Mobile Device Use While Driving Poses Risk of Car Accidents

Over and over again, we’ve been warned about the dangers of using mobile devices while we’re behind the wheel. Yet, despite all the warnings, we can’t help wondering, are they really as dangerous as the media makes them out to be?

How Many Car Accidents are Caused by Cell Phone Use

Simply Insurance collected a large amount of data and came up with some horrible stats regarding the connection between using a mobile device and the likelihood of you getting into an accident. The data was collected from auto accident information that the Department of Transportation compiled of traffic accidents that occurred in 2018.

385 auto accident fatalities during 2018 were directly linked to texting while driving
An estimated 1.6 million auto accidents are the result of someone simultaneously driving and using a mobile device
Approximately 14% of the fatal auto crashes in the United States are linked to cell phone use while driving
Cell phones are linked to 390,000 personal injuries sustained in accidents that occurred because a driver was distracted by their cell phone.
Texting while driving increases the likelihood of getting into a car accident 24 times.

Insurance companies are feeling the pressure of drivers getting distracted by their mobile devices. Allegedly, the sheer number of accidents that have been caused by a driver paying more attention to their mobile device than on the road has prompted the insurance companies to raise premiums by 10,000%

What Happens if Your Caught Using a Mobile Device While Driving

Anyone caught using a mobile device while operating a vehicle faces some serious consequences.

The first time a mobile device is the root of your distracted driving, you will get a ticket plus any additional infractions and costs. Since this is a driving offense that has more serious consequences each time you’re caught, every other time you’re ticketed for using a mobile device while driving, the cost of the ticket increases, plus additional fees.

Getting a ticket for using a mobile device while driving hurts your monthly budget, but that’s nothing compared to what will happen if your distracted driving results in an accident where someone is injured or killed. At this stage, you should consider reaching out to an experienced personal injury attorney.

A driver whose distracted driving results in an accident that includes a serious personal injury or death will face Class 1 misdemeanor charges. If convicted, the consequences include:

Up to a 6-month jail sentence
A yearlong suspension of their driver’s license
A fine that could be as large as $1000

Are There Any Exceptions

While the best way to make sure you remain focused on driving is to turn your mobile device completely off until you reach your destination, some states don’t actually have any laws requiring you to do that. The truth is that if you simply can’t bear to be out of touch while you’re behind the wheel, there are a few ways you can continue to communicate during your commute.

The safest choice when you want to use a mobile device while you’re traveling is to pull over and park your car until you’re done calling or texting. Make sure you have your hazard lights on, pull all the way out of traffic, and use your blinkers to signal that you’re ready to rejoin the traffic flow once you’ve completed your call/text.

These days most cars have interfaces built right into them that allow the driver to use Bluetooth to stay in touch while they’re driving. You’re also legally allowed to use an earpiece, headphones, or watch. Just remember that you are still expected to pay attention so if the conversation is too distracting, end the call until your car is parked.

You’re allowed to use your phone’s hands-free option, which allows you to listen to calls and use the phone’s navigation features.

Drivers are allowed to use their mobile devices when they need to call for help in an emergency or if they’ve witnessed a crime.

Enlist the Aid of a Good Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving accident, it’s likely you need a reliable personal injury lawyer who will stand in your corner. When you contact Miley Legal, they’ll handle all the details of your claim so you can focus on making a complete recovery.

What are the Chances of Getting DWI Charges Dropped?

If you’ve been arrested for a DWII, you’re probably wondering what the odds of getting DWI charges dropped are. The answer depends on the circumstances of your case, but having an experienced DWI lawyer and strong evidence in your favor can increase the chances that a prosecutor may drop or reduce your charge.

What is a DWI Charge?

A DWI charge is a criminal charge imposed on individuals driving or in control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In most states, this includes driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher.

A DWI can either be a misdemeanor or felony charge, depending on the severity of the offense and whether there are prior DWI offenses. You’ll be charged with a felony if any of the following happens while you’re under the influence:

You’ve been convicted of DWI before
You caused an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury or death
There were any minors under the age of 14 in the vehicle.
You broke other laws like driving under a restricted, suspended, or revoked license
You have an elevated high blood alcohol level

Irrespective of the charges, a DWI conviction is a serious offense – even for first-time offenders – that can have long-term consequences, including license suspension or revocation, fines, probation, and even jail time.

What are the Consequences of a DWI Charge?

A DWI conviction has both short- and long-term consequences. In the short term, you may face jail time, fines and fees, license suspension or revocation, probation, community service hours, and installing an ignition interlock device. In addition to these criminal penalties, a DWI conviction can also have long-term consequences, including higher insurance rates, difficulty finding or keeping a job, and the inability to rent a car or even travel abroad. One may also lose gun rights, professional licenses, immigration status, and child custody.

Tips to Improve Your Chances of Getting DWI Charges Dropped

Your chances of getting a DWI charge dropped will depend on your situation. But there are some steps you can take that may work to your advantage:

Remain Silent

Your right to remain silent is critical in any criminal defense case. While the police, prosecutor, and judge have a job to do, it’s best to leave it up to your attorney to provide relevant evidence and answer any questions on your behalf.

Hire an Experienced Attorney

Hiring a criminal defense attorney who understands DWI law is essential to get the best possible outcome. An experienced lawyer will explore all the facts of your case, look for flaws in the prosecution’s evidence and aggressively fight for a favorable outcome. For example, they may look for reasons like:

No probable cause
Residual alcohol
Faulty breath tests
Medical conditions
Police misconduct

Note Down Everything

Make sure to note down everything that happened when you were arrested, including the exact time and place of your arrest. It’s also helpful to record your experience with the police following the arrest and whether they forced you to do anything. If there are any witnesses present, make sure to get their contact information. You should also get a copy of the police report for inconsistencies and errors. Your lawyer may be able to use this information to challenge the prosecutor’s case or cast doubt on the evidence they present.

Provide Relevant Evidence

If you have any evidence that can be used to build your case, make sure to provide it to your attorney. This includes photos, witness statements, or video recordings. Having strong evidence in your favor can help reduce or dismiss the charges against you.

How Can I Get my DWI Charges Dropped?

Getting your DWI charges dropped is possible, but it depends on the circumstances of your case. Generally speaking, having a solid defense and convincing evidence in your favor will increase the chances of a prosecutor dropping or reducing your charge. In some cases, prosecutors may be willing to negotiate an agreement that involves pleading guilty to a lesser charge, such as reckless driving.

A lawyer will from Graystar Legal can evaluate your case and develop the most effective defense strategy to help you get the best possible outcome. They can also negotiate with prosecutors on your behalf for a plea bargain or even dismissal if there is sufficient evidence to support your case.

In addition, your lawyer may be able to challenge the accuracy and validity of evidence used against you, such as the results of blood or breath tests. If these tests were conducted improperly or violated your rights in any way, then they may be inadmissible in court, and your charges could be dropped.

Overall, it’s difficult to predict the odds of getting a DWI charge dropped in any given case, but having an experienced lawyer and strong evidence in your favor will greatly increase the chances of a favorable outcome. If you’ve been charged with a DWI, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately to help you build the best possible defense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the local courthouse information and departments?

Your local courthouse can provide information on its departments and court dates. You can find the address of your local courthouse online or call your county’s clerk of court office. Additionally, most court websites will provide information on their departments and their services.

What happens when you get a DWI for the first time?

For a first DWI offense, the penalties depend on several factors, such as the severity of the offense, your blood alcohol concentration at the time of your arrest, and any aggravating or mitigating factors. Generally, penalties may include fines, license suspension, community service, probation, and a possible jail sentence. Your lawyer will be able to provide more information on the potential consequences of a first-time DWI offense.

What are Aggravating or Mitigating Factors?

In criminal cases, aggravating factors can increase the severity of the punishment imposed. Examples of common aggravating factors include prior convictions, excessive speed, underage driving, and high blood alcohol levels. On the other hand, mitigating factors can reduce a sentence or eliminate it. Mitigating factors may include a lack of criminal record or evidence of remorse. An experienced lawyer can help you determine if any aggravating or mitigating factors apply to your case.

Estate Planning 101 – What You Need to Know

Estate planning is an important part of any individual or family’s future. It involves creating a plan for how your assets and finances will be handled after you are gone. But estate planning can seem overwhelming, especially if you’re just starting out. No worries, as long as you have a reliable estate planning lawyer by your side, the process will be a breeze. So, let’s take a look at the basics of estate planning to help get you started on the right foot.

What is Estate Planning?

Estate planning is the process of determining how your assets and finances will be handled upon your death or in cases of incapacitation due to illness or injury. This includes decisions about who will receive what assets, how taxes will be paid, and what responsibilities each person has during the transition period. An estate plan also outlines who should manage your affairs if you become incapacitated due to illness or injury.

Why Should I Have an Estate Plan?

Having an estate plan ensures that your wishes are carried out according to your preferences, not someone else’s. It also helps protect your assets from creditors, lawsuits, and taxes. Additionally, having an estate plan in place can make it easier for family members to make decisions about your care if you become incapacitated due to illness or injury, as well as provide peace of mind that everything will be taken care of according to your wishes when the time comes.

What Does an Estate Plan Include?

An estate plan typically includes two key elements: a will and trust documents. A will outlines how you want your property and possessions divided among heirs upon your death while trust documents establish a legal entity that holds title to certain property on behalf of another person or persons (ie beneficiaries). Other components may include powers of attorney (for healthcare decisions), guardianship appointments for minor children, life insurance policies, tax-planning documents such as irrevocable trusts and gifting strategies for reducing gift and estate taxes upon death. Ultimately, what goes into an estate plan depends on each individual’s circumstances and goals for their financial future after they pass away.

With so many aspects involved in creating an effective estate plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the details involved in putting together one yourself—but it doesn’t have to be complicated! Working with a qualified estate planning lawyer can help simplify the process by providing insight into potential strategies that could benefit both you and your beneficiaries now and in the future. Taking steps now towards creating an effective estate plan can ensure that all parties involved are taken care of according to their wishes when the time comes–so don’t hesitate to contact an experienced attorney at Cary Estate Planning and start planning today!

Tips for Nailing a Job Interview

Getting a job is not an easy thing to do. And often, a lot is riding on getting the job, whether it’s earning more money or simply getting the chance to build upon experience. Luckily, there is a way to nail the most important part of the process- the interview.

Here are 4 tips.

Do Your Research

It’s important to know as much as you can about the company, its products, services, mission, and values. The more you know, the easier it will be to connect with the interviewer and demonstrate that you’re a good fit for the company.

For instance, say you have an interview for a position as a nurse at an assisted living facility. Doing research may reveal that the company’s mission is to provide seniors with the best quality of life possible. If you mention how passionate you are about bettering the lives of the elderly to the interviewer, it will show that you share the same values as the company and will be a good fit.

Focus on Your Strengths

Everyone has weaknesses, and while you shouldn’t pretend you don’t have any during a job interview, it’s not the time to focus on them. Instead, focus on your strengths and what makes you the best candidate for the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a customer service position but have no prior experience, focus on things like having great communication skills from being class president, or being able to stay calm under pressure from years of therapy.

So, jot down strengths that set you apart from other candidates and make sure to emphasize those things during the interview.

Be Prepared to Answer Common Questions

There are common interview questions that are bound to come up regardless of the job description.

Here are a few examples:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
What are your hobbies?
How do you handle feedback about your work?
Why do you want this job?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Take some time to think about how you would answer these questions. The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to get caught off guard and stumble over your words.

Follow Up After the Interview

Once the interview is over, make sure to send a thank-you email to the interviewer. This shows that you’re grateful for their time and that you’re still interested in the position.

A thank-you email is also a great opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job and restate why you would be the best candidate.

Sending a follow-up email is a simple way to make a good impression and set yourself apart from other candidates.

Interviewing for a job can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it doesn’t have to be. If you do your research, focus on your strengths, and are prepared to answer common questions, you’ll be well on your way to nailing the interview and getting the job you want. And don’t forget to follow up!

Benefits of financing

In the procurement of essential business tools and equipment, financing is an outstanding additional funding source and a flexible option to cash. Financing is a simple and cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes to buy equipment. Consider Skm Credit for financing as it is particularly good at money lending in Toa Payoh. The advantages are numerous, and the procedure is straightforward.

Reduces total cost of ownership

Because certain rentals are not capitalized, the hardware is not diminished over extended periods as it would be if it were purchased, which can limit a customer’s ability to upgrade to new and improved technology in the future. According to TCO research, maintaining outdated assets for too long costs more than replacing them.

Increased Profits

Offering a financing option can help promote the selling of equipment. It can

Increase the amount of money you make and the number of people you can help. If the equipment is purchased for more than its remaining market price after the lease, more money can be made in addition to increased interest income.

Bring in new clients.

Businesses that provide financing programs expand their potential client base by making their services more accessible to a wider range of people. Not everyone has the money to make a significant purchase right away. Financing allows you to break down major purchases into smaller, more affordable installments, expanding the potential pool of clients exposed to your company.

Enhances cash forecasting

Customers who lease or finance may properly predict their financial needs because they know the exact amount and number of potential finance leases they will need. You also provide certainty because there are no worries about potential interest rate hikes or variable fees.

Obtain repeat customers

Customers may return to your firm for subsequent purchases as a result of your financing programme, increasing brand loyalty and income. Customers will be able to come to your firm in the future when they need to make a large purchase utilizing finance, instead of turning to competitors who may not provide the same financing choices.

Conclusion

Offering simple finance solutions to customers benefits businesses in the long run as financing helps companies gain better deals, close more orders, and raise their total transaction volume. Because financing allows your consumers a flexible and simple option to pay for significant purchases, offering a financing program can allow your organization to acquire new customers and gain customer loyalty.

Tips For Making A Safe Home Space For Your Senior Parents

Part of having kids is knowing that you will have someone to look after you when you get old. It’s traditional for children to take care of their elderly parents, as the parents once cared and nurtured the children.

Taking on the job of looking after the well-being of your parents means that you have to make sure they have a safe place to live. Take a few moments now to read through some helpful tips for making a safe home space for your senior parents.

Make an assessment

Before you take your first steps towards providing a safe space, you have to take the time to really assess the situation. Take the time to consider the full scope of what your senior parents need.

If the need is much more than what you feel you can provide, you may need to research senior living facilities in the area. Your parents could benefit greatly by having the care of a whole team around them every day.

Light up the living space

If you plan on improving yours or your parent’s home so they are able to age in place, you should focus a good effort on making the home more well lit. The exterior and the interior of the home should be easy to see at night.

Lights that illuminate walkways and common areas enough for seniors to be able to see where they’re going will help to cut down on fall risks and injuries from running into corners and walls.

Take steps to prevent falls

Lighting does help to prevent falls, but there’s more you can do to keep your parents safe. If you have children, make sure your kids have all of their toys put away before bed time.

Rearrange furniture if you think it will open up the space, making it easier to move throughout the home. Make sure there are no leaks or drips from a pet bowl.

Secure area rugs, so they don’t move around or fold up at the ends. Sure up electrical cords as well, so there’s no danger of tripping over lamps or other electronics.

Make the bathroom safer

There’s lots of potential for a mishap in the bathroom when you’re a senior with limited mobility or other health challenges. Adding a few strategically placed grab bars in the bathroom will make it much safer for your senior parents.

Make it wheelchair accessible

Your parents could need to use a wheelchair to get around, and a home that is fully accommodating of that fact is a home that is safer for your beloved senior.

You may need to have a ramp installed, move some furniture around, or make a few other adjustments to provide a fully wheelchair accessible living space.

3 Tips For Designing Your House For An Ideal Work-From-Home Situation

If you’re working from home, setting up your workspace can be a little tricky. For those who have all kinds of space, resources, and time, it might be no problem putting a home office together. But for those who are limited in any of these areas, coming up with an ideal workspace can be a bit of a challenge. So if you’re struggling to find something that works for you, here are three tips for designing your house for an ideal work-from-home situation

Get More Comfortable Furniture

While it’s great to have a dedicated work desk that you’re able to sit at each day, many people can find this type of work situation monotonous, especially if you’re free to move around your home as you see fit. So to allow yourself this freedom, you may want to get some more comfortable furniture to furnish your home with.

If you’re able to, consider getting an ergonomic desk chair to sit at while also having some more casual furniture that you can use. This might include a larger arm chair, a supportive sofa, or even some kind of chaise lounger. But by giving yourself options of where to sit and how to use your home as your workspace, you may find yourself being more productive and creative.

Go Where There’s Natural Light

One of the most ideal features for any workspace is natural light. And since almost all homes have at least a few windows that can bring in natural light, you should try to design your home and your workspaces so that you can take advantage of this light.

Ideally, you should try to sit so that there isn’t direct light streaming down on any screens you’re using, as this can cause a lot of unnecessary eye strain while you’re working. But if you can sit next to a window or facing a window, you’ll start to feel much more energized during your work day and can stave off feelings of lethargy.

Look For Items With A Dual-Purpose

If you’re wanting to really integrate your workspaces with your living spaces, try to put your focus on getting pieces that serve a dual-purpose for you. Especially when space is limited, finding furniture that can also serve as storage space can make both your work and your home aspects of life much easier. You could also get creative with what you consider to be your “work desk” by working on the surface of a table or even a shelf or credenza that you’re already using as storage.

If you’re going to be working from home from now on and want to make your home a space where you can love working and living, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you design your home for this situation.

Why Hire A Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

If one of your old-age relatives has been abused by staff at a nursing home, you would wonder how to hold nursing home and staff accountable for their unlawful activity. Although your legal action will not undo the mental trauma your old age relative has gone through, it will yield a compensation amount which will help to arrange a better nursing home for long-term care.

A wise decision before taking legal action against the nursing home will be hiring a nursing home abuse attorney. A lawyer with a lot of experience in nursing home abuse cases will help you in the legal proceedings such as avoiding mistakes while filing the legal case, gathering strong evidence against the accused and the nursing home, calculating the correct settlement amount, and helping in the negotiation.

Here are a few reasons why one must hire a nursing home abuse attorney to help you with your legal claim:

Administrators of the Nursing Home will try to calm you down with a small amount of compensation.

Once they learn about the abuse event, they will reach out to you to solve the matter internally. They will act very helpful and offer you a tiny compensation, but you must understand whatever they are offering and talking will be for their good and interest which will never be correct compensation for the trauma your relative has gone through. In the end, their best interest will be to pay very little for the trauma your aged relative has incurred. If you accept their unfair settlement offer and sign, you can not claim further compensation.

Gathering evidence is a challenge

To win a case against nursing homes, you need to produce strong evidence of the abuse your relative has suffered. You may not know what kind of evidence will win the legal case. Just a piece of evidence will not win the case or a fair settlement. An experienced attorney will know what kind of evidence is required to win the case and he will know how to collect the same from the accused nursing home.

It’s very easy to turn down an abuse claim by the nursing home

If you hire an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer, he will avoid your costly mistakes while filing the case and with his experience, he will guide you on how to proceed with the case further. He will take control of the case and guide you on what to do and what not to do when involved in the case. Here are a few things that will affect your compensation:

Forgetting the critical deadlines;
Posting the case details on social media pages;
Leaving out some of the critical damages occurred by your relative;
Negotiating for compensation early before the health of your relative has reached maximum improvement.

Not every nursing home abuse case is alike

You must have read more about similar nursing home abuse cases online but not every nursing home abuse case is alike and a common man may not be aware of the nuances of the abuse case. Collecting evidence and calculating compensation is better handled by an experienced attorney than a common person. During the proceedings, only an expert will know what evidences to add to the claim and what arguments will yield a better compensation amount.

So before proceeding with a nursing home abuse case, it is wise to appoint a nursing home abuse attorney to win and yield better compensation.

What Can The Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Do For You?

Experienced workers’ compensation lawyers help people that were injured or became ill when doing their job. Also, the workers comp lawyer can assist clients to obtain medical care when injured.

We have to realize the fact that there are so many victims that file compensation claims every single year. IN fact, in the US alone, there are 5 million such claims that try to get compensation for lost wages, mental anguish, and lost wages. In many cases, the process is straightforward and nothing goes wrong. However, in others, the process becomes very complex and there is always the possibility that the claim is denied.

So what will the lawyer do for you?

Filing The Claim

For starters, the most common job of the workers’ compensation lawyer is to help the client file the claim. While in theory, this process is very simple, there can be many different problems that appear.

It is very important that the forms are filed correctly and that proof is presented in order to highlight that the claim is legit. The attorney makes sure that the client will file a claim that has the highest possibility of success. Without the help of a lawyer, it is very easy to make some mistakes that could lead to you having a denied claim.

Help After The Claim Is Filed

While you could file the workers’ compensation claim without the help of the attorney and without legal advice, when you partner with the professional at the early stage of the process, you get to know so much about the entire process and this can become so much more important than you initially imagine.

The attorney has the knowledge that you do not have and a lot of experience. He will help to gather the documents you need, like medical records, and find witness experts to testify on your behalf.

One more thing that you should know is that the words used in the claim can have an influence on the outcome. The attorney knows how to properly formulate every single sentence to speed up the case and increase the chances of success.

The Bottom Line

To put things as simple as possible, the workers’ compensation attorney has a straightforward job. He needs to help you through the entire claim process and beyond so that you get the benefits that you are entitled to.

Unfortunately, so many choose to not hire attorneys since they think about the fact that they need to be paid. While this is correct, when you compare the fact that you might not get paid at all for the injuries you suffered with paying a part of the compensation you receive, it is clear what the best option is.

The last thing that should be mentioned is that you should take some time to find the best possible workers’ compensation attorney you could find. There can be big differences between attorneys in terms of experience, reputation, and results. Always read client reviews and make sure the person you hire is honest and skilled.

Truck Accident Lawyers Help Victims of Truck Accidents

For a long time now, truck accident lawyers assist injured trucking accident victims throughout the country. They represent clients who were injured while operating a large truck or those hit by large trucks.

These attorneys are well-trained in the area of truck accidents, along with tort law. They are experts in negotiating compensation deals and other legal issues that arise from truck accidents. In addition, they advise their clients on various topics ranging from truck insurance, medical bills, lost time wages, and other matters.

Commercial Trucks

Most truck accident lawyers work exclusively with cases involving commercial truck operators. Most large trucking companies own or operate large fleets of commercial trucks, including long-line carriers, specialty vehicles, delivery trucks, and delivery services. In addition, drivers of commercial trucks may be employed by individual businesses such as restaurants, delivery agencies, retail stores, and hotels. Truck drivers often share duties with other drivers, although they often retain exclusive rights to their work.

Personal Injury Claims

Many times, victims of truck accidents can pursue claims against the large trucking companies that operate the rigs they are driving. They have a legal claim at their disposal when it is determined that the trucking company was negligent in terms of safety and operation of the vehicle in which they were driving at the time of the accident. In some cases, Michigan truck accident lawyers representing victims seek monetary compensation in excess of $1 million dollars.

Victims of commercial truck accidents may also seek damages for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and in some cases, wrongful death claims. Truck accident lawyers are available to discuss your case and provide you with the best possible legal representation.

The Responsibility Of Truck Drivers

Commercial truck drivers have a responsibility to their passengers and other drivers on the road. They are required to follow the rules of the road and remain safe and prepared to handle emergencies that may arise.

Truck drivers must also exercise caution when driving, especially when it comes to large turns and tight curves. This is especially true for large trucks that can cause sudden and unexpected crashes. In such cases, drivers should exercise extra caution and make sure they are able to complete the turn safely.

Consulting Lawyers

It is important that victims of truck accidents consult with a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. The sooner they seek counsel, the more likely it is that they will receive the settlement they deserve. During the consultation period, the victim should discuss how much money he or she is seeking from the responsible party.

In many cases, victims receive a percentage of the settlement as well as an offer to pay medical and other expenses related to injuries sustained. In many instances, victims of truck accidents may be eligible to receive benefits for future medical care or loss of income. In some cases, victims may also receive rehabilitation assistance for injuries they have sustained. Attorneys will help you to quickly file successful personal injury claims that will give you the financial compensation you deserve.