If you frequent the blog, you are familiar with the proposed bill concerning workers' compensation in North Carolina. The original bill, which can be viewed here, aimed to reform the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act. After a fight from injured workers, the attorney's who represent them and union reps, the proposed bill was taken back and a compromise was found between opposing sides. If you would like to read more on today's vote and the revised workers' compensation bill, please visit the Under the Dome blog from the News & Observer.
Quotes about the revised workers' compensation bill: - Dick Taylor, CEO, Advocates for Justice
“Many may feel that the bill does not go far enough to reduce costs and others will feel the provisions fall short of protecting the interests of injured workers, but in times such as these all sides made compromises, and overall we feel the changes preserve the backbone of our Workers’ compensation system that pays fair compensation to injured workers at a reasonable cost to the employers.”
This upcoming Monday is Memorial Day. A day where we honor those who have fallen while serving our country. On this Memorial Day, remember what freedom means. Remember how we achieved it.
This week's Friday Feed is all about Memorial Day.
Memorial Day History
Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day has been around since the late 1800's. Read up on the history by checking out this website.
Memorial Day: History Channel
The History Channel has a whole section dedicated to Memorial Day. Good stuff right here.
The Hardison & Cochran Client Appreciation Day was held this past weekend at Tart Park in Dunn, North Carolina. We pushed back the timing of the event this year from June to May in hopes of escaping the heat, but the heat caught us again for the third year in a row. No worries, we still has a great time with all our clients who came out for the music, food, camaraderie and all around fun. Liquid Pleasure once again took the stage and kept the party going all day. They are a great group of musically talented guys. As always, we took along the camera and snapped some photos. Below, you will find some shots from the day, but you can see them all by visiting our Facebook photo gallery.
The forecast for the majority of North Carolina this week is between the high 80's and low 90's. This is the first wave of heat we have experienced in 2011, so it's always good to have a reminder of how to deal with the heat. Well, you know how to keep yourself cool and hydrated if you're working or playing outside, but what about your furry loved ones? Below are 6 tips on making sure your family pets stay safe as the mercury rises. We also added a bonus video from FoxNY below the tips.
1. Shade & Hydrate
If you're going to take it outside with your pets, always make sure to have some cool, clean water around where they can get a drink when they become dehydrated. After a little outside exercise in the heat, make sure you have a spot at the park or around your house where your pet can sit in the shade and relax.
2. Keep an Eye Out For Warning Signs
Just like humans, pets have warning signs when they are overheating. These include excessive panting, increased heart rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor and collapse. Bloody diarrhea and vomiting are also signs of overheating.
3. Take Some Off The Top
Depending upon the breed, some pets have very thick, long coats. Take your pet to a reputable groomer and let them know you want your pet to be protected from the sun, but also have a light coat to stay cool during the warm days.
4. NEVER Leave Your Pet In a Parked Car
Parked cars on hot days can become very, very hot. Sliding the windows down won't help much either. If you can't bring them with you to your destination, just don't bring them at all.
5. Ice, Ice Baby
It will take no time for water dishes left in the heat to become hot. Check on your pets outside water supply during the day and drop in some ice cubes to keep the water cool.
6. Morning and Late Evening Walks
If you get off work at 3pm and go home and walk your pet, you may want to think about delaying the walk to later in the evening. With the hot weather comes hot asphalt and concrete. These can easily burn the paws of your pet. If you're able to, a good morning walk when the sun is just coming up would be good as well.
In the summer of 2010, the diabetes drug Avandia was in the news almost daily. News studies that said Avandia increased heart risk were released. The drug was the center of attention for a FDA Advisory Panel meeting. These studies and hearings led to the FDA limiting the access and placing significant restrictions on the drug in the US. With all this being said, these restrictions were not placed on the drug the day after the hearings or the final decision to limit access. Like stated above, this all happened nearly a year ago. Prescribing requirements for Avandia stay the same today as they were before the Advisory Panel meeting in July of 2010.
Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a professor at Yale University School of Medicine, reports that the way the drug is prescribed is finally undergoing major changes (Please read Dr. Krumholz full article on Forbes.com)
● Prescribers will need to be certified. This will involve a training program and a signed agreement that the prescriber will register patients who will be taking the drug.
● The drug can only be filled at certified pharmacies that have a system in place to ensure the patient is enrolled in the registry.
● Patients must sign a form that they understand the risks associated with taking Avandia.
In addition to sharing the new systems of prescribing Avandia, Dr. Krumholz also touches on the pace of the FDA to implement this new system. He notes:
This system will be implemented over the subsequent 6 months. That’s a total of fourteen months elapsed before the way patients and doctors access Avandia (rosiglitazone), manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, will change.
What became clear yesterday is that the system moves too slowly. If the FDA needs to act to protect patients – if that decision is made – then it should act quickly.
Dr. Krumholz makes many strong points in his article. We urge you to take a look at the full text on his blog by clicking here.
In these two videos below, CNN's Anderson Cooper investigates tactics of the auto insurance industry to maximize profits by limiting payments to accidents victims. The videos feature two cases of ladies who were involved in accidents. One lady was offered $15,000 which was only a little over half of her medical bills.
The second lady, who was hit by an insurance company employee, was only offered $2,000 when her medical bills and lost time at work was around $15,000.
The videos offer a glimpse into a strategic approach by insurance companies. "Deny, Delay, Defend"
Check these videos out. Some of the tactics you see will surprise you.
The Social Security Administration recently released the top 10 baby names given to boys and girls in 2010. For boys, Jacob took the top spot for the 12th year in a row. For the girls, Isabella took the top spot unseating 2009's winner, Emma. Below you will find the top 10 list for each gender for 2010:
Male Names:
1. Jacob
2. Ethan
3. Michael
4. Jayden
5. William
6. Alexander
7. Noah
8. Daniel
9. Aiden
10. Anthony
Female Names:
1. Isabella
2. Sophia
3. Emma
4. Olivia
5. Ava
6. Emily
7. Abigail
8. Madison
9. Chloe
10. Mia
Want to check out the most popular names of each gender dating all the way back to 1879? Just click here to do some research.
Did you know May is motorcycle awareness month across the nation? In honor of the two wheels (unless you own a trike), the open road, the leather and most importantly the sense of freedom one gets when riding, were making this week's Friday Feed about motorcycles. Saddle up and hold on.
How Low Can You Go?
Causal motorcycle riding and riding a motorcycle for competition are two different beasts. Want to know how different? Click the head line above.
Don't Mess With The Honda Six
We all know you don't mess with the Zohan, but why not mess with a Honda produced motorcycle. Story time: In 1966 Honda produced the RC166. In the same year, the RC166 went 10 for 10 in World Championship races. The bike also has a pretty sweet sound to it. Check out the videos.
We're on the cusp of beach season here in North Carolina. While going to the beach is a great get away from the everyday grind, make sure you stay safe while you're having some fun this summer. Be sure to check over the beach safety tips below. We've also added videos below the tips that also offer beach safety tips. If you're staying in the state of North Carolina, going to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina or taking it down to Florida or over to the West Coast, please have an awesome trip this summer and stay safe!
1. Never Swim Alone - Swimming in the ocean is a lot different than swimming in a pool. If you're going to have some fun in the ocean, make sure you take a friend or loved one out with you.
2. Stay Alert For Others - Not all people take the advice above. If you notice someone or a group of children swimming alone or without any kind of adult supervision, keep an eye on them. Make sure they are staying safe. At the first sign of any trouble, alert a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not on duty, throw the person who is in trouble something that floats and call 911.
3. Let Them Know - If you find yourself in the ocean and in any kind of trouble, let someone know. Tread water and raise your arms and yell to let someone know you need help. Do not panic. If you do, you may exhaust all the energy you have. Stay calm, but let someone know you need help by physical actions and verbal pleas.
4. Make Note of Lifeguards - Before you go into the ocean, make sure you make a note of where the lifeguard stand is located. This will come in handy if you see any trouble or are in trouble yourself.
5. Drink Plenty of Water - If you're spending the whole day at the beach, make sure to get plenty of fluids in your body. You don't want to be in the ocean swimming and a leg muscle cramp up due to dehydration.
6. Protect Your Skin - Always put on sun screen when you are going to be at the beach for an extended period of time. Reapply when exiting the water and hourly depending upon how easily you burn. If you have one or can rent one, get a beach umbrella to shield the sun. Remember, the sun is at it strongest point between 10am - 4pm.
7. Bring a First Aid Kit - You have it all. The beach ball. The cooler. The drinks. The snacks. The football. Make sure you pack a small first aid kit too. You never know what is going to happen, so always be prepared if something does happen. Even if it is a small cut from stepping on something while walking, at least you'll have the means to prevent an infection if you bring a first-aid kit.
1. I gave a recorded statement to the insurance company of the woman who hit my car. Now I’m thinking about getting legal representation. Is there a problem?
You may still seek and obtain legal representation after giving a recorded statement. With that being said, any statement you make can be used later against you.
2. I was injured in a crash where a truck driver was at fault. Can I receive money for time I missed at work?
You can recover lost wages when you have missed time from work due to injuries from the accident. In order to recover the lost wages, you need to have doctor’s verification of the time missed along with verification from your employer for the time you missed along with what amount of money you earned.
3. Can a passenger in the car recover for injuries caused by the driver?
If the driver was negligent in the accident, then usually a passenger can recover from the driver for injuries the passenger sustained. However, if the passenger contributed to the accident in any way, he could be barred from recovery. For instances if the driver was drunk and the passenger knew or should have known, the passenger would be considered contributory negligent and would be barred from recovering from the driver or the driver’s insurance.
4. What if I cannot afford to pay my medical bills?
If you suffer injuries from a car accident, you will likely have medical bills from physicians, hospitals, physical therapists, and other health care providers. Under North Carolina’s law, you are primarily responsible for paying your bills, regardless of the cause of your injuries. The at-fault person’s liability insurance carrier is responsible for paying you reasonable compensation for damages incurred, which includes medical bills, but the insurance carrier is not responsible for paying your doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Sometimes the amount the insurance company is willing to pay is far less than the actual amount you owe.
5. Am I liable for damages to my employer’s car because of a rear-end accident that occurred while I was using the car on my employer’s business?
If you were rear-ended and the accident was not your fault you should not be liable for damages. However, if you are at-fault and rear-ended the vehicle you and your company can be liable for the other person’s damages.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association has a new theme! Well, it started about a year ago with the last MDA Telethon, but it is slowly making its way across the United States. The theme is "Make a Muscle, Make a Difference." The gesture to convey this meaning is a simple flexing of the bicep muscle(s). See examples here, here and here. We got the camera out last week and asked some members of the Hardison & Cochran team to make a muscle:
If you frequent the blog, you are familiar with the proposed bill concerning workers' compensation in North Carolina. The original bill, which can be viewed here, aimed to reform the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act. After a fight from injured workers, the attorney's who represent them and union reps, the proposed bill was taken back and a compromise was found between opposing sides. If you would like to read more on today's vote and the revised workers' compensation bill, please visit the Under the Dome blog from the News & Observer. 
