Wrong Time, Wrong Place; The Death Of An Innocent Bystander

The police have a duty to serve and protect the citizens. On one hand, this means that dangerous criminals who put the lives of others at danger must be apprehended. However, what happens when an attempt to apprehend a criminal puts innocent lives in danger? When do the police have a responsibility to call off a car chase or refuse to use deadly force?

 

There Needs to Be Room to Maneuver

The police need enough room to make sudden turns or change lanes without hurting people. In cases where a driver is going the wrong way down a highway or a busy street, it may be better for the police to put out a bulletin giving drivers on that road as much warning as possible. In the event that a chase goes down a residential street where kids may be playing or residents may be out for a walk, it is often better to stop the chase.

 

If you are involved in an accident during a high speed chase you should contact a personal injury attorney. If you do not have an attorney, a local Internet search like “Independence auto crash attorney” for Missouri for example, or “car accident lawyer for __,” and adding your location, will provide many relevant search results.

 

 

Why Stop a Car Chase?

A driver who is going 100 miles per hour on the highway or going the wrong way on the highway is doing so out of desperation in most cases. If a driver is not drunk, he or she will be more likely to go with traffic or drive slower because there is no risk of being caught while blending in. While this can make it harder for the police to catch a criminal, there will be other chances to do so later.

 

 

What If the Accused Is Under the Influence?

Dealing with a drunk criminal is much different than dealing with a sober criminal. Unfortunately, there isn’t much that you can do to control the actions of someone who is operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs or has a gun in his or her hand.

 

Putting down spikes or forcing the car to stop through a tactical maneuver may be of limited success or harm the driver unnecessarily. The best decision may be to get everyone off of the streets and let the driver come to a stop on his or her own. In the case of a gunman, the only option may be to negotiate.

 

 

What About the Life of the Accused?

Although the life of the driver may not seem to be important, those accused of a crime are granted certain rights that ensure that they are not harmed during capture. Additionally, they are considered to be innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, their rights cannot be violated based on a presumption of guilt. One wrong move could not only jeopardize the chances of convicting a criminal as well as getting someone in a house hurt or killed because a gunman was spooked or lashed out in anger.

 

The police have a duty to both catch those who break the law as well as protect those who abide by the law. It is a fine line that has to be walked at all times. When police are pursuing a driver, it is important that they don’t make a dangerous situation a fatal accident. 

 

Author Bio:

Teresa Stewart is a professional blogger who frequently researches car accidents. She has found that high speed chases are becoming more prevalent, and that one Independence auto crash attorney with over 40 years of experience is helping victims get compensation to rebuild their lives.

 

Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons

Categories: auto crash, bystander, car chase, crash attorney, Death, driver, high speed, independence auto, innocent, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, police

Beer Benefits: Why a Pint a Day Keeps Health Problems at Bay

If you’re a man looking to lose a few pounds or just enhance his overall wellness, you might consider – heaven forbid – cutting out beer. There’s a reason why they call it a beer belly, but could you be doing more harm than good to your wellbeing by eliminating beer from your diet? According to wellness writer Dustin Driver, ‘It turns out that beer and fitness really do go hand-in-hand, despite the beverage’s bad reputation (beer bellies, dehydration, public drunkenness, bar brawls, frat boys, etc.). The delicious brew is chock-full of natural antioxidants and vitamins that can prevent heart disease and even help rebuild muscle.’ So which beers can actually be good for you?

 

‘When it comes to health, some beers are better than others,’ notes Driver. ‘Generally, dark beers pack more of an antioxidant punch than light beers (antioxidants help reverse the cellular damage caused by oxidizing compounds that naturally occur in your body). Researchers at the University of Washington, bless their souls, found that dark beers —specifically Guinness — had greater health benefits than light lagers…Microbrews also tend to harbour more of the good stuff than mass-produced brews. For example, Men’s Health found that Avery Maharaja Imperial India Pale Ale contains 80 times the hops of big-brand lagers. Hops contain polyphenols, compounds that help lower cholesterol, fight cancer and kill viruses.’ So what health benefits can you gain from sipping on a nice pint?

 

1. Energy: ‘Ounce-for-ounce, beer has one of the highest energy contents of any food or drink,’ says Driver. ‘Only pure fat can top it. So keep that in mind when you guzzle three or four at the local pub. Your average beer has about 120 calories, and four have as many calories as a Big Mac. That many calories can have dire consequences if you’re trying to lose weight. One beer after work probably won’t tip the scales in either direction, though.  Drink beer in moderation and you won’t hold on to all those extra calories. If you’re looking for an energy boost, beer is definitely not the answer. Alcohol is pure caloric fuel, but it does funny (and fun) things to your physiology — it makes you tired and sluggish. Beer and fitness do complement one another — as long as you’re not trying to enjoy both at once.’

 

2. Recovery: ‘Work your muscles and they’ll start to fall apart,’ Driver points out. ‘Your body rebuilds them, makes them stronger and gets them ready to face the next workout. Protein, carbs, vitamins, and specifically antioxidants help put things back together. The latest research has found that beer has almost as many antioxidants as red wine, which is saying something. So how do beer and fitness go together at the recovery stage? A dark beer a few hours after a workout can deliver a good dose of antioxidants. Still, you’ll probably want to reach for water and a healthy snack — like fruit and yogurt — immediately following your routine at the gym.’

 

3. Hydration: Driver details, ‘Researchers at the GranadaUniversity in Spain have found that beer can provide better hydration than water in some instances, like after a workout. Professor Manuel Garzon, the head of this study on beer and fitness, asked students to sweat it out in 104°F weather. Then he gave half of the students water and the other half beer. He found that the students who had a pint were slightly more hydrated.  So does this mean that you should slam a cold one after a run? Probably not. While beer is 93% water and appears to hydrate you better than H2O alone, it’s not the best thing after exercise. Drink water and have a piece of fruit instead. However, don’t pass up a pint the night before a big workout for fear of dehydration — seems that some beer won’t dry you out as much as you thought.’

Categories: Antioxidants, beer, beers, driver, Health Benefits, recovery, Water