Cameron County DA’s Office Considering Facebook Profiling of Jurors – Houston Criminal Lawyers
Houston criminal defense lawyers have seen an increasing use of social media by law-enforcement in Texas. Whether it is using Twitter to post the names of DWI offenders, or publish information about intoxicated motorists on Facebook pages, law-enforcement agencies have gotten increasingly aggressive about using social media tactics, and not always with good results. Now, it’s the turn of the Cameron County District Atty.’s office to announce that it will use Facebook profiles as a tool during jury selection.
According to the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office, it plans to screen prospective jurors by going through their Facebook profiles and postings. It will use the information gained from these profiles and postings to decide whether the person is qualified to sit on a jury. This newfound trust in social media at the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office is not exactly surprising. The courtrooms in Cameron County were recently upgraded to make them WiFi-compatible. According to the DA’s office, the decision to use Facebook profiles to screen jurors has been made to give prosecutors every tool at their disposal to find a favorable jury.
Currently, prosecutors use smart phones to do a Google search on a prospective juror. The only other information that prosecutors have to work with is the name of the juror, the number of children he has, religion and the employer. Obviously, that is limited information, considering that Facebook offers a wealth of more private and personal information, including musings, thoughts, and pet peeves and so on, that could offer great insight into a jurors mindset.
However, there’s a tiny problem. Facebook profiles can now be made private, giving only some users access to the person’s private and personal information. As Houston criminal defense attorneys, we don’t understand how this tool can be used to its maximum potential if access is as limited as it currently is.
The best idea is to make sure that your Facebook profile is set to private so that only the people that you want to see your personal information can see it. If your profile is not set to “private,” your personal and private information can be seen and used by all sorts of people including the District Attorney’s office, insurance companies, etc.
Houston Accident Lawyers Analyze Causes of Spike in Pedestrian Accident Deaths
Preliminary statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggest to Houston car accident lawyers that there has been a slight increase in the number of pedestrian accident fatalities in the first half of 2010. The increase is small, barely .4%, but it is still puzzling, considering that we have seen a decline in pedestrian accident deaths over the past four years. This increase in pedestrian accident fatalities has come even as the NHTSA reported a decline in overall traffic accident fatalities in the first six months of last year.
A final estimate about the death toll last year can be arrived at only after we have the total numbers for 2010. However, Houston injury lawyers fear that those pedestrian accident deaths will be higher when the final numbers are in, because most of the deadliest days for pedestrians are during the latter half of the year. The two months of summer see more pedestrian accident fatalities in Texas, with children and adults enjoying the lovely weather outside. Besides, the second half of the year also sees deadly holidays like Halloween, widely regarded as the deadliest year of the year for pedestrians. A child’s risk of being killed in an accident increases dramatically over the Halloween holiday, with more children trick or treating in the dark.
And we’ve not yet touched upon the frenetic pedestrian activity in the days leading up to the Christmas celebrations. Shoppers busy with last-minute shopping may be at a higher risk of being involved in an accident. When all the statistics are taken into consideration, the final pedestrian death numbers last year may be higher than the previous year, the first time in 4 years that this has happened.
So what was so special about 2010 that caused an increase in pedestrian accident deaths? It’s hard to tell with certainty right now, but the NHTSA seems to place much of the onus for this on pedestrians themselves. The agency believes that pedestrians now are more distracted, and less focused on the roads, leading to accidents.
Houston Police Seek Suspect in Fatal Motorcycle Accident
A 29-year-old Houston motorcyclist was killed just over a month ago when his motorcycle collided with a car that pulled out in front of him. Police are searching for the driver of the car who sped away from the scene.
The motorcyclist, Taurus Cherry was driving westbound on W. Greens Rd. when a Mercury Mystique pulled out in front of him, causing Cherry to collide with the car. He was thrown off his motorcycle, and sustained serious injuries. The Mystique driver then ran over him, and drove away from the scene of the crash. At least one witness tried to follow the Mystique and stop the driver, but he failed to overpower the driver and passenger, who run away.
Cherry was rushed to the Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The Houston Police Department is now looking for the suspect, who is believed to be a man in his 50s, and is being treated as a suspect in the fatal accident.
It’s not just Cherry’s death that is a tragedy here, but also the fact that the motorist simply drove away from the scene of the crash as if the life of another human being meant little which happens too often. It’s this kind of motorist callousness that Houston motorcycle accident lawyers keep warning against.
If you’re an avid motorcyclist, you’re aware that your chances of being involved in a serious or fatal accident are much higher than for motorists. Decades after the publication of the Hurt Report that blamed motorists for a high number of motorcycle accident fatalities, nothing much has changed. Motorcyclists are just as likely to suffer serious injuries or be killed in an accident, and most accidents are still caused by motorists who fail to yield right-of-way, or cut motorcyclists off.
Incorrect Dosage Measurements in Kids’ Medications Increase Risk of Injuries – Houston Child Injury Lawyers
A new study indicates to Houston injury attorneys that children may be at a danger of an overdose when dosage measurements are not properly provided with their medication.
The study, which has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, studied 200 popular over-the-counter liquid children’s medications. The researchers analyzed cough, cold, stomach and allergy drugs, as well as painkillers. They found that out of the 200 medications, approximately 25% did not come with a measuring device.
The ones that did come with a device had at least one inconsistency in the measurements. Some of the medications came with measuring devices that simply did not match the dosage specifications. Such a mismatch can be dangerous, because when parents don’t find the correct measurement device for the medication, they use teaspoons to give the dosage. That increases the risk of an overdose, because teaspoons are not designed to deliver medications accurately.
At least one of the medications that the researchers analyzed had a dosage measured in teaspoons, but came with a marking device that was marked in milliliters. Such errors can be dangerous because they cause needless confusion among parents.
The researchers have been concerned enough about these differences in the dosage instructions and the device supplied, to call for greater care by parents. If you don’t understand the dosage, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If your doctor has prescribed a 5-ml dosage, and the medication comes with a teaspoon, contact the doctor for his advice. Better still, use a syringe to deliver medication. These are perfectly and accurately marked, and the risk of a wrong dose or an overdose is negligible.
Pharmaceutical companies must also make sure that their children’s medications come with correct measuring devices to reduce the risk of injury. An overdose of paracetamol, for instance, can cause liver injuries if parents are not aware of the right ways to deliver the dosage.
Texas Drivers Concerned about Cell Phone-Related Accidents – Houston Injury Lawyers
Although Texas has lagged behind other states in its cell phone use-while driving policies, a new study indicates that residents of the state are concerned about the accident risks from distracted driving. The study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute also indicates that many Texans would favor some kind of ban on cell phone use while driving.
Respondents in the study were asked their opinions about traffic safety, and more than a third said that in spite of falling traffic accident fatalities across the state, they don’t feel safe on the road. In fact, only 20% of the respondents said that they feel more safe driving than they did five years ago. About 50% of the respondents were concerned that aggressive driving has increased, and 80% believe that talking on the cell phone or texting while driving are even more widespread practices now, than they were a few years ago.
When respondents were asked whether they favored a ban on cell phone use, they overwhelmingly responded in favor of a ban, with a margin of two to one. That should encourage legislative efforts aimed at preventing cell phone use behind the wheel. The Texas Legislature currently has a few bills pending that aim to prohibit or limit cell phone use behind the wheel.
No Houston car accident lawyer would believe that legislation is the only way to curb distracted driving. However, the fact is that we need some kind of legislation in order to nudge people into switching off of their cell phones while driving. This study shows that the awareness of the dangers of cell phone use while driving, is very high in Texas. We now need legislation as well as promotion of cell phone blocking technologies to minimize cell phone use at the wheel.
Houston Parents Prepare for Drop Side Crib Ban – Houston Child Injury Lawyers
Drop side cribs, which make it easy for Houston parents to access their baby but also hide dangerous hazards, will no longer be seen in Houston stores. The Consumer Product Safety Commission officially banned drop side cribs last month.
In June, the agency had voted to ban the manufacture, distribution and sale of these cribs. This week, the agency announced an all-out ban on these cribs. As Houston injury attorneys and parents ourselves, we had been awaiting a final decision by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and it is now here. There’s no doubt that this ban is a victory, but the fact is that many homes still continue to have these cribs. It’s very important for parents to understand that these cribs are extremely dangerous.
Besides, dozens of these cribs still exist in day care centers across Houston and Texas. Obviously, for many of the smaller privately-run day care centers, replacing these cribs is going to be an additional expense. However, it is an expense that they must budget for. There have been simply far too many instances of crib sides creating a dangerous gap into which infants have fallen, or become trapped in. These cribs have made it easier for parents to reach a baby simply by sliding down the drop side. However, constant moving of the drop side can cause the plastic hardware to break, causing the drop side to separate from the body of the crib. This creates a dangerous gap that poses serious suffocation/entrapment/strangulation hazards.
We would encourage all Houston parents to discard their drop side cribs immediately. The ban on these cribs has already come far too late for the 32 babies who have been confirmed killed in suffocation/entrapment/strangulation accidents involving these cribs.
Houston Accident Lawyers Encouraged by Spike in Auto Defect Complaints
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has seen a substantial increase in the number of auto defect complaints being filed with the agency in 2010. As Houston accident lawyers and product liability attorneys in Houston, we believe that this is actually good news.
Why should an increase in auto defect complaints last year be encouraging? For one thing, it shows that Americans are now more aware of the need to file complaints when they notice defects in their vehicles than ever before. For too long, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has remained an obscure and almost irrelevant government body. Few Americans were aware of the federal agency’s duties and responsibilities. Even fewer consumers knew that when they noticed potential defects in their vehicles, they could file a complaint with the agency by calling a toll-free number.
That situation has changed tremendously since the Toyota recalls last year. Tens of millions of cars were recalled by Toyota after a horrible crash in California in 2009 was traced to sudden unintended acceleration in the vehicle. Since then, the media have devoted considerable attention and space to auto defects. Toyota’s recalls have been followed by a number of recalls announced by other automakers. Auto companies have been less likely to ignore potential problems, and have been more proactive about announcing recalls. That has meant more awareness in the public about auto safety issues.
Besides, it’s always good news when more complaints are filed with NHTSA, because the agency reviews every complaint that it receives. Few complaints will result in the agency taking any action. However, when a number of complaints about a particular problem begin to trickle in, the agency is alerted to the possibility of a defect, and can choose to begin an investigation. If necessary, the NHTSA can pressure the company to announce a recall. All of this is actually good for consumer safety.
Increase in Texas Holiday DWI Arrests – Houston Criminal Lawyers
The holiday season saw a substantial increase in the number of people calling Houston DWI lawyers after being pulled over for drunk driving. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, there was an increase in the number of impaired drivers who were arrested over the holidays. Overall, the DPS arrested 1,106 intoxicated drivers over the holiday season.
Much of the increase in DWI arrests in Texas happened because of a $2 million grant by the Department of Transportation. The grant was used to target high-risk locations for DWI. About 442 out of the total number of arrests this year were made in areas that have a high number of drunk driving accidents.
Not only that, drivers in Texas can expect to be pulled over for intoxicated driving more and more frequently over the next year. The Department of Public Safety plans to use its $2 million grant to increase its DWI enforcement efforts through 2011. There are plans to have more troopers stationed during prominent holidays, including the Fourth Of July, Labor Day and over spring break.
Texas’ strong DWI laws can result in offenders being penalized with heavy fines, community service, probation and a license suspension. As Houston DWI attorneys, we have severely criticized these laws and their lack of effectiveness. For instance, in spite of having some of the harshest anti-DWI laws in the country, Texas continues to have some of the highest drunk driving accident rates in the US. In particular, Harris County and the Houston area have substantial number of fatalities every year in drunk driving accidents. That’s proof that the state’s DWI laws are simply aimed at racking up meaningless arrest numbers, regardless of the impact to innocent drivers.
Houston DWI Lawyer’s Tips to Avoid DWI Charges
As Houston DWI lawyers, we often receive calls from people who have tested above the .08 legally allowed alcohol limit, and are shocked that they were so intoxicated. Too many people overestimate their capacity for drinks, and also fail to understand that there are a number of other factors besides the number of alcoholic drinks that you have had, that determine your breath test reading.
For instance, if you have eaten soon after drinking, it is likely to impact your reading. Combining alcohol with food seems to result in a lower reading. Besides, the number of alcoholic beverages you have consumed and your weight also determine whether you reach or cross that crucial .08 limit.
We often find that women are affected differently by alcohol, than men. A woman could have the same number of drinks as a man, and still find herself with a higher blood alcohol content (BAC). There are physiological reasons for this. For instance, men have a 61% concentration of water in the body, compared to women who have a water content of around 52%. Therefore, the alcohol in a man’s body is diluted more, and may not show up as much in a test.
Similarly, women generally have a higher body fat concentration than men. This is important because alcohol is not absorbed in body fat which keeps a high concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream.
A woman’s hormone levels also determine the manner in which the alcohol is absorbed in the body. For instance, hormonal changes around a woman’s menstrual period can cause you to become drunk faster. For example, if you’re on estrogen pills (i.e. birth control pills), you may be intoxicated faster than you know, because these pills impact the ability of the body to eliminate the alcohol. Besides, women have a higher body fat concentration, and because fat is not able to absorb alcohol, women have much higher levels of concentrated alcohol in their system.
Not being aware of these facts, could lead to a situation where a woman is drinking with her male friends and expect to be able to handle the drinks as well as they do.
The bottom line is that there are a lot of factors to consider about how our bodies process and eliminate alcohol. Reaching the legal limit for alcohol is difficult to determine and you likely won’t know when you have reached a 0.08 BAC. You may be more intoxicated 30 minutes after you stop drinking depending on the amount of alcohol you consumed. The best policy is not to drive if you have been drinking. Have a designated driver or take cab.
Pregnant Woman Seriously Injured in Houston Drunk Driving Accident
A serious drunk driving accident ensured that it was a terrible holiday for Houston-area resident Kim Williams and her family. Williams was involved in an accident involving an intoxicated motorist in late November. She was six months pregnant at the time. She was driving to the store to get some eggs, when her car was struck by an alleged drunk driver. The force of the crash threw her out of her vehicle, and she was run over by her own car.
She was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent several surgeries. However, doctors were unable to save her unborn child. Williams is the mother of four children, aged between one and seven. The drunk driver in this case has been charged with intoxicated assault and tampering with evidence. The driver, Jonathan Thornberry already has two other DWI convictions to his credit.
Our hearts go out to Williams and her family. This accident is just a reminder to Houston injury lawyers of how drunk driving continues to be an overwhelming factor in accidents in Texas. There has been much progress in reducing the number of fatal auto crashes linked to drunk drivers every year, but every year, hundreds of people are killed in Texas alone from such alcohol-related car crashes.
In fact, we continue to have sizable numbers of fatalities every year from drunk driving accidents in spite of the fact that we have several tough anti-DWI measures, including “no refusal” weekends. With laws like these, you would expect Texas to have low rates of DWI and drunk driving accidents.
Instead, the Harris County area and Houston in particular, have some of the highest drunk driving accident rates in the country. Clearly our existing laws are not working, either at protecting people like Williams, or keeping drunk drivers off the road.
