure you submit your paperwork early. 3. Which Immigrant Category do You Fall Into? So you have planned to move to your favorite country, and you have prepared all the documents, do you know for what purpose you are going there? Are you going as a temporary resident or want permanent citizenship in that country? These are the questions you need to answer before submitting your immigration application. Most of the country has categorized its citizens into multiple classes permanent or temporary. It is better to hire a kansas city immigration attorney is essential to get an idea about your immigration type. After knowing your category, you will fill out that type of form for yourself. If you will not follow the category, you may end up filling out the wrong form which will result in some serious consequences. So, make sure you are doing the right things. Check their website and read the instruction carefully and you can also download the PDF of their instruction. Make sure you are choosing the right category. Obviously, you do not want to waste the efforts you have made to collect all those documents for the wrong form. 4. Here is a tip! Here is a situation! You have saved all your important documents on your laptop, and when you are going to submit them, you find one of the documents is missing! What will you do in this situation when you just have saved only one copy of that missing document? Here is a tip! Save documents with at least 2 same copies at two or three different locations on your laptop. You can also save them in secondary devices like a pen drive. 4. If You Can’t Handle It, Then Find Out A Better Solution The successful immigration process is a very rare opportunity to start a new life in your favorite city. Everything can be ruined if you make any type of mistake in your immigration application. Especially for the immigrants that are going to make their future better and secure. For a new person to immigration, it can be difficult to collect all the information and document it by themselves. For them, it is better to take help from an immigration consultant. They are experts in their profession. Kansas Overseas Careers are amongst the most popular immigration visa consultancies that are helping multiple immigrants with their immigration processes. The bottom line is: To get your dream job or settle with your family in a new country, it is very important to focus on the rules of the immigration process. To avoid mistakes, find out an expert or make sure you have followed all immigration rules. Read Also: 5 Things to Consider While Hiring an Immigration Lawyer Top 5 Ways to Avoid Canada Immigration Consultancy Frauds Preparing for Your Initial Consultation with an Immigration Lawyer 6 Reasons to Hire an Immigration Attorney (Not a Consultant)
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Along for the Ride: Passenger Rights in Vehicle Accidents
Although we are aware of the risks, driving is just a routine activity many of us do automatically, like brushing our teeth or grabbing a cup of coffee. We climb in the car intent on the destination or lost in thought, which is why automobile accidents are so jarring. Even a mild fender bender seems to stop everything in its tracks, instantly negating the importance of everything we were thinking or saying. Whether the situation results in serious injuries or none at all, it demands immediate attention. Passersby jockey to catch a glimpse of something interesting; police officers fill out reports; tow trucks haul away damaged cars. Sometimes, there aren’t even minor injuries, but, obviously, not everyone is so lucky. Trusting ourselves is one thing. Trusting someone else is entirely different. Every time someone gets into a passenger seat or the back seat, they're trusting that the driver will get to the destination safely. Some passengers are happy not to have the responsibility of driving; others have a hard time giving up control. Regardless of your feelings, where does that leave you if you're injured in a vehicle accident? The accident certainly wasn't your fault, so what exactly are your rights as a passenger? Recovering for injuries suffered as a passenger in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident is really a claim against an insurance company rather than against the driver himself. Passengers can file a claim under the bodily injury or liability insurance coverage of the driver or owner of any vehicle responsible for causing the accident. If that is insufficient, there may be coverage available under uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist policies. Injured passengers are also allowed to file a claim under their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and/or Medical Payments (Med Pay) policies. With all these funding possibilities, passengers should be able to secure compensation for their damages, though in no instance are they allowed to collect any more than the total value of their claim. Many passengers are initially reluctant to seek compensation for damages because the driver is a close friend. It’s important to note that in most situations, the driver will not even know of the claim because it will be settled by lawyers and insurance companies before it gets to trial. The strain on any personal relationships should be minimal unless the insurance company does not act in good faith to resolve the claim and it must be litigated instead. Even at that time and although the driver will be named in the lawsuit, the true conflict is between the driver’s insurance company and the passenger. There are special rules that apply when the passenger is related to the driver and shares the same household. In most of these cases, the passenger is barred from collecting under the driver’s liability policy because he or she is an “insured person” and such persons are not permitted to file a liability claim against their own liability policy. A claim can still be brought against other drivers who are at fault for the accident. Read also: TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE IN A CAR The seat next to the driver has a reputation for being the most dangerous one in the car, even having been referred to as “the death seat.” Of course, it is more common to have one passenger than several, so the front seat is occupied more frequently than the rear seats. There is also some truth to the idea that in a crash a front seat passenger has nothing to stop him or her from being ejected through the window, whereas the driver has the steering wheel. Or, at least, that used to be the prevailing line of thought. The last few decades have brought about major advances in safety that have reduced the probability of being seriously injured while riding in the front seat. Seat belts, airbags, and crumple zones equally benefit drivers and front-seat riders. According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, adults over age 55 were more likely to die in a crash while seated in the back than in the front – even if they were wearing seat belts. The study found that adults in the rear were more likely than adults in the front to sustain chest injuries, and there was some evidence of an elevated risk of head and neck injuries for restrained women seated in the rear compared with the front. The IIHS also recently performed front-overlap crash tests of seven small SUVs and found that certain models may have a big gap in safety between drivers and their passengers. The seven models received good ratings after the front driver's side corner of the vehicle hit a barrier at 40 miles per hour, but only one model – the 2016 Hyundai Tucson -- rated as good when the same test was performed on the front passenger side. While three models received acceptable ratings and two models received marginal ratings, the 2015 Toyota RAV4 was rated as poor. The IIHS suspected that the difference was partly due to a greater emphasis on the vehicle frame and structure for the driver's side, but there is no excuse for inferior passenger protection. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver? If you were a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision and were seriously injured as a result, or if you lost someone you love in such an accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who can examine the circumstances of your case and advise you of your rights. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay them unless there is a settlement or verdict in your favor. Passengers with serious injuries are entitled to appropriate and thorough medical care for their physical, emotional, and psychological injuries suffered as a result of the accident, as well as full compensation for their pain and suffering, mental anguish, property damage, and lost wages. It is also critical that you at least consult with an attorney before speaking with an insurance company investigator or adjuster. Their job is to spend as little money as possible while quickly settling a large number of claims, and they are well-trained in the fine art of getting you to make statements that can come back to haunt you later. Since you are bound by what you say, it is often wise to let an attorney speak for you.
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What Are the Costs of Our Aging Infrastructure?
After World War II, America became a global leader of commerce and saw an incredible boom in the prosperity of its citizens. This was fueled, in large part, by the building of infrastructure and the rise of the middle class in our country. Over a 50-year period, beginning in the 1950s, the United States invested billions of dollars into its infrastructure by building roads, airports and schools that were innovative and ambitious and that literally paved the way for one of the most impressive stretches of growth experienced by any nation in global history. This small bit of U.S. history is vital to understanding a major problem we currently face. The ambitious undertaking of building America’s infrastructure has slowly become a serious economic challenge. There is a seemingly endless stream of news reports and columns devoted to the daunting task of fixing all parts of our infrastructure, including our roads, bridges, airports, oil lines, water lines and waterways. But we don’t have to look to newspapers or scholarly essays about the challenges posed by our aging infrastructure. We experience it on a daily basis, from the potholes that cause tire blowouts to the corroded service lines that have unleashed dangerously high levels of lead and caused upheaval in a number of communities across our nation. There has been much effort devoted to examining the challenges, the costs and the need for fixing our infrastructure. Let’s break down just a few of the categories to get a better perspective on what we need and why we need it. Roads - Our roadway infrastructure, which includes highways, interstates and local roads, received a “D” grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Fixing our infrastructure will be costly, and the fact that federal funding accounts for only a small percentage of road funding is a reflection of the fact that our crumbling roads impact us at a very local and personal level. The costs come in the form of stretches of roads plagued with structural deficiencies that cause our vehicles to break down and roads whose initial design, while once adequate, now fails to keep pace with the traffic they currently need to accommodate. For example, think of the long list of cities that experience incredible congestion on a daily basis or the potholes which are left unattended on our neighborhood roads. Read also: Experts Recommend: Top Interior Design Trends for 2017 Bridges - The ASCE actually gives our bridges a “C+” grade, which - believe it or not - is one of the three highest grades given to 16 categories graded by the organization. Even though it is graded slightly higher than other sectors of our infrastructure, it is still in dire need of repair. The cost to drivers also comes in the form of breaks in surfaces and inability to accommodate traffic flow, but perhaps more alarming is the possibility of collapse. Another important statistic before we move on to the next category: One out of every 10 bridges in the United States is structurally deficient. Pipelines - While our roads and our bridges are often several decades old, many of the pipes used in the United States are even older. It is not uncommon for certain systems to have been built over a century ago, long before we knew just how dangerous the materials used would become for future generations. Two examples highlight our challenges in this particular area. First is the lead contamination of our drinking water that has caused lead poisoning of communities across the country. The ASCE’s latest report card gives our drinking water infrastructure a “D” grade. The costs, they say, could be up to $1 trillion over the coming decades. The second example is frequent gas line explosions, one of which occurs, on average, every other day in the United States, as reported by USA Today. Our energy infrastructure gets a “D+” grade from the ASCE. Airports - Just like many other structures in the country, our airports are struggling to meet the demands of more passengers and higher volumes of traffic. The average airport in the United States is around 40 years old, and our country is struggling to fund the maintenance of these facilities, even as other countries are making available significant investments to improve their airports. The ASCE gives our airports a “D” grade and points to the Federal Aviation Administration’s estimated cost of congestion and delays at roughly $22 billion. The investment needed to modernize and fix the infrastructure of our airports is even greater, over $75 billion, according to the Airports Council International-North America. Schools - One of our biggest challenges is fixing the infrastructure which accommodates our young people. The majority of our schools were built for the baby boomer generation, according to the ASCE, who gives our school infrastructure a “D” grade. It will cost around $270 billion to modernize and maintain these facilities. The aging school buildings present a number of threats for children and teachers alike. Old water lines carry contaminated water into several school systems across the United States, and structural deficiencies also make these buildings hazardous to students. Yet another danger is the presence of asbestos in school buildings. Any school building constructed prior to 1980 is likely to have asbestos. Once asbestos deteriorates or becomes airborne, it can cause serious complications to those who are exposed to it, including lung cancer or mesothelioma. Meeting Our Challenges The costs of fixing our infrastructure are great, but the costs currently being suffered by Americans are already taking a significant toll. We are paying for the challenges we face in ways that go way beyond tax dollars and construction projects. Unfortunately, we are paying the price through injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The same country that built these incredible stretches of roads, bridges, and pipelines is also capable of repairing them, despite the large price tag that comes with such a task. When we consider what we need to do to move forward in this country, let’s not forget about the actual roads that lay in front of us. Ignoring this responsibility will not just place a burden on future generations -- it is a burden we are already carrying. The Law Offices of John R. Colvin focus primarily in the areas of Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Workers’ Compensation, and Social Security Disability. They represent clients in the Tennessee Valley region, including Tennessee and Alabama.
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