A sobering statistic may seem hard to believe: work-related illnesses take the lives of more Americans every year than gun-related incidents. Specifically, occupational illness claims about 50,000 lives annually, compared to 30,000 by guns.The tragedy is that many, if...
Month: January 2016
Many parents don’t realize the costs of raising a child with cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a birth injury caused by partial oxygen deprivation to the brain of the fetus. It can be the result of medical malpractice at numerous points during the birthing process. While the financial cost of raising the child is not a parent's first thought...
Is texting or using a cell phone while driving against the law?
According to data maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted drivers take the lives of at least 9 Americans and injure over 1,153 more every single day. Such statistics may be one reason that over two-thirds of drivers agree that...
Another Record Year for Auto Recalls
Automakers recalled a record 51.26 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2015. According to a Wall Street Journal report, that makes the second year in a row automakers have recalled a record number of vehicles for a slew of safety issues.Recalls began to surge in 2014 as...
Brain Injuries, Neglect and Abuse in Nursing Homes: Part 2
In this second installment on brain injuries in the context of nursing homes, we explore various theories of liability.For starters, it is important to understand the legal relationship between nursing home residents and facilities. Most residents sign a contract with...
Brain Injuries, Neglect and Abuse in Nursing Homes: Part 1
When it comes to brain injuries, many readers may think of causes like a slip and fall, a car accident or other types of head trauma involving an external force. However, it is important that understand that brain injuries can also result from other types of...
Hoverboard fires continue, but there may be hope for safer batteries for them
By now, you may have heard about the dangers of the popular toy hoverboards that are catching fire, causing burns and property damage. They continue to make news as additional fires have been reported, possibly due to many children receiving the toy as a holiday...
Why is Alabama’s car accident fatality rate higher than the national average?
For nine years -- 2003 through 2012 -- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded the number of automobile accidents in Alabama and across the country, and the rate of auto-accident deaths in Alabama was nearly two times higher than the national average....
The “Most Wanted” List
A federal safety watchdog has a "most wanted" list of things it would like to see happen in this country to reduce dangers, whether it be on the road by car, truck, or train, or in the air.The National Transportation Safety Board just issued its 2016 list, emphasizing...
Why are semi trucks prone to fires?
Semis and 18-wheelers have many dangers when you compare them to passenger vehicles. Their enormous size and weight are the most obvious. A semi can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds in the U.S. The average passenger vehicle weighs approximately 5,000 pounds. In...