Northern Minnesota Personal Injury And Family Law Blog

Halloween is a fun time for kids, but it can also be dangerous walking the streets after dark. That's why drivers must take extra precautions when driving on Halloween, as children are prone to unpredictable behavior as pedestrians. Consumer Reports offers the following advice to both drivers and trick-or-treaters to reduce the risk of a serious accident. 

When driving in residential areas, drive as slowly as possible. It might be hard to see kids dressed in dark costumes, and children don't often use crosswalks when crossing the street. If you see any children as you're driving, adjust your speed accordingly, even if that means going under the posted speed limit. Also, keep driving distractions at bay. While this is an important rule in general, you want to be alert and aware of your surroundings on Halloween.

The beginning of the school year can be one of the roughest times for recently divorced Minnesota parents. Not only do they have to deal with the drastic changes in their custody schedules, but they also have to co-parent with someone who doesn’t live in the same house as them anymore.

It’s also a time where former spouses tend to find issues within their parenting plans. Even if their new custody schedules appear relatively straightforward, they can get into serious conflicts if they didn’t take certain factors into account. One major factor is the child’s involvement in school sports, clubs and other extracurricular activities. If one parent has sole custody of the child, then they will be the deciding vote in major decisions such as this. However, if their custody times are almost evenly split, then they will have to take the following into consideration:

Dogs add a lot of joy to people's lives. However, dogs can also be quite threatening, especially when their owners fail to take the proper steps regarding training and obedience. Pet owners are obligated to prevent their animals from harming others or they may be held liable for dog bites or other issues. The Spruce explains a few of the many responsibilities of dog owners, many of which preserve the safety of their pets as well as other people. 

Obedience classes get dogs acclimated to being around others. Along with people, these classes can also make a dog feel more comfortable when in the presence of other dogs. The more comfortable a dog feels in these situations, the less likely he is to attack or lash out. Keep in mind that even seemingly sweet and kind animals can become aggressive when they feel threatened. Additionally, the supposed threat may not even be legitimate but the dog might still lash out. Proper training can also provide the proper disciplinary tools to dog owners, which allow them greater control over their pet. 

Married couples are supposed to support one another through thick and thin. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. A toxic relationship involves resentment, conflict, and unhealthy competition, all of which serve to undermine the union itself. Time offers the following signs of a toxic relationship so you can take the proper steps to care for yourself and your family. 

You should be able to discuss anything with your partner. After all, marriage is not without its ups and downs, and the important thing is being able to address issues in a constructive way. This is not so with toxic relationships. You might feel as though you can't broach any difficult subjects with your spouse, which guarantees that problems will never be resolved sufficiently. You may also experience an increase in symptoms of mental and emotional disorders.