Archive for November, 2011

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28
Nov

Debate Over HPV Vaccine Comes To Arkansas

November 28, 2011

With the federal government advising parents across the country to vaccinate all children between the ages of nine and 14 against the human papilloma virus (HPV), some Arkansas teens are coming forward to warn both parents and teens about the dangers these vaccines may pose.

4029 News told the story of a 20-year-old woman who received the vaccine as a teen. She was then a 16-year-old Ozark High School cheerleader who started receiving the three-part vaccine during a routine check-up because cervical cancer ran in her family. From the first shot, she reported feeling nausea and pain throughout her body. The teen spent the next four years in and out of hospitals and underwent numerous exploratory surgeries in an effort to find answers to her ailment to no avail. She is now on dozens of medications and after receiving a settlement from the drug’s maker for her doctor’s bills, the girl is now on disability due to her condition.

35 million doses of the drugs Gardasil and Cervarix have been given in the United States since 2006, with 20,000 reports of bad reactions to the drugs. Some of the symptoms included muscles aches and numbness, but data is pointing in the direction that the vaccine could cause an autoimmune disease linked to several types of arthritis as well.

The Arkansas Defective Drug Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton encourage parents to research these vaccines before giving them to your children. If you have taken these drugs and suffered adverse effects, contact us immediately to see if we can help you.

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21
Nov

Arkansas Receives Four Stars For Efforts Against Drunk Driving

November 21, 2011

Arkansas is doing more than most states to combat drunk driving according to a new report released by the advocacy group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). According to the report released last Wednesday, the state received four out of five stars on a national report card that evaluated each state’s drunk-driving countermeasures.

The report was released in conjunction with the group’s fifth anniversary of the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®, and reviewed what each state was doing to combat drunk driving. Arkansas received it’s rating for:

  • Conducting sobriety checkpoints
  • Having enhanced penalties for those who drive drunk with children in the car
  • Requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers
  • Using administrative license revocation for drunken driving offenders

The state would have received a five star rating if they would have taken part in “no refusal” checkpoints that allow officers to receive warrants on-site for blood samples from drivers who refuse to submit to testing.

MADD’s report also offered updated figures for the cost of drunk driving to American taxpayers. They say accidents caused by intoxicated drivers cost Americans $132 billion annually.

The Arkansas Auto Accident Attorneys with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton are encouraged by the MADD’s assessment of Arkansas. If you have been injured in an drunk driving accident at no fault of your own, you may not know what to do. Recently, founding attorney, Mike Rainwater, spoke about what to do to protect yourself after a crash.

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14
Nov

Conway Police Crack Down On Under Age Drinking

November 14, 2011

Just weeks after a similar operation, the Conway Police Department conducted an undercover sting at area restaurants on underage drinkers. According to FOX 16 News, out of eight establishments checked for compliance, five failed.

Police sent an underage informant into establishments across town with unaltered identification to attempt to purchase alcohol. A server at Ruby Tuesdays served the 19-year-old without checking identification, while bartenders and wait staff at Michelangelo’s, US Pizza, Bear’s Den, and Cactus Jacks checked the boys ID yet served him anyway. In all, 21 businesses have been visited and 11 have failed. All those who served the underage individual were issued fines ranging from $200 to $500.

Police say they hope the sting will help combat the growing problem of underage drinking in Arkansas. A 2005 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment found that 22.9 percent of all Arkansas 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders had used alcohol in the 30 days prior to the survey with the average age of teenage users being 14. More than a quarter of 12th graders reported binge drinking in the last two weeks, most of who reported drinking at a friends house. These drinking episodes away from home put the teens at a higher risk of drunk driving accidents.

The Arkansas Car Accident Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt and Sexton often handle cases where injured victims have been involved in an accident with a drunk driver. Founding attorney, Mike Rainwater, recently discussed how to protect yourself after an accident if you have been injured in a recent interview.

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8
Nov

Six Tons Of Medications Collected In Arkansas Drug Take-Back Drive

November 7, 2011

At least some of the risk of prescription drug abuse – and the potential for their illegal sale – has eased after local authorities and the Drug Enforcement Agency collected approximately six tons of expired or unwanted medications from local homes during the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Take Back Initiative. According to Arkansas Online, the one-day event took place on October the 29 and gathered more medication than any other drive before.

The agency asked homeowners to bring their unwanted medications to any of the 138 collection sites across the state to be properly disposed of. In all, they say there was 11,924 pounds of medication, or 16.9 million pills, collected during the event. That is up by more than 4,500 pounds over the amount that was handed in during a similar event held in April of this year. The state says that the campaign has gathered 12 tons of unused medication since the program’s inception last year.

Authorities say not only does the program reduce accidental overdoses by children and abuse by teens and adults, but also protects the environment after trace amounts of chemicals were found in water supplies after citizens had flushed medications down the toilet.

The Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyers at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to applaud this program and urge Arkansas citizens to clean out their medicine cabinets to dispose of old, unwanted or unneeded drugs during the next event to be held in several months.

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