Northeast NC Personal Injury Lawyer

Outdated Roads Are Dangerous for Pedestrians

John Cooper — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:50:09 GMT

I read a staggering and almost unbelievable statistic from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration the other day. Did you know that in the last 15 years there have been more than 76,000 people killed while crossing or walking along streets in America? In fact, just in the last decade over 43,000 were killed, which includes 3,906 children under 16 in that death toll. If you were to average that number out, it would be equivalent to a commercial jetliner filled with people crashing every 4 weeks. Sadly, pedestrian deaths receive no such media attention which might spark enough public awareness to promote safer roads.

Although the number of children and the elderly are disproportionately higher than other groups when it comes to pedestrian deaths, people of all ages and from all walks of life have been struck down during the simple act of walking. Typically labeled as an accident, a pedestrian death is often attributable to error on the part of the motorist. Whatever way you may categorize these tragic events, just about every pedestrian death occurred along roadways that were designed and built without consideration to anyone except the driver. Most roads and streets are dangerous by their very design as they were engineered for speeding vehicles with no provision for people that are walking, in wheelchairs or on a bike.

At the center of this conundrum is the increasingly greater push for cleaner, human-powered modes of transportation to limit the negative consequences of traffic congestion, oil dependency and pollution. Over the course of the last few years, towns and cities have begun to re-build poorly designed roads to become streets with proper sidewalks and bicycle lanes, along with reducing cross-walk lengths to make it safer for pedestrians and more alluring to the general population. Safer streets have been proven to save lives not only for pedestrians and motorists, but also in the fact that they encourage residents to become more physically active and get outside to walk more.

Sadly, pedestrian death statistics will not decrease overnight. It will take much effort and public awareness to fix obsolete and unsafe road design. Perhaps, in the future our highways will become friendlier to pedestrians and allow motorist ample time to react as the smarter roads could help even the most distracted driver to be aware of someone on foot sharing the road.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Cooper

Traumatic Brain Injury-What Family Should Be Looking Out For When Loved One Has a Closed Head Injury

John Cooper — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:44:46 GMT

A car accident can cause much more damage to drivers and passengers than the initial, visible physical effects seen by the police. Aside from broken bones and bleeding, many car crash victims suffer from traumatic brain injury, which can occur when a blow to the head, or jolt, forces the soft brain tissues against the hard inside of the skull. This can cause bleeding, the tearing of nerve fibers, or brain damage.

The symptoms of traumatic brain injury can vary from case to case, depending on the nature and severity of the blow or shaking, but the Mayo Clinic has listed some common symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury as:

A brief period of unconsciousness

Amnesia for events immediately before and after the injury

Headache

Confusion

Dizziness or loss of balance

Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a bad taste in the mouth

Mood changes

Memory or concentration problems

For more severe cases of TBI, the symptoms are also more severe, including:

Persistent headache

Repeated vomiting or nausea

Convulsions or seizures

Inability to awaken from sleep

Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes

Slurred speech

Weakness or numbness in the extremities

Loss of coordination

Profound confusion

Agitation, combativeness

TBI can be deadly if left untreated, which is why it is always important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after you suffer any sort of blow to the head. Even if you have seen a doctor and they have determined that you do not have TBI, you should be sure to monitor your symptoms as time progresses, since microscopic tears in brain tissue can often develop into more severe conditions, and can often be missed in an initial examination.

Also, make sure that you are also conscious of the health of your friends and family members, since many people are too embarassed to seek medical treatment for a head injury after they've already been examined once. TBI is a serious condition, and no one should let shame or a lack of information stand in the way of their health.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Cooper

Cancer Misdiagnosis and Its Consequences

John Cooper — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:04:00 GMT

According to American Cancer Society, 565,000 people in the U.S. died of cancer in the year 2008 alone. It is estimated that anywhere from 8% to 12 % of these cancer cases were initially misdiagnosed. A cancer misdiagnosis can greatly affect the lives of the patient as well as that of the family. It causes emotional and mental suffering, asi well as the fact that it creates a significant financial strain on all involved. In some instances, the misdiagnosis may have debilitating consequences as result from potentially unnecessary chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Death or the loss of a substantial chance of survival is another common harm from delayed cancer care.

Every patient has the right to seek a physician’s second opinion. During your examination, never be afraid to ask questions concerning the laboratory and medical procedures. However, once confirmed it is imperative to start treatment immediately.

Cancer misdiagnosis may include:

Improper identification of a tumor as non-cancerous;
Improper labeling or handling of a biopsy specimen;
Failure to routinely check at risk patients;
Failure to review the medical history of the patient's family when considering symptoms and making a diagnosis;
Improper grading of cancer in terms of severity; and
Failure to refer a patient to a specialist.

Regardless, always feel free to seek a 2^nd opinion prior to any treatment of cancer. Obviously, this should be done quickly as time is of the essence. If this protocol has been followed you have probably minimized the likelihood of a misdiagnosis. However, if after reading this article you feel there may be a chance that you have been misdiagnosed, you should seek knowledgeable legal counsel to determine your rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Cooper

Latent Hazards of Asbestos Exposure

Randy Appleton — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:48:00 GMT

Mesothelioma is a common health hazard caused by asbestos poisoning while working in industries that manufacture products made from this deadly material. Symptoms of asbestos poisoning may not show up immediately due to the long period of reaction latency which can cause symptoms not to show up for 10-40 years after initial exposure to asbestos.

If you feel you have been exposed to asbestos in any way, then it’s crucial to get tested. There are common illnesses that show as symptoms related to asbestos poisoning. In the event that your medical tests are positive for asbestos, then you may find yourself diagnosed with mesothelioma, pleural plaque, or asbestosis.

Asbestos poisoning may show gradual effects to the body but it can lead to serious illnesses which can put financial strain on you and your family. Employers have legal obligations to support your medical expenses, but if they do then they would have to confirm that your asbestos poisoning had been acquired from the work place. In many cases, this would imply guilt on their part and that is the last thing they would want to do as to avoid a costly lawsuit.

If you think that you exhibit symptoms of asbestos poisoning and that it was acquired from the line of work directly or indirectly, you need to have a competent personal injury lawyer who will help you receive the right compensation that you deserve. Don’t dilly-dally around and consult with your lawyer right away before it’s too late. Of course, never sign any documents presented to you by your employer until you meet withy your own attorney for their advice in regards to your asbestos exposure.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Randy Appleton

The 3 Leading Causes of Accidental Home Injury Deaths

Rick Shapiro — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Each and every year in America, nearly 18,000 people are killed from injuries while they are at home. This article will outline the leading causes of death, along with simple, cost effective methods to make your household much safer.

We all like to think of our homes as the perfect oasis to enjoy your self in comfort and security; however, the average home in the U.S. harbors some serious safety risks. As mentioned, more than 18,000 are killed each year from accidental injuries that take place in the home, making our houses the 2^nd most common location right behind the number one location: in our cars and on the road.

There are some very simple steps that homeowners can take to easily minimize the risk of accidental death at home. Here are the top 3 causes of accidental deaths at home:

1. Falls: This is the leading cause of home injury deaths claiming almost 6,000 lives per year. Slip and fall accidents can occur almost anywhere but the most likely place at home is in the bathroom. One quick and easy way to reduce the risk is to install grab bars in their bathtubs and showers. The primary reason tubs and showers are so dangerous is that the surface is so hard and can cause a serious injury, or severe trauma to the head.

2. Poisoning: Coming in at number two in the area of accidental home injury deaths is from poisoning which takes close to 5,000 lives every year. To add further insult to injury, poisoning is the leading cause of death at home for young adults and the middle aged. This is far too common especially if you can imagine when someone mixes a prescription drug with an over the counter medication such as a cold remedy, then followed by an alcoholic beverage. Mixing things together like this can be quite deadly.

3. Fire and burns: Home fires and burns claim over 3,000 lives per year which puts this deadly home injury at number three on the list. Make sure you have several working smoke alarms throughout the house and practice fire drills at least two times a year.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Shapiro

Alarming Facts about Air Craft Accidents

Jim Lewis — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:45:00 GMT

An air craft/air plane is the most convenient way when travelling, because you get to reach your destination in just a couple of hours or so compared with ships, boat or other motor vehicles. However, the number of its fatalities is quite alarming. According to a statistics on fatalities of air craft accidents compiled by planecrashinfo.com, there are 1,300 fatal accidents involving commercial aircraft, world-wide, from 1950 thru 2008 for which a specific cause is known which is pilot error or cockpit error.

One factor also which causes air craft accidents would be mechanical error which is 21% of the cause following pilot error. Among the factors listed by airplanes.suite101.com are weather, other human factors sabotage and terrorism. Air craft companies should put huge emphasis on the aircraft safety equipments. Emergency slides should be present, this would aid passenger to escape in case of major emergency. Alert systems and landing gears that can be lowered even after loss of power and hydraulics should be functional.

Safety measures are given prior to take off. It is very important to follow these precautions by heart. Wearing of seat belt is strictly implemented. It should only be unbuckled after the signals for it to be removed have been put on. When one is seated near the emergency exit, that person should be physically capable to open the bulky exit row, and should be able to assist other passengers.

Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), with an office also in Elizabeth City, in Northeast North Carolina (NC), practicing primarily in the south-eastern U.S. and handles only injury law, including car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our Carolina injur law website is: http://carolina.hsinjurylaw.com, the firm edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard and also hosts a YouTube injury law video library covering many FAQ’s on personal injury subjects. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, and KY.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jim Lewis

Unadulterated Negligence When Deciding to Get Behind the Wheel Drunk

Emily Mapp Brannon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:13:00 GMT

The prevalence of drunk drivers is becoming a big problem. In a survey made by www.alcoholalert.com, alcohol related deaths make up for 37% of all vehicle fatalities that happen in the US. In order to drive safely, one has to be alert, focused, and capable of making quick decisions when encountering certain road conditions; all these abilities diminish when under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol leads to poor judgement, loss of body coordination and delayed reflexes and the blurry vision. More often than not, teen drivers have a much higher likelihood to be involved in a drunk driving accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, compiled a drunk driving statistics which gave out staggering facts. Out of 12,998 drinking driving fatalities in the United States in 2007, 1,393 were caused due to teen drinking and driving. About 28% of teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes were drinking either before or while they were driving. Around 64% of teenagers who were involved in fatal drunk driving crashes were reportedly not wearing their seat belts.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also compiled a drinking and driving statistics that showed more than half of the drunken driving accidents involving teenagers were reported on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. It also showed that about half of these accidents occurred between 3:00 pm and 12:00 am. However stringent the rules are about the minimum drinking age, drunk teen accidents is still rising in number. It is the parent’s responsibility to shape their kids and know their activities and whereabouts. Rules can be bent when parent’s supervision is not implemented as well.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Emily Mapp Brannon

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Starts “Officer on a Train” Safety Campaign

Randy Appleton — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:47:37 GMT

According to the Federal Safety Administration, around 2,000 people have died in the past decade in railroad collisions. These train accidents result from several factors such as; warning lights and signals failing to work properly, train conductors not following posted speed laws or failing to notify passing cars at upcoming intersections, or driver neglect.

As a personal injury attorney who frequently represents railroad accident victims I know first hand how traumatic a train collision can be. Fortunately so does the railroad giant, Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe, or BNSF, is working with local law enforcement in select areas of the United States to promote driver awareness. The campaign, known as “Officer on a Train,” places a police officer on a train during its normal route. The officer then looks for drivers who do not follow railroad safety laws such as stopping behind the train tracks.

Right now the “Officer on a Train” safety campaign is working its way through Kansas (KS). Hopefully, the BNSF railroad will make a stop in North Carolina (NC) soon. However, North Carolina (NC) drivers can work to increase railroad safety awareness on their own. If you frequently travel across train tracks remember that train safety arms and warning lights can malfunction. Always look both ways and use extreme caution when traveling across the tracks. Never attempt to “beat the train” by speeding through a closing stop arm. These arms can get lodged on your vehicle causing you to be stuck on the train tracks while a train is approaching. Finally, if you car becomes stalled on train tracks always exit the vehicle. Do not remain inside the vehicle. A train can approach quickly and you may not have time to exit your car.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Randy Appleton

What You Do At the Scene of a Car Accident Can Make or Break Your Personal Injury Case

John Cooper — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:05:22 GMT

Odds are you will be involved in a car accident at some point in your life. In fact, The typical person will be in 4.5 wrecks on average in their lifetime. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 2.35 million people were injured in a car accident in 2008 alone. If you find yourself involved in even a minor accident what you do at the scene may determine how smoothly your recovery process goes later on.

Get All the Facts

Once you have pulled your car to the side of the road and called for emergency assistance it is time to start collecting information. There is no such thing as too much information in a car accident. Talk to the other driver. Get their insurance information, name, address, license plate number and driver’s license number if you are able. Talk to the police. Ask for a business card and an incident number. This number will help you obtain a police report later on. Locate any witnesses that remained at the scene. Get their name, phone number and address so your lawyer can contact them about your accident. Also, be sure to jot down any information you can about the accident including the speed and direction you were traveling and any facts you can remember. If you injuries are severe enough, then you may not be able to do all this investigation, so if possible call a friend or relative to come help you at the accident scene.

Do Not Take the Blame

Car accidents can be jarring and often victims are not thinking clearly while their adrenaline is pumping. Even if you think you are to blame for the accident, do not accept liability. Do not discuss the accident with the other driver or any witnesses, only the police. There may be factors in the accident you are not aware of.

Seek Medical Attention

Adrenaline not only causes you to think unclearly, it can also mask pain. The police officer will ask you if you are hurt or need an ambulance, so be sure to tell him if you are hurt, or if unsure, tell the cop that you don't know the extent of your injury, but will drive yourself to the doctor. Even if you think you are not seriously injured you should still see a doctor. Many people sustain injuries in car accidents they were not aware of at the time. Be sure to tell the doctor if you are nauseas, light headed, dizzy, confused, disoriented, or have tinnitus as these could be a sign of a serious medical condition.

It is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. The longer you wait to see a doctor the easier it will be for your insurance company or the other driver to argue that you sustained your injuries after the car accident.

Hopefully you will never be involved in a car accident, but if you are, spend your time wisely. Get all the information you can, be careful not to accept liability, and see a doctor as soon as you are able. Remember that some information may be hard to recover after you leave the crash scene, like the names and numbers of eyewitnesses.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Cooper

RockHard Weekend Dietary Supplement Recalled After Life-Threatening Ingredients Went Unlisted

Randy Appleton — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:47:54 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled three types of dietary supplements known as RockHard Weekend after the supplements were found to contain ingredients related to the active ingredients found in Viagra. The ingredient, sulfoaildenfil, was not listed by the company on the packaging label.

Sulfoaildenfil could cause serious injury or even death in some individuals. Sulfoaildenfil may interact with nitrates, an ingredient found in medicines that treat diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other conditions. This interaction may cause the person’s blood pressure to drop to dangerously low levels and could result in death.

RockHard Weekend is made by RockHard Laboratories and distributed nationwide. The products involved in the recall could have been purchased at several national retailers, gas stations and local markets. They were sold in both pill and liquid form. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall includes the Blister Pack, 3ct. Bottle and 8ct Bottle.

The FDA is asking consumers who purchased RockHard Weekend dietary supplements to return the product to RockHard Laboratories. The company will issue a full refund for any returned product. You can get more information on returning the dietary supplement by calling their toll free number at 1.800.562.0543.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Randy Appleton