Keep Your Rates Down After an Accident With Accident Forgiveness

Accidents can happen to anyone, even the safest drivers on the road. When you cause an accident, your auto insurance rates can rise significantly. Nationwide believes that drivers like you deserve a break.

That’s why we offer Accident Forgiveness.

Avoid costly rate increases with Accident Forgiveness

Accident Forgiveness, available in select states, is an auto insurance option that helps you avoid a rate increase following the first at-fault accident on your policy. As an added bonus, Nationwide extends Accident Forgiveness to other drivers on your policy – including teen drivers. But it can only be used for one forgiven accident per policy.

Save money in the long term

Accident Forgiveness insurance coverage is an option you buy, but the price of it can more than offset the rate increase that would kick in after an accident. Your insurance rate is based on a number of factors, like age and location, and an additional rate increase could make good coverage harder to fit into your budget. Accident Forgiveness can help you control these costs.

Nationwide rewards auto insurance policyholders in other ways, as well. If you have at least five years’ driving experience without an at-fault accident, you could save up to 10%. And if you insure more than one car with Nationwide you could save up to 20%. These and other car insurance discounts can add up to significant savings.

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FDA Cautions Cancer Patients About Medical Marijuana

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a stern warning Wednesday to companies marketing medical marijuana to cure or inhibit cancer — including mesothelioma — and cautioned patients about unsubstantiated claims.

The FDA sent warning letters to four particular companies, citing deceptive marketing in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

“We don’t let companies market products that deliberately prey on sick people with baseless claims that their substance can shrink or cure cancer,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in a press release Wednesday. “And we’re not going to look the other way on enforcing these principles when it comes to marijuana containing products.”

Although marijuana is still classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule I controlled substance, 28 states and the District of Columbia have legalized some form of medical marijuana use.

At question is how it is being marketed, and for what purposes it is used.

Mesothelioma Patients Touting Success with CBD Oil

FDA regulators believe cancer patients are being misled specifically about cannabidiol (CBD), a marijuana component that has grown increasingly popular. It is being sold in various forms, including oils, syrups, capsules, teas and topical lotions.

Patients with mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, have begun using it and sharing stories of its effectiveness in stopping tumor growth.

Mesothelioma survivor Jim Huff, who was first diagnosed in 2016, said his CT scans have shown no new tumor growth, and even a slight regression, since he started taking CBD oil twice each day.

Andy Ashcraft in California, who lived seven years after his diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma, often credited his cannabis oil regimen for allowing him to live a longer, more active life than anyone expected. He died in October.

Effective in Managing Symptoms

The FDA has not approved CBD oil in any product for any indication. Small research studies have shown CBD oil can be effective in managing pain, anxiety and nausea —symptoms caused by cancer or cancer treatments.

Other studies have shown effectiveness in controlling neurological condition such as epilepsy. Researchers at the California Pacific Medical Center found CBD oil stopped cancer metastasis in laboratory and animal testing but have yet to confirm it in a controlled trial involving humans.

Some cancer patients view the CBD oil as an alternative therapy, using it in conjunction with more traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Others are using it alone. 

According to the FDA, no studies have shown CBD oil can control or stop the growth of cancer cells, although individuals often have made those claims.

“Substances that contain components of marijuana will be treated like any other products that make unproven claims to shrink cancer tumors,” Gottlieb said. “We recognize that there’s interest in developing therapies from marijuana and its components, but the safest way for this to occur is through the drug approval process — not through unsubstantiated claims made on a website.”

Companies Pushed to Comply with FDA

Warning letters were sent to Greenroads Health, Natural Alchemist, That’s Natural! Marketing and Consulting and Stanley Brothers Social Enterprises.

In each notice was a request for the company to explain how they would comply with the FDA’s warning. Failure to change their marketing could result in legal action, including product seizure and injunction.

Gottlieb believes the deceptive marketing may keep patients from more appropriate, recognized treatments.

Examples of the deceptive claims the FDA cited involving CBD include:

• “Combats tumor and cancer cells.”
• “Non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD may be effective in treating tumors from cancer.”
• “CBD makes cancer cells commit ‘suicide,’ without killing other cells.”
• “…Anti-proliferation properties that inhibit cell division and growth in certain types of cancer, not allowing the tumor to grow.”

“When people are allowed to illegally market agents that deliver no established benefit, they may steer patients away from products that have proven, anti-tumor effects that could extend lives,” Gottlieb said. “We have an obligation to provide caregivers and patients with the confidence that drugs making cancer treatment claims have been carefully evaluated for safety, efficacy and quality.”

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Study Finds No Need to Expand Mesothelioma Palliative Care

Earlier palliative care for patients with pleural mesothelioma failed to improve quality of life or extend survival time in a recent study presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Yokohama, Japan.

The randomized control study took place in Australia and the United Kingdom, disputing an earlier recommendation by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) that called for expanding palliative care for mesothelioma patients.

“Blindly offering palliative care to all, that doesn’t appear to be a benefit,” Dr. Fraser Brims, study presenter from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, told Asbestos.com. “The results really went against what many thought would be the case. It was quite surprising.”

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. There is no definitive cure and most patients live less than 18 months after diagnosis.

Palliative care typically focuses on quality of life and relieving symptoms caused by the disease itself or the side effects from the medications used to treat it.

No Difference in Quality of Life

The study involved 174 mesothelioma patients who were randomly assigned standard of care alone or early specialist palliative care, which involved visits every four weeks.

The vast majority of the patients were men with the epithelioid subtype of mesothelioma and had high symptom burden.

Median age was 72.6 years, and 60 percent of those studied had at least one cycle of chemotherapy.

Brims’ study was designed for a 12- and 24-week assessment. It was inspired by a landmark U.S. trial in 2010 that showed early palliative care for lung cancer led to higher quality of life and longer survival.

He expected to find something similar, but was surprised by results of his study.

“At first, I was disappointed at the results,” Brims said. “I intuitively thought [earlier palliative care] would help, but it was interesting to see that one size does not fit all. You can’t say everybody needs it or benefits from it.”

The results showed virtually no difference in quality of life between the two groups at 12 weeks. The global health status quality-of-life score was 60.2 for the specialist group and 59.5 for the control group.

At 24 weeks, it was 61.3 for the specialist group and 63.7 for the control.

Researchers measured anxiety and depression using a scale called the GHQ-12, which yielded similar results with only a negligible difference in the two groups.

By 24 weeks, 30 of the patients had died.

The median survival in the control group was 12.6 months and 11.5 months in the specialist palliative care group.

Health Care Varies by Country

Brims said the research team saw no noticeable differences in any of the quality-of-life variables with the two groups.

He said his surprising results, in contrast to the earlier lung cancer study, might be attributed to either the health care systems involved or the difference in the diseases.

“I think it shows that the current standard of care, at least in the UK and in Australia, is more than adequate. The consensus is that they do a great job already,” Brims said. “That may be different in other centers, other countries.”

In addition to his work as an associate professor at Curtin University, Brims also is the head of the occupational and respiratory health unit at the Institute for Respiratory Health at Sir Charles Gardner Hospital.

“If we look at the current provision of care, we have senior specialists, thoracic cancer nurses and chemotherapy nurses who support the patient in their journey, and that is standard of care now,” Brims said at a World Conference press briefing. “It’s possible that the addition of specialist palliative care to all-comers —regardless of their perceived need — hasn’t made much of a difference.”

The latest ASCO guidelines — first published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2016 — call for palliative care to begin almost immediately after a cancer diagnosis, citing studies that show patients living longer and better lives with the expanded care.

According to those guidelines, palliative care should be performed by a multidisciplinary team using inpatient and outpatient settings. It should be delivered concurrent with active treatment.

The ASCO guidelines did not specifically mention mesothelioma.

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Man Dies In Riverdale Motorcycle Crash

Fatal Motorcycle Accident 

Motorcycle Accidents often end in severe injuries or even fatalities due to the lack of protection that they provide the motorcyclist. Just like any motor vehicle accident, being involved in a motorcycle crash can be devastating and life changing. 

Many lives were affected in Riverdale, GA when a 40 year old male died in an early morning motorcycle crash. 

The Clayton County police are investigating the accident. They believe that a car was heading Riverdale, Ga when a man riding north bound on a motorcycle struck the car on the passenger side. 

south in the early morning on Highway 85 in

There were no reported injuries of the motor vehicle driver, however, the motorcyclist lost his life. No charges against the driver of the car have been filed at this time. 

Not all motorcycle accidents result in death, but this unfortunate accident caused a man to lose his life. Even if a crash does not cause a fatality, many accidents leave the victims with severe injuries and damages. 

Why You Should Hire An Attorney 

If you or a loved one has been involved in a Motorcycle Accident in Georgia that was not your fault, you may need the help of an experienced Personal Injury Attorney to help you receive compensation for your injuries. 

The Brown Firm specializes in Personal Injury cases related to Motorcycle Accidents and has a team of expert lawyers that will provide you with a free consultation to see how to best handle your unique case. Click On The Link Below! 

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Quick and Easy Ways to Settle Your Georgia Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle Accidents are a common occurrence in Georgia, leaving many people severely injured and in need of a Personal Injury Attorney.

Settling a Motorcycle Accident Injury case is similar to a car accident case. 

If you want to know quick and easy ways to settle your motorcycle accident case while still maximizing your compensation, keep reading. 

Successful Motorcycle Accident cases are able to prove the other driver's negligence and fault for the collision. 

It is up to your attorney to investigate, gather, and interpret the evidence and details of your accident.

It will also be up to your attorney to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf for an agreeable settlement. 

Some of the factors of your motorcycle accident claim that will help speed up the settlement process include the following: 

Proper Medical Documentation 

After being involved in a motorcycle wreck, it is crucial to seek medical treatment. Even if you are feeling fine, a medical expert should evaluate your condition. 

Even if you are feeling fine, a medical expert should evaluate your condition and provide a diagnosis for your injuries.

It is possible to obtain internal injuries in a motorcycle crash, be in shock, or experience physical and emotional trauma that may not be immediately apparent to you. 

By having your condition and injuries documented by a medical professional, it will allow the insurance adjuster to gather a full picture of your physical and emotional conditions before the accident occurred and after. 

Many motorcycle accident injuries result in extensive medical treatment and bills. By seeing a doctor and following their care plan, it will be much harder for an insurance company to refute your injuries and deny your settlement compensation. 

Having a comprehensive medical record may help appropriate a value for your case. By not seeking medical treatment or waiting too long to receive treatment, your case may be undervalued during the negotiation process. It may also leave you stuck with paying your medical bills when it should be the negligent party's responsibility. 

Seeking medical treatment and following the Doctor's orders will help speed up the settlement process as well as add value to your final settlement offer. 

Proper Documentation of the Accident 

If you are able, it is imperative to document as much as possible after being involved in an accident. 

Obviously, if you are rushed to the hospital this may be next to impossible, but, if you can, be sure to take photographs of the scene, the damage to your bike, and to yourself. 

The police should be immediately notified of the accident so they can gather information for you of other potential witnesses and the other driver(s) involved. Having a police report stating the other driver's negligence will be another strength added to your accident injury case. 

The other driver's insurance company will not be able to put the fault on you if there is a police record stating the other person's fault and negligence.

Your attorney will use the police report as further proof of the other driver's fault when negotiating a settlement. 

Notify Insurance Companies 

Once the police have been notified and you have seen a medical professional, you will need to notify your insurance company and the offending drivers of the accident. 

Insurance companies have requirements on when they need to be notified if you wish to file a claim. Lack of proper notice may result in a denial of your claim and could hurt your chances of success. 

It is also important to remember not to answer any questions or give a statement regarding the accident. Saying the wrong thing to the wrong party could cost you your only chance at receiving a settlement. 

If you are filing a claim, let your attorney handle all of the negotiations, they are trained to deal with insurance companies and know exactly what to say to ensure you receive the compensation that you deserve. 

Consult with a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

 

When you are involved in a motorcycle wreck and believe it was caused by someone else's negligence, it is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. 

The Brown Firm Attorneys specialize in representing the victims of personal injury and can

even provide you with a Doctor referral to treat your injuries and provide the needed documentation to support your case. 

If you are injured and need an attorney to fight for your legal rights and help you receive the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve, do not wait to contact our firm. 

We provide a free consultation with our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys to let you know how we can assist with your case.

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What to Do After a Car Accident That's Not Your Fault

It can happen to anyone at anytime: You're commuting to work, one hand wrapped around a hot cup of joe while you nod your head to the music. Suddenly, you hear the crunch of steel as your neck is jerked violently back and forth. The driver behind you has rear-ended your car, possibly while checking a text message or fiddling with the radio dial. It's not your fault, but now you have yet another item on your busy agenda to handle. What should you do?

Car accidents are never pleasant, but the following information will help you achieve the best possible outcome.

What to Do After a Car Accident When it's Not Your Fault: First Steps

Many of the steps you take following a car accident are the same regardless of who's at fault. But there are some things you can do to protect your interests in the event the other party leaves the scene of the accident, fails to report the accident, contradicts your account of the events, or is otherwise uncooperative.

Immediately Following the Accident

First of all, take a deep breath and remain calm. If you are injured, get immediate medical attention (take notes about your injuries if possible). Check on all drivers and passengers who may be involved in the accident and help those in need of emergency care, but don't move an injured person unless it's absolutely necessary for their safety. Make sure you move the vehicles out of traffic and onto the side of the road if possible; you don't want to cause an unnecessary traffic jam or yet another collision.

Gather Information

If it's clearly the other driver's fault, such as the rear-end collision illustrated above, then he or she is responsible for reporting the accident to their insurer. But don't just assume the other driver will take care of it; leaving the scene of an accident is a felony, but only if there's evidence of the crime. That is why you want to collect the following information:

• Name, address, and telephone number of the other driver
• Insurance company name and policy number of the other driver
• Witness statements and their contact information (if applicable)
• Photographs of the scene (including the license plate of the other driver) and the site of the damage

Consider Calling the Police

Even if it's unclear whether you may have contributed to the accident, collecting the above information may help you make your case. If there are physical injuries (either to yourself, the other driver, or passengers) or significant damage, you may want to call the police. Although a police report may not be admissible in civil court, it will give you leverage when giving your version of events or reaching a settlement.

After a Car Accident: What to Do When You Get Home

Assuming you haven't sustained serious injuries, you'll want to take care of some additional steps after you get home (or the next morning, but as soon as possible). If you have injuries from the accident, be sure to keep detailed (and ongoing) notes. In a best-case scenario, the other driver will report the accident to his or her insurer and the insurance company will write you a check for your automobile damage and any medical expenses incurred.

Contact Your Own Insurance Company

Car accidents often happen in the blink of an eye, which means you might not have a full picture of the events that led up to the collision. And yes, perhaps you were at fault, if only partially. Also, there may be instances where the other motorist's insurance company denies responsibility. In either case, your own insurance company will need to know, either to launch a legal challenge against the other insurer or to process a collision claim for your vehicle. And by proactively contacting your insurance company, regardless of fault, you establish a good-faith effort at reporting the accident.

Consider Suing the Other Driver's Insurance Company

In most instances, the other party's insurance company will take care of the damages you have incurred. But occasionally, especially in the absence of a police report, it may take the side of its policyholder and deny coverage. In this case, your own insurer may either cover the damage, sue the other company, or try to reach a settlement that works for all parties. But as a last-ditch effort, you always have the option of hiring a lawyer and suing the other party's insurer yourself.

But keep in mind, there may not be enough evidence to make a solid case or the amount of money involved may not be worth the legal fees. In any event, make sure you carefully weigh the pros and cons of doing so before taking additional legal action.

Have an Attorney Evaluate Your Car Accident Claim for Free

Now that you know what to do after a car accident that's not your fault, you may have additional questions about your legal options. An attorney can help you decide what course of action to take if it isn't easily resolved. Get started today by having an accident attorney review your case at no charge to you.

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