OMG! California proposes tougher distracted driving laws for teens Article provided by Law Office of Daniel J. O'Neill Visit us at http://www.danieljoneill.com Because of the danger that distracted drivers, particularly those in the teenage years cause, many states have passed laws banning activities ranging from texting or using hand-held cellphones while behind the wheel. In California, it is illegal for drivers younger than 18 to use a cellphone (hand-held or hands-free) while behind the wheel. Additionally, there is a statewide ban on texting while driving for ...

Statistics show traffic fatalities rising in the US Article provided by Schuster Jachetti LLP Visit us at http://www.mydelawarelawyer.com/ Every year since 2005, the number of fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents has declined -- until 2012. According to data released by the National Safety Council, a non-profit organization, more people were killed in auto accidents in 2012 than the year prior. The NSC reported that approximately 36,200 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2012, representing a 5 percent increase from the year before. The NSC ...

Fiscal-cliff law settles federal estate tax for now Article provided by The Haley Law Group, LLC Visit us at http://www.haleylawgroup.com Estate and tax planning have been complicated in the past decade or so by the fluctuating and uncertain federal estate tax. Thanks to last-minute action by Congress and President Obama, the top federal estate tax rate is set at 40 percent going forward on estates over $5 million. Adjusted for inflation, the first $5.25 million in estate assets will be exempt from federal estate tax for those dying in 2013. Estate taxes An ...

Does Michigan need stricter distracted driving laws? Article provided by MATZ & PIETSCH PC Visit us at http://www.matzandpietsch.com In the age of cellphone addiction, distracted drivers have become a common phenomenon on our roadways -- often leading to serious motor vehicle accidents. In 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 3,331 people lost their lives in distracted driving accidents across the country. In addition, approximately 387,000 people sustained personal injuries in such crashes that year. To prevent these dangerous ...

Resolving workers' compensation disputes through a formal claim petition Article provided by Kaplan & Kaplan Counselors at Law Visit us at http://www.workerscompensationlawyersnj.com People who are injured on the job or who acquire an illness or disease through their work do not have to prove fault by their employers to receive compensation for their medical care and related expenses. Certain requirements still apply, though, and workers must demonstrate that the injury or illness was caused or aggravated by a work act, exposure or accident that occurred in ...

Barking up the wrong tree: Florida drug-sniffing dogs given free rein Article provided by The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A. Visit us at http://www.lauderdaledefense.com The Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures took a big hit recently when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a decision issued by Florida's highest state court. The U.S. court ruled that any court in the nation can presume that a search is valid if law enforcement officials state it was based on an alert by a drug detection dog. The underlying case stems from ...

Medical errors can lead to cerebral palsy Article provided by Joseph Chaiken & Associates Visit us at http://www.jchaikenlaw.com According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 out of 303 children in America are born with cerebral palsy. Additionally, according to the United Cerebral Palsy Association, more than 500,000 Americans have the disorder. Although there are many causes, medical errors made before or during birth cause a significant number of cases. What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders ...

Damage caused by TBI can linger for years Article provided by The Hirsch Law Firm, PLLC Visit us at http://www.jonhirschlaw.com Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common problem across the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.7 million Americans suffer a TBI each year. The medical community has long known about the short-term brain damage that TBIs can cause. However, a recent study suggests that the brain injury caused by TBIs can last much longer than previously thought. Researchers at the University of South Florida ...

Proposal may affect Nebraska child custody determinations Article provided by Vacanti Shattuck Visit us at http://www.cvhslaw.com In February, a Nebraska lawmaker introduced two bills to the Judicial Committee that could change how courts award child custody. The proposed changes are meant to equalize the amount of time that separated parents spend with their children. In a divorce, child custody is one of the most contentious issues. Often one parent receives a greater share of the time with the child or sole physical custody. This parent's home is usually where ...

Financial pitfalls faced by women post-divorce Article provided by The Law Office of Thomas V. Sassone, P.C. Visit us at http://www.tvslawpc.com Statistically, women have the harder time financially after a divorce than men. A study conducted by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University has found that on average, a man will see an approximate 10 percent increase in his standard of living post-divorce, but a woman will experience a 27 percent decrease. Experts attribute the disparity to the possibility that many women are not involved with finances during ...

Iowa Legislature mulls tougher distracted driver law Article provided by Shanks Law Firm Visit us at http://www.shankslaw.net The dangers that distracted drivers pose to other motorists on our nation's roadways has received a lot of attention in the press lately, and for good reason. After all, common sense tells us that taking our eyes off the road is a dangerous behavior that dramatically increases the risk of a car accident. Unfortunately, Iowa drivers are not immune to such behavior. As a result, the Iowa legislature has proposed toughening its laws against ...

2013 tax changes may spell confusion for small business owners Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com After a no small amount of last-minute scrambling to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, Congress recently passed a number of changes to the federal tax code. Some of these changes, both good and bad, could have a significant impact on small business owners. While the potential for increased tax liability under the new plan is a major concern for many small business owners, some say the real challenge will be keeping ...

Tax payment plan vs. tax settlement: What's the difference? Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com Many serious tax problems stem from a simple and relatively common situation: being unable to pay the amount due to the IRS. What many people who find themselves in this situation do not realize, however, is that being unable to afford a tax payment is not necessarily what lands a person in hot water with the IRS. Instead, it is how these individuals choose to deal with the situation -- or not deal with it -- that ...

Personal bankruptcy options: liquidation vs. reorganization Article provided by Purrazzella & Purrazzella, P.A. Visit us at http://www.purrlaw.com When financial difficulties turn from bad to worse and people fear they may never be able to catch up on their overdue bills, many turn to bankruptcy as a way to make a fresh financial start. While most people have heard of bankruptcy, many are unaware of how the process works and how it can benefit people who are struggling with unmanageable debt. What is bankruptcy? Bankruptcy is a legal procedure that helps ...

New technologies lead to new dangers on our nation's highways Article provided by Noel M. Ferris Visit us at http://www.noelmferris.net Over the past decade, cell phones have become an essential tool for people in nearly every walk of life. While these devices definitely have their benefits, they are also responsible for the emergence of a significant threat on our nation's highways: distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,092 people were killed and an additional 419,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents ...

Rhode Island divorce: basic family law considerations Article provided by Law Office of Hoopis & Hoopis Visit us at http://www.hoopisandhoopis.com When a couple plans to divorce in Rhode Island, the parties must address several legal topics that go beyond the relationship, itself. For example, litigants must assess property division, child custody and visitation, child support and other similar issues if they are applicable to the end of the marriage. Jurisdiction The first step in the process concerns jurisdiction. In Rhode Island, divorce proceedings ...

Guilty until proven innocent? Article provided by Kenneth L. Baritz & Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.baritzlaw.com In the 2002 movie Minority Report, Tom Cruise's character, police Chief John Anderton, leads Washington D.C.'s "Pre-crime" unit that uses a trio of gifted humans ("Pre-cogs") to see the future and prevent crime before it actually happens. The Pre-cogs are trusted so implicitly in the year 2054 A.D. that future criminals are punished for crimes they supposedly would have committed before being stopped by police. While ...

Young drivers more likely to use cellphones while behind the wheel Article provided by Goicoechea Law Offices Visit us at http://www.lawnorthwest.com/ To the parents of teenage children, the results from a national survey of drivers regarding cellphone use while on the road should come as no surprise. According to the research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more young drivers are involved in motor vehicle accidents while distracted behind the wheel. In addition, a large proportion of younger drivers answer phone calls while they ...

Adequate savings the key to financial wellness Article provided by Ferguson Scarbrough Hayes Hawkins & DeMay, PA Visit us at http://www.fspa.net No one ever plans to go into bankruptcy. To the contrary, a significant number of bankruptcies can be traced back to unexpected life events, like a job loss, divorce or illness. When these crises hit, the combination of interrupted income and added expenses can be financially devastating. When events like these happen, having a robust emergency savings account can mean the difference between weathering the storm ...

After foreclosure, "zombie titles" may haunt homeowners for years Article provided by Caldwell & Kearns, P.C. Visit us at http://www.caldwellkearns.com Six years after the collapse of the U.S. real estate market, thousands of homeowners across the country are discovering that they are still on the hook for houses they thought had been foreclosed upon years ago. According to a recent Reuters report, these so-called "zombie titles" are wreaking havoc on the lives of homeowners nationwide, resulting in garnished wages, lawsuits and even threats ...

Struggling with student loans? Bankruptcy may help Article provided by Enderton & Mathews, LLC Visit us at http://www.emlegal.net/ Since the recession began in 2008, many Americans have drastically reduced the amount of debt that they carry. However, there is one exception: student loans. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, there is $956 billion in outstanding student loan debt--an increase of almost 20 percent from the beginning of 2012 until the end. As it has been difficult for many students to find gainful employment following graduation, ...

What happens to those unable to make health care decisions? Article provided by Gemma Law Office, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gemmalawoffice.com It can be very difficult for a person to think about making an estate plan. Dealing with what happens after passing away can lead some to feel that their time is almost over. They may think that they do not have enough assets to pass down, and believe that an estate plan is not necessary for their situation. However, each person will have different wishes for what happens at the end of his or her life. Without having ...

Take steps to keep your divorce from jeopardizing your finances Article provided by Donelson Ciancio & Grant, P.C. Visit us at http://www.colodivorceattorneys.com Going through a divorce is never easy and, for many, it can be financially devastating. Many marriages end in divorce and, in Colorado, it is no different. While reasons for the high rates vary, most people going through divorce proceedings are in danger of jeopardizing their financial well-being. Financial tips for divorce During and following your divorce, there are a number of tips to follow ...

Despite the rise of digital media, business cards remain a big piece of the marketing puzzle. Business cards continue to circulate because they provide an easy way to pass along complete contact information on the go. But the old school standard black text on a white background no longer impresses hot prospects or promising contacts. To stand out in a web based world, business card designs need to be inspired and memorable. Many professionals focus on basic design elements, such as fonts and taglines, but they stop short of exploring all of the possibilities. Fortunately, ...

TheHub.fm solves a conundrum that's plagued concert-goers since the dawn of time: You love the music, but you also want to support the artist by picking up a t-shirt ... just not enough to wait an hour in line after the show. So what do you do? Just in time for SXSW music week, there's an app for that. TheHub.fm is an e-commerce mobile platform for bands to sell their merchandise, with a perk: Fans can use the app to browse and buy merch during a live concert and pick up their purchase during or after the show. While picking up the merchandise in person is a choice, ...