Category: Individual Law
Winter Car Emergency Kit: 20 Recommended Items
October 23, 2025 | Adriel B. Villarreal
Driving during the winter can be hazardous. Severe weather, accidents, and engine troubles can happen at any moment. That’s why you should always drive prepared. If you do find yourself stranded on the road during the winter, having these emergency supplies in your vehicle will help you stay safe until help arrives. Stocking caps, warm socks, mittens, boots, and layers: Frigid temperatures are likely to be the biggest threat to your wellbeing if you get stranded during the winter, so warm clothes are essential. Blankets or sleeping bags: If you’re traveling a long distance or in a remote area where you could be stranded for several hours or even days, then blankets or a sleeping bag will help keep you warm and give you the opportunity to rest while you wait for help. Hand and foot warmers: Small and compact, hand and foot warmers are easy to store and provide lots of heat. First-aid kit: Bandages, antiseptic wipes, sterile gauze pads, tweezers, pain relievers, and other basic medical supplies are critical for addressing injuries sustained in an accident. Drinking water: Bring at least one gallon of emergency drinking water per person on extended road trips. High-energy, non-perishable food: Foods like trail mix, protein bars, dried fruits, unsalted and canned nuts, raisins, and peanut…
Read MoreIs There a New Cellphone “Touch Law” for Minnesota Drivers?
July 14, 2025 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
A rumor has been circulating on social media and across the internet that a new “touch law” went into effect on June 5, 2025, in 31 U.S. states, including Minnesota. The purported law bans handling or touching your phone while driving. This claim is misleading, however. Such a law did go into effect in Pennsylvania on June 5 and is known as “Paul Miller’s Law.” But the other states mentioned in the claim, including Minnesota, already have similar laws that have been in place for several years. In Minnesota’s case, the hands-free cell phone use law went into effect in 2019. So, while there is no new “touch law” in Minnesota, drivers should still act in accordance with the existing law. What is Minnesota’s Hands-Free Cell Phone Law? Minnesota’s hands-free law makes it illegal, in most cases, to use a handheld cell phone while driving. This includes when a driver’s vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or in a traffic jam. However, it is legal for drivers to use cell phones in hands-free mode. This means that drivers are permitted to use their phones through voice commands or with a single-touch activation. So, you are allowed to make or take phone calls, send or receive messages, listen to audio, and receive GPS…
Read MoreADA Compliance and Web Design: What You Need to Know
August 10, 2023 | Carole Clark Isakson
Is your website ADA compliant? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all electronic information and technology be accessible to those with disabilities. The US Department of Justice provided very specific guidance in this area in 2010, but MANY organizations are not compliant. In fact, according to a recent StarTribune article, citing a survey by the Institute for Disability Research Policy and Practice at Utah State University, 96.3% of the most visited websites are not fully compliant with the accessibility requirements of the ADA. If the ADA applies to your business, it applies to your website. The Cost of Noncompliance What does this mean for you? Litigation is on the rise in this area with some lawyers and law firms focusing on filing lawsuits against companies with non-compliant websites. Lawsuit costs and alleged damages can easily exceed $100,000. If your website isn’t compliant and the ADA applies to you, it’s time to improve your website. Even better than legal compliance, however, is the fact that making your website compliant will expand your marketing to a group of potential clients and customers that you were missing (and that were perhaps missing you). How to Improve Your Website The best way to ensure that your website is ADA compliant is to contact your web developer or…
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