Month: February 2014

Dog Attack Sends Little Boy to Hospital, Owner Arrested

Dog attack | Personal Injury AttorneysThis tragic event, some would argue, is why pets (other than service animals) are not allowed in stores. A recent dog attack that sent a little boy to the hospital made national news, and the story has many criticizing home improvement store Lowe’s. According to NBC, the dog’s owner was letting the three-year-old boy pet the dog when it bit him. The boy suffered bites to the jaw, neck, forehead, and cheek. A surveillance video, which you can watch here, shows the moments after the attack. The owner of the dog, which is on a leash, is leaving Lowe’s, while the boy and his father remain inside. Police found the man at his home, less than a mile from the store. The man told authorities that he left the scene because he didn’t want his dog taken away—but that is just what happened. The dog’s owner was eventually arrested after it came to light that his dog had previously behaved aggressively toward children.

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Speeding a Leading Cause of Car Accidents

speedingDo you always obey speed limits? If you’re like most people, probably not. At some time or another, most of us go over the speed limit. This might be accidental, when going downhill, for example. Or it might be because of a “lead foot.” A survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently given some interesting insights into speeding in America.

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Don’t Want to Crash? Don’t Drive Distracted, Study Says

Driving while distracted | Car Accident LawyersIf you don’t want to crash, a new study says, don’t drive distracted. “Ok,” you think. “I’m safe. I know that distracted driving is extremely dangerous, so I don’t text while I’m driving.” Did you know, however, that the study—published in the New England Journal of Medicine­—found that almost any type of “secondary activity” distracts you?

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Should the Federal Government Control College Tuition?

Should the Federal Goverment Control Rising College Tuition | Huntsville, AL Attorney | Martinson & Beason, P.C.If you’re a high school student, a college student, or a parent of either, one of the largest financial obstacles you face is tuition. Tuition rates at public and private universities across the country continue to grow exponentially, putting many students into long-term debt after graduation. Since 2007, many schools—like Illinois State—have seen costs raise nearly 47 percent. At the University of Alabama, in-state costs for a freshman (including room and board and books) now total $19,406 ($33,906 for out-of-state students), according to The College Board. To attend Samford University, Alabama’s largest private college, students can expect to pay $26,328 annually (includes tuition, room and board, and books).

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Does a Trust Make Sense for You?

Estate planning | Huntsville, AL AttorneysYou might think that trusts are only for the obscenely wealthy—families like the Rockefellers, the Gates, and the Fords. “I don’t have the kind of money that makes a trust necessary,” you think. But that’s where you’d be wrong. If you have a net worth of $100,000 (and you might be surprised how much your estate is worth) and meet one of several conditions, a trust could be beneficial for your family.

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Should “Affluenza” Be a Legitimate DUI Defense?

MoneyOutrage. This is the word that most aptly describes the mood of the nation after various news outlets reported that the teen who killed four people in a drunk driving car accident would get 10 years probation—no jail time. The details of the case are tragic. Ethan Couch, a 16-year-old Texas, boy, stole a case of beer with a group of friends from a local Walmart. They then had a party at his home. Later, the group piled into Couch’s pickup truck, with Couch as the driver. Driving 70 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone, Couch swerved off of the road and killed four pedestrians. Couch had a blood alcohol limit of 0.24, or three times the legal limit for adults: 0.08. As a minor, Couch should not have had any alcohol in his system.

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