New Eco-Friendly Materials That Can Be Used To Remodel Your Home

The demand for green homes is increasing gradually as more people become environmentally conscious. Green homes are dwellings that have minimal or zero impact on the environment. If you are planning to build or remodel your home in Portland Oregon, you need to choose sustainable building options. Here are a few remodeling materials that you can use to renovate your home.

Recycled Insulation

Using recycled materials reduce the rate of forest destruction. You need to upgrade your home insulation with cellulose fiber from wood and recycled paper. It is advisable to hire a green construction company to ensure your house meets the desired standards. Also, install insulated glass on your windows to ensure energy efficiency.

Go Solar

You can take advantage of passive solar heating in your home. All you need is to replace or modify windows and roofing to enjoy the heat from the sun during the cold season and reduce the heat from the sun in summer. You can also install solar panels to provide energy, replace fossil fuel and cut energy bills.

Energy Efficient Appliances

When undertaking a home remodeling project, choose energy efficient materials and appliances. Appliances with energy star label use minimal power and can reduce energy bills. You can look for energy guides online to find the best articles or tools depending on your remodeling needs.

Non-VOC Materials

Most pressure-treated materials are dangerous. They contain volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde that pose health risks after prolonged exposure. Some paints, steel studs, plastics products, and wood composite contain hazardous compounds. It is advisable to consult green home builders to avoid these materials.

Recycled Flooring And Roof Materials

Recycled materials conserve the environment. They use less energy and are associated with few pollutants if any. Some of the green alternatives for your roof include slate-style shingles. You may also use pulverized-stone chips, recycled rubber, driveway pavers, masonry veneers among other materials for home remodeling.

Choose Eco-Friendly Paint

Painting is one of the most common renovation activities that many homeowners undertake every year. If you want to paint your home, you can now find odorless paints that reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. They contain less chemical fumes that dry out quickly after application. You no longer have to use conventional water or oil-based paints.

Renovating your home with eco-friendly materials will have a positive impact on the environment. The green home builders are helping reduce the environmental impact of construction projects. If you want to save money, reduce exposure to toxins and conserve the environment, you should hire green home builders in Oregon.

Statistics Behind Pedestrian-Vehicle Related Accidents in Washington State

Legal Help for the Victims of Pedestrian Accidents in Washington

An increase in pedestrian deaths in Washington state has set back efforts to completely eliminate traffic fatalities within its borders by 2030. The victims of pedestrian accidents and their families may require legal assistance to help them deal with these tragic events, which is why they should consider turning to the services of a personal injury attorney in Vancouver WA.

The Increase in Pedestrian Deaths

According to figures provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation, 109 pedestrians were struck and killed by vehicles throughout the state during 2017. This was an increase of 21 such deaths over 2016 and marks the fifth straight year that pedestrian fatalities in Washington have risen. The death toll in 2013 was, in fact, less than half that of 2017. In addition to the fatalities, hundreds of pedestrians are injured throughout Washington every year. The increase in deaths is not easily explained, although there are some common reasons for such accidents:

•Driver and pedestrian distraction
•Intoxication of drivers or pedestrians
•Jaywalking by pedestrians
•Vehicular speeding

Reducing the Risk

In their Target Zero program initiated in 2000, state authorities vowed to eliminate traffic deaths in Washington within 30 years. Pedestrians can help the state reach this goal by following certain rules. They should always follow the same traffic signals as vehicles and remember to yield to passing traffic when they walk outside of marked or unmarked crosswalks. They should also wear bright clothing that can easily be seen by motorists. Those involved in serious accidents that result from the negligence of others should seek proper legal representation.

Understanding Personal Injury Law

A tort is wrongdoing that can lead to action in the civil court system. It differs from a crime, which is prosecuted by government authorities. In a personal injury case, the person filing the lawsuit, or the plaintiff, can seek monetary damages from the guilty party, or defendant. A large number of personal injury cases stemming from traffic accidents. Other torts include acts of medical malpractice, falls, and injuries caused by defective products.

After a Pedestrian Accident

Such accidents can have serious consequences for the victims, including broken bones, spinal injuries, and brain trauma. The victims may seek monetary damages to cover the costs of their injuries, including medical expenses and lost wages. The families of those injured or killed may also seek compensation. It is for these and other reasons why those involved in pedestrian accidents need the help of a personal injury attorney.

What is a Registered Nurse?

A registered nurse or RN is a nurse that has an associate’s degree in nursing or a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. To become a nurse they would also have passed the NCLEX-RN certification exam. Some nurses decide to go on to become an Advanced Practice RN, Clinical Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or other specialized roles. RNs can work in a broad variety of places, including hospitals, medical specialty areas, or medical offices.

The Duties of an RN

The duties of an RN can vary depending on their place of employment. Some of the things that they regularly do include direct patient care, assisting physicians in a broad variety of medical procedures, offering public health education campaigns, and helping family members to be educated on their loved one’s condition or their own condition. RNs may also administer medication, as well as operate medical equipment as necessary. RNs may choose to focus on a specialty in medicine. This in can include emergency care, surgical, neonatal, geriatric, and pediatric care.

How Much Does an RN Make?

RN salaries are typically around $32.04 an hour depending on their place of employment. This number has been put forth by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If a nurse is in a specialty field, they may earn more than what could be earned in the normal field of nursing. Certain areas will also offer larger employment bonuses for nurses to hire on.

Job Outlook for Registered Nurses

There is a large demand for registered nurses in the United States today. There is strong growth in this industry because of wider health care availability, the aging population, and more. Nurses will also need to be used to help educate patients on things like dementia, obesity, arthritis, diabetes. There may also be a need for more registered nurses in home healthcare and long-term healthcare facilities.

The need for skilled nurses including registered nurses is only going to grow throughout the years. Becoming a registered nurse takes a lot of education and a lot of work, but becoming an RN is rewarding and can help you to be financially stable.

How to Apply for Social Security Benefits

Applying for benefits at a social security office can be a big step in your life. It can also be a quite difficult step to go through. It is important to make sure that you have all the information that you need with you when you apply for benefits. There are several ways that you can apply for social security benefits.

• Applying online. You can apply online for social security benefits in some cases. Depending on why you are getting benefits, you may be allowed to complete your application online, or you may be able to start it and finish it in person. If you wish to apply online, go to ssa.gov/applyonline. The system is available all seven days of the week. Monday through Friday it is available from 5 a.m. EST to 1 a.m. EST. On Saturdays, it is available from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sundays, it is available from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Applying via phone. In some cases, you may be able to start your application over the phone. You can call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213. The hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m to 7 p.m ET. If you do call outside of these hours, you will be given helpful information on how to apply, services, and more.
• Applying in person. You can apply in person at your local social security office. Their hours should be posted, or you can call them to find out their hours as well as find out information about their application process.

Applying at Locations in your Area

Getting Help

As you have probably heard, it is not always easy to get social security benefits, especially disability benefits. You will have to through a rigorous process that will deal with the paperwork, doctor’s visits, and more. If you get overwhelmed, or you need help in applying for social security benefits, you can find out more information on the process online, or you can consider hiring an attorney. An experienced attorney will be able to walk you through the process, and help get your case approved.

Take your time to gather all the information on why you are applying for social security benefits. This will include income information, medical records, and more. Click here to find out more about applying for social security benefits.

Information on truck accident laws in California

If you’re in a vehicle accident with a truck, chances are there are some people who are liable besides the truck driver. The liable parties can include the truck or trailer owner, individual who leased the truck, manufacturer and the shipper of cargo on the truck. According to California law, you have the right to sue all individuals responsible for the truck accident.

Statute of Limitations in a California Truck Accident

You have a limited about of time to file an injury lawsuit in Orange County if you’re injured in a truck accident. You have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim in Orange County Court. If you are only seeking property damage, statute of limitations is three years from the date of the crash. If a minor was injured in the truck accident, you have two years from the time they turn 18 years old to file a lawsuit.

How to Prove Fault in a Truck Accident Lawsuit

To prove the driver, company, shipper or manufacturer was liable for the truck accident; you must show they were negligent. Negligence means the wrongful party breached their duty to you not to cause an accident. Besides causing a truck accident the wrongful party also your injuries. These injuries and property damage requires them to pay you the amount of money you’re seeking.

You can receive damages, or money, for:

• Pain and suffering
• Additional medical bills
• Property damage
• Mental anguish
• Death of a loved one caused by the truck accident

Please note that if the wrongful party was the government, different rules apply. For instance, you must file a government claim within 180 days of the truck accident. That’s why it’s important to speak to a personal injury attorney about proving negligence with a private or government party that caused your truck accident.

Comparative Negligence

Comparative negligence is often a defense the wrongful party uses to decrease the amount of money they have to pay an injured party. Comparative negligence looks at the actions of the wrongful and injured parties to compare fault or blame for the accident. If the suing party was at fault, their award decreases by a percent. This means they won’t receive the full amount of the award, but they will receive something.

To learn more information about your rights in a truck accident, contact an Orange County personal injury attorney. They’ll help you get the money you need.

TransUnion Completes Acquisition of iovation

TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of iovation, one of the most advanced providers of device-based information in the world, strengthening its leadership position in fraud and identity management.

iovation pioneered the device intelligence industry and provides a highly advanced digital device reputation consortium, with insight into nearly 5 billion unique devices from more than 35,000 leading brands across more than 50 countries. With technologies that can dynamically identify new fraud patterns as they emerge, TransUnion and iovation’s combined solutions will empower customers to quickly incorporate and adapt strategies to the fast-changing and evolving fraud landscape.

“The completion of this acquisition allows us to begin efforts to seamlessly integrate iovation’s device identity and consumer authentication capabilities into IDVisionSM, TransUnion’s suite of innovative fraud and identity solutions,” said Jim Peck, TransUnion’s president and chief executive officer. “The combination of our solutions will create an unmatched network of offline and online identities that will benefit both our business customers, and ultimately, consumers who are transacting with them.”

iovation’s extensive customer base and channel partners, including Callcredit, TransUnion’s recently completed acquisition in the U.K., will also expand the company’s footprint globally and in markets like gaming and retail.

iovation is a leading provider of fraud detection / prevention software to a wide range of industries.  Their products include ClearKey two factor authentication, LaunchKey multi-factor authentication, FraudForce fraud detection & prevention and SureScore real-time machine learning analytics.

Visit www.iovation.com and www.transunion.com for more information.

 

Can Children with Disabilities Receive Social Security Benefits?

Benefits For A Disabled Child

A child who is a minor may be considered disabled, but the SSA doesn’t take into account the child’s disability when determining if they qualify for benefits as your dependent. The child’s benefits typically end at age 18 but are extended to age 19 if they are a full-time student in an elementary or high school or are disabled. For a child with a disability to earn benefits on your account after age 18, the following rules need to be met:

  • The disabling condition must have started before age 22, and;
  • The child needs to meet the definition of disability for adults.

Adults Disabled Before Age 22

An adult who became disabled before reaching age 22 can qualify for child’s benefits if a parent is deceased or begins getting retirement or disability benefits. We recognize this as a child’s benefit since it is paid based on a parent’s Social Security earnings record. The “adult child” must be unmarried, older than 18 and have a disabling condition that began before age 22. An adult child can be an adopted child, stepchild, grandchild, or step-grandchild.

What if the adult child never worked?

It isn’t required that the adult child has worked. Benefits are given based on the parent’s earnings.

What if the adult child is currently working?

An adult child cannot have substantial earnings. The amount of earnings that are defined as ‘substantial’ goes up every year. In 2018, substantial earnings meant working and receiving more than $1,180 a month. Certain expenses the adult child receives from work can be excluded from their earnings.

What if the adult child is already receiving SSI benefits?

An adult child who is already getting Supplemental Security Income benefits is recommended to verify if the benefits may be awarded from a parent’s earnings record. Higher benefits can be payable, and entitlement to Medicare is possible.

What if the adult child is already receiving disability benefits on his or her own record?

An adult child who’s currently getting disability benefits is still recommended to find out if benefits can be based on a parent’s earnings record. There’s potential for someone disabled since childhood to receive insured status on their own record and be entitled to increased benefits on a parent’s earnings record.

What if the parent never worked?

No benefits could be paid on the record of a parent who has never worked.

Can an application be completed online for disabled adult child’s benefits?

Currently, you are unable to apply for disabled adult child benefits online. If you want to submit an application for benefits, speak with Social Security as soon as possible by calling 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. (If you are deaf or have trouble hearing, call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778.

If you hesitate, some potential benefits may be lost. If you can help speed up the application process by filling out an Adult Disability Report and bringing it to your appointment.

Lost Your Social Security Card? Virginia Residents Can Now Get A New SS Card Online!

The state of Virginia has rolled out a new service that allows Virginians to file for a replacement social security card online.  The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has partnered with the Social Security Administration in an effort to help Virginia residents obtain replacement cards without having to go to their local social security office.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has introduced a new service that allows Virginians to order replacement social security cards online.

The change will cut out a few steps in the process of getting a new social security card, such as filling out an application in person at a social security office or mailing the required documents and application.

Virginians must meet a few basic requirements to apply for a new card online and need to have a state-issued driver’s license or identification card.

The new online replacement system was implemented about four months ago through a partnership between the DMV and Social Security Administration.

In its first four months, the online replacement system served over 10,000 Virginians.

Read the full article here.

If you do need to visit your local social security administration office, we’ve listed the top 50 SSA locations based on the population below.

 

Understanding Wrongful Death Laws in Tacoma Washington

Losing someone you love is always difficult, especially if they died due to the negligence of someone else. While nothing can bring your loved one back, the law provides a way to seek compensation for their wrongful death through the filing of a personal injury lawsuit. The following is an overview on how personal injury law pertains to wrongful death cases. If you have lost a loved one, it may benefit you to speak with a Tacoma personal injury lawyer to learn what options you may have.

What Is A Wrongful Death?

A wrongful death is one that occurs due to the reckless behavior or carelessness of someone else. Some common causes of wrongful death cases are:

  • Medical Malpractice Cases
  • Birth Injuries
  • Car Accidents
  • Motorcycle Incidents
  • Pedestrian Deaths
  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Commercial Vehicle Fatalities
  • Surgical Errors

Who Can File A Lawsuit?

The law allows only certain family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Washington, the following people may bring a wrongful death suit to civil court:

  • The Spouse Of The Deceased
  • The Domestic Partner Of The Deceased
  • Surviving Children Or Step Children
  • The Deceased’s Parents

If the victim is a child, then both parents may file a claim if they are regular contributors to the child’s welfare and care even if they are separated, divorced or were never married.

Visit www.nolo.com for more information on wrongful death in Washington.

What Kinds Of Damages Can I Receive?

If you successfully win a settlement in a wrongful death case, you may be able to obtain compensation for damages such as:

  • Burial Costs
  • Funeral Expenses
  • Lost Of Companionship
  • Loss Of Income
  • Medical Bills Of The Deceased
  • Pain And Suffering
  • Price Of Damaged Property
  • Emotional Distress

While filing a lawsuit cannot bring your loved one back, it can provide the financial resources to pay outstanding bills so you can move forward with your life. If you have lost a loved one and are considering filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Washington, contact an attorney today for a consultation.

An Overview of Truck Accidents And How They Pertain To Personal Injury In Orange County, California

At the point when a tractor-trailer impacts another vehicle, that other vehicle is typically a car or SUV. Since a tractor-trailer can measure 30 times the heaviness of a traveler vehicle, the tenants of the traveler vehicle are exceptionally defenseless. A tractor-trailer’s capability to stop can likewise influence crashes. At the point when streets are wet, they can take up to 50 percent more roadway to stop than a traveler vehicle. Truck jackknifing and rollovers additionally add to severe wounds and fatalities.

The National Statistics

The latest ascertainable national vast truck crash measurements are from 2014. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 3,744 large trucks were included in lethal accidents that year, and 88,000 were included in injury crashes. Common accident type rates were around 26 percent backside impacts, 16 percent sideswipes, and 4 percent head-on.

Common Reasons For Why Truck Accidents Happen

Substantial truck accidents are ordinarily created by any number of components. Those elements can incorporate

  • Errors by truck drivers
  • Failure of equipment on trucks like brake failure
  • Driving too fast in adverse weather conditions
  • Loads that aren’t balanced properly
  • Lack of driver training or experience

Because of the monstrous size of tractor-trailers contrasted with traveler vehicles, the probability of extreme injury or demise for tenants of a traveler vehicle is increased altogether in a crash. Typical wounds include:

  • Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Severe fractures
  • Amputations
  • Burns

Damages accessible under California law to the individuals who were harmed by a careless large truck driver include:

  • Past and future doctor’s visit expenses
  • Past and future lost profit
  • Any perpetual distortion
  • Any lasting handicap
  • Loss of an ordinary life
  • Memorial service and entombment costs in case of a wrongful passing

Hire An Attorney

It’s not unordinary for the backup plan of a substantial truck to send a group of specialists out when they find out about a truck crash. You’ll need your own group out there as well. That is the reason you would prefer not to postpone in holding an expert truck accident attorney directly after a truck accident that you or a relative were harmed in. You don’t need a penny in your pocket to converse with a professional large truck accident attorney from the offices of Guldjian & Fasel Accident Attorneys. Counsels and case assessments are free, and no legal expenses are expected until such time as your attorney gets remuneration for you.