Month: May 2013

Checking GPS maps on your phone behind the wheel? Not anymore, says California court

Driving distracted - Martinson & Beason, P.C.In recent years, state legislatures and law enforcement across the country have been cracking down on distracted driving, a growing problem in the U.S. that causes thousands of accidents every year. 3,331 were killed in distracted driving related accidents in 2011—accounting for about 1 in 10 car accident fatalities, according to Distraction.gov. In 2012, Alabama’s texting ban went into effect. Our state’s law is one of the tougher laws in the nation, as it allows “primary enforcement.”

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Johnson & Johnson to pay millions for defective hip replacement

Defective hip replacement - Martinson & Beason, P.C.In a previous blog post, we discussed the numerous lawsuits—over 10,750 at last count—against DePuy Orthopaedics, a unit of well-known company Johnson & Johnson. At that point, the trial had only recently begun, and some very disturbing details had just come to light about the company’s decision to put profits ahead of patient safety—including failing to re-design the device despite warnings from consulting surgeons that the device was flawed.

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DIY Estate Planning Hazards: Why you shouldn’t go it alone

DIY estate planning - Martinson & Beason, P.C.It can be tempting to go about your estate planning alone. The process may seem easy enough, and you can save money by just downloading a few forms online and doing it yourself. We get it. But you should know that it’s not as easy as it looks, and even the tiniest mistake can cause problems of epic proportions down the road. Unconvinced? A U.S. News article “The Dangers of DIY Estate Planning” details why you shouldn’t go it alone.

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Ford Sued for Faulty Accelerators

speedometerIn recent years, state legislatures and law enforcement across the country have been cracking down on distracted driving, a growing problem in the U.S. that causes thousands of accidents every year. 3,331 were killed in distracted driving related accidents in 2011—accounting for about 1 in 10 car accident fatalities, according to Distraction.gov. In 2012, Alabama’s texting ban went into effect. Our state’s law is one of the tougher laws in the nation, as it allows “primary enforcement.” This means that law enforcement can pull over a driver for texting alone—the driver does not need to be committing another offense, like speeding, to receive a ticket.

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Mediation an option to solve will disputes

AlabamaestateplanningNo family expects that they will undergo a bitter dispute over a family member’s will; however, you might be surprised how often it happens. When a will isn’t crystal clear regarding who gets which assets, arguments can begin. And often, it isn’t the most valuable items that family members squabble over: it could be the piece of antique furniture or painting that holds sentimental value for more than one person. A recent Wall Street Journal article explores this very topic as well as ways to overcome familial dispute as easily and inexpensively as possible.

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Huntsville’s Deadliest Intersections in 2012

[caption id="attachment_2511" align="alignright" width="300"]Huntsville intersection - Martinson & Beason, P.C. Photo Credit: Sarah Cole/al.com[/caption] Is your route to work an accident waiting to happen? It might be, if it takes you through any of Huntsville’s most dangerous intersections. AL.com gives a list of the top ten deadliest intersections in the city. If you regularly drive through any of the following spots, you might want to consider taking extra precautions when driving or even switching your route altogether.

  1. Old Madison Pike and Research Park Boulevard
  2. Jordan Lane and University Drive

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