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Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most rampant criminal activities in America. In fact, it's likely that every person in the country knows at least one person who has been arrested for this charge. Unfortunately for those arrested, the consequences can be severe. Most people know about license restrictions and fines that come along with a DUI conviction, but many are quickly learning that they could also lose their vehicle altogether. This is known as a vehicle forfeiture, and anyone in a locality that engages in this practice needs to know what they may face.

Is Car Forfeiture Legal?

Many people don't even understand what car forfeiture is. In a nutshell, some states and localities allow for the seizure of a person's assets if it's believed that they were either gained through or used for illegal activities. Some governments use this ill-worded law to allow for the seizure of a person's car if they're arrested for DUI, technically an illegal activity, while in the vehicle. This can even occur in cases where the driver of the vehicle wasn't the actual owner of the vehicle.

The United States Supreme Court has taken on cases of property forfeiture, and they've found the process completely legal. Sadly, it's likely that many legal professionals were not aware that this law would be used to seize people's vehicles after a DUI. The scariest part is the fact that this is handled as a civil matter rather than a criminal one.

Being informed is the key. Try visiting sites online like, Devorelawoffice.com, where you will be advised that, "The forfeiture process itself initially takes place through what are known as administrative proceedings. Rather than taking place in a court of law, an administrative hearing will be scheduled within thirty days of the seizure of the vehicle, administrative proceedings are similar to what takes place in regard to a driver’s license suspension."

Everyone's home will likely need repairs or improvements at one point or another. Most of us expect these repairs to be relatively costly, but unfortunately, some contractors take advantage of this belief and overcharge their clients. A homeowner does have a bit of legal recourse when they're charged too much, but they must first be able to recognize whether they were overcharged or not. 

The Hiring Process

The best time to recognize a potential overcharge is before any work is actually done. Less scrupulous contractors are sometimes easily identifiable, and there's a good chance that these individuals will perform subpar work or overcharge for what they actually do. One huge red flag to look out for is unsolicited offers. After Hurricane Sandy, for instance, many people started getting offers from random "companies." Some of these offers were even made by an unsolicited knock at the door. Many may have found it easy to take advantage of New York property owners, especially those who had no previous experience with home repair. In-depth researching, vetting, and possibly even consulting with a Manhattan real estate attorney, are tactics these home owners could use to avoid such scams.

The reason that this happens after disasters is because con artists and dishonest contractors know that plenty of money is about to flow through the area. From insurance payouts to government assistance, there will be money available for those who provide services. To avoid getting overcharged by these con artists, a homeowner should not consider unsolicited offers and should check out all companies with their local Better Business Bureau or home builders' association.

Everyone knows that driving under the influence (DUI) is considered a serious crime, and most are even acutely aware that a person can be charged with this crime without having any alcohol in their system at all. This is because most jurisdictions allow for a DUI charge if a person is under the influence of drugs as well. Testing for this type of intoxication, however, can be much more difficult than typical alcohol breath tests. As it turns out, nonetheless, scientists in Sweden may have found an answer for this.

Taking Breathalyzers up a Notch

More and more people are opting to walk places that are easily accessible by foot. Whether this is an effort to get exercise, enjoy the scenery or save the world; the act of becoming a pedestrian has several benefits. Unfortunately, it's not always the safest thing that a person can do. Walking along America's streets presents dangers that usually aren't faced when in a vehicle, and a recent CDC report shows that these dangers are especially pronounced amongst the aging population.

Overall Pedestrian Statistics

Every year in America, there are around 34,000 deaths related to vehicular accidents. This includes car crashes and pedestrian accidents. Of these deaths, 4,000 are pedestrians. Sadly, this statistic's ten year rate is even more disheartening; from 2001 to 2010, 47,000 pedestrians suffered fatal injuries due to traffic-related accidents. This risk was especially pronounced for men, who faced a more than doubled risk of being struck and killed while walking.

Elderly Risks

A disheartening study from the CDC just pointed out that people over the age of 74 had a risk of being killed in traffic-related pedestrian accidents that was more than double that of pedestrians under the age of 35. The really distressing part of this report is that it showed that elderly people are far less likely to actually go on walks than younger people. Unfortunately, their frailty often ensures that serious injuries will be sustained when struck by a vehicle.

The study attributed this increased risk to the declines in a person's vision, physical disabilities and mental functioning that often comes hand-in-hand with aging. However, it should not just be assumed that all pedestrian accidents are due to age. As a respected personal injury lawyers Albany New York website points out, “it is important that you speak with an attorney soon after you suspect negligence may have caused or contributed to an injury or death.” There are strict deadlines for the commencement of lawsuits in New York and many other states.

Unfortunately, research has shown that around 10,000 baby boomers will be entering retirement every single day over the next two decades. This means that there will likely be an increasing number of elderly pedestrian accidents over the coming years. Considering the already disheartening statistics, this could likely be considered a tragedy if measures aren't taken to reduce these accidents.

Staying Safe

Though the chances of suffering a fatal accident are higher for elderly people, this doesn't mean that they can't enjoy a nice walk. It's just imperative for them to take a few safety measures. Most importantly, an individual should always cross at designated crosswalks. Even when doing this, however, it's important to watch for vehicles that may not yield to pedestrians while making a turn onto an intersecting street.

Additionally, efforts should always be made to stay on a sidewalk. If there isn't one available, however, a person should walk facing traffic. These measures can unfortunately fail, however, if a driver is acting negligently. Any pedestrian injured due to a driver's negligence should seek an attorney immediately. Due to the high number of deaths, it's obvious that any injuries sustained by elderly pedestrians can be quite costly. An attorney can help recover compensation so that the victim doesn't face unfair medical bills on their own.

Everything in life comes with a few inherent risks. Unfortunately, these risks are often heavily weighted on the elderly population. The most important thing for an elderly pedestrian to do is to remain vigilant and recognize when certain areas may not be safe to walk in. Though it may add an additional five minutes to an on-foot commute, it's much safer to walk down to a crosswalk than to just head out on any part of a busy street. This simple act could save a life.

When Pradaxa was first introduced, it was touted as a miracle drug that would help people who need to take an anticoagulant live a more normal life. Sadly, these claims have been refuted by the fact that the medication has caused additional medical issues in an unexpectedly large percentage of patients. In fact, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pradaxa has become the number one most complained about prescription medication in the country. To make matters worse, additional issues have recently come to light. Therefore, if you are currently using Pradaxa, you will need to monitor yourself very closely to look for any warning signs of one of the drug's serious side effects.

New Complications

The University of North Carolina did a study on Pradaxa that produced unexpected results. According to the university's research team, Pradaxa might increase a patient's risk of contracting several viral infections, including the flu. Even more troubling, however, is the increased risk of developing myocarditis because it is a heart infection that leads to several deaths each year. In other words, the medication that is supposed to prevent strokes can actually cause another serious medical condition. There has also been a lot of research that links the medicine to a significant increase in the risk of having a heart attack.

Issues with Mechanical Heart Valves

A RE-ALIGN clinical trial in Europe indicated that patients who have a mechanical heart valve should not take Pradaxa. In fact, the results of this study prompted the FDA to issue a warning about the drug. During the clinical trial, which had to be halted prematurely due to severe complications, several of the participants experienced serious issues, including heart attacks, strokes and blood clots that formed on valves. Therefore, if you have a mechanical heart valve and your doctor prescribed this medication, it is vital that you contact them immediately to discuss your options.

Other Potential Issues

Aside from these new findings, the medication has been causing a mixture of serious and minor issues in an abnormally large number of cases. Internal bleeding is the most common serious issue, and studies indicate that more than 16 percent of the medication’s users have experienced this dangerous side effect. Unfortunately, the manufacturer of Pradaxa released the drug without also making an antidote available, and this means that it can be impossible to stop the bleeding.

According to the Pradaxa lawyers Doyle Raizner website, “Patients using Pradaxa, which has been known to increase bleeding risks, are left without a way to reverse or stop the effects.” There have been at least 260 deaths related to the medication worldwide, and almost 35 percent of users will develop gastrointestinal issues ranging from indigestion to ulcers. When you consider all of the potential ramifications of taking the medicine, it becomes hard to believe that the FDA has not decided to revoke their approval of the medication.

Should I Take Pradaxa?

If your doctor recommends taking Pradaxa, you should discuss the potential side effects with them and ask about any alternative medications that are less risky. However, in some cases, a doctor will determine that the potential side effects are outweighed by the anticipated positive results of taking medicine.

At this point, it does not sound like the FDA has any plans to remove this drug from the market. Therefore, it is up to each individual to research the latest studies and discuss any issues that they encounter with their doctor. If you do experience any serious side effects as a result of taking this medication, you should contact a Pradaxa litigation attorney.

Legal researcher Shelby Warden writes articles to raise awareness of serious legal and medical issues. The website for the Pradaxa lawyers Doyle Raizner law firm provides much more detailed information about Pradaxa, from its development, marketing and approval to growing concern over its usage today. Because several of their attorneys have previously worked for pharmaceutical companies like Boehringer Ingelheim, they have the skill and experience to fight for their client’s rights.