Los Angeles car accident attorneys have always known that diminished eyesight and vision in older drivers increases the risk of an accident. However, new research indicates that it's not just diminished eyesight, but also heightened awareness of background movement that could possibly increase the risk of an accident for elderly motorists. The results of the study have been published in the January issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
The study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester, found that elderly drivers have an enhanced ability to perceive motion in the background, as compared to younger drivers. Younger drivers can concentrate better on objects that are in the foreground, because of increased activity in a section of the brain, called the medial temporal visual area. These drivers are therefore better able to see bicyclists, pedestrians and other objects in the foreground. In comparison, older drivers may have impaired function of the medial temporal visual area, and as a result, may not be able to concentrate as hard on objects moving in the foreground. Elderly drivers, in contrast, may be better able to focus on objects that are in the background.
The research provides fresh insight into the visual problems affecting older drivers, and how these drivers can be trained to drive safely. The researchers used a technique called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. They attached magnetic coils to the back of the person's head, and stimulated the medial temporal visual area of the brain with electrical signals for a period of 15 minutes to impair this portion of the brain. When the medial temporal visual area was in this state of impairment, the researchers tested how well the subjects identified movement of objects.
According to the findings, when the medial temporal visual area was less active, the persons were able to easily identify the movement of objects in the background.
The research seems to indicate some very basic neurological reasons why elderly drivers find it so difficult to spot certain objects on the road. It seems to indicate that elderly drivers are much better at detecting large-scale movement in the background, than small objects in the foreground, like bicyclists or pedestrians. Pedestrians and bicyclists can be easy to miss because of their narrow frames. This poses a serious challenge to elderly drivers, because of their impaired median temporal visual area.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Urban Roads Linked to More Accidents and Fatalities
A new report out by USA Today doesn't have any surprises for Los Angeles car accident lawyers. According to the report, states with more urban roads are safer than those with a greater proportion of rural roads. The report analyzes states based on the total fatalities in 2009, as well as the accident death rate for every 100,000 population. California had 3,081 accidents in 2009, with a death rate of 8.3 for every 100,000 population.
California is not the most dangerous state in the country, but it is not the safest part of the country either. That honor goes to Washington DC and Massachusetts. Washington DC had 492 deaths in accidents in 2009, with a 7.4 death rate per 100,000 population. Massachusetts had 334 deaths in 2009, and a 5.1 death rate per 100,000 population. The conclusion to draw from the analysis is this - states that have more urban roads have lower speed limits, better designed roads, and easier access to emergency trauma care facilities. These states will have lower accident death rates compared to states that have more rural roads.
Rural roads suffer from a number of disadvantages. These tend to be poorly designed with two lanes, increasing the risk of an accident. Further, rural highways are less likely to come with dividers. A person involved in an accident on a rural street may not have easy access to trauma care facilities during the Golden Hour, or the first hour after the injury occurs. A person’s chances of surviving critical injuries increases if he is given emergency trauma care within the first hour. In rural areas, survivors wait more than an hour to reach the nearest trauma care center, and hence, the higher fatality rates. Besides, rural areas see more numbers of drunk driving accidents, and fewer sobriety checkpoints. There are also fewer crackdowns and lower seat belt use checks on rural roads.
California is not the most dangerous state in the country, but it is not the safest part of the country either. That honor goes to Washington DC and Massachusetts. Washington DC had 492 deaths in accidents in 2009, with a 7.4 death rate per 100,000 population. Massachusetts had 334 deaths in 2009, and a 5.1 death rate per 100,000 population. The conclusion to draw from the analysis is this - states that have more urban roads have lower speed limits, better designed roads, and easier access to emergency trauma care facilities. These states will have lower accident death rates compared to states that have more rural roads.
Rural roads suffer from a number of disadvantages. These tend to be poorly designed with two lanes, increasing the risk of an accident. Further, rural highways are less likely to come with dividers. A person involved in an accident on a rural street may not have easy access to trauma care facilities during the Golden Hour, or the first hour after the injury occurs. A person’s chances of surviving critical injuries increases if he is given emergency trauma care within the first hour. In rural areas, survivors wait more than an hour to reach the nearest trauma care center, and hence, the higher fatality rates. Besides, rural areas see more numbers of drunk driving accidents, and fewer sobriety checkpoints. There are also fewer crackdowns and lower seat belt use checks on rural roads.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
California Couple Killed in Police Chase Accident
Two people have been killed in a Los Angles auto accident caused by a drunk driver who was fleeing law enforcement personnel over the weekend. The accident occurred on Friday night in Hyde Park, when police officers noticed a vehicle being driven recklessly. They initiated a chase, which ended just a few minutes later when the alleged drunk driver crashed into another car.
In the other car was a couple in their 50’s who on their way home. The husband died at the scene, while the wife was rushed to the injuries with severe injuries, and died later. Meanwhile, the drunk driver has been booked for two counts of murder.
Investigators are still examining the crash scene. Los Angeles car accident lawyers expect questions to be raised about whether the risks of a drunk driving accident where increased because of the chase.
Over the past few years, there has been much concern about high-speed police chases and the risks to innocent bystanders. According to estimates, more than 300 innocent bystanders are killed or seriously injured every year in police chase-related accidents.
Every police department in California has rules governing the initiation of a high-speed chase. Police officers are required to weigh the benefits of initiating a chase versus the risks of an accident. Obviously, this can be a difficult decision because it is impossible to accurately predict the outcome of a chase. Any investigation of this accident will include the circumstances of the case, and whether a chase was necessary. It will also examine the traffic conditions in which this case was initiated. For instance, a high-speed chase involving a drunk motorist on a busy street is clearly dangerous.
California drunk driving injury lawyers do not want police departments to feel like their hands are tied when it comes to making the decision to chase a suspect. But the safety of innocent motorists, bystanders and pedestrians must also factor heavily in the decision to start a chase.
In the other car was a couple in their 50’s who on their way home. The husband died at the scene, while the wife was rushed to the injuries with severe injuries, and died later. Meanwhile, the drunk driver has been booked for two counts of murder.
Investigators are still examining the crash scene. Los Angeles car accident lawyers expect questions to be raised about whether the risks of a drunk driving accident where increased because of the chase.
Over the past few years, there has been much concern about high-speed police chases and the risks to innocent bystanders. According to estimates, more than 300 innocent bystanders are killed or seriously injured every year in police chase-related accidents.
Every police department in California has rules governing the initiation of a high-speed chase. Police officers are required to weigh the benefits of initiating a chase versus the risks of an accident. Obviously, this can be a difficult decision because it is impossible to accurately predict the outcome of a chase. Any investigation of this accident will include the circumstances of the case, and whether a chase was necessary. It will also examine the traffic conditions in which this case was initiated. For instance, a high-speed chase involving a drunk motorist on a busy street is clearly dangerous.
California drunk driving injury lawyers do not want police departments to feel like their hands are tied when it comes to making the decision to chase a suspect. But the safety of innocent motorists, bystanders and pedestrians must also factor heavily in the decision to start a chase.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Judge Orders Adopted Woman to Be Deported to Mexico
A 58-year-old woman, who was adopted by American parents, has been ordered to be deported to Mexico. The woman, Tara Ammona Cohen, has been in detention in Tacoma, Washington since July 2009. The deportation order from the judge relates to a drug conviction she has on her record.
Cohen was adopted from a Mexican orphanage when she was only 5 months old. She was raised and has lived as an American. She married a US citizen and has American children. Unfortunately, her parents never had her naturalized after her adoption. She began to look at the process of gaining US citizenship. However, by that time, she had already been convicted of a crime. She was arrested in 2008 on charges of drug trafficking and theft. She pleaded guilty to theft and trafficking, and served three months of a one-year-and-a-day sentence. When she was released from prison, she was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Because her citizenship process was not complete, and she did not have legal residency status, she was marked for deportation after her criminal conviction. Cohen has appealed. The federal Bureau of Immigration Appeals will consider her appeal.
Her immigration lawyers insist that she will be persecuted in Mexico. According to her lawyers, the fact that she does not speak the language, or have a method of earning a living in Mexico, would make life as an immigrant in Mexico simply unbearable. She also claims she would likely be subjected to abuse and violence. Further, she suffers from bipolar disorder, and has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She believes that her disorders make her a candidate for persecution in Mexico. Besides, she has no friends or relatives in Mexico, having lived in the US all of her life.
Issues relating to deportation are some of the most complex that end up before a California immigration lawyer, and immigration laws can be harsh. Conviction of a crime before naturalization is just one way a potential citizen can face deportation.
Cohen was adopted from a Mexican orphanage when she was only 5 months old. She was raised and has lived as an American. She married a US citizen and has American children. Unfortunately, her parents never had her naturalized after her adoption. She began to look at the process of gaining US citizenship. However, by that time, she had already been convicted of a crime. She was arrested in 2008 on charges of drug trafficking and theft. She pleaded guilty to theft and trafficking, and served three months of a one-year-and-a-day sentence. When she was released from prison, she was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Because her citizenship process was not complete, and she did not have legal residency status, she was marked for deportation after her criminal conviction. Cohen has appealed. The federal Bureau of Immigration Appeals will consider her appeal.
Her immigration lawyers insist that she will be persecuted in Mexico. According to her lawyers, the fact that she does not speak the language, or have a method of earning a living in Mexico, would make life as an immigrant in Mexico simply unbearable. She also claims she would likely be subjected to abuse and violence. Further, she suffers from bipolar disorder, and has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She believes that her disorders make her a candidate for persecution in Mexico. Besides, she has no friends or relatives in Mexico, having lived in the US all of her life.
Issues relating to deportation are some of the most complex that end up before a California immigration lawyer, and immigration laws can be harsh. Conviction of a crime before naturalization is just one way a potential citizen can face deportation.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Burning of George Jakubec Escondido Home Goes As Planned
It took barely an hour to complete a “controlled burn” of the Escondido rental property that has been linked to an explosives-and-bomb scandal. The house had been rented by George Jakubec, who is currently under arrest on a number of charges. According to San Diego criminal defense attorney Michael Berg, who is representing George Jakubec, there was no need to rush ahead with the burning of the property, considering that Jakubec, his wife and their daughter had lived there for four years without any major explosion.
Before the controlled burn, bomb squad members went back into the house to collect personal documents, including Jakubec’s passport as well as his wife's immigration documents. However, according to Berg, when he requested that the bomb squad members also retrieve some papers that were very relevant to the case, his request was denied. These papers would have provided evidence in the case. Jakubec’s criminal defense lawyer is now preparing to file a motion because of the destroyed evidence.
Jakubec was arrested on November 18th. He was jailed on a $5.1 million bond. He was initially charged by local prosecutors, but state charges were dismissed after a federal grand jury indictment against him. He faces eight charges, including those related to bank robbery, attempted bank holdup, possessing explosive devices, brandishing a firearm during a robbery and illegal manufacture of explosives. He has entered a not guilty plea to each of the charges.
Before the controlled burn, bomb squad members went back into the house to collect personal documents, including Jakubec’s passport as well as his wife's immigration documents. However, according to Berg, when he requested that the bomb squad members also retrieve some papers that were very relevant to the case, his request was denied. These papers would have provided evidence in the case. Jakubec’s criminal defense lawyer is now preparing to file a motion because of the destroyed evidence.
Jakubec was arrested on November 18th. He was jailed on a $5.1 million bond. He was initially charged by local prosecutors, but state charges were dismissed after a federal grand jury indictment against him. He faces eight charges, including those related to bank robbery, attempted bank holdup, possessing explosive devices, brandishing a firearm during a robbery and illegal manufacture of explosives. He has entered a not guilty plea to each of the charges.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Slow Initial Response to Parenting Classes for Gang Parents
A new California law that allows judges to send parents of gang members to parenting classes when their children are convicted of gang crimes for the first time, has seen a slow initial response.
The Parent Accountability Act is the first state law that allows judges to require that parents of young gang members undergo special parenting classes to help deal with the teenagers. According to the promoters of the law, the slow response has been mainly due to judges who may be ignorant of the law. Besides, it can be difficult to get parents of gang members, many of whom struggle with two jobs, to make the time to attend these classes. In other cases, it has been a result of parental apathy towards their children.
In fact, the initial response to the program has been so low, that several classes had to be canceled because of the low turnout. However, a class held last month saw six parents attending, and San Diego criminal defense lawyers believe that as parents of young gang members convicted of crimes take part in these programs and are able to gain the parenting skills necessary to prevent such behavior by their children, the program will receive a better response.
During the program, parents receive exposure to drug paraphernalia, and are also alerted to the signs of drug addiction. Parents are exposed to the images of drug addicts before and after the addiction, and signs of drug crimes in their own children. They are also exposed to possible signs of gang involvement, including sudden emergence of tattoos, changes in musical tastes and the use of secret gang hand signals.
The fee for the classes which is about $20, is currently being waived in order to coax more parents to attend. If parents continue to fail to attend, they may be held in contempt by the court.
The Parent Accountability Act is the first state law that allows judges to require that parents of young gang members undergo special parenting classes to help deal with the teenagers. According to the promoters of the law, the slow response has been mainly due to judges who may be ignorant of the law. Besides, it can be difficult to get parents of gang members, many of whom struggle with two jobs, to make the time to attend these classes. In other cases, it has been a result of parental apathy towards their children.
In fact, the initial response to the program has been so low, that several classes had to be canceled because of the low turnout. However, a class held last month saw six parents attending, and San Diego criminal defense lawyers believe that as parents of young gang members convicted of crimes take part in these programs and are able to gain the parenting skills necessary to prevent such behavior by their children, the program will receive a better response.
During the program, parents receive exposure to drug paraphernalia, and are also alerted to the signs of drug addiction. Parents are exposed to the images of drug addicts before and after the addiction, and signs of drug crimes in their own children. They are also exposed to possible signs of gang involvement, including sudden emergence of tattoos, changes in musical tastes and the use of secret gang hand signals.
The fee for the classes which is about $20, is currently being waived in order to coax more parents to attend. If parents continue to fail to attend, they may be held in contempt by the court.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Verdict Awaited in Concorde Plane Crash
California plane crash attorneys are expecting a verdict on the devastating Concorde Air France plane crash in France in 2000 soon. Continental Airlines Inc. and five individuals have been charged with manslaughter in the crash that killed 113 people.
The crash, which occurred in July 2000, set into motion a chain of events which finally ended with the termination of Concord services in 2003. On July 21, 2000, the Air France jet was on its way from Charles De Gaulle International Airport in Paris to JFK Airport in New York. Investigators later found that a Continental Airlines plane had lost a titanium part when it took off from Charles de Gaulle airport. Later, when the Concorde made its takeoff on the same runway, this titanium piece, which was still lying on the runway, ruptured the tire of the Concord, causing it to burst. That set off a series of adverse events, and finally led to the rupture of the fuel tank which burst into flames. Soon, a large plume of fire was trailing the Concorde, even as it took off. The pilots were unable to maintain control of the plane, and it crashed into a nearby hotel.
The investigation into the crash has also been dogged by controversy. In France, a plane crash must be followed by a separate civil and criminal investigation. Patient safety experts believe that these dual investigations have caused immense delays in the Concorde investigation. The criminal trial began about 10 years after the crash. According to several plane safety experts, there is no need for two investigations, because investigators often get in each other's way. This often causes conflicts, and it does little for the speed of the investigation. Besides, there's also lots of pressure on witnesses, who may be under threat of prosecution. It's hard to get witnesses to come out and testify when they have even the slightest doubt that they will be prosecuted.
However, the legal system in France does not afford their aviation accident attorneys the means or the resources to conduct their own investigations, unlike California plane crash lawyers, who will almost certainly conduct their own probe into a crash.
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