With more than a decade of experience helping Tampa-area homeowners recover for sinkhole damage to their homes, Attorney Ted Corless, of Corless Associates, wants to clear the air related to recent coverage of sinkhole claims and insurance 'abuse' by policyholders. In the first of three articles to be run by the Tampa Bay Times, sinkhole insurance is characterized as the "Great Florida Sinkhole Lottery;" examples of Florida homeowners receiving payment for losses due to sinkhole damage and using the money for other purposes than repairing the damaged home are ...

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States, with the majority of cases occurring in the Northeast. It has been three decades since the agent of the disease, the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, and the ticks that vector it were identified. However, the number of Lyme disease cases have steadily increased. In a new article appearing in the forthcoming issuue of the Journal of Medical Entomology called "What Do We Need to Know About Disease Ecology to Prevent Lyme Disease in the Northeastern United States?" authors from Colorado ...

ST. LOUIS -- An investigational vaccine protected some women against infection from one of the two types of herpes simplex viruses that cause genital herpes, according to findings in the New England Journal of Medicine. The vaccine was partially effective at preventing herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), but did not protect women from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). There were less than half of the cases of genital herpes caused by HSV-1 – 58 percent fewer -- in women who received the investigational vaccine compared to women who received the control vaccine. "There ...

Most states require minimum levels of auto insurance coverage and impose penalties on drivers who fail to comply with those laws. Louisiana law only requires liability insurance, but drivers can decide whether they want other coverage such as uninsured motorist and medical payments coverage. You should know about the available types of coverage since it can determine how you will be compensated for medical bills and property damage claims in the event of a car accident. Liability Insurance Requirements Louisiana requires drivers to carry minimum amounts of liability ...

A phase II clinical trial found that rilonacept, an inhibitor of the protein interleukin-1 (IL-1), significantly reduced acute gout flares that occur when initiating uric acid-lowering therapy. Results of the trial—the first placebo-controlled study investigating IL-1 targeted therapy in prevention of gout flares—show rilonacept to be generally well tolerated with no serious infections or treatment-related serious adverse events reported. Full findings are published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Patients with gout—a ...

Drivers might not be aware of two relatively new vehicle and traffic laws in New York that went into effect in the last year. The first law, found in New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Article 1122-a, relates to bicyclists riding on the shoulder of a road. And the second law, Article 1144-a, relates to drivers and emergency vehicles stopped on the shoulder of a road. Being Mindful of Bicyclists Article 1122-a of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires drivers approaching a bicyclist on the shoulder of the road to make an effort to put as much distance ...

WASHINGTON—The rezoning around a planned light rail line in the Twin Cities would create both opportunities and potential risks for the health of the people in the communities it would pass through, according to a health impact assessment (HIA) released today by PolicyLink, TakeAction Minnesota, and ISAIAH, a nonprofit coalition of 90 congregations of various faiths in the Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Cloud region. The HIA was made possible through a grant by the Health Impact Project, which is a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable ...

In the 1980s, crack-cocaine use was seen as a problem of epic proportions. The conversion of powder cocaine to crack transformed what had been an expensive drug into a much cheaper, more widely available and -- in the beginning -- more potent drug. From the creation of a Cabinet-level Drug Czar to additional legislation from Congress, a variety of actions were demanded by the public to stop the perceived drug crime epidemic. Part of the response by Congress was increased penalties for crack-possession convictions, including mandatory minimum prison sentences that were ...

Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous threats on our nation's roads. In 2009 alone, 5,474 people were killed and another 450,000 were injured at the hands of distracted drivers. Pennsylvania is by no means immune to this problem. Pittsburgh car accident lawyers witness firsthand the tragedies caused by drivers who fail to focus on the road. Thankfully, Pennsylvania will soon have a new tool in its arsenal to combat distracted driving -- starting March 8, 2012, texting while driving will be illegal across the state. Governor Tom Corbett signed the bill into ...

Ask any property owner and he will most likely tell you that owning property brings responsibility. Not only is an owner responsible for maintaining the property like mowing the lawn and shoveling the driveway during the winter months, they are also responsible for making sure the property is free and clear of dangerous conditions that could cause a person coming onto the property to be injured. If the property owner doesn't keep the property free from dangers and someone is injured, the owner could be legally responsible for the injuries under the theory of premises ...

The dangers of drunk driving in Florida are well-known. In 2009, the latest year for such statistics, more than 900 lives were lost in alcohol related car accidents. However, an increasing number of intoxicated pedestrians are being killed by oncoming cars. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in 2008 that pedestrians are four times more likely to be killed if they are drunk compared to those who are sober. Across Florida, nearly a third of pedestrian deaths in 2010 involved a pedestrian who had been drinking. Reports indicate that ...

Tucson, Arizona is rated one of the top cities in the nation for bicycle commuting. In part due to the extensive network of bike paths and also Tucson's push to become a platinum-rated bike-friendly community, bicycle ridership increased 58 percent between 2009 and 2010. While the city as a whole has made great strides, there are a few pockets where bicycle safety needs an extra boost. The University of Arizona (UA) campus is one such pocket. With around 11,500 bicyclists on campus each day, the UA campus has the highest concentration of bicycles in the Tucson metro ...

An 18-wheeler hit a bridge and overturned recently on Interstate 30 in Dallas, Texas. While no injuries were reported in the truck accident, the concern remains: 18-wheelers pose a threat to their drivers as well as other drivers and passengers on the road. And the larger the truck, the more deadly the accident outcome can be. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 51,000 large truck accidents occurred in 2009, involving 74,000 people -- most of whom were in passenger vehicles. In those crashes, 2,987 people were killed. Unfortunately, Texas ...

When patients are injured or die accidentally during hospital stays, these incidents are rarely reported or publicized. Hospitals call these "never events," because they should never have occurred in the first place. While some of these adverse events may be inadvertent, many are caused by the negligent acts of hospital medical and staff personnel. The general public and future patients deserve to know the circumstances about how and why people were injured while hospitalized, so they can make informed decisions about their care. Never and Adverse Events Never ...

The American economy still hasn't rebounded. Unemployment levels are hovering around ten percent, and the housing market is still slowly recovering from the housing crash of several years ago. Many homeowners are left looking for ways to make their mortgage payments and stay in their homes, including through loan modification. While there are many reputable companies that help people seek loan modifications, there are many more who are little more than "snake oil" salesman just trying to scam people out of their money and possibly their home. AOL Real Estate ...

Many people may think there is no way to eliminate tax debt to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Actually, however, there are several options for lessening or discharging tax debt, including filing for bankruptcy protection or through an offer in compromise agreement with the IRS. If a tax debt is forgiven or discharged, the debtor is no longer responsible for payment of the amount owed, and all collection activity of the IRS -- like wage or bank account garnishments or real property liens -- must stop from that point forward. However, liens that were levied prior ...

Martin Banks attorney, Maria Harris was a speaker for The Philadelphia Chapter of the Widener Women's Network annual winter luncheon on Wednesday, December 7, 2011. A panel of three women attorneys spoke about their experiences of working for a large firm, a medium sized firm, and as a solo practitioner. Maria Harris spoke on behalf of the large firm based on her past experience. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Harris practiced at an international defense firm litigating insurance matters in the areas of life, health, disability and ERISA claims. She has also previously ...

This summer, the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision to deny Ford Motor Company the right to discontinue workers' compensation benefits to George E. Frandsen once he turned 67 last year. Frandsen filed suit against Ford Motor Company for discontinuing his permanent total disability payments due to his age. Frandsen was disabled in a workplace accident at a Ford plant in 2004. At the time, his injuries were determined to be permanently and totally disabling. Six years later, Ford Motor Company sent him a letter notifying him that his workers' ...

The Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport Hotel (North, I-85) offers nearby lodging to guests attending Scotts Antique Market Shows at Atlanta Expo Center. Providing over 3300 exhibit booths, the event is the world's largest monthly indoor antique show. Coined "A Treasure Hunter's Paradise," visits will find anything from furniture, paintings, silver, instruments, and much more. Upcoming 2012 Atlanta show dates include: - January 13-15 - February 10-12 - March 9-11 "We are an ideal lodging choice for shoppers in town for the 2012 Scotts Antique ...

The Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Airport Hotel (North) offers convenient lodging to guests attending the Progressive Atlanta Boat Show. The event will take place in downtown Atlanta at the Georgia World Conference Center from January 12-15, 2012. The show is celebrating its 50th year as the best place to see and purchase boats, gear and accessories. Show highlights include: - Atlanta's Indoor Wake Park - Family Day - Thursday, January 12 - DIY Seminars and Interactive Learning Center - Welcome to the Water Center, for attendees new to boating "Conveniently located ...

Hampton Inn & Suites Scottsboro Hotel offers nearby lodging to participants and fans attending upcoming Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournaments on north Alabama's Lake Guntersville. Hosted at Goosepond Colony in Scottsboro, AL, there upcoming 2012 BFL tournaments schedule dates are: - BFL Bama, February 8 - BFL Choo Choo, February 18 - BFL Music City, February 25 "Home to over 80 bass fishing tournaments each year, Goose Pond Colony is only a short drive from the Hampton Inn & Suites Scottsboro," explains Nova Sisk, the Scottsboro AL Hotel's General ...

Specialist niche insurance broker Cover4caravans.co.uk today unveiled its new look website which gives a fresh, friendly and fun feel to buying caravan cover. Richard Burgess, Director at Cover4Caravans, commented: "We have spent the last few months working very closely with our expert design team to update our website to make it friendlier and even easier to use - as well as make it stand out from the rest! "We are really excited about the results - a caravan insurance website that really epitomises what caravanning is all about - fun, nature, and the great ...

The world's largest travel guide book publisher has named the Maritimes as one of its Top Ten Regions to visit in 2012, specifically referring to several distinctly Nova Scotian experiences as some of the reasons behind its decision. In Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2012, Canada's Maritime region of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island is included as one of the top ten regions to visit next year. The recognition comes on the advice of Lonely Planet's authors, guidebook team and selected members of its travel community, who considered all the region has ...

From 13-15 January 2012, The France Show, the biggest French lifestyle show in the UK, will be taking place at Earls Court exhibition centre. After the huge success of the exhibition last year, visitors will again be invited to experience the many delights of France and the French culture by over 150 exhibitors. Millennium & Copthorne Hotels operates six hotels across central London, including three hotels in Kensington, all situated within easy reach of the event and providing visitors to the show with the ideal place to stay. Guests will have the opportunity to ...

Based on 45 goods and services, Numbeo.com's cost of living survey for the beginning of 2012 was conducted by more than 23000 independent contributors who entered more than 241,000 prices. The most expensive cities (excluding rent) are Trondheim and Stavanger in Norway, followed by Zurich in Switzerland. In Numbeo's survey, New York is used as the base city for the index and scores 100 points, all cities are compared against New York and currency movements are measured against US Dollar and EURO. Tokyo (Japan) scores 135.23 points and is nearly three times as costly ...