Personal Injury and Social Security Disability Blog

Link of the Day - ThoseWhoHost.org

ThoseWhoHost.org is the Web site of substance abuse coalitions in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The purpose of the group is to raise awareness of dangers and legal ramifications of providing alcohol to individuals under the age of 21. Here is their summary of Texas underage drinking laws:

What adults and teens need to know:

• As an adult, you cannot give alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 under any circumstance, even in your own residence, even with their parent’s permission unless they are visibly present.
• You cannot knowingly allow a person under 21, other than your own child, to remain in your home or on your property while consuming or possessing alcohol.
• Your residence . . . . . your responsibility.

If you break the law:

• You face a sentence of up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
• Your driver’s license can be suspended for 6 months.
• You can be sued if you give alcohol to anyone under age 21 and they, in turn, hurt someone, hurt themselves, or damage property.

Things you can do:

• Refuse to supply alcohol to youth.
• Actively supervise parties when youth will be attending.
• Make sure alcohol is not brought into your home or onto your property by underage youth.
• Talk to other adults about not providing alcohol at events youth will be attending.
• Create alcohol-free opportunities and activities in your home so youth will feel welcome.

Link of the Day - Friday Fun

In honor of the Fourth of July holiday, here is a video of recent presidents "singing" the Star Spangled Banner:

Star Spangled Banner |Funny Jokes at JibJab

How Dumb Is The U.S. Congress?

OK, imagine you're a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, reading the polls and knowing that the approval rating of Congress is at a historical all-time low. What would you do? Why, of course -- you'd give yourself a raise!

That's just what the House did yesterday, voting themselves a raise of $4400 each per year, and raising each congressman's annual pay to about $170,000.

Just think how big a raise they might have given themselves if the American public actually approved of what they were doing!

Link of the Day - Directory Of State Medical Boards

Do you have a question or complaint about a physician in the United States? If so, you can find a directory of every state's medical society at the Federation of State Medical Boards. Here's the information for Texas:

Texas Medical Board
Donald W. Patrick, M.D., J.D., Executive Director
P.O. Box 2018
Austin, TX 78768-2018
(512) 305-7010/Fax: (512) 305-7008
Disciplinary Hotline (800) 248-4062
Consumer Complaint Hotline (800) 201-9353
www.tmb.state.tx.us

Here is more information about the Federation:

Introduction to the FSMB

The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is a national not-for-profit organization representing 70 medical boards within the United States and its territories. It assists state medical boards in protecting the public's health, safety and welfare through promotion of high standards for physician licensure and regulation. The primary responsibility of state medical boards is to protect health care consumers through proper licensing and disciplining of physicians and, in some jurisdictions, other health care professionals.

Since its establishment in 1912, FSMB has initiated and strengthened cooperation among medical boards and facilitated collaborative efforts between medical boards and other entities. As the representative body and forum for physician licensing and disciplinary boards, the FSMB occupies a unique position of responsibility.

Mission and Core Values

Mission

Continual improvement in the quality, safety and integrity of health care through the development and promotion of high standards for physician licensure and practice.

Vision

Medical regulation will be performed through an interstate system of interconnected state boards structured as independent agencies with control over their resources, free of partisanship, federal control or special-interest influence, and utilizing consistent standards, language, definitions and tools.

State medical boards will continue to be principal entities charged with maintaining and improving the quality of health care. As an interconnected system, state boards will share information and resources, work cooperatively, and avoid duplication of effort.

The Federation of State Medical Boards will be the national and international leader in the field of medical regulation and the authoritative source of research, policy analysis and development, education, and information.

As a dynamic organization of state medical boards, the Federation will initiate and strengthen cooperation among boards, facilitate collaborative efforts between boards and other entities, develop unified policy positions and act as a trusted advocate for these positions.

Core Values

Public Protection and Accountability: promoting the health, safety and welfare of the public through an interconnected system of independent state medical boards, accountable and responsive to the public.

Leadership and Service: demonstrating innovation, cooperation and responsiveness by dedicated individuals of high purpose and integrity.

Excellence: promoting and maintaining high standards of performance and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Link of the Day - United States Department of Transportation

In keeping with my recent posts about the Americans With Disabilities Act, the United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration has a page entitled Access for Persons With Disabilities. Here is the Web site's self-description:

Overview
The goal of this program is to ensure that all Americans have access to transit to meet basic mobility needs. The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 was recognized that persons with disabilities have the same rights as other citizens to access services and facilities that are available to the public. Congress also recognized that many practical problems had to be solved in reaching the goal of equal accessibility in transit.

Project Action was created to address these issues and to serve as a bridge between the transit and disabilities communities in addressing these issues. Project Action has worked to help translate the ADA transportation regulations into reality. The transportation industry has reached a critical period in addressing ADA requirements. The major issues that must be addressed are service standards, reliability, and cost effectiveness.

Paratransit has proven to be a reliable and useful service for persons with disabilities and usage has grown beyond expectation, resulting in higher than anticipated costs. It remains a priority to address these issues by mainstreaming persons with disabilities onto fixed route transit, and to better coordinate ADA paratransit to reduce trip costs. Additionally, because approximately 70 percent of adults with disabilities are unemployed and receive public assistance, mobility issues related to welfare reform must be addressed along with mobility of persons with disabilities. Much of the emphasis to date has been on reducing physical barriers to transit use. A growing need is to make transit available to persons whose disabilities are sensory, such as being sight or hearing impaired. Research and technology development in this area goes beyond removal of physical barriers but also must address how information about transit services is made available.

Link of the Day - Federal Bureau Of Investigation

If you're lucky, you'll never have to have any dealing with the FBI. If you're not so lucky, you can learn a lot about the Bureau at the official Web site of the Federal Bureau Of Investigation.

Link of the Day - Another Satellite Map Site

How many satellite map programs are too many? The one from Fresh Logic Studios is actually more of an atlas -- you can  check traffic, find wifi hotspots, and do much more. Check it out.

Link of the Day - Labor-Related Workplace Posters

The federal government requires employers, whether law firms or any other type of business, to post certain information notifying employees of their legal rights. There are plenty of companies that will sell you fancy versions of these mandatory posters, but you can get many of them free from the Department of Labor at their Office of Small Business Programs Web page. Here is some information from that page:

Some of the statutes and regulations enforced by agencies within the Department of Labor require that posters or notices be posted in the workplace. The Department provides electronic copies of the required posters and some of the posters are available in languages other than English.

Please note that posting requirements vary by statute; that is, not all employers are covered by each of the Department's statutes and thus may not be required to post a specific notice. For example, some small businesses may not be covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act and thus would not be subject to the Act's posting requirements. For information on coverage, visit the Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Business (elaws) Poster Advisor. You may also contact the Office of Small Business Programs, for assistance with these notice requirements.

To obtain posters or for more information about poster requirements or other compliance assistance matters, you may contact the U.S. Department of Labor by telephone at 1-888-9-SBREFA, or by email at [email protected].

Link of the Day - Driving, The New 10 Commandments

My good friend, California personal injury lawyer Jonathan Stein, has posted a response to the Vatican's recent issuance of the "10 Commandments for Driving." Here's Jonathan's blog post:

The Vatican has now issued 10 commandments for driving. Some of them are interesting, some not so interesting.  I figure if they can take a shot at it, why can't I? I have probably seen more car crashes than everyone at the Vatican combined. So, here goes:

The California Personal Injury and Insurance Blog 10 Commandments of Driving:

1. Thou shall not speed;
2. Thou shall stop to assist broken down motorists or motorists involved in a car accident;
3. Thou shall keep thine vehicle in YOUR lane;
4. Thou shall obey all traffic signals and signs;
5. Thou shall not give anyone "the bird" or show other signs of aggression at other drivers;
6. Thou shall yield the right of way;
7. Thou shall keep thine eyes on the road;
8. Thou shall not read, put on make up or shave while driving;
9. Thou shall use turn signals;
10. THOU SHALL NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!!!!

10 simple rules that will keep you, and everyone around you, safer in the car.

The Vatican has now issued 10 commandments for driving. Some of them are interesting, some not so interesting.  I figure if they can take a shot at it, why can't I? I have probably seen more car crashes than everyone at the Vatican combined. So, here goes:

The California Personal Injury and Insurance Blog 10 Commandments of Driving:

1. Thou shall not speed;
2. Thou shall stop to assist broken down motorists or motorists involved in a car accident;
3. Thou shall keep thine vehicle in YOUR lane;
4. Thou shall obey all traffic signals and signs;
5. Thou shall not give anyone "the bird" or show other signs of aggression at other drivers;
6. Thou shall yield the right of way;
7. Thou shall keep thine eyes on the road;
8. Thou shall not read, put on make up or shave while driving;
9. Thou shall use turn signals;
10. THOU SHALL NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!!!!

10 simple rules that will keep you, and everyone around you, safer in the car.

Link of the Day - Friday Fun

Here's another classic computer game -- similar to the old Breakout.