Women in Mississippi may be more likely than men to use their cellphones while driving according to a new study published in Risk Analysis: An International Journal. The research was conducted in South East Queensland, Australia.

Around 25 percent of all car crashes in the U.S. involve cellphone use. In fact, statistics show that drivers who text behind the wheel are six times more likely to crash their vehicle, and drivers who talk on their cellphones are twice as likely to crash. However, many drivers still don’t believe that distracted driving is dangerous. The Australian study, which surveyed 447 drivers, found that 68 percent of participants admitted they were skeptical about the hazards of texting and driving. The study also found that separation anxiety and a fear of missing out pushed many drivers to risk using their phones while operating a vehicle.

According to the study, certain people are more likely to be distracted drivers, including women and drivers who are overly attached to their cellphones. Drivers who are highly uninhibited and those who have a general disregard for safety are also more likely to become distracted behind the wheel. However, the study also found that difficult driving conditions and the presence of law enforcement officers tend to discourage people from engaging in distracted driving behaviors.

Car accidents caused by distracted drivers injure thousands of Americans each year. Victims of such crashes may wish to speak to an attorney about their legal options. In some cases, it may be possible to take legal action against the driver who caused the crash. For example, by filing a personal injury lawsuit, an injured victim might be awarded compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more.

If you have a loved one who lives in a nursing home, you may have concerns about his or her well-being, since you are not able to monitor your loved one’s care on a daily basis. You trust the nursing home to take good care of your mother or father, but, unfortunately, not all nursing homes perform their duties adequately, and some are actually negligent.

There are certain signs of nursing home abuse that you should be aware of, so that if this unfortunate occurrence happens in your loved one’s situation, you are prepared to handle it. Even better, if you keep a vigilant eye out for detecting nursing home abuse at all times, you can help prevent further abuses from taking place.

Defining abuse and neglect

Elderly abuse and neglect are both forms of maltreatment, but they are not the same. Abuse is a deliberate action intended to inflict harm, pain, mental anguish or intimidation. Neglect may or may not be intentional. It is the failure to provide services that are needed to avoid harm.

Signs of abuse and neglect

Some types of abuse are more evident than others. For example, if you see an injury and there is no sufficient explanation, this may be a sign of abuse. Neglect can show up when there is improper care devoted to hygiene (such as unclean or soiled clothing or bedsheets) or basic nursing home care such neglecting to move a patient in bed, which can result in bedsores.

Sometimes, you may note a certain psychological or physical reaction to a particular staff member. If your loved one becomes agitated, nervous or scared in the presence of someone who works at the nursing home, it may be a sign that that person is committing abuse or neglect.

Keep in mind that there may be good and valid explanations for injuries, and not all signs are necessarily evidence of abuse or neglect. However, vigilance on your part is necessary, because some of the signs are so subtle that the average person may easily miss them.

Spotting signs of abuse and neglect early ensures that you can take action to stop any potential abuse from reoccurring. If you have suspicions and need assistance investigating them, or if you need additional information about how to proceed, you should seek the legal advice of an attorney with experience in nursing home abuse cases.

There has been no shortage of reports predicting the fate of the insurance industry once driverless cars become a reality. Mississippi residents may be familiar with some of the dire predictions: A 2016 Morgan Stanley report estimates that with no drivers needing car insurance, the industry will dwindle by 80 percent by the year 2040.

A more recent report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance paints a different picture, though: not one of sudden declines in revenue but rather one of gradual shifts as new revenue sources open up. Who pays for a policy will change with parts manufacturers and technologies companies being especially likely to need coverage.

The frequency of accidents involving autonomous cars shows that insurance won’t disappear. The technology in semi-autonomous vehicles, such as sensors and bumper cameras, is expensive, so even minor fender benders will raise the average cost of repairs.

Insurance companies that are quickest to adapt to the changes will have plenty of opportunity for excelling. They could provide cyber insurance, for example, to protect against cars getting hacked.

Before driverless cars become the norm, drivers will likely use their autonomous features only part of the time, such as when parking or faced with traffic jams. This transitional stage could allow insurers to cover both drivers and their cars.

As long as a driver is insured, his or her insurance company will have to face auto accident claims. Victims of another’s negligence may wish to file these claims in order to be compensated for their losses, including medical bills and vehicle damage. A lawyer might assist by hiring third parties to gather proof, negotiating for a settlement out of court and litigating if one cannot be agreed upon. It all begins with the case evaluation where any negligence on the victim’s part is factored into the potential amount.