Stop What You’re Doing on FaceBook…
I've been a Seattle personal injury lawyer for 30 years and I've just about seen it all when it comes to dirty tricks the insurance companies use to find out info about you to use against your claim. Lately they have resorted to the use of social media to try and scrape up dirt about you and what you're up to.
That's why I've been educating my clients on the importance of being careful while leading a life online. You never know who is looking at your profile, reading what you're up to, looking at your pictures, etc. All of this is out in the open and free for public consumption.
The suggestions I make to my clients also pertains to the average person who hasn't been in an accident or doesn't need a personal injury attorney. There are many ways that dishonest people can use your public information to:
- try and steal your identity
- keep tabs on your coming and going
- try and bully you or your loved ones
- watch your kids and try to exploit them
- try and break into your house while you're gone
- etc.
I was reading online today and I stumbled across this article on yahoo that outlines 7 things you should stop doing on FaceBook right now! I suggest that everyone head over there and read the article, then go straight to your FaceBook profile and make the necessary changes that they suggest.
Police Struggle to Enforce Texting While Driving Laws
Even though states are cracking down on texting while driving by passing more stringent laws, it's ultimately up to law enforcement officials to put these laws into motion. They're finding that while these laws are great in theory, they're actually extremely difficult to actually enforce. Police officers are having a really hard time proving that someone was in fact texting while driving, and not just "talking" on their hand-held cell phone which is still legal in some states.
In 2007, a young girl was killed when a 17 year old driver smashed into the side of her car without so much as a tap to the brakes. The female driver was obviously distracted when the accident happened but without having witness accounts or without the driving admitting to texting, the victim's family will never know exactly why their daughter was killed that fateful night.
Is Charging At-Fault Drivers For Accidents Legal?
The Fire Department of Chula Vista, California is proposing to charge drivers who cause accidents requiring the services of the Fire Department. They estimate that approximately $100,000 is spent each year on the department's assistance in auto accidents. Each year, they respond to about 420 accidents which use their time and resources. By charging the drivers at fault, they can recoup a good chunk of their expenditures.
The City of Chula Vista claims that they think this is a fair since taxpayers wouldn't have to foot the bill for accidents that they didn't cause. The amount charged would vary depending on the severity of the accident and the amount of assistance required. The majority of car accidents would cost $435 while accidents requiring extraction from a vehicle would cost $1800, and a fire would run you $605. In the event that someone needs to be airlifted to a nearby hospital, the fee would jump up to $2100.