Archive for June, 2012


Safety study examines auto accident statistics, other data to rank states. Oklahoma’s grade?

Laws regulating Oklahoma auto accidents might seem strict. But a national safety study recently gave Oklahoma a low grade for injury prevention. On a scale of 10, Oklahoma received a score of five.

Oklahoma also ranked 6th highest in the nation in a state-by-state analysis of injury fatality rates for 2007 through 2009, according to the same national study. A total of 83 people per 100,000 died due to a fatal injury during that time period. New Mexico had the highest injury fatality rate nationwide, with 97.8 deaths per 100,000 people.

The report entitled “The Facts Hurt” examined a wide range of factors, including each state’s laws concerning seat belts, bicycle helmets and car booster seats. Each state’s safety grade was based on statewide auto accident injury and fatality statistics. See: personal injury lawyer oklahoma Injury prevention grades also took into account factors such as motorcycle helmet laws, federal funding for injury prevention efforts and other strategies to designed to save lives and reduce serious injuries.

“There are proven, evidence-based strategies that can spare millions of Americans from injuries each year,” said Jeff Levi, Executive Director of The Trust for America’s Health, which co-authored the study with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “This report focuses on specific, scientifically supported steps we can take to make it easier for Americans to keep themselves and their families safer.”

Oklahoma drivers face all sorts of hazards every day on the road. Just recently, a 34-year-old man from Oklahoma died on Interstate 44 in Grady County when the tread separated on his tire and his vehicle struck a guardrail, according to NewsOn6.com. The accident may be grounds for a defective tire lawsuit.

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Twins not entitled to Social Security Disability payments after death of father

Source : http://www.hansendiraniblog.com/supreme-court-answers-question-about-social-security-disability-survivor-benefits.html

The Supreme Court addressed an interesting question about Social Security Disability survivor benefits for children conceived by in-vitro fertilization after their father’s death. The justices ruled unanimously that children conceived in such a manner are not automatically entitled to Social Security survivor insurance benefits.

As Social Security Disability lawyers in Oklahoma, we represent people in need of benefits, which may include children who have lost a parent and are facing hardships. The high court ruled that Congress intended the benefit not to assist “needy persons” in general, but for the more specific purpose of alleviating a family’s hardship upon a breadwinner’s death, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.

The case before the court centered around a Florida man who died 18 months before twin children were born through in-vitro fertilization. Under Florida state law, the children were not considered his heirs.

The twins, however, may have qualified for benefits if they resided in a different state. States have different inheritance laws. For example, Louisiana recognizes children born up to three years after their father’s death, according to the Wall Street Journal.

If you need assistance with a Social Security Disability claim in Oklahoma, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney at Hansen Dirani & Associates. We understand how difficult and frustrating the process of applying for benefits can be. We know how confusing the system can seem for the average person. If you have questions about survivor benefits for children or other issues related to an Oklahoma Social Security Disability claim, call Hansen now: 877-583-0700. Hansen knows if you have a case.

Hansen Dirani Law
4815 S. Harvard Ave., Ste. 380
Tulsa, OK 74135

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Driving in New England complicated due to conflicting traffic laws. CT rules here

Driving in New England can be challenging any time of year. Sudden blizzards or violent rainstorms. Aggressive drivers on Interstate 84. Confusing street patterns created by Colonial settlers based on chaotic cow paths.

Add to the list the dramatic differences in state traffic laws throughout New England. What’s legal in Massachusetts can often be against the law in Rhode Island or Vermont. Here are some of the highlights from a recent article published by The Boston Globe.

Take Connecticut’s confusing traffic laws. Connecticut is a hands-free state in terms of cell phones. This means you need a headset if you want to make calls on the road. Talking on a cell phone without a headset while driving can result in a $125 fine. The same fine applies to texting while driving in Connecticut.

Connecticut has a “primary” seat belt law, which means a police officer can pull you over and fine you whenever an officer sees someone unbelted in either front seat. As for passengers riding in the back seat, Connecticut’s seat belt laws only require passengers under 16 years old to buckle up.

Connecticut’s child safety restraint laws are also unique. Children under 7 years old or less than 60 pounds must sit in either a child booster or car seat that’s belted into place. All others must be buckled up. Meanwhile in Massachusetts, children must be strapped into a car safety seat until they are either 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, a Hartford Connecticut personal injury attorneys at our law firm can work with you if you’re dealing with a car accident. We know what’s legal or against the law in Connecticut.

That might sound simple. But keeping up with Connecticut’s constantly changing laws can be complicated. Allow us to help you cut through the red tape and decide what’s the best thing for you to do, including whether to file an auto accident lawsuit in Ct.

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Attention, Chicago, Illinois drivers! Find out your state’s safety grade in national study

Laws regulating auto accidents in cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore might seem strict. But how tough are they? And how do they compare with other states nationwide?

A recent nationwide study gives a grade to each state for injury prevention. The top states nationwide for injury prevention are California and New York, which each received a score of 9 out of 10. Maryland was close behind with a score of eight. Washington, D.C., and Illinois each received a grade of seven. Alabama and Georgia earned a score of six.

The scores were based on 10 different injury prevention indicators. These include whether the state has a primary seat belt law, mandatory ignition interlocks for a convicted drunk driver, universal helmet laws for motorcycle riders, booster seat laws and regulations regarding bicycle helmet usage.

“There are proven, evidence-based strategies that can spare millions of Americans from injuries each year,” said Jeff Levi, Executive Director of The Trust for America’s Health, which co-authored the study with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “This report focuses on specific, scientifically supported steps we can take to make it easier for Americans to keep themselves and their families safer.”

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