Hicksville Injury Law Blog

In an ideal world, you and your neighbor will get along. You may even become friends. You'll share dinners in the backyard or you'll talk over the fence.

Unfortunately, we do not always live in an ideal world. Many people end up having some serious disputes with their neighbors. If you're interested in why this happens, here are a few of the main reasons:

• You do not agree on where the boundary lines are. The dispute revolves around who really owns a fence or a piece of land.
• One of you has a pet that the other believes encroaches on their property or damages it.
• Your neighbor is either too loud, leading to calls to the authorities, or they file noise complaints against you. Even if you stay on your own sides of the boundary lines, you can drastically impact each other's quality of life.
• You think that your neighbor is violating health codes and doing something that actively makes you unsafe. This could be improper handling of hazardous materials, for instance, or the use of unlawful substances, like lead-based paint.
• Your neighbor is violating the building codes. If he or she breaks fire codes, for instance, that could be a serious risk to you. This is only made worse if you live in a duplex or some other type of shared dwelling.

Have you ever nodded off behind the wheel? If you have, you know how frightening it can be. In most cases, it just lasts for a second. But, as your eyes snap back open and you realize you almost fell asleep, adrenaline surges through your body. You know how close you were to a car accident.

The best way to avoid this, of course, is not to drive when you're tired. Unfortunately, it's something we all have to do from time to time. How can you keep from falling asleep? Here are a few tips:

• Turn on the AC or open the windows. This is especially effective when it makes you uncomfortable. It keeps you awake.
• Chew gum. Eating snacks may help, but then you risk distraction by eating while you drive. Chewing gum gives you a minor physical task that keeps you awake without the distraction.
• Talk to a passenger. If you have someone in the car with you, just make small talk. Have them ask you questions to keep you engaged.
• Focus on your health. Eat well. Drink enough water. Make sure your body has what it needs so that you're not extra sluggish and worn out.
• Sing along with the radio or a playlist on your phone. While listening to music can make you tired, casually singing along keeps your brain working and keeps you awake.

Police in New York attempted to initiate a traffic stop with a gray Mercedes-Benz, but the driver decided to run from the officers. Police started to follow but then decided it was too dangerous and stopped pursuing.

The gray car did not slow down, though. Breaking the speed limit and running through at least one red light, the car careened down the street until it slammed into a family of five in their Mazda.

For those interested in real estate, the value can shift dramatically for a variety of reasons, so it's important to understand exactly what makes a property valuable. One of those potential reasons is the impact of modern real estate trends. When a certain type of property becomes a hot commodity, the price tends to skyrocket.

As a buyer, you want to make sure you don't overpay for something that winds up being a fad. As an investor, you want to get in at the beginning, while the value is still low.