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Car accidents in Highland and elsewhere are the top killers for teenagers in the United States. This young driving age group possesses much less experience behind the wheel than you and I. Not only do they have less experience, they’re also more likely to engage in distractions while driving, distractions that can produce both serious and fatal accidents.

According to a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, female teenage drivers are the worst of the bunch. They’re more likely to engage in distractions including cell phones and text messaging devices, than males of their same age, according to US News.Researchers at AAA looked through roughly 8,000 video clips from the inside of teens’ cars in North Carolina. It was concluded that cell phones and smartphones were the number one kind of distraction for these young drivers, especially the teen girls.

Our Gary car accident lawyers understand that teens need coaching through their driving career. This doesn’t mean that parents can rely on the state graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) program. Parents need to stay involved in their teen’s driving habits to make sure that they’re staying safe behind the wheel. Enforce your own rules to help keep them safe on our roadways.

The study concluded that females were engaging in electronic distractions behind the wheel about 7 percent of the time. Male teens were only engaging in these distractions just 4 percent of the time. While we’re proud of the boys for keeping their phones down a little bit more, the truth of the matter is that any use of these devices greatly increases accident risks. While this study focused on electronic distractions, other kind of distractions were witnessed in 15 percent of the clips, including eating, drinking, grooming and adjusting various controls.

Believe it not, older teens were more likely to engage in these distractions, too. It seems like the more comfortable they got behind the wheel the more likely they were to whip out their cell phones.

Researchers concluded that females were twice as likely to use an electronic device while driving, 10 percent more likely to engage in other distractions, 50 percent more likely to reach for objects and 25 percent more likely to drink and eat at the wheel. The only thing boys were more likely to do was to turn around in their seats and to talk to people who were outside of the car.

It was also noted that teens were more likely to talk loudly and horseplay with one another when there was more than one passenger present in the vehicle.

Teenage drivers who use electronics at the wheel take their eyes of the road about a second longer than those who were distracted in other ways. It may not seem like a lot, but it could mean the difference between life and death.

“That extra second can mean the difference between managed risk and tragedy for any driver,” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of AAA.
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A man embroiled in a Shelbyville, Indiana divorce had hit the jackpot – literally – or so it seemed at first.Our Highalnd divorce lawyers understand that as it turned out, the winner was actually an older woman in her 70s. But the case brings up a number of good points for those going through a divorce – even if you aren’t lucky enough to win the lottery.

According to the Indy Star, the situation at first seemed almost like a made for television drama. At stake was a $35 million state lottery jackpot.

The estranged wife of the Hoosier Lotto jackpot took to the local airwaves recently, saying she wanted to make sure she got a share of the winnings. She even met with an Indiana divorce attorney, who filed a motion to stop the husband from spending any money at all until all financial matters can be resolved.

Apparently, the relationship between the two had been strained for some time. They had married in 2008, but were planning a divorce. However, the two still lived together, dated on and off and have two children together. The husband, however, had been reticent to actually follow through with filing a divorce.

Speaking to a local television station recently, the wife told a reporter that her husband called her up out of the blue and asked if the divorce could be made final. Because the sudden turn of events didn’t seem to make sense to the wife, she asked if he had won the lottery or something. She said he avoided the question at first, but then later conceded, he had, in fact, won. She says he tried to conceal those winnings from her and quietly get a divorce so that she wouldn’t be entitled to any of it.

The truth of the matter, however, is that he was not the winner – although several local television news stations had aired information indicating that he was. Apparently, several reporters forgot to check their facts.

However, the wife is still not 100 percent convinced. Her lawyer has filed a temporary restraining order on the husband’s expenditures as a matter of precaution.

“If he doesn’t have any winnings, obviously it doesn’t have any effect,” the wife’s lawyer was quoted as saying.

At issue here is whether the wife would be entitled to those earnings, even if the two were separated. Under Indiana Code Title 31, the wife would have been entitled to half of those winnings, as they would have been obtained during the course of the marriage – regardless of whether the two were personally estranged.

Generally, division of property and assets in an Indiana divorce is going to be split down the middle, 50-50. There are a few situations in which that could be argued that such a division could be disputed:

  • If the property or income was acquired prior to the marriage or through an inheritance or gift;
  • If one spouse contributed significantly more to the acquisition than another;
  • If there are children involved and one spouse is seeking to stay in the marital house with the children;

In reality, however, property valuations and other considerations give your attorney much room with which to work. And failure to protect yourself could result in an inequitable property settlement.

Additionally, attempting to hide any of these assets can result in legal repercussions. One way to avoid this is to have a prenuptial agreement prior to marriage, so that these type of issues are sorted out before there is any animosity between the two parties.

What this case also proves is that dragging your feet on a divorce is not always in your best financial interests.

If you are contemplating a divorce, make an appointment with an experienced Highland family law attorney to discuss your options.
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Many people may equate a contested divorce in Indiana, with bitter arguments swirling around issues of child custody, alimony, property division and so forth.A new trend, however, is being observed by child custody attorneys in Indiana and across the country: pet custody.

There are a number of theories behind this. Many people are having children much later in life than earlier generations. While these couples are waiting for the perfect time to enter into the lifelong commitment that is parenthood, they are less choosy about buying a pet together. These animals become members of the family, with both parties deeply invested. When the couple splits, the custody fight can be nearly as contentious as if it were a child.

Another reason for the growth of this type of disagreement stems from the increase in same-sex marriages. While Indiana does not allow this type of union, among states that do, this is an issue that is skyrocketing in prevalence.

The Associated Press reports that in a recent survey from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), more than a fourth said that cases involving pet custody have increased a great deal since 2001.

Often if there is a child involved, a judge will place the pet in the primary home of the child.

The question more frequently being raised, however, is: What if the animal is the child?

In all 50 states, animals are considered property. That means that judges and mediators have been working to divide them up just as they would the furniture or the beach house.

However, it seems that is changing. Ken Altshuler, president of the AAML, said judges are beginning to change the way they see the issue. They are starting to recognize the strong emotional attachments that people have to their pets, and therefore, it’s being given a greater consideration under the law.

It may have been years ago that people were somewhat ashamed to battle for custody of a pet. Society may have viewed the animal as not much more than a life accessory. That’s not the case anymore.

There have even been cases in which people split custody of the animals, with visitation schedules and all – much like they would in any Indiana child custody case. Usually, though, that is something that has to be worked out by the parties themselves.

Steven May, a pet consultant, even wrote a book about the issue, which he and his ex-wife wrestled with following their divorce more than five years ago after more than 15 years of marriage. They have since worked out an arrangement in which they share custody not only of their daughter, but of their pets.

It may seem strange to some, but any pet lover will tell you that a divorce is even more traumatic when you are facing the prospect of losing every aspect of the life you had – including your beloved pets. An Indiana divorce attorney can help you explore all your options, and figure out the best – and hopefully most amicable – solution for you.
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Tactical decisions in an Highland personal injury case are usually the responsibility of your attorney after consultation with you the client. Knowing all the rules is impossible when you are concentrating on recovering from your injuries. Our experienced and knowledgeable Indiana attorneys can help give you the peace of mind you deserve.In Rhonda v. Weathers there was a car accident which resulted in litigation. The plaintiff sued the defendant claiming that the defendant had been negligent in his operation of his motor vehicle.

When there is a lawsuit for negligence in a personal injury case, the plaintiff is responsible for proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant breached their duty of care. The plaintiff has the burden of providing this to the court with evidence and with arguments surrounding every specific legal element of the negligence claim.

When cases begin, there is a period called discovery. During this period, parties have the opportunity to depose witnesses, file Requests for Production of crucial evidence, Requests for Admissions, and some parties may even decide to settle after receiving all the information on their case.

Although most personal injury cases do settle many do continue on to trial. Understanding the costs and benefits of both settling and trial is a crucial part of the legal process.

It was during this discovery period that the conflict in Rhonda v. Weather became complicated. Rhonda’s attorney received medical bills from the plaintiff and sent a Request for Admissions to the defendant. A request for admissions is a series of questions that one party asks another in order to establish which facts will be disputed in the trial.

Rhonda’s attorney sent the defendant copies of Rhonda’s medical bills and asked the defendant to authenticate that the bills were in fact medical bills for the plaintiff’s injuries sustained because of the car accident between the two parties. Upon receipt of this Request for Admissions, Weathers responded that he was unable to verify that the documents were of the character alleged, as he had no way of authenticating them himself.

At the time that the plaintiff’s attorney moved to enter the records into evidence, the defendant’s attorney never objected. This led the plaintiff’s counsel to argue that the defendant strategically did not answer the questions in the Request for Admissions because he wanted to prolong the time leading up to trial, and create more expenses for the plaintiff.

The plaintiff cited the Mississippi statute that addresses this situation and says a moving party may request the non-moving party pay reasonable legal expenses where the party fails to agree with the truthfulness of a document but later accents to it.

The jury in the trial court that heard this case found that the plaintiff did not meet her burden of proof and granted a verdict for the defendant. This court also rejected the request for sanctions to be imposed on the defendant. Rhonda disagreed with this holding, and appealed to the Supreme Court of Mississippi. The defendant promptly filed a writ of certiorari asking the state Supreme Court to instruct the lower court to look over the facts of only the sanctions involved in this case again.

The main issue was whether the defendant can be charged with sanctions for failing to respond to the Request for Admissions regarding medical records where there was no objection to the entry of those records during trial.

This question is contingent on the state evidence code and the classification of business records and medical records. The court here found that in order for a medical record to be admissible in court without the testimony of a custodian or qualified witness, the document must be self- authenticating. In order for the document to be self-authenticating the record must be accompanied with a “written declaration under oath.”

Because the medical records were not self- authenticating, the defendant had no way to verify their validity; therefore, he cannot be subject to sanctions for a failure on the part of plaintiff’s attorney.

This case shows how important it is to have a skilled attorney fighting for you to help you get the results to which you are entitled, regardless of the complexity of law.
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In an interesting case that highlights a frequent issue in an Indiana divorce, the supreme court in South Carolina has ruled that divorced parents may have to pay for their children’s college.Indiana child custody attorneys understand that going through a divorce is trying, and often made even more difficult when one parent attempts to shirk responsibility for their children by putting the other parent in the position of having to cover major expenses – from dental work to education. This is where having an experienced attorney can be a tremendous advantage. Sorting through all of these details long before a child reaches college age will put everyone on the same page and save you from future headaches, heartaches – and a precariously low bank balance.

The Associated Press reports the South Carolina Supreme Court has decided that divorced parents who pay child support could also be made to pay for their children to obtain a higher education. Justice voted 3-2 in favor of the decision. The justices decided that because education is so vital to a child’s success, the state holds an interest in ensuring the child is not at a disadvantage.

This case had been entangled in the system for the last five years.

According to media reports, the plaintiff is a single mother who runs a day care, making about $40,000 annually. Her ex-husband, whom she divorced in 1993, had made about $30,000 when they separated. But his income soon shot up to about $250,000 annually. Still, the father’s child support payments for his two children stayed less than $200 weekly.

When the couple’s oldest son expressed a desire to go to college, the father said he would repay his son’s student loans and help with other expenses. The father also said he decided he would halve his child support payments.

But the mother said her ex didn’t hold up his end of the agreement. So she sued him. Originally, the court decided in his favor, saying that parents can’t be forced to pay for higher education. That court also officially reduced the amount of child support he would be made to pay and wouldn’t make him pay for his ex-wife’s attorney.

Then the state Supreme Court changed all that. It reversed the original ruling – and all related prior rulings.

One justice was quoted as saying that although the decision of whether to send a child to college is a personal one, it is not one that should be denied to a child just because his or her parents are divorced. While the court did say that not every parent who pays child support should have to also cover college expenses, some justices were annoyed that the father in this case gave no real explanation as to why he was suddenly going back on his word and refusing to pay. Another justice said that when marriages go sour, a divorce could cloud a parent’s filial or maternal sense of obligation. Children shouldn’t suffer for that, she said.

In this case, the son eventually did graduate from college without his father’s help, and is now a fingerprint analyst for the FBI. His mother was quoted as saying that it’s important for judges to at least take into consideration whether a parent is able to pay.

This victory, while only valid in South Carolina, could foreshadow the push for a similar case to be brought forth in Indiana.
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When you are in a car accident, you are usually left shaken both physically and mentally. You can even sustain permanent injuries that require extensive medical treatment and maybe even surgery. This is a very serious matter that requires the right a Highland injury attorney to get you the award you deserve.If you are involved in a Highland car accident, Padove Law has the experience in personal injury to guide you through the entire process of a lawsuit.

The case Roache v. Charney highlights some important aspects of a personal injury case. This case was decided by the Delaware Supreme Court and arose because of a car accident. This victim suffered injuries to her neck and back when she was twice rear ended by the defendant. This accident led to months of physical therapy for the victim as well as disc replacement surgery. The doctors treating the victim even found that these injuries would be permanent.

I am drawing your attention to this case because it is very typical of the results of car accidents that happen every day. These accidents can lead to injuries that if left untreated, can lead to pain and suffering for years to come. This is why choosing the right attorney to fight for your rights is such an important decision.

Injuries related to car accidents are very common, but so often people do not take the initiative to get help.

Roache is significant to Indiana personal injury claims because it illustrates some of the common laws surrounding car accidents that you need to know. Although the specific laws vary depending on the state, the central principles cross state lines. The Court in Roach clearly says that when a plaintiff is involved in a personal injury lawsuit, they have to prove that their injuries are the result of the defendant’s negligence. Essentially, the plaintiff has to show that it is more likely than not that their injuries were sustained because the defendant breached their duty of care and drove negligently.

Causation is one of the most crucial parts of most lawsuits. This is the proof of the connection between the defendant’s negligent actions and the plaintiff’s injuries. The court in Roache found that if a plaintiff is alleging that their injuries were sustained because of the defendant, they must provide a medical expert to testify directly. The court goes on to affirm that the plaintiff’s expert must be competent in medically proving a link between the defendant’s negligent actions and the plaintiff’s injuries.

Roache had a difficult time proving this link between the defendant’s negligence and the plaintiff’s injuries, leading to significant confusion. Our attorney’s know what it takes to prove causation as we have been doing it for many years. We can help you navigate through the medical terminology and explain what these personal injury medical reports actually say and how they can affect your case.

Your litigation experience and your award are dependent on the attorney you hire.We will take your case very seriously and assist you in getting the justice you deserve.
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Parents of young children should take note of recent media reports signaling the threat of possible child injury in Indiana when using the Bumbo seat.The seat, made of soft foam and manufactured in South Africa, has become monstrously popular, selling more than 4 million seats in the U.S. alone.

Many parents seem to love the seats because they allow their young infant to sit up, often for the first time. There are no safety straps or buckles, and manufacturers say this is a good thing, as it’s not meant to restrict the baby’s movement.

But, as our Indiana child injury attorneys know, babies need to be secured. A number of advocacy groups say the fact that that children are not strapped down while in these seats has led to skull fractures and other injuries.

It’s been five years since the seat was initially recalled. In 2007, a number of parents began reporting that their children were being hurt when they were placed in the seat that was then placed on an elevated surface, such as a bathroom counter top or kitchen table.
When the seats were recalled, warning labels were placed on the sides, alerting parents and caregivers to the potential dangers of using the seat up high.

Before the recall, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported it had received reports of 46 accidents. In 14 of those cases, the infants suffered a serious skull fracture. Unfortunately, it does not appear the accidents are being reduced after the recall. In fact, the commission reported that since the recall, it has received reports of 45 more children being hurt after falling out of the seats, with 17 of those suffering head injuries.

Additionally, the commission reports that it has received 50 reports of little babies who fell out of the Bumbo seats when they were on the ground. Of those, two had head injuries and another had a concussion.

One would think this would be enough for the commission to issue a second recall of the product. This is exactly what a number of children’s advocacy groups have been asking for, with a letter-writing campaign to the government agency. They are still waiting to hear back, according to various media outlets.

Even amid concern among parents, caregivers and government regulators, the maker of the Bumbo seat continues to say the product is not a danger. If used correctly, a spokesman said, the seats are safe.

Putting a strap or safety restraint on the seat isn’t an option, the spokesman said, because that would create a false sense of security for parents. The spokesman added that of the 45 new accidents, more than a quarter of them happened in the old seats with no warning labels.

A California pediatrician was quoted by one news agency as saying that even if a parent were standing or sitting right next to the child, an accident in one of these seats could unfold in a split second.
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Social media has become one of the biggest movements in our world in the last decade. People are able to connect worldwide over social networking web sites. Text messaging has been used as one of the easiest and quickest ways to spread a message.

All of these tools have become important in many people’s lives. They use them all the time to communicate and for some, they have become second nature. But while Indiana divorce attorneys understand their value in society, they also recognize the danger they could pose in an Indiana divorce.A recent story by Reuters suggests that text message evidence could be used against a spouse in a divorce case, which is just another way that the court system is adapting to the new use of technology.

As smartphone technology continues to develop, allowing for instant messaging and fast-moving texting, attorneys say they are seeing an increase in the number of cases where iPhones and other smartphones are cited in evidence of a divorce case. This is according to an association of divorce lawyers.

This follows a previous study from a few years ago, when the group of lawyers noted that there had been an increase in Facebook references in divorce cases as well. As social media and text messaging have become more and more prevalent, it makes sense that lawyers have attempted to use this as evidence to get an edge in court.

While e-mails usually allow a user to re-think what may look like a rant in hindsight, a text message is more immediate. People may be more likely to send exactly what they’re thinking or doing via text, whereas an e-mail provides the opportunity to clarify one’s thoughts.

Text messaging is the most popular form of evidence that comes from smartphones, following by emails, phone numbers, call histories, GPS and Internet search histories. Not every text message can be printed as easily as an e-mail, but there are ways to do it. Some divorce attorneys think that’s why people may be more willing to send a nasty text.

But if a person keeps their text message history for a long time, even if one person deletes the message doesn’t mean the other person has as well. Facebook is also a dangerous place to vent because many people can see it and possibly print a screen grab of the page.

These are all warnings for people who are considering divorce in Indiana. It is never going to be beneficial for a person in a divorce proceeding to go on a rant, vent against their spouses or otherwise use these communication tools to contact a person they are divorcing.

This can quickly go from a one-time rant to a long-term headache if the evidence is preserved and used against them at trial. No one is immune to these traps if they are constantly using these forms of technology. The warning is clear — be careful what you tweet, text or post. It could come back to haunt you.
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A number of storefronts have sustained damage, due to car accidents in Lafayette.

According to the Chicago Tribune, a number of those crashes involved drivers who were over the age of 65.

Thankfully, it doesn’t appear any of those involved suffered any serious injury as a result of these crashes.Our Indiana car accident attorneys know that as the elderly population continues to grow, the number of seniors behind the wheel increase as well. Not only that, but these older residents are holding on to their drivers’ licenses longer than ever before.

According to the AAA Foundation, nearly 95 percent of people between the ages of 65 to 69 have a driver’s license, and nearly 80 percent of those 70 and older had a license. Compare that to statistics from 1983, when the percentages were 80 percent and 55 percent, respectively.

The number of older drivers is increasing at a much faster pace than ever before. The AAA Foundation further reports that the number of young drivers (under the age of 40) decreased by 10 percent during that same time frame.

In Indiana, older drivers don’t face as many driving restrictions as you might think.
Drivers between the ages of 75 and 85 have to renew their licenses once every three years, compared to younger drivers who have to renew every six years. If you’re over the age of 85, you have to renew every two years.

Officials with the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles told reporters that the only thing that might prevent an older driver from renewing their license would be if they can’t pass the vision tests. Even if they do fail it, they can wait two weeks and take the test again. If they fail it a third time, they can get a six-month learner’s permit before retaking it yet again.

While no one wants to take away a person’s ability to be self-sufficient, that independence should not come at the cost of everyone else’s safety.

In what we think is a fair compromise, some organizations – including the AAA Foundation – are offering classes for aging drivers. The incentive for older drivers, in addition to decreasing their chances of an accident, is a break on their insurance, which tends to go up after a certain age.

Many older drivers do take certain safety precautions on their own, often avoiding driving at night, on the highway and during rush hour. They also are less likely to drink and drive and wear their seat belts, more often than younger drivers.

However, recent research has shown that older drivers, while they may have fewer actual crashes per person, have more crashes per miles driven. They may be generally safer on the road than younger drivers, who are more apt to take dangerous risks.
The risks they do pose are serious, though, and need to be addressed.

It’s a difficult conversation to have with an older loved one. The Hartford insurance company offers some excellent advice on how to open the conversation. This is particularly important if you have noticed that your loved one has been experiencing health changes, car accidents or near misses.

Some suggested conversation openers:

— “I’m glad you’ve cut down on driving at night. I wouldn’t ever want you to drive if it makes you uncomfortable.”

–“Have you talked to your doctor about how your medication might be affecting your driving?”

–“Yesterday was a close call. I’ve been worried about your safety when you’re on the road.”

–“I’ve been worried about you getting lost.”
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Many everyday citizens think of celebrity and Hollywood divorces as very complex and probably more contested than a normal Indiana divorce.

But that’s not necessarily the case. While most divorcees aren’t trying to determine who will get the Beverly Hills mansion, who will get the $250,000 sports car and the driver service, many of the factors are still the same. No matter who is involved, emotions can run just as strong.Indiana divorce attorneys are trained to look into every aspect of a divorce case, from the finances, to possible after-divorce payments, to child custody and asset and debt division. This is a complex process, regardless of the income level of the spouses. Money also has nothing to do with how stressful and emotionally draining this process can be.

A lawyer is an important part of the process because spouses who are getting divorced often don’t want to have the added stress of not trusting who is representing them. Not that they should have a hands-off approach, but they must trust that the person they have hired is going to work for their best interests.

Two high-profile divorce cases show that every couple can have its problems and require legal representation in a divorce. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa are in the middle of a divorce.

Records show that Vanessa Bryant is slated to receive about $18.8 million in property from her husband. It’s unclear, though, if a prenuptial agreement was in place. The Los Angeles Times is reporting there was not. Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce several months ago, citing “irreconcilable differences” in their marriage.

The newspaper is reporting that millions of dollars in property has already been transferred from Kobe Bryant trusts to his wife.

In another high-profile case, model Heidi Klum and singer Seal are reportedly splitting as well. The New York Daily News is reporting that although the couple announced a breakup but continued wearing their wedding bands, the split is indeed going to happen.

Several news reports stated that Seal was seen in an airport without his wedding band recently and Klum spent Valentine’s Day alone at a private Los Angeles club. The couple was married for seven years and have four children together. The children are ages 7, 6, 5 and 2.

The couple has decided to not have contact with each other despite saying publicly after the divorce that they still loved each other and would always be tied together.

This is a common hurdle that couples must face when divorcing, especially when they have children. These emotions can tug on divorcees and make the proceedings much more difficult.

An experienced Indiana divorce lawyer can limit the amount of stress by being organized, knowing the law, having years of experience and being prepared to handle all financial questions that a client may have. Being ready to do what’s in the best interests of the children and the spouse should be the top priorities, and clients should notice the attorney’s work quickly in the process.
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