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Recent Blog Posts
Practicing Yoga or Tai Chi May Help Reduce Your Risk of a Slip and Fall Injury
According to the National Safety Council, approximately 2.5 million people are treated in emergency departments for slips and falls each year. Some of those falls happen at home, some happen at work, and still others occur at business establishments in premises liability accidents. A new study suggests that practicing yoga on a regular basis could reduce your risk for them all.
The Relationship Between Falls and Balance
As the human body ages, balance begins to fade. As such, those who are older are at greater risk for falls than those who are younger. However, one study concluded that everyone – even young people – experience frequent slips and falls. Conducted on college students, the study counted 1,446 total trips and slips and 82 falls over the course of 16 weeks. And so, the final consensus is that every person, young and old, could benefit from improved balance to help them prevent slips, trips, and falls.
Dealing with a DUI/OWI Charge in Wisconsin
Getting caught behind the wheel while intoxicated can have serious consequences in the state of Wisconsin. It can affect your ability to drive, result in jail time, and even have an impact on your employment opportunities if listed on your criminal record. Furthermore, the process of dealing with a DUI (driving under the influence) or OWI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated) can be frustrating, expensive, and highly arduous. If you are facing OWI or DUI charges in Wisconsin, know how to protect your rights and your future against the potential long-term consequences.
Wisconsin Legal Limits
In the state of Wisconsin, the maximum blood alcohol content (BAC) permissible by law is 0.08. Anything above that and you can be arrested and charged with a DUI or OWI (often used interchangeably). The only exceptions are for commercial drivers, who can face charges for a BAC for a limit of 0.04 or higher, and drivers under the age of 21, who can be arrested for any trace of alcohol in their system.
Study Finds Higher Crash Rate for Truck Drivers Who Fail to Adhere to Sleep Apnea Treatment
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a medical condition that temporarily stops a sufferer’s breathing while they sleep. This can disrupt sleepiness and often leads to excessive daytime sleepiness. This symptom, which can be caused by a number of other factors or conditions, is thought to be responsible for as many as 20 percent of all large truck accidents and as many as 9,000 deaths and 22,000 severe injuries each and every year. What is most concerning is that nearly all of those accidents (if not all) could have been prevented with proper diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea
According to estimates from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep apnea affects as many 26 percent of Americans. Unfortunately, many do not actually know they have the condition since it rarely wakes the sufferer up enough that they register the disruption. Instead, they must be able to register their daytime sleepiness and/or other symptoms as a side effect of their condition and speak to their doctor. From there, they undergo testing that will help their doctor diagnose and administer treatment.
Assaulting an Officer Could Soon Be Classified a Hate Crime
Assaulting a police officer is already considered a severe crime. However, a bill recently proposed in Wisconsin could turn police attacks into a hate crime. This could make defending those charged with assaulting a police officer much more difficult. Furthermore, it could increase the penalties of those who are charged with crimes related to officer assault.
Texas Officer Deaths Prompt Bill
The bill, a direct response to the Dallas shooting that killed five officers and injured seven others, was proposed by Representative David Steffen, R-Howard. Dubbed the “Blue Lives Matter” bill, it would give prosecutors and judges the ability to up the charges of assaulting an officer to a hate crime. If convicted, one could expect to suffer a longer prison term and higher fines. It is meant to focus on those that target police officers. However, this bill may only work in theory.
Researchers Devise a New Strategy to Determine if Whiplash Will Have Long-Term Consequences
Whiplash has remained one of medicine’s strange mysteries, especially in cases where there are long-term pain and complication. However, a new study has devised a way that may help in predicting which patients are likely to experience long-lasting symptoms, which can prove to be beneficial in ensuring proper treatment and interventions are provided. Though only a single study at this point, this new diagnostic method could prove to be highly beneficial in treating automobile accident victims in the future.
Risk Group Division and Long-Term Complications
Conducted by the Danish “Whiplash Study Group” and presented at the Second Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Copenhagen, the study followed the outcomes of 326 automobile accident victims diagnosed with whiplash. Each had received a clinical examination within four days of the injury and were then assigned to a risk group, based on factors relating to the type and nature of their pain, type and number of painful complaints, and mobility of their neck. Those that complained of severe headaches, strong neck pain, and displayed a negative emotional state were placed in the highest risk group. The rest were categorized according to the severity of their symptoms.
Understanding the Consequences of a Drug Charge in Wisconsin
Drug charges are one of the most complicated criminal matters in the state of Wisconsin. This is because there are so many different factors used to determine the consequence. Able to impact your life in ways that you may not have even considered, it is critical that you understand these consequences and how you can best protect yourself when facing a drug charge in Wisconsin.
Factors Used to Determine Sentencing of a Drug Charge
Like other states, Wisconsin adheres to a drug schedule to determine the penalties of a drug charge. Drugs with a higher classification – those said to have no medical use – typically result in a heavier consequence, but there are exceptions. For example, being arrested near a school can result in heavier penalties, even for those arrested with lower classification drugs in their possession. Other factors used to determine the severity of a charge will typically include the amount of substance found in possession and the number of previous drug charges. Keep in mind, however, that even these factors can be deceptive. For example, carrying above a certain amount could result in an intent to deliver charge.
The Dilemma of Self-Driving Cars
Earlier this year, legislation proposed a $4 billion investment into getting self-driving cars. However, the recent death of a Tesla driver, some problematic matters regarding the autonomous nature of driving, and cost factors highlight some pretty disturbing issues with self-driving cars. In fact, it is highly possible that drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists could be at a higher risk of auto accident death or injury if self-driving cars made their way into the mainstream auto industry.
Tesla Driver’s Death
Allegedly known for pushing the limits of his vehicle, a Tesla driver recently crashed into a left-turning tractor trailer. Reportedly watching Harry Potter at the time, his vehicle failed to maneuver him into safety. Like him, drivers of self-driving cars may abandon their commitment to the road altogether. This opens up a slew of problems, including an increased risk of accident to other drivers and to pedestrians and cyclists whose actions and movements can be highly unpredictable.
Law Enforcement and Media Finally Taking a Closer Look at Wisconsin’s Heroin Epidemic
Over the last couple of years, the number of Wisconsin residents suffering from a heroin addiction has been rising, but law enforcement and the media have only recently started to look at the situation as an epidemic that warrants discussion. Now considered a “public health crisis,” it is thought to affect as many as 6,700 residents and is causing more overdose deaths than ever. How did we get here? And how can Wisconsin turn things around? Unfortunately, as with all addiction, the answer is not a simple one.
How Heroin Addiction Often Starts
The typical heroin abuser does not generally start using heroin, right off the bat. Instead, doctors say that most start off addicted to opioids, such as Vicodin or OxyContin. Once that becomes too difficult to secure, or too expensive, they often move to heroin to avoid the withdrawal process. Once addicted to heroin, the risk on their life becomes that much greater because of unreliable sources and the higher risk of overdose. Unfortunately, once the addiction has reached this point, it is especially difficult to overcome without medical and mental health intervention.
Recidivism Risk Scores Used to Determine Sentencing Found to Be Unreliable
When an individual is convicted of a crime in Wisconsin, prosecutors use a risk assessment score to determine their probability of recidivism (committing a future crime). This risk score can affect the sentencing process and, in some cases, may even nullify plea deal. Unfortunately, the algorithm used to determine this risk score has been found to be highly inaccurate. And that can mean serious trouble for your criminal defense case.
How the Assessment Is Used to Determine Risk
Developed by the for-profit company, Northpointe, the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Sanctions (COMPAS) assessment tool analyzes defendants on nearly two-dozen theoretic criminology factors, including “criminal personality,” “residence/stability,” “social isolation,” and “substance abuse.” The system then places the defendants into a low, medium, or high category. The higher their purported risk, the higher their propensity of committing a violent or subsequent crime is supposed to be.
