According to CNN, a new study suggests that more than 60 percent of people who go bankrupt in the United States are victims of medical debt. Even with medical coverage, this type of debt can take down some of the most financially secure Americans. A new study has found that medical bills increased bankruptcies by nearly 50 percent in a six-year period, from 46 percent in 2001 to 62 percent in 2007, CNN reports. You do not have to be struggling financially to be caught under the bludgeon of medical debt. In fact, you can be just one accident or illness away from ruin ...

As businesses struggle to stay afloat in this economy, many employers are tempted to classify workers as independent contractors, in order to avoid paying employment taxes. While the temptation exists, for most businesses it is an honest mistake, caused by the confusing legal standard used to classify workers. Other times, the IRS overreaches and attempts to reclassify workers who were correctly treated as independent contractors. Over the past few years, the IRS has waged an aggressive campaign of auditing businesses and reclassifying independent contractors to employees. ...

After almost 10 years of improving statistics, the number of teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents in West Virginia and across the country rose during the first half of 2012. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, the number of 16-and 17-year-old drivers who died on U.S. roads dropped during the period from 2000 to 2010. In fact, the number of 16-year-old drivers killed on the road during that time dropped by around 66 percent, while the number of 17-year-olds fell by over 50 percent. During the first six months of 2012, that trend reversed course, ...

For the first time in seven years, the number of fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents in the United States rose last year. According to the National Safety Council, approximately 36,200 people died in auto accidents across the country in 2012. This represented a 5 percent increase from the number of traffic fatalities in 2011 -- an increase that has not been seen since 2005. At the same time that the number of traffic fatalities rose, the combined cost of fatalities, personal injuries and property damage caused by motor vehicle accidents also increased in 2012. ...

In the early years of drug research, the government gave scientists funding to develop and discover new drugs. When discoveries were made, pharmaceutical companies would manufacture the drug, secure the patent and reap the benefits of the newest drug on the market. A Changing Industry A lot has changed since then, and according to the Washington Post, the changes may not be for the better. Pharmaceutical companies are funding their own research now, and in doing so, can circumvent the built-in checks and balances that existed when outside agencies did the funding ...

Country singer Leann Rimes is making the news for something other than her vocal talents or her burgeoning acting career lately: the dental malpractice claim she has brought against her long-time dentist. The starlet alleges that her dental provider, over the course of three long years of treatment, has damaged her mouth to the point of needing multiple root canals, bone grafting, painkillers, a temporary dental bridge, physical therapy and follow-up care for her TMJ syndrome (a dental condition that causes clicking or popping of the jaw and pain along the jaw). She also ...

If you are struggling financially, it is important to understand that there are options available to put you back on your feet. For some people, filing for bankruptcy makes the most sense -- whether they opt for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. Often, people considering filing for bankruptcy may feel overwhelmed and are uncertain about what they can do to improve their situation. Consequently, when deciding to file for bankruptcy, it is important to understand that there are steps you can take to protect yourself during the process. In addition to hiring ...

In the past six years, there have been over 50 combustible dust fires or explosions in the nation, causing nearly 170 injuries and more than 30 deaths. One explosion at a sugar refinery killed 14 workers and injured over 40 people. Such explosions and fires also cause extensive damage to industrial buildings and facilities each year. Combustible dust Under certain conditions, combustible materials -- and materials that do not normally burn -- can explode in dust form, causing serious injuries and wrongful deaths. A wide range of materials fall within this category ...

In 1938 Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act, legislation setting regulations for wages employees earn, records employers keep and how much children may work. The far-reaching law affected more than 700,000 workers at the time it was passed, and most public and private sector employers must follow its requirements. As time passed, lawmakers amended the FLSA to strengthen the protections the law offers to workers. The law does not treat all employees in the same manner, however, and some confusion can emerge about how the FLSA's rules apply. Those who work in blue ...

Americans LOVE their cellphones. They love to talk, text, check email, play games, catch up on work, listen to a favorite playlist, update social networking sites, make plans, stay abreast of news and find local deals. It's like the world is right at your fingertips, and multitasking is no longer a foreign concept for most people. All these things and more can be done on an internet-enabled smart phone, but that's not necessarily a good thing. With more than 250,000,000 cell phone users across the country, more and more people are becoming engrossed in the virtual world ...

The United States Supreme court recently heard oral arguments in a case that will affect drivers' Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful searches and seizures. Specifically, the issue in the case, Missouri v. McNeely is whether law enforcement must obtain a warrant before ordering a blood test for alcohol. Background of case The facts of the case began in October 2010 when a Missouri highway patrol officer stopped Tyler McNeely for speeding. During the stop, the officer suspected that McNeely had been drinking. As a result, the officer ordered McNeely to perform ...

A ruling by the Florida Supreme Court could change the game for individuals facing drunk driving charges. For years, Florida defense attorneys in the state have had to deal with potentially unreliable results of breath tests used to convict individuals of DUI. Unfortunately, many, attempting to gain information pertaining to the devices, have encountered road blocks. However, this may soon change. The Florida Supreme court recently heard arguments relating to the discovery of information pertaining to these alcohol breath tests. The legal affects of breath alcohol ...

Nearly every single one of us has received an email by mistake. Perhaps we have a similar name to a coworker, or one of our friends sent us something they meant to send to someone else. Most the time, we simply delete the email and remind ourselves to be careful in the future to ensure that we do not also do the same thing. When an attorney-client email falls into the wrong hands, it could have a devastating impact on a client's case. As lawyers and clients continue to adapt to constantly changing technology, they both need to take steps to ensure that they communications ...

Part of the Hippocratic Oath that all doctors must swear when they obtain their licenses to practice medicine is a vow to "do no harm or injustice" to their patients. However, many physicians in the U.S. are not keeping their promises not to harm patients. The U.S. health care system is rife with preventable medical errors, and health care professionals need to make changes to eliminate these mistakes. Medical errors a widespread problem Preventable errors have become endemic to U.S. health care. A study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University ...

On February 1, 2013 the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare announced they had created the final version of the rule that will allow for the implementation of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act. Congress passed the Physician Payment Sunshine Act in 2010 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but officials have encountered delays in putting it into effect. With the creation of the final rule, officials hope that there will be more transparency regarding the financial aspects of the health care industry. Disclosing financial relationships The goal ...

The reporter, Robert Langreth, interviewed Paul D. Rheingold, partner in the New York law firm of Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, McCartney & Giuffra LLP, in relation to a lawsuit our firm has started for the death of a 24 year old woman where the robot was used in a hysterectomy. It caused burns to an artery, cutting off circulation to her bowels leading to a condition which the operative note described as "incompatible with life." In the New York suit, McCalla v. Intuitive Surgical Inc., the reporter not only spoke with our firm but also spoke with our ...

From thermometers and blood sugar meters to high-tech pacemakers and hip implants, medical devices help assess and treat millions of patients in California and across the U.S., but they are not problem free. When problems develop with medical devices - such as those implanted in patients - identifying the issue and tracking the defective medical devices is both critical and difficult to do. Now, a proposed Food and Drug Administration process to track medical devices could help. It's called the Unique Device Identification process, or UDI, and it would require nearly ...

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newberry SC Hotel offers nearby lodging to the 2013 SummerFun Horseshoe Tournament. Taking place March 23-24 at Marion Davis Park, this 5th annual event will be the first stop on the Horseshoe Pitchers Pro Tour. Festivities at the tournament will also include kids inflatables and corn hole games. Sponsored by the South Carolina Horseshoe Pitching Association, the SummerFun Horseshoe Tournament is a great opportunity for spectators to watch some of the best horseshoe players in the country. For tournament entry information and event ...

Stacey and Ira, whose combined weight at one point was 1035 pounds, together have lost over 550 pounds and more importantly, kept it off! Stacey and Ira are pleased to announce that Ira will direct an all-girls weight loss camp, Camp Friends 4ever, starting June 23rd at the prestigious College of William & Mary in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Camp Friends 4ever, is not just another fat camp, and is the only weight loss camp allowing campers themselves to choose most of their own activities, leading to a more rewarding and productive summer. Ira's previous campers ...

Dubai-headquartered sustainable investment company, Advanced Global Trading, praised its partner, Lotus F1 Team's performance at the Australian Grand Prix. The team, led by a sublime performance by Kimi Raikkonen, got its 2013 World Championship challenge off to an excellent start at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit, granting the Finn his twentieth Grand Prix victory and second place for the team. Charles Stephenson, CEO of Advanced Global Trading AGT, now into its second year of working with Lotus F1 Team to help it reach carbon neutrality, says: "We're proud ...

President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010. Some provisions became effective immediately, and others are being phased in over a ten-year period. Most major provisions of the federal law, though, will be phased in by January, 2014.That means companies across the country must prepare now to compete in the new world of healthcare. "People are connecting with us more than ever because of the fast-paced changes in health care. People are looking for new solutions, partly because of the Affordable Care Act," says FluidEdge Partner Kent ...

Ugam Solutions announced today that Sudhir Holla has joined as Senior Vice President focused on actionable analytical insights for the retail industry. His mandate is to work with the industry to strategically identify and resolve critical issues to improve retail profits while building customer relationships. "The retail industry needs to foresee and meet increasing customer needs. By bringing in Mr. Holla, Ugam Solutions strengthens our commitment to providing the industry with the analytical insights they need for profitable outcomes," said Sunil Mirani, CEO ...

If you think Navigational Tips for Living in an Imperfect World is just another self-help book you couldn't be more wrong! Written by Charles Bentley PhD & Marian Edmunds, with drawings by the Financial Times cartoonist Roger Beale, its subtitle "We're all right as we are, if only we knew it!" encapsulates its self-liberating message. Right there on the very first page we're told that there 'is no magical goal, no fantasy destination to be reached' - that you don't need help - you're OK as you are! The book highlights our fascination with and our desire ...

A+ Conferencing, a seasoned conferencing provider won the distinction as the "Top 5" Conferencing Provider in the industry as determined by validated 2012 reviews from the 3800 members of Telecom Association, a professional membership organization of telecom and technology consultants, agents, brokers and sales partners, founded in 1996. Selection as a "Partners Choice" Award winner showcases A+ Conferencing's long term commitment to technology solutions that work in the conferencing industry as well as customer service excellence. "Our association ...

When you want to use your images in all sort of print media such as magazine covers, communication materials, newspapers, advertisement and other uses, you need the clipping path service. Without using clipping path, your images can not draw much attraction among the viewer. Image clipping path generally called removing background. Some may be called it white background. For standard quality of your images, you must need the help of image clipping path service. Basically, image clipping Path aims at knocking out the original background of an image and replacing it onto ...