Posted by Melissa Thompson

Despite constant warnings and preventative education, drunk driving continues to plague the nation. Everyone knows they shouldn’t get behind the wheel when they’ve had too much to drink. Yet, roughly 29 people die each day from drunken car accidents. The following are statistics on these accidents that everyone should know in order to raise awareness to this prevailing problem. 

Understanding the Scope

Alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 10,497 deaths in 2016 alone, or 28% of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States. Out of that number, 1,233 were children. Some as old as infants, others up to 14. Another 214 were injured.

Another statistic from 2016 shows that over one-million drivers were arrested for being under the influence. That number, however, only comprises 1% of the 111 million self-reported cases where a driver may have crashed. 

Risk Factors

The true risk is blood alcohol concentration. Anything higher than 0.08% is considered over the limit across the country. After reaching that marker, drivers have a much higher chance of being involved in an accident. 

Younger persons are more likely to hit that threshold before those who are older. Those between the ages of 25 and 34 comprised three in ten or 27% of fatal crashes in 2016. The 21 to 24 age bracket made up 26%, while the 35 to 44 bracket were responsible for 22%. 

Motorcyclists are also more likely to be involved in fatal accidents involving alcohol. Of all crashes involving a death and motorcycle, 25% included a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Those between 35 and 39 are the most likely be included in that statistic, often needing an attorney for a wrongful death case when passengers are involved. 

Understanding BAC

Many people remain unaware of just how much alcohol affects their body and mind. This is especially true as more alcohol is consumed, impairing the ability to make sound decisions. Here are some things you can expect at various blood alcohol levels:

0.02% or about 2 drinks – slight loss of judgement, divided attention, decline in visual function 

0.05% or about 3 drinks – impaired judgement, lowered alertness, less inhibition, reduced coordination, difficulty steering, reduced response time

0.08% or about 4 drinks – poor muscle coordination, short-term memory loss, reduced information processing, impaired perception, judgement and self-control impairment

0.10% or about 5 drinks – deterioration of reaction time, slurred speech, poor coordination, slowed thinking, inability to maintain lane position, improper braking

0.15% or about 7 drinks – vomiting, loss of balance, substantial impairment, loss of attention, major loss in muscle control, impaired visual and auditory processing 

Prevention

States handle prevention methods in various ways, but the most common are the 0.08% BAC and minimum drinking age laws. Ignition interlocks, sobriety checkpoints, and awareness programs in schools are also common. Some states also increase taxes on alcohol sales. 

Still, the problem persists. It’s up to the individual to make the right decision. Make sure you always use a designated driver, never let your drunken friends get behind the wheel, and take advantage of taxis or rideshare services when available. Finally, encourage guests to sleep over if they are impaired for house parties.

Posted by Melissa Thompson

Everyone has an idea about what harassment is. They know it when they see it, and they know it’s wrong. However, proving harassment requires that you understand the term as it’s defined by law. That can make workplace claims a little trickier for most. Here’s what you need to know to prove harassment in the workplace. 

Legally Defining Harassment

First, you need to know what the legal definition of harassment is as it applies to a workplace. There are four main categories that define this type of conduct, which include:

Being based on a victim’s protected characteristics

Offensive words, gestures, and actions

Unwelcome conduct of any kind

Severe or pervasive conduct that affects a worker’s employment

Understanding Protected Characteristics

This is where discrimination comes into play, which harassment is a form of under the law. Conduct targeting a victim’s age, race, gender, disability, ethnicity, and more are all illegal. These are protected characteristics in the legal system, determined by federal law. 

Title VII, the Age Discrimination Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act all help further define the illegality of harassment and discrimination. There are also state and local laws that add onto the federal ones. 

Understanding Offensive Conduct

This aspect of harassment is perhaps the largest. Jokes, name calling, slurs, and threats are all examples. These are often based on someone’s protected characteristics. Sexual harassment can also qualify as offensive conduct, most often in what are known as “quid pro quo” cases. 

In these scenarios, someone is made to put up with advances or harassment in order to keep their job, land a promotion, or receive a raise. You should speak with sexual harassment lawyers in OC if you or someone else in your workplace is experience these quid pro quo scenarios. 

Offensive conduct can also be heavily based on race or ethnicity. A Jewish worker assigned to bookkeeping simply for being a Jew is a prime example. Making “jokes” about the KKK to an African American would be another. Mimicking a disability would also qualify as offensive. Keep in mind that this form of conduct is case by case. 

Unwelcome Conduct

This is where sexual harassment gets most of the focus, as unwanted advancements or physical conduct are clear signs of harassment. This Los Angeles workplace harassment attorney handles plenty of cases like these year after year. However, there’s more to unwelcome conduct than sexual nature. 

Threatening violence, using offensive or derogatory terms, or any form of unwanted physical contact can all be unwelcome by the recipient. Your harasser, however, could prove in court that you also make unwelcome comments that do not make you uncomfortable. This is why professionalism in the workplace is so important. 

Conduct That is Severe and Pervasive

Generally speaking, proving harassment under the law requires a series of patterns or incidents. One isolated incident is rarely enough. However, severe conduct is categorized as an extreme single incident. Physical assault, for instance, would be enough under the law to prove your case. 

As for pervasive, that extends to the circumstances surrounding your claim. Courts examine each incident in its own context, determining how egregious the conduct was in each. There are no specific number of times harassment needs to take place. Instead, courts look at the criteria discussed in this article to make a determination. 

Posted by Melissa Thompson

When a divorce takes place, both parties’ finances are split. Sometimes, the marriage itself leads to heavy financial burdens and issues. For these reasons, it isn’t uncommon for one or both individuals to file for bankruptcy in the aftermath. 

If you’ve found yourself in this nightmarish situation, then don’t lose hope. There are steps you can take to ensure you file bankruptcy correctly in light of your divorce and help get your new financial situation back on track. 

Chapter 7

Ideally, you will be filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The form will ask for information about a spouse, which you cannot legally fill out if your divorce is final. You will also write “NO” in the “Are you married” section of the document in this case. So, get the correct paperwork and begin filling in the simple sections. 

Documentation

Before filling out anything else, you need to gather every document about your income, assets, tax returns, and any other finances. You need the prior two years of taxes as well as six months’ worth of income. Having these documents is vital to filing as you need to ensure the accuracy of every number you write down.

You should also have a copy of your credit report handy. You can find this information for free through websites like CreditKarma.com or AnnualCreditReport.com. This will also include any creditors and collections agencies. 

If your divorce is recent, make sure to have your divorce decree on hand. This document, obtained through your trustee, will state any financial obligations your former spouse has in relation to your debts such as property, attorney fees, and outstanding bills. 

If you’re having difficulty accessing court records or trustee documents due to a language barrier, find a bilingual lawyer like this Spanish speaking divorce attorney in Riverside to assist you. It is your right to hold a copy of the divorce decree for financial purposes just like this. 

Credit Counseling

You will need to take two debtor education courses when filing for bankruptcy. There are approved credit counseling agencies for this step, which will provide you with a certificate to be filed with your bankruptcy paperwork. 

Completing the Forms

There are over 20 documents associated with filing, so take your time and fill them all out correctly. Make sure to keep any financial documents handy as you’ll need exact numbers on these forms. That includes everything from assets to your bank accounts and two years of taxes. Six months of income is also required. Make sure to consider the following as well:

Community property states require a Schedule H, even without co-signed debts

Schedule I is for any child support or alimony payments

Schedule A/B is for unpaid alimony/child support and property settlements as assets

Schedule E/F is for unpaid alimony/child support and property settlements as liabilities

Schedule J-2 is for unfinalized divorces where both parties live in separate households

Form 107 requires all legal proceedings within the last year, including your divorce

Completing all of these forms can quickly become confusing, which is why it’s in your best interest to seek legal counsel. This Anaheim bankruptcy lawyer has helped countless individuals ensure their paperwork is filed correctly and that they do not include any debts they do not have to pay for after a divorce. 

From there, all you have to do is pay the filing fee and mail in your documents to the trustee. It costs roughly $355 to file, regardless of marital status, but you can request a fee waiver if you are 150% below the federal poverty line. All that’s left to do afterward is attend your hearing to finalizing your bankruptcy. 

Posted by Melissa Thompson

The evidence is clear, distracted driving is not only dangerous but can also be deadly. Each year in America, approximately 400,000 accidents involve driver’s that are distracted in one way or another. Taking your eye off the road for a mere three seconds is all it takes. Aside from phones, GPS (Global Positioning System) devices are quickly becoming another distraction behind the wheel. 

Roughly, 26 million households in the United States use GPS. Although use of a GPS is arguably safer than opening a road map while you’re in route to visit a loved one or a meeting with business litigation lawyers, many people don’t realize the potential danger they can cause. Here are ways your GPS can be distracting while driving. 

Listen Up

Programming your GPS while you’re driving can be equally as dangerous and texting, which is considered one of the leading causes of accidents. Many people set the voice command on the GPS to mute, turn up the radio, and rely on the screen for directions, which takes your focus off the road and onto the GPS. Turn down the radio and use the audio commands to be safer.

Wrong Way Down a One Way

GPS systems are helpful technology, but they’re not perfect. They sometimes can give you outdated or inaccurate information that can send you in the wrong direction. Other times, the satellite can experience communication errors that can cause interruptions or glitches. 

Many times, an outdated map can lead drivers the wrong way down a one-way street. That’s a quick track to heading to the office of these personal injury attorneys in Orange County. Don’t be overly confident or rely solely on your GPS to get you to your destination safely.

GPS Safety Tips to Avoid Distracted Driving 

With the two primary distractors and dangers out of the way, it helps to know what tips are out there to avoid distractions from your GPS. The following are simple tips to ensure your safety as well as others on the road. 

Properly Install and Program Before Driving

Always ensure that your smartphone or GPS system is properly and securely mounted in place before you start driving to keep it from dropping on the floor. When installing, place it at eye level close to your line of vision so you can keep your eyes on the road. Always program your destination before starting your journey, even if you’re in a hurry, as well. 

Don’t Rely Solely on Your GPS Device

Always familiarize yourself with the directions before you go. If you get off course or need to reprogram your GPS, always pull over in a safe location rather than trying to reprogram your GPS while you’re driving. Keep a map in your glovebox just in case your GPS fails, too. Better to be prepared than stranded without a signal and not know where to go.

Use Your Voice Commands

As mentioned before, you should always use the audio setting on your GPS. Not only will you be able to keep your eyes on the road, but the GPS most often gives you more of a notice when a change is coming to your course. If you’re traveling with a passenger, ask them to be in charge of the GPS so you can stick to driving. 

Posted by Melissa Thompson

Although a website alone used to be enough for your business to market itself online, you now need more visibility. Social media is one of the best ways to gain exposure for your business.  Having a Facebook page, Instagram account, and Twitter will ensure that you get the maximum amount of visibility possible. 

Rather than settling for a few followers, it’s in your best interest to get a buzz going as much as possible by gaining a loyal following. Here are some of the best-proven ways to gain followers on your social media page, and as a result, drive your sales.  

Post Regularly 

One of the single most important things that you can do to make sure that your efforts pay off is to post regularly. When you post regularly, you’ll start to build a loyal following that knows they can rely on you for content.  Consistently posting will build up engagement, unlike other pages who don’t post, who quickly lose their followers’ interest. 

In addition to posting regularly, it’s also important to remember the importance of what you post, not just when you post. By finding a balance between these two elements, you should be able to cast your net as wide as possible. Just remember that even though posting regularly is important, you shouldn’t post too much. The last thing you want is to overwhelm your followers and leave them annoyed. 

Engage 

It’s easy to post content and expect replies; however, it shows more effort when you take the opportunity to reply to each comment that your followers leave. Get to know them one on one and engage with them on a personal level. 

People will start to build trust and friendship with your brand, making it something that people feel a connection with. If someone writes you a message, make sure that you take the time to truly reply and get to know what it is that they’re trying to say. 

Use a Third-Party Scheduling App 

One of the best ways to make sure that your followers see your posts and stay interested is to make sure that you’re posting at the right time of the day. Your posts should be during times when you know people are online. 

Third-party apps are able to post for you when the most amount of followers are likely to engage. The more people that engage with your post, the more that the algorithm of social media platforms will show it to other people.  

It’s all a numbers game when it comes to building your brand online. The more loyal followers that you can build, the more that your business will grow and profit.