Have You Heard of Upcoding? It’s a Big Part of Medical Fraud
What does the term “medical fraud” conjure up in your mind? Do you picture a questionable-looking character going door to door, soliciting personal information of Medicare beneficiaries? Maybe you see a fake doctor administering tests to unsuspecting patients in a dingy medical facility. Sure, these exaggerated caricatures aren’t out of the realm of possibility, but it’s often the case that fraud in the healthcare industry is much subtler, to the point that it can occur to almost anyone without their knowledge. It even happens in the sleekest looking medical facilities, and it can be perpetrated by professionals that one would seldom suspect of being a fraudster. One of the most “subtle” and common forms of medical fraud has a name that belies its simplicity. It’s called upcoding, and while that might sound like a boring, complicated system, it’s quite easy for a medical professional to do. Upcoding is the practice of billing for services other than those provided. It some cases, it’s essentially just overbilling, and it’s one of the easiest ways for a provider to earn a little extra money without risking being noticed by the authorities or by patients. Before we look at just how prevalent this practice is, it’s important to understand that virtually every medical service has a code to which it is associated. These codes are very specific, and a provider lists the code of the service they provided their patient either to the patient themselves or to the insurance company that will pay for the service. When a doctor is guilty of upcoding, it means that they provided a different code than the one representing the service that was provided. While some forms of upcoding are blatant, and could easily be spotted by someone who simply took the time to notice, others are so slight that they would go undetected unless someone was paying close attention. For example: You see your doctor for a checkup. You schedule your appointment, sit patiently in the waiting room, see your doctor for about 10 minutes, pay your co-pay and you go home. Meanwhile, your doctor has billed you for pretty much exactly what transpired during your visit, with one major exception. Instead of billing you for the 10 minutes he spent with you, he bills you for a much longer period of time. You likely never looked at your bill, and it would be difficult for an insurance provider to say that he didn’t spend that extra 20 minutes in your presence. These face-to-face interactions are some of the easiest for a doctor’s office to “fudge” the numbers ever so slightly in a way that is difficult for anyone to dispute. When time or, more specifically, face-to-face interactions are the services being billed for, it leaves a much larger margin for error or, in this case, for fraud. In addition to face-to-face time, upcoding can also occur when services billed are simply inflated versions of the service provided, whether that be a test or a treatment of a patient. In these cases, even some of the most medically savvy or attention-detailed patients might not catch the fact that they paid for something that doesn’t reflect what they received. Upcoding is so common, in part, because it is so easy to do without getting caught. Investigators are always on the lookout for upcoding as one of the first signs of a fraudulent medical provider. For the aforementioned reasons, it’s not always easy to discover upcoding without the cooperation of someone who is familiar with the services and billing practices of a facility. This is one of the reasons that whistle blowers are so important to the process, and it’s also one of the reasons that whistle blowers are often employees of the company or facility that has committed fraud. And that’s the simple story of one the grossest and most widespread forms of medical fraud in the United States. While we don’t know exactly how much money is taken from programs like Medicare because of upcoding, investigators suspect that it is very significant and it is common. So, pay attention the next time you look at your medical bill. The chances are good that your facility was completely justified in the amount that you were charged, but there is also a slight chance that there is something there that is just a little off - and that slight difference might be part of a larger system that defrauds patients and costs taxpayers vast sums of money. Bert Louthian is a whistleblower attorney in South Carolina who focuses on helping those who have been wronged, or who have witnessed wrongdoing to come forward to report fraud. He can be reached by calling or visiting his website -thewhistleblowerlawyer.com Read Also: Types Of Stethoscopes How Can A Cardiologist Save Your Life? Are Oncology Clinical Studies Facing Challenges? Folic Acid Deficiency Symptoms: Supplement The Deficiency Before It’s Too Late The Disturbing Trend Of Multiple Chronic Medical Conditions
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How Real Estate Factors into Business Decisions
People tend to think of real estate in a very direct, narrow sense. We factor our rent into our monthly budgets and see property taxes as only a small slice of the larger bill we pay every year. We rarely think about the fact that real estate and housing costs have incredible ripple effects that dictate the success and failure of several industries. Consider the housing bubble in the United States and how it eventually prompted the greatest economic setback since the Great Depression. The woes of the housing market permeated into virtually every other facet of the American economy, and they had a gigantic impact on the lives of so many people who felt the pinch in ways that seemingly had little to do with housing. For business owners, real estate is a much bigger piece of the economic pie than they might initially assume. Though there is little we can do to influence the policies of banks who give out loans or the real estate prices in our markets, we can look at how real estate factors into our bottom lines. Factoring Real Estate Costs into Your Budget The first consideration you should make is how property costs will directly impact your budget. A business owner might decide that they are best served to own the property they’re using, or they might find that perhaps their interests are best met by a rental space. Whatever solution you’ve decided is best for your business, don’t forget to factor in the costs of property tax, insurance requirements or legal expenses that you might encounter and how those costs could add to your initial estimates. Remember that buying a property, especially if you’re building or renovating a commercial space, comes with many costs. You will carry the responsibility for repairs and maintenance, for example. You’ll need to determine whether your business can sustain these costs, and you’ll need to leave room in your budget for unforeseen circumstances. Your Location Will Also Affect Employees If you are poised to hire workers, you will also need to consider how your real estate choices might impact them. If you are relocating, will you be able to offer your employees compensation for relocating with you? If you are hiring new employees, will they have to travel to reach your business? The size of your workforce will also dictate the size of your workplace. Remember that if your business will be adding more employees in the near future, you will need to accommodate those workers. Using Real Estate as a Barometer If you’re starting, expanding or relocating a business, you might be able to determine what location is most advantageous by looking at real estate prices in your new location. There are many things to consider. Is the area you’re looking at booming, or is it stagnant? If an area is showing signs of growth, can you afford the costs of a property in a competitive real estate market? How much does your business really depend on being located in a prime area of your community? Being Realistic in Your Expectations Just like any other decision you’ll be making as a business owner, you’ll need a healthy dose of realism when you are factoring in how real estate will impact your bottom line. Is it reasonable to buy a big, plush location in the most booming part of a city, or is your business model best served by renting a space and keeping costs down until you know how much income you will be generating? In the beginning stages in the life of a business, it is best to cut any expenses that are not absolutely essential to the operation of your company. Find out how many expenses you’ll be facing that you might not currently be factored into the equation, and look at all of your options before making a decision. Real estate impacts our lives in many ways, some of which might be out of our control. But so many of the decisions that business owners make can be based on predictable costs that we might fail to overlook in the excitement of beginning or expanding a business. Be cautious, realistic and thorough when determining the role property will play in your operations. Rebekah Damen Lusk a partner at the Maryland law firm Thienel & Lusk, LLC Attorneys at Law. Her practice includes civil litigation, business, employment, landlord/tenant, real estate, family, equine and animal law. Read More: DC Metro Area Real Estate Update What Makes A Strong Foundation For Your Home Buying Your First Home In St. Louis Why You Must Embrace Green Home Technologies?
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5 Myths about Roofing Services to Avoid
Whether you are looking for a comprehensive roof repair service for an old building or a new roof installation, employing a professional commercial & roofing company can help you achieve your investment goals in a cost-effective manner. That being said, due to prevalent misconceptions about roofing services, may commercial property owners overlook the importance of hiring a professional roofer that not only enhance the life of the roof but also adds value to overall property investment. This blog post covers five common myths about commercial roofing companies and their services that commercial property owners must avoid to realize the real benefits of commercial roofing companies. Myth 1: “Roofing is a one-time investment” Regular roof maintenance program helps in keeping your roof in shape. It also preserves the roof warranty, as many manufacturers nullify the warranty if they find out that the particular roof lacked proper attention. Additionally, having a proper roof maintenance plan in place helps investors in filing a roof insurance claim. Image source: azhandymanroofing.biz Myth 2: “All commercial roofing companies are the same” As a commercial property owner, you should not make a mistake of trusting every local roofing contractor. It is likely that the contractor you hire turns out to be a “storm chaser” who set-up a temporary office in a particular region and then moves to another storm hit location. This, in turn, can affect you in the long run, when you require their assistance for warranty or other services, as they won’t be there for the help. Search for reputable commercial roofing companies that will always be there to assist you at every step. Myth 3: “Cheap roofing materials can get the job done” The type of roofing material that goes in your roofing system has a great impact on its long term sustenance. It is, therefore, important to choose the right material suiting your needs, prevalent climatic condition, and the budget. That is when a professional roofer can help you select the right roofing material without having to run from pillar to post. Myth 4: “Roof repair is a DIY Job” It is usually less expensive to fix things using a DIY approach, but for a job as complex as a roof repair or installation, DIY is not the right thing to do. The complexity of the project requires expertise, the right set of tools, and safety measures to ensure quality repair or installation. A licensed roofer has required expertise and skills to examine and carry out roof repair in a cost-effective manner. Myth 5: “Gutters play no role in the roofing system” You are committing a huge mistake if you overlook the maintenance of roof gutter as part of your roof repair services. While roof shields the home from rainwater, gutters keep the rainwater away from the exterior walls and foundation. Over time, unkempt gutters accumulate debris resulting in clogged gutters that can lead to backward flow of water and ultimately roof leaks. Therefore, regular gutter inspection, cleaning, and maintenance is a must to prevent roof leaks. Wrapping Up Regular roof maintenance is important for all type of commercial units. Don’t let the myths mentioned in this post prevent yours from hiring professional commercial roofing companies that not only enhance the life of your roofing system but also add value to your investment. For more details about roofing services and its benefits, get in touch with a reputable commercial roofing company that can help you keep the best foot forward. Read also: Use Floor Polishing for Keeping Your Flooring Looking New Close Look at Top 5 Roofing Materials – Pros and Cons
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How to Choose the Right Golf Club Set For Beginners
Regardless of whether you've decided to take up golf as an adult or you're a parent seeking to get your child her first set of clubs, there are a lot of issues that go into consideration when buying best golf clubs for beginners. Mainly an essential issue to think about is the interest level of the beginning player. There are some conflicting considerations here. When you are first starting out of with golf, you will need to have hardware that is equipped however much towards your ability level as could be expected. Then again, your golf clubs should be adequate that it won't discourage you from learning the amusement. It is additionally essential for you to understand that your golf clubs should be moderate. In this way, a great arrangement of clubs for beginners may be a reasonably utilized set made out of a couple of irons, wedges, putter and a three wood. 1. Choosing The Best Sized Clubs To Play With At the point when starting out, most golf players tend to play utilizing shorter measured clubs. Both men and ladies appear to have an extreme time attempting to master shots when using longer irons. The same goes for using fairway woods. There is a basic motivation behind why this happens. It is about control. The shorter the golf club, the better control you have. Littler estimated golf clubs are simpler to control. With a shorter club, you can have a superior feeling of where the club is at amid the swing, and exactly what it's doing. All the more specifically, the feeling of control can be attributed to the shorter clubs offering a more tightly and a more extreme swing band. Adding a couple of inches onto the length of the club, as with the long irons, requires a more pronounced circular segment clear. It is a great deal more difficult to understand the club movement. 2. Mastering Longer Clubs As a beginner, you can golf with short clubs or you can begin the process of mastering the longer golf clubs. If you pick to go for the latter, you will probably commit significantly more errors at first. However, you will likewise likely progress in your golf diversion much quicker. With longer clubs, you're swinging circular segment should be shallow and somewhat longer. It is essential to keep your clubhead low to the ground when pulling back and abstain from hitting the ball too aggressively. Rather, the club movement should be smooth and clear. Absolutely, developing a smooth beat and a graceful swing is essential to have an ideal control. 3. Another consideration Move the ball more remote up inside your stance, than you would when playing with a short or center iron. By situating the ball 1 or 2 inches back, you permit more space for the longer shaft and the wide swing arc of the club. Golf clubs are offered in sets or independently. The beginning golfer must be offered the opportunity to try out several clubs and get an idea of exactly how they feel. Many stores will have a location for shoppers to experiment with clubs and it is obviously an excellent suggestion to do so. It's always most beneficial to make an informed decision as the wrong length golf club will not just have an effect on your golf but might cause personal injury. For most beginners, it's smart to go the less expensive route and either get used clubs or a prepackaged set. Golf clubs are quite expensive equipment, so you need to make sure the beginner is really serious about the game in advance of making this kind of investment. Read also: Catch Each Of Your Sporting Events Awarded By Soccer Trophies You should remember that when you are first learning to play, the challenges that you will encounter will primarily originate from your swing, and not from the clubs you pick, regardless of the possibility that the clubs are not the most appropriate decision for you. Starting a brand new sports activity can be a challenging venture, especially when there is so very much to take into consideration. Whether the beginning player is an adult or a child, it's vital to learn his or her needs. Height and strength are factors that will need to be looked at when acquiring golf clubs for beginners, as well as interest level. Once the clubs are chosen and purchased, the actual pleasure of learning a great sport begins. Read More: 5 Things You Can Do With A Sports Management Degree Catch Each Of Your Sporting Events Awarded By Soccer Trophies The Importance Of Sport To Recommendations For Winter Essential Tips To Choose The Perfect Bowling Ball
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Home Decor is an Art Itself – Things To Know
Home decor is an art itself; no one can best tell us about it only the home decorators. But unfortunately, all of us have do not have these types of creative minds and hands. The main reason to make this blog is to make your home decorate which may be a dream to you. We have different types of the post which you surely need to check out. We have different types of work which may just sweep off your feet. So, if you try to know us closely you may get great help to decorate your home. If you hate to decorate your home by own then you may take help from the internet like home decor online or consult with a professional home interior designer might be the best option for you. They will consult with you and help you to choose the best decorating design like color, furnishings and accessories, flooring. The decorators will put the plan in motion but it’s your responsibility to hire a painter or someone to install your flooring. It’s a great option if you can afford it, but most of the people can’t afford it. Also, you may search home decor items from the Internet. Here is some point which you can apply to decorate your home uniquely Well, let’s starts with the most basic items: yes! Its fresh flower. Choose a random color which is to offset your room’s palette. You should notice that layered effect of the bright yellow orchid against the beautiful coral. A starburst mirror, over a large scale of pieces like a sofa bed or a fireplace, a starburst creates the perfect focal point. Also, notice how this white starburst mirror punctuates the fun color on the wall. Read also: Convex Mirror – An Essential Thing For Your Daily Needs A bar chart, it is great looking and practical also. This versatile piece creates the double duty as a bar annex and furniture in a living room, a dining room or a den…really you would like to serve a drink anywhere. A bar cart with wheels is the best for moving from one room to another. With some pretty bottle and different liquors can be arranged with drinking glasses. Faux Antlers, It’s a classic accessory for walls. It’s available with a multitude of materials from iron to feel. Faux antlers add an extra touch of whimsy to a room. And antlers create a focal point when it adding visual height. A beautiful bowl, Bowls range in different kind of style from modern to globally inspired, and it can be filled with just about anything. I also love bowls filled with beads for a textural effect. An art grouping, if you have one great print then think how great it could look if there were six. Creating impact with a repeat placement is a naturally sure win. Branches make a touch of nature on the inside of the home, Sculptural yet casual. Also, notice how the branches organically shaped is paired with an art collection of rectangular or square art. And Contrast in shapes is very eye-catching. A tray, a tray is one of the accessories which can look great in many places. It is the best solution for creating a surface on an ottoman, where you may put up your feet and also display fresh flowers at the same time. But smaller trays unify a vignette on a nightstand or an end table.
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Along for the Ride: Passenger Rights in Vehicle Accidents
Although we are aware of the risks, driving is just a routine activity many of us do automatically, like brushing our teeth or grabbing a cup of coffee. We climb in the car intent on the destination or lost in thought, which is why automobile accidents are so jarring. Even a mild fender bender seems to stop everything in its tracks, instantly negating the importance of everything we were thinking or saying. Whether the situation results in serious injuries or none at all, it demands immediate attention. Passersby jockey to catch a glimpse of something interesting; police officers fill out reports; tow trucks haul away damaged cars. Sometimes, there aren’t even minor injuries, but, obviously, not everyone is so lucky. Trusting ourselves is one thing. Trusting someone else is entirely different. Every time someone gets into a passenger seat or the back seat, they're trusting that the driver will get to the destination safely. Some passengers are happy not to have the responsibility of driving; others have a hard time giving up control. Regardless of your feelings, where does that leave you if you're injured in a vehicle accident? The accident certainly wasn't your fault, so what exactly are your rights as a passenger? Recovering for injuries suffered as a passenger in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident is really a claim against an insurance company rather than against the driver himself. Passengers can file a claim under the bodily injury or liability insurance coverage of the driver or owner of any vehicle responsible for causing the accident. If that is insufficient, there may be coverage available under uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist policies. Injured passengers are also allowed to file a claim under their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and/or Medical Payments (Med Pay) policies. With all these funding possibilities, passengers should be able to secure compensation for their damages, though in no instance are they allowed to collect any more than the total value of their claim. Many passengers are initially reluctant to seek compensation for damages because the driver is a close friend. It’s important to note that in most situations, the driver will not even know of the claim because it will be settled by lawyers and insurance companies before it gets to trial. The strain on any personal relationships should be minimal unless the insurance company does not act in good faith to resolve the claim and it must be litigated instead. Even at that time and although the driver will be named in the lawsuit, the true conflict is between the driver’s insurance company and the passenger. There are special rules that apply when the passenger is related to the driver and shares the same household. In most of these cases, the passenger is barred from collecting under the driver’s liability policy because he or she is an “insured person” and such persons are not permitted to file a liability claim against their own liability policy. A claim can still be brought against other drivers who are at fault for the accident. Read also: TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE IN A CAR The seat next to the driver has a reputation for being the most dangerous one in the car, even having been referred to as “the death seat.” Of course, it is more common to have one passenger than several, so the front seat is occupied more frequently than the rear seats. There is also some truth to the idea that in a crash a front seat passenger has nothing to stop him or her from being ejected through the window, whereas the driver has the steering wheel. Or, at least, that used to be the prevailing line of thought. The last few decades have brought about major advances in safety that have reduced the probability of being seriously injured while riding in the front seat. Seat belts, airbags, and crumple zones equally benefit drivers and front-seat riders. According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, adults over age 55 were more likely to die in a crash while seated in the back than in the front – even if they were wearing seat belts. The study found that adults in the rear were more likely than adults in the front to sustain chest injuries, and there was some evidence of an elevated risk of head and neck injuries for restrained women seated in the rear compared with the front. The IIHS also recently performed front-overlap crash tests of seven small SUVs and found that certain models may have a big gap in safety between drivers and their passengers. The seven models received good ratings after the front driver's side corner of the vehicle hit a barrier at 40 miles per hour, but only one model – the 2016 Hyundai Tucson -- rated as good when the same test was performed on the front passenger side. While three models received acceptable ratings and two models received marginal ratings, the 2015 Toyota RAV4 was rated as poor. The IIHS suspected that the difference was partly due to a greater emphasis on the vehicle frame and structure for the driver's side, but there is no excuse for inferior passenger protection. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver? If you were a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision and were seriously injured as a result, or if you lost someone you love in such an accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who can examine the circumstances of your case and advise you of your rights. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay them unless there is a settlement or verdict in your favor. Passengers with serious injuries are entitled to appropriate and thorough medical care for their physical, emotional, and psychological injuries suffered as a result of the accident, as well as full compensation for their pain and suffering, mental anguish, property damage, and lost wages. It is also critical that you at least consult with an attorney before speaking with an insurance company investigator or adjuster. Their job is to spend as little money as possible while quickly settling a large number of claims, and they are well-trained in the fine art of getting you to make statements that can come back to haunt you later. Since you are bound by what you say, it is often wise to let an attorney speak for you.
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New Technologies and Consumer Protection
American consumers greet new product lines with enthusiasm. Consider the long lines you see at stores when a new smartphone or mobile device is released. These lines are evidence of our willingness to accept new technologies, and they are also evidence of the big profits that companies make when they are the first in their industry to offer exciting, new products to customers. The problem is that in the great haste with which companies make to release their products, they so often fail to recognize some of the dangers inherent in the design or in the components of their products. There are many examples of this in just the past year or so. Let’s take a look at three examples, and how each depicts a different challenge faced by consumers. Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 was subjected to recall in September and the company halted production of the smartphones due to the fact that they were spontaneously exploding. There were 92 reports made to Samsung about overheating batteries, including 26 burns and 55 reports of property damage. While Samsung scrambled to find out what precisely caused these devices to overheat and explode, the problem, most believe, stems from the use of lithium-ion batteries, a problem which we’ll revisit soon. According to the New York Times, Samsung struggled to replicate the device explosions when reports first came in, and they assumed that the cause was faulty batteries by only one of the company’s suppliers. The problem apparently continued even after adjustments were made. In the case of Samsung, the company took a serious hit by stopping the sale of the Galaxy Note7. It was a good, albeit late, move for their consumers, but it was also a costly one for Samsung. The company saw a steep drop in its shares and market value. Samsung’s product obviously hurt many consumers, but they tried to address the problem and, when that didn’t work, they stopped selling the product. This is a tactic that companies don’t always use. Read also: Samsung Galaxy Note 6 to be Mega Hit? Details Here E-cigarette users have faced growing concerns about a similar problem with their vaping devices. This issue also stems from the use of lithium-ion batteries, which explode and cause fires and injuries to users. The problem with these devices is that there is little to no accountability among manufacturers since they are not regulated like manufacturers in other industries. This also makes centralized reporting a problem. Data about just how many people have been harmed is assembled largely by whatever media outlet takes enough of an interest to look into it. E-cigarettes represent the dangers consumers face when there is a lack of oversight in an industry. They also represent a growing concern over the use of lithium-ion batteries in a number of products, batteries which have also caused similar problems in laptops and hover-boards. The last example we’ll look at is the rise of automated vehicles and the race to be the leader in this technology on part of manufacturers. The specific example we’ll look at involves Tesla and the Autopilot system equipped on several of their vehicles. The technology provides semi-autonomous controls to drivers, meaning it allows the drivers to take over in certain situations. The concerns arose when a Florida driver was killed in May while the vehicle was in autopilot mode. Consumer safety advocates questioned whether the company marketed and released the vehicle with conflicting messages. As Consumer Reports asked, does the vehicle drive itself, or is the driver responsible for taking over in emergency situations? If it is the former, then why did this technology fail the Florida driver. If it is the latter, then shouldn’t consumers be informed or even trained about using this technology? In the case of Tesla and automated vehicles, the worry stems from a company’s desire to be first in an emerging market. In this race by manufacturers to reach buyers before their competitors do, are consumers being shorted when it comes to a product’s safety? These examples are the most recent in a long line of consumer safety issues that emerge whenever new technologies reach our stores. In some cases, it is the hasty manner in which a company releases a product that is to blame. In others, it is a clear lack of oversight. The reluctance to take a hit like the one Samsung took for their Galaxy Note7 also represents the reason that so many companies balk when deciding whether they should completely remove a product line from stores. It is also indicative of the dangers that will continue to face consumers as the technology boom continues. It is in our best interest to learn as much about these problems as possible. It is even more important for companies to be held accountable for releasing a dangerous product to their consumers. Bert Louthian is an attorney in Columbia, South Carolina at Louthian Law Firm, P.A.
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Will Self-Driving Cars Replace Human Error?
The public is understandably skeptical when it comes to the introduction of new technologies. This has been a constant in virtually every innovation since the dawn of civilization. People were skeptical about the railroads when they first became a staple of American life in the 1830s. People were skeptical about aviation when it became a major part of travel in the early part of the 20th century. The automobile itself was viewed with a healthy dose of scorn and hesitation when it first drove onto the scene. Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation with regard to the emergence of self-driving vehicles. Just like with these other technologies, some of our skepticism is caused by the novelty of the technology and our unfamiliarity with it. However, just as it was with the transportation modes listed above, many of our reservations are well-founded and stem from shortcomings that the technology has yet to overcome. Still, the bigger question that we find ourselves asking is: Will we be safer in self-driving vehicles than we would be in vehicles that have a human driver? Human Error Causes Vehicle Crashes The vast majority of crashes on our roads are caused by human error. Some estimates put this figure at around 90 percent. We experience this firsthand every single day on our roads. Consider how many crashes are caused by reckless driving, distraction, fatigue, and intoxication. In each of these cases, it is a person’s mistake that leads to a vehicle crash. People are far from perfect, and we make mistakes regularly. When these mistakes occur on our roads, the consequences can be devastating. One mistake made at 55 miles per hour can cause fatalities, serious injuries and incredible amounts of property damage. In that sense, the less we can be subject to lapses in judgment or negligent driving, the safer we will be. How Do Self-Driving Cars Stack Up Against People? Thus far, there is not enough information available to make a completely accurate comparison of automated vehicles and human drivers. Think about how many miles people have driven since the launch of the automobile and how many miles have been traveled by self-driving vehicles. This disparity leaves us with an incomplete picture. However, self-driving automobiles have been around long enough for us to get a clearer idea of how safe these vehicles could be and what dangers they could present if manufacturers don’t do their due diligence. Last year, Google touted the fact that its self-driving vehicles had traveled well over a million miles and been involved in only 17 crashes, all but one of which were found to be caused by another driver’s error. Meanwhile, Tesla, another company that has a big stake in the self-driving automobile industry, has come under fire from critics about its aggressive implementation of automated technology after the death of a driver in Florida in May of 2016. In September, the New York Times reported a similar incident involving a Tesla automobile that occurred in China earlier this year. The criticism from safety advocates is largely over the company’s willingness to make available technology that has not been thoroughly tested. While these were reportedly the first driver deaths in over 130 million miles of travel, it still raises a debate about the degree to which automation will be deemed safe for drivers. Concerns About Semi-Autonomous Vehicles Part of the skepticism about automated technology stems from automobiles that will be only partially operated by a vehicle and handed over to a human driver in case of emergency. In certain types of automated vehicles, such as vehicles equipped with Tesla’s Autopilot function, drivers must still be aware enough to take over driving duties in certain situations. This might prove to be a difficult task for drivers, and it could even require a certain level of proficiency or training on the part of a vehicle's operator. It should also be noted that we already have some forms of automation in many of our vehicles. Automated braking has been used in vehicles for several years and has likely helped reduce the occurrence of many crashes. There is great promise for more automation, but there are still many unanswered questions. Accountability Will Always Be a Central Issue Just as it is in today’s human-operated vehicles, crashes in tomorrow’s self-driving cars will stem from some sort of error. Today, it is usually the drivers who are held accountable for their mistakes, but as self-driving automobiles become a bigger presence on our roads, that accountability will be shifted to other entities. Rather than human error is to blame, it might be the case that a particular crash will be deemed to be the fault of a vehicle manufacturer, or a software manufacturer. For the safety of all drivers, accountability will be a very important issue, one that will need to be fought for and pursued by the institutions providing oversight and regulation, and by drivers and citizens themselves. The Self-Driving Revolution is Beginning People might be reluctant to embrace self-driving technology, but it will be thrust upon them whether they are ready for it or not. In Pittsburgh, for example, Uber has launched self-driving vehicles in a pilot program. Uber’s chief rival in the ridesharing world, Lyft, has said that our roads will be filled with automated vehicles in five years, and the company is taking its own steps toward releasing self-driving cars. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver? Several companies are locked in a fight to be first when it comes to self-driving vehicles. This competition will no doubt lead to the rapid advancement of the technology. As consumers, we have to hope that the release of the technology is not hasty and that road safety is the top priority. The Future of Our Roads People are debating when, and not if, self-driving vehicles will become the norm. It’s only a matter of time before more vehicles will be completely or at least mostly operated by automated systems. We know from the history of transportation technology that we can expect certain things. We can expect resistance, adoption, innovation, and missteps in the implementation of the technology. We can also expect that one day soon we will be riding in, or sharing our roads with, self-driving cars. The Law Offices of James C. DeZao is a personal injury law firm in New Jersey. Contact them by visiting their website or calling them at (973) 808-8900. Read More: 5 Ways To Avoid The Rip Off While Buying A Used Car Invest In A New Car, Without A Financial Liabilit Turn The Tables For Helpless Children With Car Donation In New Jersey Fred Loya Insurance Company
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What Are the Costs of Our Aging Infrastructure?
After World War II, America became a global leader of commerce and saw an incredible boom in the prosperity of its citizens. This was fueled, in large part, by the building of infrastructure and the rise of the middle class in our country. Over a 50-year period, beginning in the 1950s, the United States invested billions of dollars into its infrastructure by building roads, airports and schools that were innovative and ambitious and that literally paved the way for one of the most impressive stretches of growth experienced by any nation in global history. This small bit of U.S. history is vital to understanding a major problem we currently face. The ambitious undertaking of building America’s infrastructure has slowly become a serious economic challenge. There is a seemingly endless stream of news reports and columns devoted to the daunting task of fixing all parts of our infrastructure, including our roads, bridges, airports, oil lines, water lines and waterways. But we don’t have to look to newspapers or scholarly essays about the challenges posed by our aging infrastructure. We experience it on a daily basis, from the potholes that cause tire blowouts to the corroded service lines that have unleashed dangerously high levels of lead and caused upheaval in a number of communities across our nation. There has been much effort devoted to examining the challenges, the costs and the need for fixing our infrastructure. Let’s break down just a few of the categories to get a better perspective on what we need and why we need it. Roads - Our roadway infrastructure, which includes highways, interstates and local roads, received a “D” grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Fixing our infrastructure will be costly, and the fact that federal funding accounts for only a small percentage of road funding is a reflection of the fact that our crumbling roads impact us at a very local and personal level. The costs come in the form of stretches of roads plagued with structural deficiencies that cause our vehicles to break down and roads whose initial design, while once adequate, now fails to keep pace with the traffic they currently need to accommodate. For example, think of the long list of cities that experience incredible congestion on a daily basis or the potholes which are left unattended on our neighborhood roads. Read also: Experts Recommend: Top Interior Design Trends for 2017 Bridges - The ASCE actually gives our bridges a “C+” grade, which - believe it or not - is one of the three highest grades given to 16 categories graded by the organization. Even though it is graded slightly higher than other sectors of our infrastructure, it is still in dire need of repair. The cost to drivers also comes in the form of breaks in surfaces and inability to accommodate traffic flow, but perhaps more alarming is the possibility of collapse. Another important statistic before we move on to the next category: One out of every 10 bridges in the United States is structurally deficient. Pipelines - While our roads and our bridges are often several decades old, many of the pipes used in the United States are even older. It is not uncommon for certain systems to have been built over a century ago, long before we knew just how dangerous the materials used would become for future generations. Two examples highlight our challenges in this particular area. First is the lead contamination of our drinking water that has caused lead poisoning of communities across the country. The ASCE’s latest report card gives our drinking water infrastructure a “D” grade. The costs, they say, could be up to $1 trillion over the coming decades. The second example is frequent gas line explosions, one of which occurs, on average, every other day in the United States, as reported by USA Today. Our energy infrastructure gets a “D+” grade from the ASCE. Airports - Just like many other structures in the country, our airports are struggling to meet the demands of more passengers and higher volumes of traffic. The average airport in the United States is around 40 years old, and our country is struggling to fund the maintenance of these facilities, even as other countries are making available significant investments to improve their airports. The ASCE gives our airports a “D” grade and points to the Federal Aviation Administration’s estimated cost of congestion and delays at roughly $22 billion. The investment needed to modernize and fix the infrastructure of our airports is even greater, over $75 billion, according to the Airports Council International-North America. Schools - One of our biggest challenges is fixing the infrastructure which accommodates our young people. The majority of our schools were built for the baby boomer generation, according to the ASCE, who gives our school infrastructure a “D” grade. It will cost around $270 billion to modernize and maintain these facilities. The aging school buildings present a number of threats for children and teachers alike. Old water lines carry contaminated water into several school systems across the United States, and structural deficiencies also make these buildings hazardous to students. Yet another danger is the presence of asbestos in school buildings. Any school building constructed prior to 1980 is likely to have asbestos. Once asbestos deteriorates or becomes airborne, it can cause serious complications to those who are exposed to it, including lung cancer or mesothelioma. Meeting Our Challenges The costs of fixing our infrastructure are great, but the costs currently being suffered by Americans are already taking a significant toll. We are paying for the challenges we face in ways that go way beyond tax dollars and construction projects. Unfortunately, we are paying the price through injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The same country that built these incredible stretches of roads, bridges, and pipelines is also capable of repairing them, despite the large price tag that comes with such a task. When we consider what we need to do to move forward in this country, let’s not forget about the actual roads that lay in front of us. Ignoring this responsibility will not just place a burden on future generations -- it is a burden we are already carrying. The Law Offices of John R. Colvin focus primarily in the areas of Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Workers’ Compensation, and Social Security Disability. They represent clients in the Tennessee Valley region, including Tennessee and Alabama.
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Influencer Marketing Tool to Move from Local to Global Market
Influencer marketing is having a high card nowadays as people are indulging more into the Virtual World. As per a survey, there are more than 2.3 Billion active users online and on average active internet users have at least 5 Social Media accounts. So just imagine how much time people actually spend Online. And if the statistics are to be believed an average US citizen spends 1 hour and 18 minutes watching a video online on the Social Media Daily! And other statistics are like this, the Snapchat users watch over 6 Billion videos in a day and the figure on Facebook is around 8 Billion. It is enough stats for any marketer to understand that no matter what niche their Product falls in, their potential buyers are waiting for them online. So the question that remains is How and When to make the approach for the purchase? The best answer for a local brand who wishes to expand their business globally is Influencer Marketing. It is the fastest and most effective way to promote business amongst the Brand’s Global leads. But there are certain things and options that are to be kept in mind for a successful promotion of a brand via Influencer Marketing. Influencer marketing is an important activity of Digital marketing, and here are some statistics of who the most famous Influencers of Social Media were and how much they earned. Selena Gomez ($550,000 per post) Kendall Jenner ($300,000 per post) Kylie Jenner Rihanna Beyoncé Knowles Taylor Swift Selena Gomez tops the chart where each social media post can be worth around $5,50,000. Isn’t that huge? But think of the business people who are paying her would be making from the marketing she does. That’s out of my mind at least. These were enough proof for how effective influencer marketing is, let’s see how a local brand can expand their business via Influencer marketing: There are three options for Influencer Marketing Approach a local brand can make to take the leap from Local to Global: 1. Work as per the Target area and make a progressive approach: This option is for those who don’t want to take a big risk and are a little less willing to spend much in Digital Marketing in the Initial level and then increase once they start getting returns on their investment. It is completely normal for any brand to think like that and for them, the approach towards Influencer can be like this, first make a target area where you want to expand your business. After that find a local Influencer of that area and approach with a mutual win-win situation for both. You make a proposal that they will develop a special scheme and Discounts only for their followers and in return, they do the marketing with a fair compensation paid of course. Once that is done and a brand starts getting a response, move out to other areas with the same strategy and spread the market. This is a long term approach but it has minimal risk and you ought to spend less. The best benefit is the brand won’t be dependent only on one Influencer and if they think the influencer of one specific region is not worth the investment, they can stop doing marketing for that area. So the only loss of business you suffer is from one area and others are still productive. 2. Difficult and Creative Approach to hit a nation or globe: This approach is unique and is totally based on how well you execute the strategy of marketing the approach. The thing is all a brand needs to do is come up with a cause that is sweeping the nation or the globe and start to think creatively in that area. Develop a challenge and form a campaign for the same, now hire a single influencer and ask them to pitch the challenge to other influencers and all you got to do is somehow link your brand with the challenge. This way the influencer will promote your challenge and then all you got to do is sit and enjoy the word spreading across the nation or across the world. The cherry on the cake could be if you are able to profit from the campaign. That can be done by making an announcement that if people who support the cause buy their product, the company will donate some part of the profit to the Government for the eradication or betterment of the cause. The best example is the Ice Bucket challenge, think of one viral challenge and you are done. 3. Third is traditional approach: This is the option where a brand does the traditional approach and contacts an influencer to do the marketing, but there are certain things that need to be taken care of in the campaign. Make sure the campaign is backed with a unique and relative hashtag and the influencer specifically pitches the brand, not just a few tags and messages. Nowadays in platforms, like Instagram people are not concerned about who the Influencer tags but, the effect will be prominent if the Influencer is seen with the product or the person associated with the brand and pitches the brand for sales purpose. Another thing that needs to be kept in mind is the approach to an Influencer is much different than that of a normal sales and promotion approach. Many influencers don't care about the money much but about fame and image more. Make sure to present with something that is beneficial for both the parties. And it is not the sole responsibility of the Influencer to do the marketing of the product. Brand marketers also must put in some efforts and share information on their own social media accounts both personal and professional. Make sure Influencer knows these efforts as it will give a positive boost to the campaign and Influencer’s moral. Thus, above were some statistics and options that are available for a brand to take a leap from Local to Global market with the help of Influencer Marketing. Read More: Improve Your Local SEO Via Content Marketing The New Wave: Conquer Gen Z With Effective Marketing 5 Marketing Tips To Help Grow Your Business On Instagram
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A Style Guide on Wearing Graphic T-Shirts
As the trend of funny t-shirts and screen printing is on rising, the demand for graphic t-shirts is taking arise again. The rise has not come in the wake of summers, but there has been an increase in casual approach towards the latest style that has swept men all over the world. The t-shirts with slogans are now more of a regular style statement than mere Sunday couch potato things. Custom t-shirts, as well as the printed tees, are now more like oxford shirts than a just regular hard-to-notice piece of clothes. All fashion experts all over the world are now taking this development to be a new phenomenon than just a casual style statement. Even the company t-shirts that were ordered in bulk by companies are now turning to printed or funny kind of t-shirts that can deliver their message in a precise and appealing manner. Reputed international brands like Off-White, Givenchy, or False perception are now including graphic t-shirts in their collections as they witnessed customers bring home communicative tees from several other brands. Since the list of options offered is so extensive that people are bound to make greater mistakes these days. For those people, here is a style guideline that can make their appearance appealing and noteworthy. Read also: 5 Tips for Buying the Best Men’s t-shirt Ensure it fits well: Just as a traditional ought to fit a specific way, so too ought to a T-shirt suit your fabricate. Pick a shape and a size that supplements your body type and weight, The best experts incline toward a "not very tight, not very free" straight fit that won't press your sides. A straight fit won't surge out on the off chance that you tuck it in and wear it with a jacket. With respect to length, a tee ought to hit about mostly down your gasp Anything longer and you chance hearing "is that a classic dress- the little white dress?" snark throughout the day. Retro is the best approach: It's a T-shirt—you ought to play around with it. For the fashion designers, at Barneys, and Brian Procell, a New York vintage merchant represent considerable authority in looked for after tees from Dior and Run DMC alike, that implies outdated show tees from Queen and Public Image Ltd., individually. A few others favor washed-out Saturdays NYC tops that review 1950s surf culture. In any case, there's a distinction amongst nostalgic and juvenile. So discover a T-shirt that is reasonable for a person who's mature enough to have children yet wouldn't like to dress like one. Turn down the bright colors: Statement T-shirts can get too boisterous and offensive if the representation is printed over forceful or neon hues, as explained by several fashionistas. Their first recommendation: Steer toward calmer and more somber shades that are anything, but difficult to process. Gap, Acne Studios, and APC offer several mild tones or complex pale tones this season, which mollifies the punch of a print. Consider a smaller scale logo: This is especially for company t-shirts, don't overcompensate the signage, the same has been forewarned by a number of famous designers and experts. Most of them recommend small scale symbolism, for example, a prudent content logo over the left midsection. The off-center in the design needs to be a little elegant, many a times edgy lettering or work of art means you can wear the tee under an unstructured suit to the workplace; nobody will notice to point a finger until you shed the coat at the bar. Need to make a greater statement? Run for a tee with a mammoth print on the rear end. Ones from Stussy, Quartersnacks, and Bianca Chandon function as highlighted clothes. Also, any negative criticism from spectators will remain back as you step away to take the next step forward. You don’t need to look back to see what they have to Try To Keep The Graphics Clean And Clear: Some of the best fashion experts like Kyle NG suggest that graphics over your t-shirts speak like poetry and there is a large difference between artful and kitsch. You can always choose two or three colors but anything more than that can clearly lead to a messy look and give out a shabby appearance. A simple graphics or prints gives a clear message and lets the other people understand the approach. Cluttered things may not work in your favor always. What Not To Do: Make note that despite there is a growing culture of t-shirts, try not to wear anything that gets you called in the HR department. Also, never ever rush to catch a tacky slogan t-shirt from any local shop. These are not the graphic tees that can help you make a statement. They are just cheaper versions with a very below the belly approach. Also, try to create a new image while you just 16 or you will end up having the same physique that you had in your early teens. Always remember, black and brown is an outdated trend and bootcut jeans are completely ill-advised. Whatever Ashton Kutcher or Justin Beiber are wearing aren’t the same that will get you somewhere. Read More: A Style Guide For Wearing Men’s Sweatshirts 5 Perfect Fashion Clothing Choices For Petite Women How To Choose The Right Shoelaces For Your Shoes The Style Bible: How To Dress Up Like Millennial
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How Studying Abroad Can Benefit Your Career
Studying abroad is an experience that not only means you will improve your education, it will also be an experience that will take you out of your comfort zone. As a student in another country, you will have to become accustomed to living in another culture and will come across hurdles you have never faced before. This will all result in you developing clarity in your job role and will help in you making key decisions about your career path. The following goes into more depth about how these things will benefit your career. You Will Gain First Hand Experience for How to Communicate with People From Another Country The first point is how you will learn how to communicate with people from another country. By working in another country you will gain first-hand experience of what it is like to talk to someone who knows a different language. Not only will this be by just speaking to a person, but you will also learn how people from different countries act in terms of their body language, this can be facial expressions, the way they greet other people or how they respond to certain situations. This type of skill can be imperative in certain industries, such as when undertaking medical work experience as you will be able to then communicate with people from another country when they are unable to explain their illness. Also being bilingual is a hugely desirable trait to have for employers are wanting people to work in their company. You’ll Improve Your Decision Making Skills If you’re traveling and working in another country on your own, you will learn how to make quick decisions on the spot. Also, on the flip side – if you’re traveling as part of a group you will develop the skills required for working as part of a team. These types of skills can then be easily transferred to a number of industries when it comes to making decisions. The reasoning for this is that you will know what you need to know when you’re put into these types of scenarios at your workplace. This is something which is important in almost every industry and it is often something which will be brought up during a job interview. If you are able to show that you have done this in a foreign country, it will certainly make you stand out. You’ll Indirectly Become Better at Managing Multiple Projects When you’re in a foreign country, you will be in a new place and this means that you will constantly be thinking and planning new places to go to have lunch or enjoy a weekend away. All of this might only be a fast thought process in your mind, but the way you will be planning and organizing these different scenarios can be directly linked to the type of work you will have to when you are undergoing some type of project management scheme. By studying abroad this will make you better equipped when it comes to high intensity and fast-paced jobs. To Sum Up To conclude, studying in a foreign country is certainly something that everybody should consider if they are wanting to give themselves the best possibilities when it comes to their career. Of course, there can be issues with the cost or simply being unable to travel, and this is certainly a viable excuse – if this the case these people should try their best to do some extracurricular work in their current country. However, if it is possible to work in another country then it certainly is something that should be considered as what it can do for your career may actually be unmeasurable. Read also: Hotel Jobs in NYC – Top Reasons to Explore This Opportunity Best MBA Colleges in India Attracting the Best of Best Among Students
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