Fans Making Plans Should Be Mindful of the End Goal

It was February 3, 2013!  The Baltimore Ravens had just beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.  As Delanie Walker was traveling home with the rest of the team, several family members were returning home as well, among them his aunt and uncle. They never made it!

A drunk driver, who police estimated was traveling in excess of 100 mph, rear-ended the couple’s car, while it was pulled over on the shoulder of the road. The car burst into flames, killing the couple. In fact, heir vehicle was so charred, they were not immediately identified. The drunk driver survived, and ultimately pled guilty to two counts of vehicular negligent homicide.

Walker, who is now a tight end for the Tennessee Titans, believes he could have easily made the same fatal mistake through his own negligence.  “I’ve done it. I drank and drove,” Walker told FOX Sports during an interview.  Now, Walker not only refuses to get behind the wheel after imbibing, he also hopes to help change the culture of drinking and driving that still exists among some of his peers.  He has even joined M.A.D.D.’s fight to stop alcohol-related accidents.

Walker said telling people not to drink and drive was hard in the beginning because he doesn’t want to tell people what to do, but he does want them to be safe.   “My goal is to prevent drinking and driving; to make people realize that it’s senseless.  If you don’t like it, there’s something wrong with you,” he said.

With Super Bowl Sunday 2015 just days away, Lawsuit Financial urges fans to have a plan to safely reach their destination.

• Designate a sober driver or have an alternate transportation plan – cab, family member, friend before the party begins.  
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Eat food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic beverages.
• If you are drunk and can’t find a sober driver, stay where you are and sleep it off.
• Use your community's sober ride program or social media apps such as Uber.
• Always buckle up!  It is still the best defense against other drunk drivers.

If you are hosting a Super Bowl party, don’t stand on the sidelines.  You can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a drunk-driving accident.

• Make sure your guests designate a sober driver in advance or have arranged alternate transportation.
• Serve food and include non-alcoholic beverages.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter and begin serving coffee and dessert.
• Keep phone numbers for local cab companies handy or arrange other means of transportation for your drinking guests.
• Let your guest sleep it off at your home until sober.
• Take the keys away from anyone who has had too much to drink.  In fact, consider collecting keys as your guests arrive and returning them once you determine they are sober to leave.  

Drinking and getting behind the wheel is a choice; it is also a 100% preventable crime.   Even though you may have driven after drinking and gotten away with it in the past, doesn't mean you will again.  Don’t wait for it to hit home; it will be too late; just ask Delanie Walker.  Whether you have tickets to the game, are attending a party, or watching the event at a sports bar, make sure your plans don’t include a trip to the hospital or worse, the morgue.

Mark Bello is the CEO and General Counsel of Lawsuit Financial Corporation, a pro-justice lawsuit funding company.

Ride Smart from the Start!

For millions of people, there is nothing quite like zooming over a blanket of white in a snowmobile.  Despite the lack of snow so far that is keeping many snowmobilers from hitting the trails, it is still a good time for snowmobilers to brush up on safety tips before heading out.

The Essentials

Know the Laws.  All states have laws and rules regarding the operation of snowmobiles.  Visit your state association’s website.  Check with the local DNR or law enforcement agencies to understand the rules of the area where the ride will take place.

Know your Snowmobile.  Learn the parts on your snowmobile including key controls and the importance of proper fluids. Have your machine inspected by a professional before going on the first ride of the season. 

Be Prepared 

Pack a tool kit with basic tools and spare parts as well as a basic first aid kit and survival kit similar to what you carry in your car.  Your survival kit should also include a flashlight, extra batteries, knife, compass, map, and waterproof matches, food, and shelter-building materials.

Dress in insulating layers to avoid hypothermia and frostbite.  Make sure clothing allows freedom of movement, and make sure you have no loose ends that might catch in the machine or tangle in equipment.  Proper riding apparel also includes eye protection, warm boots and gloves, and a helmet.  Snow blindness occurs when direct and reflecting sun glare is too bright for the eyes. Riding without good quality, UV-protected sunglasses, goggles, or visor can cause permanent damage.

Take a cell phone and make sure it is fully charged.

Create a “snow plan.” That’s a description of your planned route so family and friends all know where to find it.

Riding Tips

Make sure you’re riding on the proper side of the trail and always anticipate oncoming traffic

Follow speed limits.

Ride at slower speeds at night and check ice conditions.

It is much more difficult to spot and identify potential hazards during night riding. Over-driving headlights can also be a serious problem. Always wear outer clothing with reflective trim on the arms, back and helmet. 

Never ride alone at night.

Pay attention to signs.

Snowmobile trail signs are similar to road signs because they alert the rider to conditions. These markers indicate whether or not snowmobiles are permitted, whether a trail is a one- or two-way trail, and when an intersection is approaching. Riders also employ hand signals to indicate turns or stopping.

Stay on marked trails and avoid traveling across bodies of water unless you are absolutely sure the ice is at least 6 inches thick.  If you must cross ice, stay on the packed or marked trail. Don't stop until you reach shore. If you hit slush, don't let off the throttle. As a rule of thumb, "If you don't know, don't go."  If you break through the ice, don't panic. Follow these self-rescue tips:

• Kick vigorously into a horizontal position and swim to the nearest ice edge. Place hands/arms on unbroken ice while kicking hard to propel your body onto the ice, like a seal. 
• Once clear, stay flat and roll away to stronger ice. 
• Stand, keep moving and find shelter fast.

Don’t drink and drive.  Any amount of alcohol impairs your perception, slows your reaction time and limits your ability to control your snowmobile.  Alcohol also causes body temperature to drop at an accelerated rate which increases your susceptibility to cold and hypothermia.

Be a Defensive Driver

Always be alert of potential danger.  The biggest danger with snowmobiling is hidden objects, such as rocks logs or creeks that sometimes you can't see under the snow.  Watch for unexpected corners, intersections, and stops.

Your helmet and engine noise can impair your hearing.

Visibility is also reduced in conditions of snowfall, blowing snow and night driving.

Never assume what another snowmobiler will do. Expect the unexpected!

Know your Snowmobile Insurance Coverage

Review your snowmobile insurance to make sure there's enough coverage to protect the vehicle and cover liability in case someone is injured or property is damaged.

Stay safe on the snow this season!

Mark Bello is the CEO and General Counsel of Lawsuit Financial Corporation, a pro-justice lawsuit funding company.

Six Words Changed a Young Mother’s Life Forever

A young mother and her two young children were visiting the woman’s father in Elmo, Missouri while she was on National Guard duty.  She had just put her 9-month old baby down for a nap in her father’s bedroom when her 5-year-old son said, “I’m sorry, Mom, I shot Corbin.”  Bolting to bedroom, she found the baby bleeding profusely from a gunshot to the head.

It is still uncertain how the child got his hands on the loaded .22 caliber Magnum pistol or why he fired it, shooting his brother in the head.  The boys’ grandfather said he keeps the gun in a locked cabinet in his bedroom and it is used for home security and target practice.  He said the gun, with other firearms, is always locked inside a cabinet.  He also said he told the children not to play in his bedroom.

The distraught mother said she had no idea her father even kept a gun in the house.  “I don’t know why someone would have a loaded gun in the house while kids were around,” she told the news.  "When I was growing up we always had guns in the house.  We grew up on a farm and we hunted all the time. That's why I can't believe that the man who taught me gun safety — you keep guns unloaded and keep the safety on and keep them locked up — had a gun in the house with my children there." 

Again and again, we are horrified by another story of child killed or injured with a negligently stored gun. Did you know that more than two million children in the U.S. live in homes with unsecured guns?  According to a recent report from Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, at least 100 children were killed in unintentional shootings between December 2012 and December 2013.  The majority of these tragedies could have been prevented if the guns were stored responsibly.

Many unintentional shootings happen in the homes of the child’s relatives. Whether you choose to own a gun is a personal decision, but with it comes responsibility.  Guns themselves don’t kill; a gun can’t jump off a table, aim itself at someone, and press its own trigger. It’s when people leave guns lying around and young children can have access to them; kids are natural curious and fascinated by things.

It is not only up to adults to keep guns safely locked, but all of us must take responsibility to protect our children from the inherent dangers. It isn’t about whether you own a gun or even approve of gun ownership.  Just saying “I don’t believe in guns” or “I won’t allow my child near guns” is not enough.

Never make assumptions when a child’s safety is at stake.  Teaching your child about gun safety means that you are a responsible parent. The last thing you want is for your child to be in a gun owner’s home with a parent who has not taught their child about safe gun practices, thus putting your own child at risk of being injured or killed - only because you were negligent in instructing your child about gun safety.

We can push for laws, but it still should not relieve us of our duties as parents.  We must all do our part to reduce the number of unintentional shootings and to keep our kids safe.  To learn more about your state’s child access laws and what you can do to make your community safer, click here.