June 05, 2013 (Press-News.org) Earlier this year, police pulled over a Louisiana driver after a witness saw him speeding and swerving on a New Orleans road. Upon asking for his vehicle registration and informing the driver -- who reeked of alcohol -- that he would need to submit to a field sobriety test, he suddenly bolted and jumped into a nearby river. The 20-foot drop to the water did not hurt him, but neither did he avoid an arrest for drunk driving.
Possible law changes on the horizon
Laws regarding legal limits for drinking and driving may change in the future. In an effort to reduce the number of drunk driving accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that states in the U.S. lower their blood alcohol content (BAC) limits from .08 to .05. According to the NTSB, nearly 100 countries across the world have adopted a .05 or lower BAC limit, resulting in significantly lower accident rates.
For someone who weighs 160 pounds, a .05 BAC law means he or she is limited to two alcoholic beverages before driving. Generally, a drink is equivalent to one of the following:
- Twelve-ounces of beer
- Four-ounces of wine
- One-ounce -- one shot -- of hard liquor
Such a limit may bring a dramatic change to the way people think about drinking and driving. While the NTSB does not intend to forbid people from having a beer while out for pizza, one drink may be enough to push many over the legal limit.
A person's driving ability may be impaired despite having a BAC below the legal limit. One drink can reduce a driver's vision, reaction time and operating capabilities. A reduced capacity for safe driving leads to a higher risk of causing a car accident.
Drunk driving accidents in Orleans Parish
According to statistics keep by the Louisiana State University, there have been 15 fatal motor vehicle collisions in Orleans Parish so far this year and three of those deaths are attributed to alcohol use. Alcohol-related crashes account for 70 injuries this year and, last year, Orleans Parish had the highest number of alcohol-caused accident injuries for the entire state.
Chances are, if you are driving in New Orleans, you are in danger of becoming involved in a motor vehicle accident with an impaired driver. If you or a loved one suffers an injury caused by a drunk driver, seek the counsel of an experienced Louisiana personal injury lawyer. An attorney knowledgeable about drunk driving accidents may be able to help you obtain compensation for your losses.
Article provided by Murphy Law Firm LLC
Visit us at www.neworleanspersonalinjurylawyer.com
New Orleans man jumps into river to avoid drunk driving charge
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that states in the U.S. lower their blood alcohol content (BAC) limits from .08 to .05 in an effort to reduce drunk driving deaths and injuries.
2013-06-05
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Is the Neutral Evaluation Process actually helping Florida homeowners?
2013-06-05
In 2006, Florida lawmakers created the "Neutral Evaluation Process" in an effort to help Floridians resolve sinkhole insurance disputes. Specifically, this process allows both homeowners and insurance providers to request an evaluation of sinkhole damage by a neutral evaluator should a disagreement arise regarding a Florida sinkhole insurance claim. Ultimately, this evaluation concludes with a report outlining whether sinkhole activity actually caused the damage in question and the possible courses of action that should be used to remediate the damage.
Sadly ...
Eighteen-wheeler crash claims life of Louisiana truck passenger
2013-06-05
Last month, two 18-wheeler trucks collided on a highway northwest of Lafayette, Louisiana, killing an Opelousas man who was a passenger in one of the trucks. A Freightliner driving on state highway 10 was cut-off by another truck as it entered the highway from a private drive. The 50-year-old passenger died at the scene of the accident.
According to the Highway Safety Research Group from the Louisiana State University, there have already been 13 fatalities in Lafayette Parish this year that were caused by motor vehicle accidents. In all of 2012, there were 29 wrongful ...
Multi-prong approach to reduce Pennsylvania distracted driving accidents
2013-06-05
After almost a year in effect, the Pennsylvania texting ban only resulted in 1,302 citations statewide, according to AAA. This number illustrates just how hard it can be for law enforcement officers to enforce texting bans and that reducing the number of Pennsylvania distracted driving accidents requires a multi-prong approach.
In southwestern Pennsylvania, there were not even 200 citations for texting issued. Officers report that they have trouble distinguishing when a driver is making a call or texting. In other states, one creative enforcement effort is to have officers ...
Scott's Law violation can be an aggravating factor in an Illinois DUI
2013-06-05
An Illinois statute known as Scott's Law requires motorists to move over and use extra caution when approaching a police car or other emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road. Also known as the "Move Over" law, the statute was named in honor of Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant Scott Gillen, who was fatally struck by an intoxicated driver while tending to a traffic accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Scott's Law requirements for Illinois drivers
According to Scott's Law, Illinois drivers must take the following precautions when approaching an ...
Jamie McCourt Asks To Reopen Divorce Settlement With Former Dodgers Owner
2013-06-05
In October 2010, Jamie McCourt received $131 million in a divorce settlement with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. Now, Mrs. McCourt claims the settlement was based on a fraudulent misrepresentation of Mr. McCourt's worth.
At the time of the divorce, Frank McCourt listed the worth of the Dodgers franchise at approximately $300 million when, in fact, McCourt was able to sell the Dodgers for $2 billion. Due to the misrepresentation, Jamie McCourt's attorney has asked the court to set aside her divorce settlement, noting, "Mr. McCourt got about 93 percent of the ...
Criminal tax investigations increase even as CI unit loses staff
2013-06-05
Recently, the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations unit released a yearly report showing that the number of prosecutions increased in fiscal year 2012. The increase in criminal tax investigations was noteworthy in part, because the number of people employed in the unit has decreased.
In fiscal year 2012, which ended on September 30, 2012, the unit initiated 5,125 investigations. This was a nine percent increase over the prior year. The number of indictments increased 13 percent, while convictions were up 12 percent from the prior year.
The total number ...
Upturn in California real estate market increases need for legal help
2013-06-05
A new medical building is going up in Santa Cruz and will be four times the size of its current location. According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, property in the popular Mission Street area is in such high demand that the clinic had to settle for a 20 year lease instead of purchasing the property outright. The expansion of the medical facility is just one of many signs indicating an uptick in the real estate market in California.
California's real estate boom
Across the state, realtors are reporting increasing demands for industrial, residential and commercial properties. ...
Experts brace for an influx of repeat filings in 2013
2013-06-05
Among the sweeping changes put in place by the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) is a mandatory waiting period between bankruptcy filings. The length of the wait depends both upon the type of the previous filing and the type of bankruptcy protection sought now. For example, under the BAPCPA, there is now an eight-year mandatory wait between Chapter 7 filings, provided an Order of Discharge was entered in the first case, or between a Chapter 11 filing and a Chapter 7. Since there was an influx of first-time filings in 2005 before the BAPCPA ...
New Jersey Superior Court case analyzes palimony laws
2013-06-05
The Superior Court of New Jersey recently agreed to hear a case questioning when contracts allowing for palimony payments are upheld. Palimony, a claim for financial support between a couple that was not married, has been recognized in New Jersey since 1979. In the past, both oral and written agreements were enforced.
This changed in 2010, when an Amendment to the Statute of Frauds was passed. This Amendment essentially states that for a palimony agreement to be enforced, it must be in writing, signed by the party promising to make payment and that both parties must ...
Preventing Accidents Resulting From Driving While Intoxicated
2013-06-05
In the United States, driving while intoxicated is the cause of about 30 deaths per day and countless injuries. The victims of drunk driving accidents are often blameless and regrettably fall prey to another driver's irresponsibility. There are many measures being taken by local governments and communities to prevent intoxicated driving accidents, including:
- Active enforcement of the legal drinking age and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws
- Conviction and punishment for drunk drivers, including driver license suspension and revocation
- Sobriety checkpoints
- ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Biophysical Society announced undergraduate poster award competition winners
Successful strategies for collaborative species conservation
Immune cells may lead to more Parkinson's cases in men
SCAI publishes expert consensus on alternative access for transaortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Humans inherited their flexible joints from the earliest jawed fish
Understanding the world within: Study reveals new insights into phage–bacteria interactions in the gut microbiome
Cold treatment does not appear to protect preterm infants from disability or death caused by oxygen loss, according to NIH-funded study
Pennington Biomedical researchers uncover role of hormone in influencing brain reward pathway and food preferences
Rethinking equity in electric vehicle infrastructure
Lunar Trailblazer blasts off to map water on the moon
Beacon Technology Solutions, Illinois Tech awarded grant to advance far-UVC disinfection research
University of Houston researchers paving the way for new era in medical imaging
High-tech startup CrySyst provides quality-by-control solutions for pharmaceutical, fine chemical industries
From scraps to sips: Everyday biomass produces drinking water from thin air
Scientists design novel battery that runs on atomic waste
“Ultra-rapid” testing unlocks cancer genetics in the operating room
Mimicking shark skin to create clean cutting boards
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and obesity-linked cancer risk
New technique reveals how the same mutations give rise to very different types of leukaemia
New insights into how gut cells respond to bacterial toxins
Designing self-destructing bacteria to make effective tuberculosis vaccines
SwRI-led PUNCH spacecraft poised for launch into polar orbit
Orthopedic team from Peking Union Medical College Hospital publishes longest-term follow-up study on post-TKA outcomes in Chinese patients with knee osteoarthritis
Lung abnormalities seen in children and teens with long COVID
NBA and NBA G League Player Ambassadors urge fans to learn lifesaving CPR in 90 seconds
Hormones may have therapeutic potential to prevent wrinkles, hair graying
Clashing with classmates: Off-putting traits spark enemy relationships
Ferulic acid: a promising ally against colon cancer
Superbugs in our food: a new hope for tackling drug resistance
Submersible robot surfs water currents
[Press-News.org] New Orleans man jumps into river to avoid drunk driving chargeThe National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that states in the U.S. lower their blood alcohol content (BAC) limits from .08 to .05 in an effort to reduce drunk driving deaths and injuries.