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Mounties seized numerous guns — including three stolen firearms — when they raided a home on Sandy Bay First Nation.
Manitoba stories

Road trips are something of a rite of passage and many new teen drivers love the idea of heading for the open road during summer vacation. If your teen driver hopes to try a road trip this summer, here are some ways you can help your teen avoid a Miami car accident while on the road:

1) Make sure your teen has the driving skills to handle a road trip. If your teen just recently got a driver`s license, he or she may not have the experience to easily avoid Miami truck accidents and traffic accidents. Consider having your teen take additional lessons and defensive driving lessons before the road trip.

2) Help your teen plan a safe road trip. Talk with your teen about passengers. A few additional passengers can help your teen stay safer on the road, but too many passengers may be a distraction. Discuss passengers and the safest routes to take on the road. Talk to your teen about the supplies they need to take for a safe road trip. These might include a first aid kit, a cell phone, maps, and other supplies.

3) Make sure your teen knows how to stay safe. Set some ground rules to ensure that your teen does not take unneeded risks, such as driving distracted. Give your teen an option to get home safely. For example, make it clear that you will come get the group, no questions asked, rather than risk having your teen drive under the influence or drive in dangerous conditions. Arrange a regular check-in time when your teen can call in to let you know he or she is safe. Consider arranging a GPS device with your teen so that you can keep track of the car`s route.

4) Get your teen`s car checked. A well-functioning car can reduce the risk of a Miami traffic accident because a well-maintained car responds correctly. Take your teen`s car to a trusted mechanic to ensure that the car is in good enough condition for a road trip.

5) Have back up plans. Make sure that your teen knows what to do if plans change. If there is a road closure or another problem, for example, make sure that your teen understands alternative routes to take. You don’t want your teen lost and driving in unfamiliar areas.

6) Consider extra insurance. If your teen will be headed outside of US borders or state borders, make sure that he or she has extra car and health insurance in case there is a problem.

7) Take a practice run. Consider driving along with your teen as your teen takes a longer drive. This will reassure you about your teen`s driving ability before he or she takes the trip. If you notice any problems – such as distracted driving or a need for more driving lessons – you can address these issues before the trip.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A bulletproof vest was among the items seized during a gun raid at a Killarney-area home.
Manitoba stories

Law enforcement claims a North Carolina first-grade teacher admitted to having been texting while driving after a car accident last week. Police say the woman ran into a van that was pulling into a parking lot early Friday morning in Wilmington.

A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper says that during the accident investigation the woman had a bloody lip from the accident, but also says she was slurring her speech and other statements that defense attorneys typically read in arrest reports after someone is accused of driving while impaired in North Carolina.

Law enforcement says the woman smelled strongly of alcohol after the crash. Apparently the woman submitted an implied consent breath sample after the crash. The North Carolina Highway Patrol alleges the first-grade teacher blew readings of 0.13 and 0.12 percent blood alcohol concentration after the accident.

Although the prosecutor has the burden of proof in any criminal case, the law presumes impairment in DWI cases when there is evidence of a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more for any driver who is age 21 or more. For individuals under the age of 21, any evidence of alcohol in a driver’s system is sufficient for prosecutors to bring underage DWI charges in the state.

The 36-year-old woman was reportedly booked into the New Hanover County Jail around 4:00 Friday morning on suspicion of DWI. She is scheduled to appear in court on the DWI charges Feb. 14.

It is important to note that anyone charged with DWI has the right to defend against the charges in court.

Source: WWAY News Channel 3, “FIRST ON 3: Teacher admitted texting, blew 0.13 after school-night crash,” Cliff Pyron, Dec. 21, 2011

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

If your teen has gotten a driver’s license over the summer, he or she may be excited about driving to school for the first time. However, it is natural to have some qualms about this as a parent. After all, the news reports daily on deadly Florida truck accidents and car accidents. Before letting your teen drive to and from school, you may want to ask the following questions:

1) Does your teen have a reliable car? A car that is not in good repair is a considerable danger, because it may not respond adequately if your teen needs to make a sudden move to avoid an accident. You may want to ask your teen to make sure that their car is in good shape before being allowed to drive to and from school. A summer car may not be adequate for the daily wear and tear of a daily commute.

2) Can your teen find a safe parking space nearby? Some high schools provide parking to students, but in other cases students need to find a spot on nearby streets. Are these streets safe to park on? Is parking adequate? Can your teen parallel park well enough to squeeze into a parking spot? Make sure that your teen can park safely and close enough not to have to be late for class.

3) Is your teen willing to sign pledges not to drink and drive or text and drive? Using a cell phone while driving or drinking and driving should carry serious penalties – such as the loss of driving privileges. Get it down on paper.

4) Can you agree on a route to school? Go over the routes to school, with an eye for safety and traffic.

5) Will your teen want to take friends to school? Extra passengers in the car add considerably to distraction for the driver and increase the risk of a Florida pedestrian accident or traffic accident. It is also difficult to enforce how many passengers your teen has in their car. Nevertheless, you will want to impose a passenger limit and have penalties in place if your teen driver disobeys this rule.

6) How will you know where your teen will be after school? One of the dangers of driving to and from school is that your teen may drive off after classes and may forget to tell you where he or she is going. You may need to have rules in place to ensure that you know where your teen is.

7) Has your teen received adequate driver training? Basic driving training is great, but giving your teen additional private lessons means added experience behind the wheel. Additional defensive driving courses are also a smart investment because they give your new driver additional skills to prevent a Florida car accident.

Will your teen be driving home in the dark? If your teen has after-school commitments, in the winter he or she may be driving home in the dark. However, most driver training and driver’s tests do not test night driving.

9) Does your teen have adequate experience with you in the passenger’s seat? Driving along in the passenger’s seat when your new driver heads out for a drive can help reassure you that your teen has the driving skills needed to take a car out daily. If you find that your teen has bad habits or dangerous habits, you have a chance to notice this and address it with further training before extending further driving privileges.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

It makes sense to do everything in your power to avoid being in a Florida car accident. However, it is also important to be prepared – just in case. Sometimes, even when drivers do everything right, the mistakes or negligence of other drivers can lead to an accident. Luckily, there are many things you can do right now to prevent a car accident and to be more prepared in case the worst happens.

One important step to take is to place a few items in your glove compartment – just in case. In your glove compartment, you should have your registration and insurance card, in case you are in an accident. You should also have a list of emergency numbers and any information about any medical conditions you have. As well, a small first aid kit is a nice thing to have. Finally, place a paper and pen or pencil in your glove compartment, so that you can write down anything you need to after an accident. Having a camera is also nice, but not necessary.

Luckily, there are many things you can do to prevent an accident or accident-related injuries in the first place. Wearing your seatbelt and ensuring that all passengers wear age-appropriate restraints is an important first step to protecting yourself. Driving carefully and defensively is also an important way to prevent accidents.

If you are in a Florida car crash, you must stop at the scene of the accident. If the accident is minor, you can move your car off the road so that you do not block traffic and do not pose further danger to your passengers. Immediately call for medical assistance if anyone is injured. If you are not sure whether there is anyone injured, it is better to get possible victims evaluated.

Once everyone has received assistance, your next priority is to protect the site of the accident, which can help law enforcement officers determine what happened. Unless your car is creating danger or blocking traffic, leave it where it is. If you need to move your car, note where the car was at the time of the accident. Turn on your four-way flashers and lights to alter other drivers of a possible hazard. Notify police of the accident if needed and then exchange information (including names, addresses, and insurance information) with any other driver involved. Take note of any important details at the scene and take photos if you have a camera. Err on the side of taking more information than you need – you never know what detail will be important for an insurance company or attorney if you decide to pursue a claim. Take the names and numbers of any witnesses and note anything that may have in any way contributed to the accident.

If your accident has resulted in fatalities, injuries, or more than 0 in property damage, you will need to notify authorities of the accident. Stay with your car until police arrive and cooperate with the investigation. Speak with the investigating officer, but stick with the facts. Do not admit fault or discuss the accident in detail until you have a Florida personal injury attorney to advise you and to help you protect your rights. If insurance company investigators are at the scene, do not discuss the accident with them until you have a personal injury attorney, as a good attorney can help you protect your interests. In many cases, you can contact a Florida personal injury attorney – such as the Flaxman Law Group – right from the accident scene. Do not leave the scene of the accident until you have spoken to the investigating officers at the scene and they have allowed you to leave.

Once you have left the scene, see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. This can help start document any injuries you may have sustained during the accident. If you have not done so already, consult with an attorney and notify your insurance company of the accident.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

For many teens, a road trip is an adventure and something of a rite of passage. Therefore, many teen drivers look forward to the day they can gather together a few friends and hit the road. If your teen driver is going on a first road trip, keep these safety tips in mind:

1) Make sure your teen has GPS and a cell phone – but won’t use them while driving. A cell phone with a GPS feature can help your teen call for help and get oriented, but since distracted driving is a leading cause of Florida car accidents, you want to ensure that your teen won’t use these devices while driving. Make sure that your teen agrees to pull over onto the side of the road before using these devices. Also, arrange a call-in time for your teen to call you to let you know that everything is fine.

2) Help your teen plan the trip. Work together to identify driving times, rest stops and breaks, potential hazards, and good driving routes. Make sure that your teen understands all the information needed to drive safely.

3) Create a written agreement. Create a contract with your teen and sign it. The contract should outline the rules for the road trip – such as when your teen will call in, a no drunk driving clause, a no distracted driving clause, and anything else you need to keep your driver safe. Be sure to outline fines and penalties for breaking the rules.

4) Encourage your teen to choose passengers carefully. Passengers are a major cause of distraction for teen drivers, so encourage your driver to consider who is coming along on the trip. Consider packing snacks or other activities for passengers so that your teen can focus on the road.

5) Make sure that your teen has a safe car to drive. Many teens driver older used cars because they are affordable, but not all of these cars are adequate for the rigors of a road trip. Take the car to your own mechanic to make sure the vehicle is sound and safe.

6) Consider the gift of additional training. The best gift you have give your teen before the road trip is a few hours of extra training with a qualified driving instructor. One on one training with a good instructor can help your teen correct some bad habits and brush up on skills needed for a longer trip.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog