By now we all have learned about the danger of texting while driving. In fact in many areas this is now illegal. Here is an example of how the potential deadly activity can even affect pilots. Click here to read more about this horrific accident.
Archive for Accidents
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of almost 1,100 baby high chairs from BabyHome USA Inc. due to strangulation hazards. The agency said the area between the tray and seat bottom is large enough to allow a small child to slide through and become stuck at the neck, posing a strangulation risk. There have been no reported injuries.
Staff Report, PR Newswire 04/01/2013 Read Article: PR Newswire
Exercise equipment manufacturer Fitness Anywhere has issued a recall on its line of P1 (“Professional”) and T1 (“Tactical) TRX Suspension Trainer devices manufactured from January 2007 to July 2008 because of numerous reports of injuries. The effected units have a black and yellow anchor straps without a nylon locking loop. It is imperative that you stop using these devices immediately if you are using a machine that may have been built by Fitness Anywhere during these dates, as there have already been thirteen reported head, face, shoulder, and hip injuries. Remember: it is illegal to resell or to attempt to resell a recalled product.
For more information, see: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml13/13001.html
Bumbo International has recently recalled about 4 million of its baby seats after 50 reports of injury. Babies can maneuver out of the seat intentionally or fall out of it by accident. Consumers are advised to stop using the affected seats immediately until they get the free repair kit provided by Bumbo, containing warning stickers and a restraining belt.
Toy importer, Toysmith, has recalled various animal snap bracelets manufactured in China after it became evident that it posed a danger to children. Apparently, the metal band can wear through the fabric, causing cuts and lacerations on the child ‘snapping’ the bracelet. There have been eight reported injuries, but no major accidents. Parents can return the bracelets to the retailer they bought it from for a full refund.
April is Distracted Driving Month. Join us and thousands of Americans in urging drivers to keep their eyes, hands and minds on the road. And let’s start with our kids, the group at greatest risk for death or injury from distracted driving. Thank you!
Also please read these articles about Driving while on the internet and Death and Injuries from Distracting Driving.
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,474 people were killed in 2009 in crashes involving driver distraction, and an estimated 448,000 were injured. Looking at the big picture, that means 16 percent of all fatal crashes and 20 percent of all accidents across the country in 2009 involved distracted drivers. Other studies suggest:
- Drivers on the phone are four times more likely to crash
- Driving while on a cell phone (whether handheld or hands-free) reduces reaction time as much as being legally intoxicated
- Teen drivers are most likely to be involved in a fatal crash where distraction is reported (16 percent of all teen crash fatalities in 2009)
- Texting or emailing creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted
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As a result of legislation like the Lystedt Law, the National Federation of State High School Associations and the National Collegiate Athletic Associations have teamed up with the CDC to develop protocols for treating concussions, as well as a program to educate athletes, parents, coaches and trainers on the symptoms and management of a sports concussion. At the core of these laws and protocols are “The Four Rs”: 1) recognize, 2) remove, 3) refer and 4) return to play only when cleared by by a licensed health care professional.
1) Recognize the Signs
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a direct or indirect blow to the head, and thus rapid movement of the brain inside the skull. Despite a higher prevalence in boy’s football, concussions can occur in any sport, and to girls as well as boys (see chart). Signs can include immediate memory disturbance, dizziness and vomiting (download full list). Note that an athlete does not have to lose consciousness to suffer a concussion. And keep in mind that a competitive young athlete might be less than forthcoming about his or her condition (hear why from this athlete).
2) Remove the Athlete
If you have any doubt about young athletes after a head injury, sit them out. And under no circumstance let them return to a game the same day of the concussion.
3) Refer to a Professional
Don’t try and judge the severity of the injury by yourself. Have the athlete evaluated as soon as possible by a health care professional.
4) Return Only When Cleared
Treating young athletes with a concussion is uniquely challenging because their brains are
still developing. Returning to action too early can result in second-impact syndrome, which can cause severe brain injury or death. Concussed athletes should not practice or play until they’ve been cleared by a licensed health care professional, and only then after showing no signs of a concussion during the six-step graduated rehabilitation program as shown here. Graduated rehabilitation will require a minimum of five days, and probably longer for young athletes.
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I was recently sent an article that discussed the victims of a recent catastrophic Amtrak train crash. Twenty-four people were killed and more than 100 were injured, many horrifically, when a Metrolink passenger train ran a red light and slammed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train. The passenger train engineer, who died in the crash, was texting someone and missed the stop signal. Unfortunately, Congress passed the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act which limited recovery by the victims to $200,000,000. Obviously, $200,000,000 is a tremendous amount of money. But that money is simply not enough to compensate all of these people and or the families they left behind. Please read this article and consider the impact of this type of legislation. It may sound good on paper, but real people can be devastatingly effected. Read the full article here
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We will try to keep this blog from solely being about insurance coverage, but we ran into the issue again yesterday. We were retained to represent a pleasant young lady that was seriously injured in a car wreck that was not her fault. Based on the insurance company for the negligent and wanton driver, we expect the insurance limits to be only $25,000.00. Unfortunately, our client’s UM/UIM limits appear to be only $25,000.00. $50,000.00 sounds like a large sum of money, but we expect this young lady’s medical bills to easily far exceed that amount. We urge all of you to consider raising your UM/UIM limits.
We recommend $250,000, but not everyone can afford this. You should at least make sure that your UM/UIM limits are at least as high as your liability limits. In the case of our client, her liability coverage was $50,000.00. If she was negligent or wanton and injured someone, that other person would have up to $50,000.00 of insurance to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. If you have any questions about UM/UIM coverage, watch the below video or give us a call.
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