Arnold & Stafford Legal Blog

How police officers spot possible drunk drivers

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law posted in DUI/DWI on Friday, July 12, 2019.

Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after having too much to drink can bring with it myriad problems. There might be times where you are never caught, and there might be times where you come across a checkpoint. Then, there might be times where an officer simply spots you and is concerned about how you are driving, which leads to a traffic stop. Today, we will explain what it is officers look for in possible drunk drivers.

When it comes to spotting potentially impaired drivers, police officers will look for the following behaviors on the road:

Speeding or going too slow for the speed limit
Tailgating
Erratic movements
Rapid or frequent lane changes
Driving at night without headlights
Taking too long to accelerate when a light changes from red to green
Sitting stopped at an intersection when no other traffic is coming
Weaving in and out of traffic
Narrowly missing hitting other vehicles or stationary objects
Hitting parked cars
Braking constantly or for no reason
Driving on any surface other than the road
Driving in the shoulder
Failing to stay off the dividing lines

Why you should never fight drug charges alone

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law posted in Drug Charges on Friday, July 5, 2019.

If you are ever arrested for possession of a drug, possession with intent to distribute or any other drug charge; you should never fight these charges by yourself. Many people believe they can represent themselves in court, but it's too stressful of a situation to do so effectively. Today, we will explain why you should always have a criminal defense attorney by your side when facing drug charges in Hinesville, Georgia.

First and foremost, you do not know the law. The law is complicated, especially when it comes to drug charges. You can be hit with a slew of different charges when arrested for a drug crime, many of which could very well be dropped if you knew the law. A defense attorney can help get charges reduced or dropped.

Why second and third opinions matter

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law posted in Misdiagnosis on Friday, June 28, 2019.

Going to the doctor regularly can wind up saving your life. You might have routine tests conducted that find elevated blood pressure, elevated white blood cell count and other indicators of serious illnesses or diseases. But, not every doctor will diagnosis you correctly. That's why it's important to seek out a second and third opinion from other doctors when diagnosed with a serious health condition.

Do not feel uncomfortable, which some people do, by seeking a second or third opinion. You are not doubting your doctor, who you might have been seeing for decades. Instead, you are making sure that what you were told is accurate so that you can move forward with the appropriate treatment.

Medical providers owe it to patients and themselves to be safe

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law posted in Surgical Errors on Monday, June 24, 2019.

A recent study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) captures how doctors who follow safety protocols can protect both their patients and themselves by doing so.

The researchers refer to a medical provider's obligation to adhere to patient safety standards as essential.

A positive BAC breath test may not be accurate

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law on Sunday, June 23, 2019.

Whether you have a favorite bar in Hinesville or regularly go to Savannah for a night on the town, you must be careful never to drink and drive. After all, few things can derail your future plans faster than a DUI charge. If you ever face one, you must act both quickly and diligently to defend yourself.

When police officers in Georgia stop drivers for suspected drunk driving, they take certain steps to either confirm or dispel their suspicions. Often, officers ask drivers to submit a breath sample for testing. If the breath test indicates a driver’s blood alcohol concentration is above the 0.08% legal limit, officers have grounds to make an arrest. Still, breath tests do not always produce reliable results. Here are four reasons a breath test may issue a false-positive reading:

Alcohol can affect your ability to drive safely

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law posted in DUI/DWI on Friday, June 14, 2019.

It's difficult enough to drive safely when you're sober. If you add alcohol into the mix, it's even more challenging to avoid trouble on your way to your destination.

Alcohol can affect your ability to drive safely. Here's how:

Causes drowsiness: This limits your ability to focus on the road. It also increases the likelihood of falling asleep while you're behind the wheel. Either way, drowsiness increases the risk of an accident.
Loss of coordination: You may not think about it when you're sober, but it takes coordination to safely operate a motor vehicle. When under the influence, your coordination is hindered, making it a challenge to drive safely.
Reaction time: Alcohol slows your reaction time, which can cause a number of problems when driving. For instance, if another vehicle suddenly stops, you'll need to do the same. If your impairment slows your reaction time, you may not be able to avoid a crash.

Help yourself avoid an emergency room misdiagnosis

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law posted in Surgical Errors on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

Every year, approximately 135 million people visit hospital emergency rooms throughout the United States. You don't want to find yourself in this position, but you never know when you'll require emergency care.

Here are some of the many things you can do to help your medical team provide an accurate diagnosis and the right type of treatment:

Share all your symptoms: There's never a good reason to keep information to yourself. If you have a symptom, share it with your doctor. If you have a medical concern, bring it to light.
You don't understand your medical history: Don't expect your emergency room doctor to have a clear understanding of your medical history. Instead, you need to provide as much information as possible. There's always a chance that your current issue is associated with something from your past.
You go alone: If at all possible, ask a friend or family member to accompany you to the emergency room. Not only will this relieve you of some stress, but this person can also listen on your behalf and help you communicate with your medical team.

Georgia follows national move to link overdoses to murder charges

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law posted in Drug Charges on Friday, May 31, 2019.

There's an alarming trend in American jurisprudence today. Reactionary measures against the drug crisis that's been sweeping through large parts of the country have led prosecutors to see criminal intent behind every overdose death -- at least, whenever they can connect the drugs that led to the overdose back to its source.

Doctors who prescribe patients too many pain pills have been indicted and convicted on manslaughter charges. Family members who have shared pain meds with relatives have faced trials. Friends who shared drugs with other addicted friends have also found themselves facing long sentences in federal prisons after their friends accidentally overdose.

Can you legally avoid a DUI checkpoint in Georgia?

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law on Friday, May 31, 2019.

Georgia police frequently put up DUI checkpoints when there is a projected increase in traffic. They tend to go up during holiday weekends, however, last December police arrested 48 people on a Wednesday evening.

Some states don't allow DUI checkpoints because they contradict a person's civil rights from unreasonble search and seizure. If you're in this camp and want to avoid a sobriety checkpoint, here are your options.

What to do in the event of a cancer misdiagnosis

On behalf of Arnold & Stafford, Attorneys at Law posted in Misdiagnosis on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

Cancer claims millions of lives every year. Unfortunately, many people don't receive a fast and accurate diagnosis, thus making it more difficult for them to successfully fight the disease.

If you suspect a cancer misdiagnosis, it's important to take the following steps:

Discuss your concerns with your doctor: Even if they're putting you off, make it clear that you believe something is wrong. You have the right to push back, even if your doctor diagnoses you with a less serious disease.
Seek a second opinion: Your current doctor isn't the only one you can rely on. It's okay to seek a second and maybe even a third opinion. The more doctors you consult with, the better you'll understand your situation.
Keep copies of everything: From your medical records to lab results to pathology reports, every bit of data and information is important.