In America, many people have pets, especially dogs. The Human Society of the United States reported that, in the US alone, there are approximately 77.5 million pet dogs based on the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey.

Given how much owners love their pooches, it’s no surprise that people would want to take their pets around and even put them in cars. In fact, a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that more than 80 percent of all dog owners take their pets with them in the car.

While it’s good to spend time with your pet, it may not always be safe.

The AAA found in the study that unrestrained dogs in cars are a dangerous distraction just like talking or texting on the cell phone. What’s even more alarming is the fact that most of these drivers who take their pets with them do not safely restrain them.

Further, more than two thirds revealed that they pet or even play with their dogs while driving and as much as 1 out of 5 drivers even let their pet ride on their lap while on the road.

This driver behavior puts at risk not only the life of the pet but also that of the owner or any other passenger in the car. Aside from the obvious danger an unrestrained pet would face if the owner would suddenly slam on the brakes while going at a high rate of speed, the distraction can prove to be fatal.

A prominent plastic surgeon was recently in the headlines for having died in a solo vehicle crash in Malibu. Aside from allegedly posting a Twitter message right before he died, he also had his dog in the passenger seat when he drove off the road.

As driving is a skill that requires both hand and eye coordination and a driver’s complete attention on the roads, dogs inside cars – especially those which are unrestrained – are both a danger and a distraction to drivers.

If you want to avoid getting into a car accident while driving with your pet and minimize distractions, here are some tips you can follow:

• Strap in or use a safety restraint on your pet. There are various types of dog restraints and special seats that can be connected to seatbelts which are available to the market.
• Do not put your dog on your lap while driving.
• If riding with your pooch is unavoidable, aside from safely restraining him in the seat, avoid playing or petting him.

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The Queen of Talk, Oprah Winfrey who incidentally also has a reputation for being a philanthropist, is being sued by a former employee who allegedly suffered in a “hostile work environment” and was wrongfully terminated.

Catherine Dunn, who has been working as an assistant in Oprah’s OWN Network since August 2008, claimed that her Multiple Sclerosis was aggravated because of the stress she experienced at work.

Allegedly, when she was forced to take a leave of absence because of stress, she came back to find out that her position has been given to a younger and non-disabled employee.

Dunn is suing OWN for wrongful termination and discrimination and is asking for an unspecified amount of damages.

A hostile work environment is usually based on discrimination. This occurs when an employee’s work performance is affected because of derogatory or unwelcome comments or conduct based on sex, race, disability or other legally protected characteristics. Aside from the victim, other employees can also suffer from an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.

Further, if Dunn’s allegations about getting fired because of her medical condition were correct, Oprah is clearly in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under this federal law, qualified individuals with disabilities are protected from employment discrimination – whether in hiring, giving of pay and firing.

Occasionally, because of their disability, some employees would ask for reasonable accommodation or take certain leaves which may be necessary in their condition. The ADA also mandates that employers provide reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified individual with a disability. However, if the accommodation would impose significant difficulty or expense on the part of the employer, such is not necessary.

Failure of the company or the employer to provide reasonable accommodation and to protect their disabled employee from discrimination, hostile work environment, and terminate a disabled employee is against the law. An aggrieved employee who was wrongfully terminated and/or discrimination may recover not just lost wages but also damages against the employee.

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Controversial NBA star and former defensive player of the year, Dennis Rodman was involved in a rollover crash near Fort Lauderdale in South Florida during the weekend.

Rodman, who was a passenger in a Land Rover SUV, was on Interstate 95 when one of the vehicle’s tires blew out. It was reported that the SUV rolled over three times and that Rodman had to be pulled out from the vehicle.

He and the other passenger suffered no serious injuries, although Rodman allegedly had a scratch on his finger. The driver of the SUV was taken to a local hospital after suffering head injuries.

The Florida Highway Patrol will not be pressing any charges for the solo vehicle crash.

Lucky for Rodman, he was able to worm his way out of serious physical injuries in the rollover crash. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), while rollover crashes account for less than 3 percent of all crashes, its fatality rate makes up for more than a third of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.

In fact, last 2008, of the 25,428 passenger vehicle fatalities, 9,023 died of them died rollover crashes.  Rollovers are particularly dangerous because of an increased risk of injury or death due to partial or full ejection from the vehicle.

While SUVs and pick-up trucks are particularly vulnerable to rollover accidents, there are many factors that can cause one, here are some of them:

• Loss of control over a vehicle
• Tripping over objects while turning such as curb, guardrail, tree stump
• Making a turn too aggressively
• Being struck on the side by another vehicle
• Vehicle defects such as blown tires

Obviously, while there are some rollover crashes that are just “accidents” such a tire blowing out while making a turn, there are some that are caused by the reckless operation of the motor vehicle or negligence of the driver.

In such instances, especially when there are parties which are hurt or killed because of the fault or negligence of the driver, he may be held civilly and criminally liable for the accident. Occupants of the vehicle or motorists may file a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit as the case may be through a car accident attorney who is experienced in handling rollover vehicle accident claims.

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