Recent Blog Posts in May 2011

This week, it was reported that two companies are being accused of lax security procedures.  Both companies' procedures led to 60,000 of their customers' employees being exposed to fraud and theft.  The companies were facing charges that they violated federal law by failing to protect the private information, but recently settled with the Federal Trade Commission.

Ceridian Corporation and Lookout Services Inc. said they took reasonable measures to protect sensitive data, including social security numbers.  However, the FTC states that the companies were negligent and that their "unfair and deceptive" security practices exposed more than 65,000 consumers to risks.

As part of the settlement, both companies are now required to implement comprehensive information security programs and will also be subjected to annual audits.

Have you been victimized by negligent security?  If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses and suffering.  To learn more, take the time to meet with a personal injury attorney immediately.

If you are a dog owner, or know someone who owns dogs, there are many ways that you can protect your family against dog bites.

Whenever small children and babies are around dogs, you must be extra-vigilant. Do not leave children alone in the company of strange dogs. At an early age, teach your children how to approach dogs and how to treat them. For example, you should always ask the owner if the dog is friendly and does it like to be petted.

Let the dog smell you before you attempt to touch it. Areas that you should avoid touching on a dog are its tail and face. Should the dog be sleeping, eating or have puppies when you approach it, do not attempt to touch the dog. When passing a dog, walk, instead of run, as the dog might feel threatened otherwise. And you should always remain calm in the presence of dogs.

Are you a dog bite victim?  Get the legal help you deserve by calling a personal injury lawyer.

The motorist responsible for taking the life of a veteran California Highway Patrol officer will not be charged criminally for the car accident.

According to police reports, Daniel Ogara felt sick and blacked out immediately before he ran into several cars. As a result, Officer Philip Dennis Ortiz, 52, died 13 days after he was pinned under a car during a traffic stop. Two more people received minor injuries as a result of the multi-car accident.

A nine-month investigation into Ogara's medical history led officers to believe that the accident was not Ogara'a fault. He had pulled over into the emergency breakdown lane when he started to feel ill and, although that would have been a criminal violation all its own, Ogara's "unforeseeable medical emergency" protected him from being charged.

Have you recently been injured in a car accident? If so, call a personal injury lawyer now to discuss the details of your case.

One woman's dog bite injuries were so severe that she was awarded $60,000 by a jury in Coryell County this month.

Dina Maze worked for Curtis and Racine Moore, owners of an animal ranch, when one day their Rottweiler attacked her as she was feeding him. The Moores are no stranger to lawsuits, however, as they already face multiple charges of animal cruelty, and have had animals confiscated from their property earlier this year.

Maze was awarded $60,000 this week to cover medical damages for her continued treatment; she also listed Gary Friedel, the owner of the Topsey Wildlife Ranch from which the Moores leased property.

Although the Moores attempted to move away to a new location, officials soon arrested them with 10 counts of cruelty to livestock animals, 64 counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals and two counts of illegal dumping.

If you have recently suffered a dog bite, call a personal injury lawyer now to discuss the details of your case.

A motorcycle accident in Brunswick County has left at least one person seriously injured last week.

According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the motorcycle driver was heading south on Highway 17 when he tried to make a left turn onto Stone Chimney Road. At that moment a car in the left lane sideswiped his bike. At this time the department is not offering comments about the extent of the motorcycle rider's injuries, or those of the second driver.

Have you recently been injured in a motorcycle accident? If so, there is no time to waste in calling a personal injury lawyer now to start discussing the details of your case. When you are not responsible for your motorcycle accident, you shouldn't be responsible for paying any accident-related bills either.  Do not wait to discuss your rights as a victim as well as your legal options with a personal injury attorney who can help you.

Tragedy struck in Mississippi this weekend when a truck driver died in a severe construction accident.

According to police reports, 40-year-old Aaron Sipp was removing a load of pipes from his truck when they all tumbled out. Sipp lay underneath five 2,100 pound pipes until emergency personnel came to remove him. He was taken by CareFlite helicopter to the Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Sipp later died under the doctor's care at Parkland.

Police are still investigating the construction accident, and are yet to determine how or why the pipes fell onto Sipp.

Have you recently been in a construction accident? Were you seriously injured? If so, there is no time like now to call a personal injury lawyer. Get the legal advice you need and deserve to get back on your feet and back to work. If you have been struggling with medical bills caused by the accident, call a personal injury lawyer now to start working on your case.

A clam digging trip to Cook Inlet proved fatal after three men lost their lives and two more are still missing.

The Coast Guard received a call around 3:45 p.m. from the boat Pacific Alaska Shellfish that five of its men had gone missing around Polly Creek. They had been on the 20-foot aluminum skiff together when something went wrong. The company joined the Coast Guard in searching for the five men; the Coast Guard helicopter crew took flight to search from the air while the USGC Cutter Roanoke Island is contributing to the efforts.

At this time the identities of the victims have not been released.

Have you recently been involved in a boating accident? If so, call a personal injury lawyer now to discuss the details of your case. Why let your boat accident-related injuries affect both your medical and financial well-being when a qualified attorney can help you get help for both.

An 18-wheeler caused a serious traffic backup when it failed to stop in time, hitting six cars in front of it on Highway 395.

According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, the accident is still under investigation. Information is still scarce but they have reported that four victims were injured, one of them being an elderly person who was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The truck first ran into a green Explorer and a green Honda; these cars were then propelled into four more vehicles, including a dump truck.

Two of the passengers had to be cut from their vehicle by East Fork firefighters; they were flown to Renown Hospital by Care Flight helicopter. A second helicopter was dispatched for another young man with unknown injuries.

The truck accident caused 11 motorists to be injured.

Have you recently been involved in a truck accident? Call a personal injury lawyer now to receive legal advice.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed against August Busch, IV was settled this week.

The lawsuit, filed by the ex-husband of Adrienne Martin, is on behalf of their eight-year-old son. Martin was discovered dead in the home of August Busch last year during a party that he was throwing. An autopsy performed on Martin showed that she had significant amounts of painkillers and cocaine in her system.

Although Busch agreed to pay $1.5 million in the final settlement, his lawyers were quick to state that this payment was not an admission of Busch's guilt.

Do you want to file a wrongful death lawsuit? Do you feel that someone you love was taken away too soon? If so, there is no time like now to start discussing the details of your case. Call a personal injury attorney now to see whether you have a strong case for wrongful death, and if so, how to start filing the lawsuit.

New information surrounding the shutdown of a Flour Bluff nursing home has been released by the state. According to this report, there are some serious allegations of nursing home abuse being held against the home.

 Back on April 15, agents of the Department of Aging and Disability Services raided the Affordable Quality Care Assisted Living Center. Cameras were brought in to capture the raid intended to take the facility's operating license. Najmeh Nouri Griffin, the owner, appeared disturbed and confused by the raid; however, the most recent report shows that she must have known about the blatant abuse happening in her facility.

The document explains in detail that the center "...abused residents through physical abuse, verbal abuse, intimidation and humiliation." In addition, punishments were given out to the residents, such as two patients that were forced to "wear dirty diapers around [their] necks."

If you suspect nursing home abuse, it is advised that you discuss your concerns with a personal injury attorney immediately.

When three tractor-trailer trucks collided earlier this week, one man lost his life.

Bradley Conkle, 49, was operating a white 1996 Kenworth loaded with coal when he lost control of the vehicle. The truck overturned and was then struck by a yellow 2000 International operated by 35-year-old Danny Brown. His rig also overturned and went off the road, only to be struck by a blue 2004 Western Star driven by James Farmer, 52.

All three men were transported to Harrisburg Medical Center; Brown was then brought by helicopter to another hospital. Farmer was soon released by Conkle was pronounced dead at 4:20 by coroner Jerry Watson.

Four agencies rushed to the accident - the Saline County Sheriff's Deputies, Eldorado Police, Harrisburg Police and the Illinois State Police - all of whom are still investigating the truck accident.

When you are injured in a trucking accident, one of the first people you should call is a personal injury lawyer. Get the legal advice you need today!

A bizarre turn of events occurred in Northport last week when a physical education teacher was struck by lighting while sitting in his office.

According to police reports the coach is employed by Walker Elementary School and was in his office when lightning struck the building. According to the superintendent of the Tuscaloosa County School District, the lightning went into the building, as well as took at telephone lines at the school; several other schools in Tuscaloosa County were affected by the lightning.

The victim was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center. He is currently being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Since he was injured on the job, the coach should expect to be compensated for his workplace accident thanks to the Alabama worker's compensation system.

While workplace accidents are commonly associated with a profession like construction, they could happen to anyone on their job. If you have recently been injured, call a personal injury law now to discuss your case.

When a truck carrying a load of honeybees overturned on the highway, traffic was shut down for several hours in central Wyoming.

According to Trooper Marshall Wyatt of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, a truck went across the center line of Highway 220 and sideswiped the truck carrying the bees. He believes that at least 150 to 200 hives broke open; they covered nearly 400 feet of highway. A few people did get stung as a result of the truck accident, including the truck driver who was later treated for them.

The hives that did spill out were brought to the side of the road and burned.

Have you recently been injured in a truck accident? If so, there is no time to waste in calling a personal injury lawyer now. It is possible to get compensated for any accident-related injuries, as well as time lost from work, but only with an attorney at your side.