Struggling Seniors Call For The Abandonment of Planned Social Security Benefit Cuts

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The United States federal government has been drawing a lot of criticism as it mulls various budget cuts aimed at Social Security. President Barack Obama’s proposed that cost of living adjustments for Social Security should be reduced. What this means is that seniors will be getting smaller increases in their Social Security payments every year.

This, the President believes, is one viable solution to the looming fiscal crisis. However, many people, especially those who are currently and will soon be receiving Social Security benefits are opposing this idea as they will be badly hit by the said budget cuts. Smaller at first, the difference could grow into hundreds, even thousands of dollars in time. This means a lot of seniors who mostly rely on Social Security benefits to help them get by with their needs every day.

According to reports, close to 40 million retirees, including their dependents receive Social Security benefits. And while the average monthly benefit that each person receives amounts to $1,262, there are some less privileged that get smaller amounts than that.

Kerry Payne of Newburgh, NY on the other hand, gave up her car because the paycheck she has been getting from Social Security couldn’t cover gas and insurance costs. She only receives $1,234 every month that couldn’t even completely cover her expenses. Her deceased husband’s illness before didn’t help as it ate her savings up. For her to survive, she only does her grocery shopping on days when her local supermarket offers discounts. With the prices of everything swaying upwards, Payne believes that every cent of the annual cost of living adjustment counts for people like her.

A Los Angeles long term disability lawyer believes that budget cuts should be the last thing on the government’s minds when managing its finances. According to him, a scheme that would target more financially-capable citizens would be a better approach as people Social Security beneficiaries only depend on it to make both ends meet. He believes that retirees all the help that they need as they have done their share in the past of helping the country move forward.

By the Stats: U.S. Pedestrian Deaths May Continue to Rise as the Population Ages

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Pedestrian accidents are one of the most common mishaps in major and minor roadways in the United States. Although there have been various road developments that decrease the likelihood of pedestrian mishaps such as crosswalks and footbridges, such unfortunate occurrences still happen. In fact, for over a decade, pedestrian accidents accounted for around 13 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States, from 2001 to 2010, according to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report.

Within the said time period, a total of 47,392 pedestrians were killed in America’s roadways. Additionally, the per capita pedestrian fatality rate in the U.S. was almost 14 deaths per 1 million people in 2010. In comparison, the rates in both the United Kingdom and Germany were 6.7 and 5.8, respectively.

The CDC also reported that not everyone is affected equally by dangerous walking conditions in U.S. roadways. However, the risk of a pedestrian injuries or deaths is greater among the elderly and the minority populations. Moreover, all men, regardless of demographic, were found to be two and one-half times more likely to be killed by a moving vehicle while walking than women.

In terms of age, the elderly, particularly men over 85 years old and women between 75 and 84 years of age suffer a disproportionate share of pedestrian fatalities, making them three times more likely to be killed than those between 15 to 24 years old. That being said, experts from the CDC believe that as the population of the U.S. ages, the likelihood of pedestrian accident death rates increasing.

Finally, pedestrian fatalities kill more people of color, particularly Native American, Hispanic, and African-American populations. This is due to the fact that they live in urban areas where residents walk more and get exposed to traffic violence.

Alarming as these statistics may be, it is important for pedestrians, regardless of race, color, or age, to be on the lookout for speeding vehicles, as well as take advantage of crosswalks, footbridges, and other infrastructures that would help those who regularly travel on foot. For a Los Angeles injury lawyer, meanwhile, motorists in general must also steer away from making driving decisions that could potentially kill pedestrians.

Fighting the Big Fight Against Race & National Origin Discrimination

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The United States has been the melting pot of various cultures all over the world Many people have been migrating to the country to seek greener pastures. More than just earning money to send to their folks back home, these immigrants have been contributing a lot to the country. With their unique skills and capabilities, these people help to move the country’s economy forward. One’s natural origin has nothing at all to do with his or her capabilities and that is what the government believes in.

Why discrimination exists
However, due to ignorance and insecurity, some people have this tendency to be racist and look down on people just because they are not from the US naturally. This act is prohibited by the law. According to the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, no one should be discriminated against on the basis of his or her national origin. The law promotes respect across the workplace, making everyone respect everybody, regardless of the differences they may have.

Unfortunately incidence of race & national origin discrimination is still widespread. You should not worry though for there are avenues for you to protect your rights. Here are some of the ways on how you can press charges against the people who look down on you.

• Go and file your complaint to the EEOC. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the lead agency that handles discrimination cases in the workplace. Just file your complaints in time and the agency will investigate if there’s probable cause in your complaint.
• Back up your complaint. Submit the necessary pieces of evidence to prove your claim that you have been harassed. Document acts of harassment, provide performance reports if there’s any, and present witness to bolster the chances of your complaint to succeed.
• Submit your self to the different processes of the EEOC. After you have filed your complaint, the agency will then take your complaint to your employers and request for your case’s resolution. They will try to mediate between you and your employer to try and solve your complaint amicably. Should the mediation fail, the EEIC will then conduct further investigations before it file the complaint to court.
• Cooperate well with the EEOC. Throughout the trial of your case, the courts may require your presence for questioning while it hears your complaint. If attempts to settle the case fail, trial will continue and the case will then be decided by the court.

The federal and state governments of the United States believe that no individual, regardless of his color, race, or national origin should be discriminated against. That is why it encourages everyone to stand up and fight for their rights if they believe they have been maligned by some irresponsible citizens in the workplace. This promotes a workplace where employees and the management have mutual respect for each other.

How Can One Dodge the Blame for an Accident?

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Even if you take all the necessary precautions while driving, accidents can still happen. Now imagine if you don’t exercise any safe driving practices at all? Chances are, the risks can be doubled and you are more likely to end up in an accident.

Taking the blame
During the course of auto accident investigations, you would most certainly be blamed by the other party, claiming that it is your fault that the both of you ended in a nasty collision. You should not let that happen. Sure there are times when you really are partly to blame that accidents happen, but you should not really carry the blame by your lonesome. When the other party blames you for the mishap, here are the ways on how you can dispute blame for a car accident.

•  Talk to your auto insurance agent. Express your concerns and come up with key points regarding your dispute. As much as possible, keep a polite, professional approach.
• Send proof of your claims. Collect pieces of evidence that will prove your innocence. Send copies of those proofs to the authorities and if possible, get witness to back up your claims.
• Ask insurance agent about their preferred arbitration service. In case you don’t end up with an agreement, insurance companies have a legal obligation to inform customer of appeals or arbitration processes when they sell policies.
• Go to your local Department of Motor Vehicle office. If you still haven’t reached an agreement with your insurance provider, go to a local DMV office. They will be able to explain to you the confusing areas in state laws so you’d better understand on where you exactly stand as far as the laws are concerned.
• Consider mediation. If all avenues have been exhausted and things still failed, you should consider mediation as one of your options. While the recommendations of a mediator are not legally binding, these can help you.

A Los Angeles accident attorney believes that one should not admit fault in an accident. According to him, it would be best if you first consult a legal expert before admitting blame for an accident. This way, you will be aware of your rights and only take responsibility for things that you should really responsible about.

Other People You Need to Watch Out for When Driving

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When you drive your car or any other vehicle, you need to watch out for other people who share the road with you. There are more than 200 million licensed drivers in the United States, but not all of them act the same way a licensed driver should. Many of them are still learning the ropes of driving, while there are others who are capable of driving despite of old age.

There are other motorists, too, that you need to pay extra attention as you may not be able to see them on the road because of the vehicles that they use. Thus, it is important that you be considerate on them if you want to keep your trip and the road safe from accidents. When you come across them, you need to show patience as they also have needs to satisfy.

Here are some of the other people you need to watch out for when you are driving and their accompanying needs:
•    First-time drivers. You have gone that route before. You were once a newly-licensed driver in your teens or in your 20s who’s still learning how to drive, especially on a busy road. Now that you’re experienced, you might encounter young drivers who are turning a corner with their driving skills. As a responsible driver, it is important that you look out for them. As always, give them the right of way and exercise patience.

•    Elderly drivers. They may be the safest age group on the roads, but the signs of aging such as hearing loss and slow reflexes make driving for them a bit dangerous. Even if you don’t encounter an elderly driver on the road, it pays to be aware of all motorists at all times.

•    Motorcyclists and bicyclists. Some riders of motorcycles and bicycles often collide with other motorists because the latter failed to give way for them. On the road, riders, although they are part of the road, are less visible for other motorists. Hence, it is important that you drive cautiously when you encounter any one of them on the road.

Safety is always a priority when encountering such motorists on the road. However, there are other motorists who are known to be reckless or aggressive. For many Los Angeles personal injury lawyers, it is always important for motorists to watch out for them to avoid any occurrences of accidents.

What Makes Cats Great Pets

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Dogs are man’s best friend, true. However, dogs can get really smelly and messy. That is why cats are becoming more and more popular when it comes to people who want to have and take care their very own pet.

There are a number of reasons why some people think that cats are better than dogs and here are just some of them.

• Cats are more polite to our guests. Dogs can be really loud when you have guests in your house. They bark, leap, and paw on the newcomers that they see in your house. Cats on the other hand are more polite and they usually hide and shy away from your guests.
• Cats are better-smelling than dogs. Dogs can get smelly after a while. Cats however clean themselves every now and then and because of this, they generally smell better.
• Cats can be really amusing without them knowing it. Cats just have a simple way of making us all laugh, even without them trying. Just search the internet for funny cats and you will be bombarded with videos and photos of very funny cats. You don’t only have a pet, you also will have a toy that can effortlessly make you laugh.
• Cats are not a pain in the ears. Dogs can get irritating when they bark in full volume. Cats, even at their loudest are far quieter than dogs making them less irritating to own.
• You get a natural insect repellant with cats. Our feline pets have something against bugs that they won’t let these insects just get away. They catch, torture, and then kill these insects without mercy. So with a car around, insects should be the last of your worries.
• Cats take good care of their toys. Better than dogs, cats keeps their playthings okay for longer. So you don’t need to regularly buy toy for your cat pets.
• Cats are low maintenance pets. Unlike dogs that need regular walking, bathing, and grooming, cats need very little of those.

However, like dogs, cats can also get quite dangerous as they can also attack you with one wrong move you make. That is why just like with any other pets, you need to know cats better to prevent getting attacked by them.

If you have been attacked by someone else’s cat, never forget to ask the opinion of Los Angeles personal injury lawyers to help you get claims for the injuries, pain, and suffering you might get because of cat or any kind of animal attacks.