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Hypoglycemia and DUI: How You Can Be Falsely Convicted

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For many people suffering from hypoglycemia, low blood sugar can cause symptoms that are strikingly similar to the effects of alcohol. Diabetes and many other kinds of diseases can result in hypoglycemia if blood sugar levels are not monitored and controlled. If blood sugar levels do dip below normal, sufferers can experience slow and slurred speech, poor balance, impaired motor control, staggering, drowsiness, flushed face, disorientation and even fainting. Many of those symptoms are equally as characteristic of drunkenness as they are for low blood sugar. Will a police officer be able to distinguish the cause of similar symptoms?]

Cause of Higher Readings on PBTs

You may think field devices that test blood alcohol level would reveal that you were not drunk, if you became impaired from low blood sugar while driving. However, these portable breath testing devices (PBTs) can be fooled by the symptoms of hypoglycemia as well. Diabetics and other sufferers of hypoglycemia can experience ketoacidosis, a state that increases the amounts of acetones in the breath. Since PBTs pick on any compound in the methyl group, including acetones, and not just the ethanol of drinking alcohol, this state can cause higher readings on PBTs. It causes the PBT to reflect more than just the alcohol that might have been consumed by the person being tested.

Hypoglycemia can produce the same visual symptoms as drunkenness and can’t be distinguished by field testing; some of the flaws of DUI symptoms are exposed in just this one circumstance.

Contact us at Brad Johnson Injury Law, and we’ll find the flaws. We’re on your side.

Tips For Avoiding Accidents With Commercial Trucks

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The United States Department of Transportation indicates that commercial truck accidents account for 98% of traffic fatalities involving automobile drivers annually. This is primarily because trucks are responsible for over 500,000 accidents a year.

Here are some tips to avoid these types of accidents:

1. Defensive driving techniques – These tips most often include keeping a sharp eye out for bad drivers or those who are not obeying traffic laws. Early detection is the key to avoidance, and observation helps keep you alert for potential problems.
2. Observe your blind spot – Many truck accidents occur when drivers fail to acknowledge their blind spots. Compensating for this by looking twice before changing lanes or adding a secondary parabolic mirror can help you avoid a collision with a commercial vehicle that could cost you your life.
3. Drive responsibly – chatting on the cell phone, texting or driving aggressively is no way to behave on the road. These behaviors have been proven to contribute to trucking accidents. Eliminating distractions can greatly reduce the chances of a life altering, catastrophic collision.
4. Don’t follow too closely – by staying a safe distance away from other cars you can avoid participating in a wreck or pile-up as your reaction time decreases.

Of course, there is no such thing as a fail-safe. Even careful drivers can get involved in a horrendous truck accident.

Protect yourself and your family.

The Financial Impact and Costs of a DUI

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Everyone knows that a DUI is the last thing they need. The laws are continually increasing, the jail time is considerably higher than it used to be, and the costs have been rising along with it.

Do you understand the financial impact of a DUI?

It may very well become the most expensive ride of your life. Consider a First Offense Regular DUI. After all is said and done, you will have spent over $3,000. This includes paying for a minimum of 24 hours in jail, having your license suspended for 30 days (with a 60 day restriction), installing an ignition interlock device for 12 months, and seeing an increase in insurance premiums.

If your blood alcohol content reaches a level higher than.150, you are now considered an Extreme DUI case. The cost of this occurrence is now over $6,000. The fines have now doubled! Not considering the fines, you will also have to spend a minimum of 30 days in jail. That is where the majority of additional costs come from. Unfortunately, the rest of the costs are the same. Not to mention, the insurance premiums will increase that much more.
We strongly advise taking a cab. $20 for a cab ride is much more acceptable when you consider the cost of a first offense DUI at over $3,000. That is 150 cab rides that you can have for one DUI offense. For an extreme DUI, that is 300 cab rides!

Consider your options. Don’t drink and drive.

Don’t Drink and Drive: Consider Alternative Transportation Methods

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If you are intoxicated and not able to come up with a designated driver, here’s a list of resources that you can take advantage of in the Valley:

Designated Drivers 24/7

This service began last year in an attempt to provide a great alternative to a taxi. For $50/month designated drivers 24/7 will pick up the passenger and drive him home in their very own car. After the passenger and their car are dropped off safely, the Designated Driver gets in the following car and off they go.

The Drunk Drivers

The Drunk Drivers is essentially the same concept, but they have a whole fleet of 18 vehicles ready for action. They are a full-service 24/7 operation and are proud to take care of the whole valley. Right now the service is only $30 a month, so take advantage of it while it lasts!

Zingo Arizona

The third and final alternative transport is Zingo Arizona. This company began in 2007 with the help of Hensley Budweiser. Zingo is also of the same concept as the previous two, but they arrive in a foldable scooter! Once they arrive, the scooter folds up and is placed in the trunk. This service is $25 for a pickup, as well as $3 for every mile thereafter.

I hope this selection of taxi alternatives helps. Remember, if you have any DUI disputes, contact Brad Johnson Injury Law.

The Meaning of Blood Alcohol Level

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When an Arizona police officer conducts a breathalyzer or blood test, they’re attempting to determine your blood alcohol level. This is the percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream.

In Arizona, your blood alcohol level cannot be over .08.

If you are over that limit, you will be charged with a DUI, and the results of any tests administered will be used against you in court. That’s why you want to make sure you don’t go over that limit.

What is a standard drink?

A standard drink is 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of most beers, or 1.25 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

To make sure your blood alcohol level isn’t over the legal limit, you need to calculate how much you can drink over a certain period of time. You can do this by using a blood alcohol chart. These charts use your weight to determine what your blood alcohol level will be if you have a certain amount of standard drinks. For example, according to these charts, a two-hundred-pound man would need to drink four drinks to reach a BAC, or blood alcohol level, of .08.

However, you need to take into consideration the time that elapses between those drinks. You can calculate this by subtracting .01 for every forty to sixty minutes of drinking. So if that two hundred pound man had four drinks over a four-hour period, theoretically he’d be at .02, not .08.

These charts are to be used only as a guide. There are many factors that could skew the results like a person’s muscle composition and what they’ve had to eat. However, if you’re smart and drink responsibly, using the chart, you should be able to determine how much you can drink over time so that you don’t go over Arizona’s BAC limit and get stopped for drunk driving.

The Importance of Pedestrian Caution In Traffic

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Everyday you hear about accidents involving pedestrians. The reason is because people are often careless about where they’re walking. They’re not mindful of their surroundings, they think that cars are always going to stop to give them the right of way, and some people just plain think they’re invincible. But people aren’t invincible and that’s why all pedestrians need to be cautious in traffic. That means looking both ways before you cross the street, never assuming someone is going to give you the right of way, and always taking the proper precautions so that every driver on the road sees you and knows you’re there. As long as you do these things, you will be able to go about your business without being involved in a traffic accident that you may not survive.

Cars are very useful for getting us where we need to go, but they’re also two thousand plus pound machines. A person wouldn’t stand a chance if they were hit by one of these cars. Every person should know and realize this. Yet it never fails; there’s always that person who rushes across the street without a care as cars honk and swerve to avoid hitting him. Most of the time these people are just in a hurry and they never consider that they could be hit by a car. Everyone thinks that a traffic accident is going to happen to someone else. But if you don’t watch where you’re going, you are going to be the subject of the next early morning news story involving a pedestrian and a fast moving car.

Watch Your Surroundings
No matter where you’re walking to, and even if you’re just walking along the sidewalk, always be aware of your surroundings. Be mindful of where traffic is, which direction it’s traveling and make sure you position yourself so that you’re seen by these drivers. If you’re going to cross the street, look both ways before you cross at an intersection.  Never “jaywalk”! Never take chances! It’s better to be late going somewhere than to not arrive at all. As long as you keep a keen eye for any traffic and you’re watchful of where you step, you’ll have a much better chance of reaching your destination.

Right of Way
While it’s true that pedestrians have the right of way when crossing a roadway in a marked crosswalk, when it comes to traffic, you should never rely on this fact. Never assume that a car is going to stop to let you pass in front of them. Remain cautious at all times when dealing with a vehicle when you’re on foot. It’s better to let the car go by, even if you have to wait a few seconds longer.

Remain Visible
If you’re a pedestrian dealing with traffic at night, make sure you wear reflective or bright clothing so that drivers always know you’re there. If it’s daytime, make sure you walk towards traffic so that you see them and they see you. Never wear black at night while dealing with traffic, and never cross a street unless the drivers know you’re there. As long as they know you’re there, you have a better chance of reaching the other side of the street in one piece, which is the goal of every pedestrian exercising caution in traffic.

Use the crosswalk!
The Brad Johnson Injury Law law firm offers free consultations, so don’t accidentally waive your rights or the compensation that is due you if you are involved in an accident with a moving vehicle while walking.

What Makes a Store Liable?

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Slip and fall accidents happen to many people. When this happens in your home you have no one to blame but yourself. But what happens when it occurs in or near a store, and who’s responsible for your injuries then?

Experiencing a slip and fall accident at home is often less detrimental than one outside of your home. After all, your home has carpeted or wooden floors. Stores, restaurants, boutiques, and sidewalks are usually concrete, carpet covered concrete or hard tile. Slipping and falling on this type of flooring can result in a severe neck or back injury or even a fractured bone in some cases.

Now for the question of who’s responsible and for how long? If you have an accident in a store they are only liable if the store was negligent. This means that if you were clumsy, or simply weren’t paying attention to what you were doing, the store is not responsible. If the store employees have left objects where they shouldn’t be, failed to keep floors cleaned, or generally failed to keep the store aisles clear, then, as a general rule, the fault is theirs.

Why Insurance Companies Want To Settle Quickly

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You’re in Arizona driving along, when all of a sudden a car comes out of nowhere and slams into you. You get out, call the police and exchange information. Soon, the insurance company contacts you and they want to settle.

Wow, you can’t get over how quickly this happens.

Why would the insurance company want to settle so quickly?

Insurance companies are businesses. They’re in business to make money. They don’t like to pay, but they like to take in.   If the insurance company can make a quick, low settlement shortly after an accident, they’ve accomplished their goal.  Unfortunately, if  you accept a settlement and sign a release before you know the extent of your injuries and the cost of the medical bills, you are left “holding the bag.”  The $500.00 or $1,000.00 the insurance company has paid you may not cover all of the medical bills, loss of earnings and probably will leave you nothing for your pain and suffering.

To protect your interests, never settle with the insurance company when they approach you directly. Call a reputable law firm and ask for an experienced personal injury attorney, who will make sure your legal rights are protected, and that you are compensated appropriately for injuries you may have suffered.

Car Accidents and Soft Tissue Injuries

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When you’re involved in a car accident, there are many injuries that can occur. One type of injury that is very common as a result of a car accident is a soft tissue injury.

What is a Soft Tissue Injury?

Soft tissue injury refers to an injury to those parts of your body that don’t involve bones. These are generally bruises, strains, sprains, and ligament or tendon damage.

This type of injury occurs when people are thrown about the car’s interior after vehicles collide.

The problem with soft tissue injuries is that they often go undetected long after the accident occurs. This is because they cannot be detected by x-rays and a person’s adrenaline is usually kicked into high gear so the person may not feel as though there’s anything wrong. In fact, it can sometimes take days for a person to realize they’re hurt. That’s why if you’re ever involved in a car accident, you should get thoroughly checked out by a doctor. Never just assume you’re OK.

There’s another side to soft tissue injury as well. Soft tissue injuries could involve internal bleeding, which can be very serious. So even if you have no bruising, soreness, or any physical symptoms at all, get to a doctor as soon as possible to make sure any injuries are diagnosed.

Soft Tissue Injury Symptoms

There can be some symptoms that will let you know you have soft tissue damage. These include:

  • body aches
  • back and neck pain
  • dizziness
  • memory loss
  • fatigue

If these symptoms are left untreated, they can lead to chronic pain or other problems that can remain with you for the rest of your life. That’s why you should go straight to the hospital or medical provider after any car accident to ensure your injuries are diagnosed and treated.

Contact an Accident Attorney

Never accept a monetary settlement at the scene of an accident; instead, call a car accident attorney, so that your rights will be protected.

Two Key Tips For Safer Driving In the Rain

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We know it doesn’t rain much in the Valley, but when it does, it really pours.  These two tips for driving in the rain have been going around our office and we thought you might find them helpful.

One driving method was told to a member of our team by a police friend who had experienced and confirmed it. It is useful, even while driving at night. Most motorists tend to turn their windshield wipers on HIGH or the FASTEST SPEED during a heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windshield is still bad.  In the event you face such a situation, try wearing your sunglasses (any model will do), and voila!  All of a sudden, the visibility in front of your windshield is perfectly clear, as if there was no rain.  It might sound crazy, but it really works!

Make sure you always have a pair of sunglasses in your car, and share this idea!  You are not only helping yourself, but you might also save a friend’s life.  Try it for yourself.  Amazing, you will still see the drops on the windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling.

How does it work?  You can see where the rain bounces off the road. Sunglasses work to eliminate the “blindness” from the spray of passing semi trucks as well as the “kick-up” if you are following a semi or car in the rain. They ought to teach that little tip in driver’s training as it really does work.

Another tip: Never drive in the rain with your cruise control on. When our team member thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control, and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain, a highway patrolman told her something that every driver should know.  If the cruise control is on when your car begins to hydroplane and your tires lose contact with the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly what had occurred.
The patrolman said this warning should be listed on the driver’s seat sun visor along with the airbag warning.  We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed, but to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.

With spring in full bloom and the pavement dry, hopefully we won’t need to implement these practices any time soon.  Monsoon season isn’t too far away though, and if we can each pass these tips along to just one person, we could be saving a life.