Eberstein Witherite LLP 1800 Car Wreck Fort Worth, 03/14/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

Driver error continues to be one of the largest contributing factors in car accidents, and no group of motorists is more prone to exhibit this type of behavior than teen drivers.

“Unfortunately, teen drivers continue to be one of the biggest risk factors for car wrecks in the U.S.,” stated Dallas personal injury attorney Amy Witherite of Eberstein Witherite. “There are multiple reasons for this, but the biggest in my opinion is the lack of experience in different driving situations. Driving for many years gives you the opportunity to understand how other drivers will react in different circumstances, which helps you take preventative measures to avoid collisions. Young drivers lack that experience, so they tend to make the wrong choices when they are in an extreme situation. And they are also far more prone to exhibit characteristics of driver inattention such as texting while driving, which greatly increases the chances of a wreck.”

The Facts On Teen Drivers

According to the most recent statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, more than 2,000 teen drivers ages 16 to 20 were involved in fatal collisions in 2014, and more than 200,000 teens suffered injuries in a car wreck.

To put it into perspective, teens between the ages of 15 to 19 are only seven percent of the total U.S. population, but in 2013, they were responsible for 11 percent ($10 billion) of the total costs of all car wrecks.

And even within this demographic, male teen drivers are far more likely to be involved in fatal car wrecks than female drivers.

More troubling, teen drivers who have at least one other passenger in their vehicle are more likely to have a car accident than teens who are driving alone, and the risk increases with each additional teen in the vehicle.

As Witherite mentioned, one of the biggest reasons for these statistics is that teen drivers are often newly licensed, and they lack the built-in reaction time to respond to incidences on the road that an experienced driver would possess.

The Distraction Dilemma

Driver distraction is one of the leading causes of car accidents, and it plays a huge role in the rate of teen driver accidents in the U.S.

To be clear, teenagers are not the only group of drivers who exhibit this behavior, but they are more likely to engage in the behavior, and when that is coupled with their lack of experience on the road, it can become a fatal combination.

That’s the lesson that David Teater learned 10 years ago, when his 12-year-old son was killed in a car wreck caused by a 20-year-old woman who was distracted by a cell phone conversation, and ran a red light.

Teater, who is Senior Director of the National Safety Council said in an interview for a CNN.com article on distracted driving that teens find it very difficult not to engage in activities such as texting while they are driving.

“Even a well-meaning teen is going to have trouble saying no when they get that buzz,” Teater said, referring to an incoming text or social media update. “It’s almost a Pavlovian response.”

Some studies have found that using a mobile phone while driving can slow reaction time more than having a .08 blood alcohol level.

The reason is that while most people believe that the brain can “multitask,” the truth is, the brain shuffles between two tasks, which means that it splits focus and concentration. Even a split-second loss in reaction time on the road can mean the difference between life and death.

What Parents Can Do

While parents often feel overwhelmed by the problems posed by their teens driving, there are some steps parents can take to help lower the chances of an accident.

Per a New York Times article on teenage drivers, Jennifer Ryan, Director of State Relations at the American Automobile Association (AAA), suggests that parents not allow their teens to drive from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., during the first six months of obtaining their license.

In addition, Nichole Morris of the HumanFIRST Laboratory at the University of Minnesota – which is dedicated to lowering the rate of car crashes – said:

“Our studies show that the more the parent is involved when a teen is learning, the lower their chances are for a crash,” Morris said.

Parents can also purchase apps that disable the texting function on their teenagers’ mobile phones, and closely monitor their children’s driving behavior, especially during the first two years of them obtaining a license.

Conclusion

Car accidents can devastate your life and cause consequences that linger for years. At 1-800-Car-Wreck, we help victims in cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, El Paso and Austin get back on their feet, and we keep your life running during a difficult time.

SOURCES

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/23/living/teens-driving-texting-drinking-parents/
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/fashion/teenagers-driving-parents.html?_r=0

Media Contact

Lucy Tiseo

Eberstein & Witherite, LLP

Phone: 800-779-6665

Email: lucy.tiseo@ewlawyers.com

Connect with Eberstein & Witherite on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+

source: http://www.1800-car-wreck.com/teen-drivers-dangerous.html

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New York City, NY, 03/13/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

Bird strikes are a significant hazard for commercial aircraft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were about 11,000 bird strikes at 650 airports in 2013 alone. When birds fly into an airplane’s path, they can break windows, cause damage to the plane, and even disable the plane’s engines.

This is exactly what happened on US Airways Flight 1549, which crash-landed in the Hudson River in 2009. Seagulls flew into both engines, forcing the plane’s pilot to make what has been called a miraculous landing on the Hudson River.

Since then, almost 70,000 birds have been killed in an effort to reduce the risk of bird strikes. The killings have upset bird lovers, who have stated they wish the airports could think of an alternative to outright killing the birds. The types of birds killed include seagulls, starlings, brown-headed cowbirds, mourning doves, and Canada geese.

Despite Reduction in Bird Numbers, Strikes Have Increased

Although airports in the region have tried to lower the numbers of birds around their aircrafts’ routes, airport officials say bird strikes have actually gone up since 2009.

LaGuardia and Newark airports reported 158 bird strikes every year in the five years preceding the Hudson crash and nearly 300 strikes every single year in the six years following that accident.

Officials at Kennedy Airport also reported an increase in bird strikes after 2009.

Bird Strikes in History

Bird strikes go all the way back to the earliest days of aviation. In 1905, one of the Wright brothers struck a bird in an Ohio cornfield.

In 1960, birds struck a commercial flight at Boston Logan airport, destroying the aircraft. The accident caused 62 deaths and nine injuries.

In 1995, Canada geese struck a military plane at Elmendorf Air Force Base, killing 24 people.

An Increasing Bird Population

According to one report, the Canada goose population, which is non-migratory, has increased fourfold from 1 million birds in 1990 to more than 3.5 million in 2013.

New York City aviation accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter explains, “In addition to a growing bird population, the FAA says there are more commercial flights. There were 28 million flights in 2007, and the FAA is estimated that number will go up to 36 million by 2020. Birds are a safety threat to these flights, which means airports across the country and the world are constantly searching for ways to help aircraft avoid potentially deadly bird strikes.”

Media Contact:

New York aviation/ lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter. T: 866-324-9211.

Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC

The Empire State Building

350 5th Avenue #6400

New York, NY 10118

source: http://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/2017/03/09/nyc-aviation-accident-lawyer-discusses-70000-birds-killed-clear-nyc-flight-paths/

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ReleaseID: 22844

Dallas, TX, USA, 03/13/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

The sexual abuse of any child is horrible and can cause deep emotional scars that can last for a lifetime. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that there are also false allegations of child sexual abuse.  False allegations of child sexual abuse are also horrible. They create a risk that the accused will go to prison for a crime they did not commit, and the mere allegation of child sexual abuse can create a stigma that destroys a person’s reputation. This blog discusses how to give the falsely accused the best chance of a not guilty verdict at trial, says John Helms Dallas criminal lawyer.

First, jury selection in a child sexual abuse case is critical. Many potential jurors will have an almost insurmountable bias against the accused based on their own experience of abuse or their knowledge of abuse experienced by someone they know. These people may say, and even believe, that they can be fair and listen objectively to all of the evidence, but that is highly unlikely. It is critical to avoid letting people with this kind of bias on the jury.

Second, it is very important to develop the child’s motive to make a false accusation. Many jurors will naturally feel sympathetic and protective toward a child and will believe a child unless there is some reason the child would make up the story. Often, a defense in this kind of case must go beyond simply arguing that it is a “he-said-she-said” case, and that is not enough to find someone guilty.

Third, it is critical to emphasize, early and often, that the jury cannot convict the accused unless the state proves the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is because jurors often simply pick a side they believe–either the alleged victim or the accused–rather than thinking about whether, even though they believe the alleged victim, the evidence is really so overwhelming that it proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

“Beyond a reasonable doubt” is a concept that is difficult for many jurors, and even lawyers, to understand. A skilled and experienced criminal defense trial lawyer knows that you have to TEACH potential jurors about the concept so that they remember and apply it correctly. They need to think, for example, about WHY the law requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal cases: because the law says it is better for ten guilty people to go free than for one innocent person to be found guilty. Comparing other levels of proof, like the lower standard of “clear and convincing” evidence, can also help potential jurors understand how high a burden “beyond a reasonable doubt” really is.

Fourth, it is important to analyze and fully understand any prior statements made by the alleged victim about what happened. Often in these cases, a child is interviewed by a forensic interviewer, and the interview is recorded on video. A lawyer needs to be able to identify any inconsistencies between the child’s trial testimony and what the child has said in prior statements. That means mastering exactly what the child said BEFORE the child testifies so that the criminal defense lawyer will immediately recognize inconsistencies during the testimony without having to go back and review the prior statement. This allows the lawyer to be able to use the prior statement right away to point out the inconsistency.

Not all inconsistencies show that a child is lying. Some details are minor and can be chalked up to normal memory lapses. Some inconsistencies, though, undermine the child’s entire story. A good criminal defense lawyer has to know the difference and should emphasize only the ones that really matter. Picking at trivial details will cause jurors to turn on the defense lawyer because they correctly think the lawyer is being unfair and desperate.

The best criminal defense lawyers therefore have a plan going into the trial, and they must be able to execute it from jury selection through closing argument. But they must also be able to adjust, or even change, the plan quickly if there is unexpected evidence. In child sexual abuse cases, that happens a lot.

Defending someone falsely accused of child sexual abuse at trial is not for the faint of heart. There is so much on the line, and the allegations are so charged with emotion and so horrible if true, that defense lawyers cannot let the pressure get to them. That requires confidence based on experience with these types of cases as well as top-notch trial skills.

If you, a family member or someone you know has been charged with child sexual abuse or other crime in the Dallas area, contact Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms at (214) 666-8010 or fill out the online contact form. You can discuss your case, how the law may apply and your best legal options to protect your rights and freedom.

source: http://johnhelms.attorney/dallas-criminal-lawyer-discusses-false-accusations-child-sexual-abuse/

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ReleaseID: 22850

New Jersey, 03/14/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

You may know that you have a drug or alcohol problem, you may even understand that you have an addiction and that you need help. But there is something that is holding you back from seeking the inpatient treatment that you know you need. What is it that is keeping you from entering drug or alcohol rehab?

Chances are good that it is fear of one kind or another that is keeping you from going to treatment for your addiction. That’s understandable, it’s a major decision that disrupts your life as you know it, no matter how bad that life may be due to your drug or alcohol use. But when you are able to recognize that fear and walk through it anyway, you have the opportunity to change your life for the better.

The following are just some of the fears that you may be experiencing as you decide whether or not you should go to rehab, and some ways of thinking to relieve them.

The Fear of Judgment

While there is far less stigma associated with addiction these days than there ever has been, it’s still a valid fear. You may be worried about what people will think if they know you have been to rehab. If you have a job or go to school, you may be concerned with what your employer, coworkers, or classmates will think when you return. Will they think less of you? Or think that you are weak or broken? Will no one trust you anymore?

New way of thinking: The fact is, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to go to rehab, and you have to remember that. What other people think about you really doesn’t matter. They have not walked in your shoes so they really have no idea what you have been through. Yes, there will be people who don’t understand addiction and have preconceived notions about it. Those are the people whose opinions you just have to ignore.

The Fear of Withdrawal

Most addicts have tried to get clean and sober on their own, but failed because the withdrawal was too uncomfortable. It’s true that alcohol withdrawal and being dope sick are awful and can be dangerous when you try to make it through on your own. But when you attend a rehab, you can go through a medically supervised detox in which you will be given medication to make the withdrawal less painful.

New way of thinking: Detox is safer and more comfortable when you are in a medical facility. There, you will be taken care of and attended to, and you don’t have to be alone. And it could be the very last time you ever have to experience withdrawal from drugs or alcohol.

The Fear of the Past

It’s likely that you have negative memories or trauma in your past that you have used drugs or alcohol to attempt to erase or avoid. That’s very common among addicts. You may be feeling afraid of having to deal with those memories without the chemical assistance you are used to having.

New way of thinking: Yes, you will have to delve into those uncomfortable memories in rehab, to get to the heart of the reasons you began using or drinking. However, you will be doing so in a safe, non-judgmental environment surrounded by people who understand. You won’t have to face those old memories and traumas alone.

The Fear of Wreckage

Most addicts create a lot of wreckage during their active using. It’s easy to put off dealing with it, or even just ignore it when you are using. You may be scared about having to deal with the messes you have made if you get clean.

New way of thinking: There will be things that you have to deal with in recovery that you messed up during your active addiction, but you will be doing so with a new outlook on life. When you begin recovery, you will find that you have more hope for your future and that will make dealing with the wreckage of your past much easier.

The Fear of Losing Relationships

You may fear that you will lose relationships that you currently have, or that you will have to deal with the relationships you’ve already lost due to your using. Both are likely to happen.

New way of thinking: If your current relationships are centered around your using or drinking (your drinking or drugging buddies), then you are likely to lose them when you get clean. That may seem sad or even like something that you can’t handle. But in reality, those people who you hung around with while using probably aren’t really the friend that you think they are – especially if they are also addicts. You will form new friendships with sober people in the future.

Having to deal with relationships that are already lost will be hard. But there is hope that you may be able to rebuild them when you are sober, and that chance doesn’t even exist if you are still using or drinking.

The Fear of Feeling

Drinking and using drugs numbs your feelings so you don’t even have to feel them. When you stop using, you may start to experience emotions that you have been avoiding through drugs and alcohol for the first time in a long time, it’s understandable that this may be frightening.

New way of thinking: There really is no way to get around having to feel in recovery. A different way to think about it is: while you have been avoiding negative feelings for so long, you have also been depriving yourself of experiencing positive feelings. When you learn how to deal with your emotions in recovery, you will have the gift of being able to feel all the wonderful ones that you have been missing.

The Fear of Failure

Maybe you fear failing at sobriety. That makes sense, especially if you have tried it many times before and been unsuccessful. Recovery isn’t a walk in the park, and many people do relapse, but it doesn’t have to be the case with you. Perhaps you don’t want to let your friends and family down again – or yourself, for that matter. However, there are too many reasons to keep trying, so you can’t let this fear stop you.

New way of thinking: You cannot possibly ever get clean and sober if you don’t try again. Each individual who finds sobriety gets to it in their own time. There’s a saying in recovery circles that says simply, “it takes what it takes.” Very few people get sober on their first attempt. But no one gets sober if they make no attempts. Recovery is worth continuing to try.

Final Thoughts

As you are thinking about what is holding you back from going to drug or alcohol rehab, consider the fact that probably every other person who has ever gone to rehab has had some of those very same fears. You are more courageous than you think – you can do this. Visit us on the web for more information about how we can help.

Media Contact HQ

Rene William

(908) 364-5755

source: https://www.summitbehavioralhealth.com/blog/drug-alcohol-rehab-fears-keeping-going/

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ReleaseID: 22857

Dallas, 03/14/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

According to a notice from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a Tennessee semi-truck driver has been declared an “imminent hazard to public safety” and ordered to stay off the road.

In a notice published on February 2, 2017, the FMCSA stated that the trucker was involved in two separate alcohol-related incidents within just a four-day span.

In the first incident, which occurred on December 31, police found the trucker asleep in his truck’s cab in a hotel parking lot. A breath test revealed alcohol in the trucker’s system, and he was arrested for DUI and domestic assault.

The truck driver was released from police custody on January 2 and was involved in a second alcohol-related incident the very same night. According to the FMCSA notice, the trucker caused a multi-vehicle crash when he jackknifed his truck’s trailer and forced three vehicles off the road. Police at the scene conducted a breath test and once again detected alcohol in the trucker’s system.

Unbelievably, these two incidents occurred just a few months after the truck driver first received his commercial license on October 26, 2016.  

Drunk Driving Stats

Drunk driving remains one of the top causes of traffic deaths in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 28 alcohol-related driving deaths in the U.S. every day, which is one death every 53 minutes.

In 2014 alone, nearly 10,000 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, which accounts for one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the country. In addition to the high emotional toll, these accidents also come at a heavy financial price — costing more than $44 billion each year.

Drunk Driving Among Truck Drivers

Drinking and driving is dangerous no matter what type of vehicle you’re driving. When you’re behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle, however, driving impaired is especially deadly.

Texas truck accident lawyer Amy Witherite explains, “Because semi-trucks are such large, heavy vehicles, they can quickly turn into weapons when piloted by someone who is impaired by alcohol. As the incident involving the Tennessee truck driver shows, a single out of control semi-truck can easily sweep multiple vehicles off the road, causing serious injuries.”

Fortunately, the Tennessee truck driver involved in the two alcohol-related incidents has been ordered to stay off the road, however, he is just one truck driver among millions. It’s important for all commercial truck drivers to stay sober every time they get behind the wheel. The safety of everyone on the road depends on it.  

If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident involving a drunk truck driver, it’s important to protect your rights. Don’t wait to speak to an attorney. Call a Texas truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case and your options.

Media Contact: 
Lucy Tiseo
Eberstein & Witherite, LLP
Phone: 800-878-2597
Email: lucy.tiseo@ewlawyers.com
www.1800truckwreck.com
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source: http://www.1800truckwreck.com/texas-truck-accident-lawyer-discusses-tennessee-truck-driver-involved-two-separate-drunk-driving-incidents.html

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ReleaseID: 22860

Dallas, 03/13/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

Many people drive over a bridge every single day, and it’s safe to assume most of them don’t think twice about it. When a bridge is part of your commute, you simply take it in stride — and you assume it’s safe to cross.

However, a new report released by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) casts serious doubts on the safety — and structural integrity — of an astonishing number of U.S. bridges.

ARTBA 2017 Bridge Report

The ARTBA’s 2017 bridge report highlights the American bridges that are in the worst shape and provides a map that shows which states are home to the highest concentration of structurally deficient bridges.

In Georgia, the report shows that between 5 and 8.9 percent of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient. In states like Oklahoma, South Carolina, and North Carolina, nearly 10 percent or more of the bridges are in serious disrepair.

The report also states that there are 185 million bridge crossing every day on the 56,000 structurally deficient bridges identified in the report, with nearly 2,000 of the bridges located within the interstate highway system.

According to the report, the average age of the problem bridges is 67 years old, and over 40 percent of all bridges in the U.S. are at least 40 years old and have never undergone any major reconstruction work.

Which States Have the Worst (and Best) Bridges?

The report also identifies which states have the worst bridges — as well as which states possess the most structurally sound bridges on average.

States with the highest number of structurally deficient bridges: Iowa, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, Ohio, and New York.
States and regions with the lowest number of structurally deficient bridges: Washington, D.C. Nevada, Delaware, Hawaii, and Utah.

Atlanta truck accident lawyer Amy Witherite explains, “Bridges are a vital part of the country’s infrastructure. In recent years, there have been a number of serious bridge collapses, including the 2007 Interstate 35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis that killed 13 people and injured another 145.”

In the case of the Minneapolis bridge collapse, the bridge was constructed in 1964, and the bridge had been rated structurally deficient by the federal government since 1990.

If you have been injured in a tractor-trailer accident, don’t wait to speak to an experienced truck accident lawyer about your case.

Content provided by 1800 Truck Wreck – Atlanta truck accident Attorneys 

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Media Contact for Atlanta 1800truckwreck:
Lucy Tiseo
Eberstein & Witherite, LLP
Phone: 800-878-2597
Email: lucy.tiseo@ewlawyers.com
www.atlanta.1800truckwreck.com
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source: http://www.1800truckwreck.com/atlanta-truck-accident-lawyer-discusses-report-classifying-56000-bridges-as-structurally-deficient-html.html

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ReleaseID: 22841

New Jersey, 03/13/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

Those perceptions can negatively affect the chances of people in active addiction seeking help and beginning recovery, report the substance abuse experts at Summit Behavioral Health in Massachusetts. They force those suffering from the disease of addiction and alcoholics to try to hide their addictions, avoiding treatment for addiction and that can lead to serious, even deadly, consequences.

In order to help individuals suffering from the disease of addiction and increase recovery rates, the stigma of addiction must be understood and reduced. Becoming addicted and seeking help both need to be met with compassion and understanding to help alleviate the problem of drug and alcohol dependency.

What is Stigma?

The definition of stigma is a collection of negative beliefs that society or other group possesses about a subject or group of people.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that stigma is a chief cause of exclusion and discrimination and it adds to the abuse of human rights. When someone is stigmatized, they are viewed as “less than” because of their real or perceived status. Beliefs associated with stigma are rarely factual; instead they are based on preconceptions, generalizations, and assumptions. That means that stigma’s negative impact can be reduced and even prevented through education. But, at this point, the stigma of addiction is still alive and rampant.

Much of the general public still carries negative feelings about drug and alcohol abuse, addiction, and the behaviors that chemical dependencies cause. Using terms like junkie, drunk, and crackhead, add to the negative connotation of addiction and perpetuates the stigma.

How Common is Addiction Stigma?

In the United States, there are millions of people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, yet only a small fraction receive treatment to get clean and sober. In fact, in 2014, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that of the 21.5 million Americans who had a substance abuse disorder only 2.5 million received much-needed treatment for their addictions.

The stigma of addiction plays a huge part in those statistics. Often, people either feel like they will be negatively labeled or they will lose their livelihoods or relationships if they seek help. It’s been reported that the negative attitudes towards addiction and alcoholism are more prevalent than that towards mental illness.

The Harm Stigma Causes

Addiction can happen to anyone in any family; it does not discriminate. That’s why it’s important that everyone does their part to help reduce the stigma that surrounds addiction.

Addiction stigma negatively impacts various areas, including an addict’s willingness to seek help, harm reduction, and social and mental health.

Impact on Seeking Treatment

People who experience the stigma of addiction are far less likely to seek help and attend treatment, which results in medical, economic, and social costs. Those costs – healthcare, criminal justice, and lost job productivity – are astronomical, and they impact all U.S. citizens.

The stigma of drug and alcohol addiction permeates all areas of society, including the field of medicine. When someone who has a problem with drugs or alcohol encounters stigma in hospitals or doctors’ offices, it can discourage them from accessing help for their addiction, or any healthcare at all. Sometimes even the most well-meaning doctors and nurses feel uncomfortable working with patients who have an alcohol or drug addiction. When medical professionals, such as these, carry a stigma towards people with substance abuse issues, the manner in which they approach them may prevent those addicted patients from seeking further help.

Impact on Harm Reduction

Harm reduction strategies including things like needle exchanges and substitution therapies (Methadone, Suboxone, etc.) are affected by stigma as well. Preconceived notions and assumptions about those who engage in risky drug behavior can lead to harm reduction strategies being unsupported by the general population, even though they have been proven to decrease drug and alcohol use and the cost of care for addicts.

Impact on Social and Mental Health

Perhaps the biggest impact of stigma is on an individual level. It can cause immeasurable harm to addicts’ social lives and state of mind. The ongoing stress that comes from discrimination may affect the mental health of people dependent or addicted to substances. It may cause loneliness, isolation, and a feeling of abandonment, all of which can lead to further drug or alcohol use and pulling away from their family, friends, and community.

When someone doesn’t have social connections or support, they are not as likely to seek treatment for addiction. They may become depressed and attempt to hide their drug or alcohol use from others to avoid shaming and stigma.

Perceived stigma is also easily internalized. Substance abusers may begin to view themselves, as they perceive others do, which can negatively affect their self-esteem and self-worth. The widely-accepted perceptions that people with substance abuse issues are immoral and lack self-control only feed into the stigma and cause barriers to those seeking treatment.

How Can We Reduce the Stigma of Alcohol and Drug Addiction?

No one appreciates being devalued or judged. Yet, the stigma of addiction is prevalent in nearly every part of the general population.

Empathetic and nonjudgmental support is what is needed to help those suffering with alcohol or drug abuse disorders.

Some of the ways that we can help reduce stigma include:

Avoiding derogatory labels.
Treating those with drug or alcohol issues with dignity.
Acting with compassion to people in vulnerable situations.
Listening without judgment.
Educating ourselves about addiction.
Separating the addict from the disease.
Replacing negative perceptions with proven facts.
Speaking up when someone is being mistreated because of their substance abuse.
Sharing our own stories of addiction, recovery, and stigma.

The substance abuse experts at Summit Behavioral Health believe that it is only through our understanding and reducing stigma that people suffering from the disease of alcohol or drug addiction will begin to feel comfortable coming forward to get the help they need. Contact us, we understand and can help.

Media Contact HQ

Rene William

(908) 364-5755

source: https://www.summitbehavioralhealth.com/blog/substance-abuse-experts-understanding-reducing-stigma-addiction/

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New York City, NY, 03/10/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

If you’re like most people, you could probably use a little more sleep. What you may not realize is that going without the sleep you need can dramatically increase your risk of being involved in a serious auto accident.

According to a recent study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, sleep deprivation is on the rise — and it’s a serious risk on the road.

Key Takeaways from the AAA Drowsy Driving Study

Skimping on sleep doesn’t just make you irritable. When you don’t get enough rest, you can be just as dangerous as someone who is legally drunk. According to the AAA study, getting fewer than four hours of sleep in just one 24-hour period can cause impairment equivalent to be legally intoxicated.

Other startling data from the study:

Drivers who got five to six hours of sleep had two times the accident risk as drivers who got seven hours of sleep.
Getting four to five hours of sleep increased a driver’s risk of a crash by four times.
35% of adults sleep less than seven hours each day.
12% of adults get five hours of sleep or less.

The study also found that getting just one hour less sleep at night than you’re used to can result in a “significantly elevated” risk of a motor vehicle accident.

Adequate sleep is important for all motorists, but it’s especially critical for people who drive large trucks, as well as shift workers who drive at night, when it’s more difficult for the body to resist drowsiness.

Drowsy driving can also be caused by side effects of medication, as well as untreated sleep disorders like sleep apnea.  

NYC Auto Accident Lawyer Discusses Drowsy Driving

New York City auto accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter explains, “Drowsy driving is a serious problem that has been linked to numerous motor vehicle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving was a factor in 72,000 auto accidents in 2013 alone.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the warning signs of drowsy driving include:

Yawning or blinking frequently
Missing an off ramp
Drifting in and out of traffic lanes
Having trouble remembering the last few miles you’ve driven
Driving over the rumble strips on the side of the road

Of course, the best way to prevent drowsy driving is by getting enough sleep at night. If you can’t get enough rest, the CDC says to pull over and rest until you feel alert enough to drive safely. If you have a well-rested passenger in the vehicle, you can also ask that person to take over driving duties until you have rested enough to be safe on the road.

Media Contact:

New York auto accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter. T: 866-324-9211. 

source: http://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/2017/03/07/nyc-auto-accident-lawyer-discusses-aaa-drowsy-driving-study/

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Dallas, 03/10/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the government agency that is responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of all commercial vehicles. But the agency has increasingly been granting truck inspection exemptions as well as allowing truck carriers to bypass other regulations. While these exemptions may be legal, it is a troubling trend that could lead to more truck wrecks on the road.

To learn about truck accidents checkout our video resource here: http://www.1800truckwreck.com/video

“For most people, the FMCSA is a mystery agency that oversees the trucking industry,” stated Dallas personal injury attorney Amy Witherite of Eberstein & Witherite,LLP. “But the FMCSA’s truck inspections are vital in keeping truck carriers from violating safety protocols that would otherwise have a devastating effect on the number of truck accidents. So when we start to see all these exemptions being granted, you get concerned that perhaps too many trucking companies are being given a pass, and what the consequences will be for motorists.”

Understanding the FMCSA Truck Safety Inspections

Any examination of commercial truck inspection exemptions must begin with understanding what the FMCSA looks for when conducting these inspections.

Per a helpful article on the Industry Safe website titled, The Six Levels of DOT Inspections, every commercial vehicle that weighs more than 10,001 pounds must be inspected every year.

There are six levels of inspection, which include:

Level I – North American Standard Inspection — Inspector checks documents such as truck driver’s license and medical clearance. Inspector also checks safety belts, turn signals, lighting system, wheels and tires.
Level II – Walk-Around Inspection — Inspector walks around commercial vehicle and examines the undercarriage.
Level III – Driver-only Inspection — Inspector examines driver documents in greater depth and detail than in Level I.
Level IV – Special Inspection — One-time inspections that focus on one aspect of a commercial vehicle, such as the brakes.
Level V – Vehicle-Only Inspection — Inspector examines vehicle without driver present.
Level VI – Enhanced NAS Inspection for Radioactive Shipments – Inspector examines radiological shipments to ensure safety compliance.

Clearly, inspectors are responsible for many different factors when it comes to truck safety, which is why exemptions can be fraught with danger.

CVSA Fires the Opening Shot

The issue of FMCSA exemptions came into the forefront early last year when the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)  –– a nonprofit membership organization that is focused on ensuring that commercial motor vehicle safety inspections are uniform throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico –– issued a strongly-worded statement expressing its concern about the number of truck inspection exemptions granted by the federal agency.

In a piece titled, CVSA: Too Many Exemptions published on the Go By Truck Global News website, the CVSA sent a strongly-worded letter to the FMCSA about the burden the agency was placing on its inspectors by allowing them to grant so many exemptions.

Part of the letter –– which was signed by Collin B. Mooney, Executive Director of CVSA –– read, “With so many exemptions, beyond those within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, it is possible that roadside inspectors will no longer accurately enforce the regulations or may stop enforcing certain regulations all together.”

What that means is that the CVSA is worried that by granting so many exemptions, the FMCSA risks confusing its inspectors to such an extent, that they will simply stop doing their job in frustration.

The implications are scary, because poorly inspected commercial trucks pose a clear and present danger to other motorists.

Moreover, the type of exemption that truck carriers request has a great deal to do with the fears expressed by the CVSA.

Recent Exemption Request

An article in Overdrive –– a trucking industry information site –– titled, Carrier Asks FMCSA for Exemption From Short Hauler Log-Keeping Rules, Blames Detention Time, illustrates the kind of issue that concerns the CVSA.

A truck carrier named Farrugio’s Express with headquarters in Bristol, Pa, sought an FMCSA exemption from having to maintain a logbook regarding its drivers hours-of-use.

The exemption would have applied to truck drivers who remained within a 100-mile radius of Bristol, and exceeded the maximum 12-hour rule of continuous driving.

Approximately 12 percent of Farrugio’s Express drivers met that criteria, and the carrier cited wait times at rail yards and piers as the reason these operators exceeded the FMCSA’s maximum hours-of-use rule.

The carrier also indicated that it had installed GPS tracking devices in all its trucks, and that it would conduct at least four safety meetings throughout the year and maintain a “Satisfactory” safety rating, if granted the exemption. The FMCSA granted the Farrugio’s Express request.

“Hours-of-use are already a hotbed of controversy,” stated Witherite. “So any truck carrier that wants an exemption because its drivers are exceeding those hours on a regular basis is a red flag for me, despite the fact that the company’s drivers are operating within a 100-mile radius of their base. We’ve seen through multiple studies that truck drivers who exceed hours-of-use regulations are much more likely to fall asleep at the wheel, or become so tired that they make bad decisions that lead to catastrophic truck wrecks.”

Conclusion

Factors such as mechanical failure and driver exhaustion are major contributors to truck accidents, but they can be prevented through rigid inspection protocols.

You may never suffer injuries in a truck accident, but if you do, the team at 1-800-Truck-Wreck will help get you back on your feet. Please visit our resource section for more helpful information. We are dedicated to helping residents in Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, Austin and other major Texas cities, keep their lives running after a truck wreck.

Sources

http://www.gobytrucknews.com/cvsa-too-many-exemptions/123
http://www.overdriveonline.com/carrier-asks-fmcsa-for-exemption-from-short-hauler-log-keeping-rules-blames-detention-time/
http://news.industrysafe.com/inspections/the-six-levels-of-dot-inspections/

Media Contact:

Lucy Tiseo

Eberstein & Witherite, LLP

Phone: 800-878-2597

Email: lucy.tiseo@ewlawyers.com

www.1800truckwreck.com

Connect with Eberstein & Witherite on Facebook,  Instagram and Twitter

source: http://www.1800truckwreck.com/truck-inspection-exemptions-lead-accidents.html

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New Jersey, 03/10/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

The late 2016 death of iconic Star Wars actress, humorist, and writer Carrie Fisher left millions of fans around the world in mourning. Fisher, who was an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, was famously forthright about her lifelong struggles with drug and alcohol addiction — as well as how her substance abuse problems exacerbated her bipolar disorder. Many have credited her honesty for helping them overcome their own substance abuse struggles, reports Summit Behavioral Health a NJ addiction treatment center.

In later years, Fisher also became famous for appearing on TV shows and interviews with her beloved therapy dog, Gary Fisher. 1 In an interview before her death, Fisher said she acquired the French bulldog to help with her bipolar disorder.

In fact, there is plenty of scientific research to support the link between positive mental health and service or therapy pets.2 Service and therapy dogs have been shown to help patients suffering with heart failure, autism, dementia, anxiety, and other conditions.

Therapy Dogs vs. Service Dogs

The terms “service dog” and “therapy dog” 3 are often used interchangeably, however, there is an important difference between them. Generally, service dogs are permitted to access public places with their owners that are otherwise restricted to animals. In many cases, service dogs are bred to assist with specific mobility issues or health conditions, such as blindness or an individual who is wheelchair-bound. The Americans with Disabilities Act has set forth specific criteria an animal must meet4 before it can be considered a service dog.

By contrast, owners of therapy dogs may not be permitted to take their animals with them when they enter a public place that’s off-limits to pets. In fact, many organizations that train service dogs recommend not training an animal to act as both a service dog and a therapy dog, as a service dog is specifically trained to ignore the public while it helps its owner. Because service dogs are working animals, they also require adequate down time to ensure they don’t experience burn out or stress overload.

How Therapy Dogs Can Help

Therapy dogs can help individuals in recovery by providing companionship and encouraging a more active lifestyle. In many cases, even the simple acts of caring for an animal can help someone in recovery focus on positive tasks that take their mind off the struggles of overcoming addiction.

People who own therapy dogs also find that going out with their dog enables them to meet new people, which can prevent isolation and loneliness. Most people are naturally attracted to dogs and are likely to approach the dog’s owner to pet the dog and ask about it.

Contact Summit Behavioral Health

At Summit Behavioral Health, a NJ addiction treatment center, we offer both inpatient and residential treatment programs for drug and alcohol dependency disorders. Want to learn more about us? Give us a call at 1-844-64-DETOX or visit us online to speak to our staff today.

Media Contact HQ

Rene William

(908) 364-5755

Footnotes:

1 Gary Fisher   https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/12/28/the-delightful-legacy-of-gary-carrie-fishers-beloved-french-bulldog/?utm_term=.b0a3d0cede3c

2 Positive mental health   https://www.uclahealth.org/pac/animal-assisted-therapy-research

3 Service dog and therapy dog   https://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/volunteering-with-dogs/service-dog-vs-therapy-dogs/

4 Specific criteria an animal must meet   http://www.psychdogpartners.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions/laws

source: https://www.summitbehavioralhealth.com/blog/addiction-treatment-center-discusses-service-dogs-therapy-dogs-recovery/

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