The risk, of course, for all who use the roads in Missouri and throughout the nation, is that these trucks will be less safe and cause more car and truck accidents. Members and representatives for the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) strongly opposed the increasing of truck sizes and weights, as it would threaten the safety of other drivers, increase the costs to their members and further damage the nation's infrastructure.
]]> Under consideration is the proposal to increase the size of truck from the current 80,000 lbs on five-axels to 97,000 lbs on six-axels. This increase is potentially dangerous, as the 97,000 load would be in the range of heavy haul loads, which is a specialized job and requires extra training for drivers.The danger to other drivers is that inexperienced drivers with these large loads would be unable to control their vehicles in emergencies, such as a tire blowout, and they would lead to devastating truck accidents.
These larger trucks would also be restricted to fewer routes, leading to increased wear and tear on the nation's already at-risk infrastructure. As the I-5 Bridge collapse demonstrated, many bridges are not designed for large loads.
Source: Land Line magazine, "Supersized trucks? The professionals on the road say no,” David Tanner, June 6, 2013
]]>A spokesperson for CoxHealth, told the News-Leader that "The number of motorcycle collision patients we’ve cared for this year is already two and a half times what we saw in all of 2012.” Nationwide, motorcycle fatalities have increased in 14 of the last 15 years. Some of this is due to the increased popularity of motorcycle riding. Safety advocates claim part of the increase is caused by the weakening or repeal of motorcycle helmet safety laws.
]]> The Springfield Police records indicate that motorcycle crashes have declined from last year, with only 40 versus 130 last year, but their records only include accidents within Springfield, while CoxHealth serves a broader area in this part of Missouri.It is unclear what may be causing the increase in injuries this year, but a study out of Michigan indicated that the cost of motorcycle accident injury claims had increased more than $1,800 per claim, or 34 percent, after the state repealed its mandatory helmet law.
Riding safety should be the goal of every rider, but if you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you should contact an attorney to discuss what compensation may be available for your injuries.
Source: Springfield News-Leader, "Increase in motorcycle injuries reported in Springfield," Stephen Herzog, May 22, 2013
]]>It could have been much worse, like the I-35W Bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis in 2007 that killed 13 and injured 145. Missouri has a lot of expensive work to do, as it ranks seventh in the nation with structurally deficient bridges. These bridges are too old, too small and too likely to collapse if a structural member is damaged. A car accident on these bridges could cause a greater disaster.
]]> Springfield is located in Greene County, which only has about 10 percent of the dangerous bridges in the state, but those 53 bridges carry more than 150,000 vehicles every day. Each one of those trips presents a risk to a driver crossing the bridge and a risk to the bridge, should a car or truck crash damage a component supporting the structure.Like a homeowner who failed to save enough money to replace their roof when it begins to leak, we have thousands of bridges that have either reached the end of their 50 year service life, or been out stripped by the demands placed on them by modern traffic volume and weight.
Many were built during the 1950s and 1960s and while adequate for the time, there was just no way for engineers to foresee the growth of vehicle traffic today. However, 30 years ago it was clear these structures would need to be replaced. The nation chose to ignore the problem, hoping it would go away.
Let us just hope the next time you are driving across one of those bridges that the problem doesn't decide to "go away." And take your vehicle with it.
Source: Springfield News-Leader, "Greene County bridges showing their wear," Jonathan Shorman, May 29, 2013
]]>Much of this material and equipment is secured by chains, cables and straps, often tightened by ratcheting clamps. These clamps are typically operated by using a lever; with the force of the lever enhanced by using a pipe, to lengthen the lever. These pipes are stored in random locations on the tractor or trailer.
Because they tend to be an add-on, there usually is no dedicated attachment point. Ever wonder what happens when one of these pipes or other negligently attached item comes loose and falls from a vehicle at highway speeds? A truck accident in California provides one unfortunate example.
]]> The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported the accident happened near Livermore, Wednesday morning. The pipe, which was about 3 feet long and 2 inches in diameter, struck a vehicle in the lower driver's side, struck the driver in the jaw, killing him and causing the vehicle to run off the road and crash.Sadly, the party responsible for the pipe that killed the man may never be identified, absent some eyewitness who saw the accident and could identify the truck that dropped the pipe. When equipment or tools are improperly stored on a moving vehicle, they can become deadly projectiles when the fall off, causing severe injuries or as with this case, death.
The CHP describe the incident as a "freak accident," but it was anything but unforeseeable. It is too bad the responsible parties may never be found.
Source: Sacramento.CBSLocal.com, "Lodi Man Killed By Metal Pipe While Driving On I-580," May 22, 2013
]]>Even the best-intentioned teen driver is dangerous, simply because they lack the experience of other drivers in dealing with handling of their vehicle, other drivers, changing road conditions and weather. Texting, because it requires so much of a driver's attention, is risky for teen drivers and greatly increases the chance of their being involved in a fatal car accident.
]]> Research has found that more than 3,000 teens died in fatal motor vehicle accidents involving texting. A troubling long-term concern with the 300,000 injuries that result from these accidents. They may be faced with a lifetime of medical problems and the need for multiple surgeries, rehabilitation and ongoing healthcare issues.While it is encouraging to see the there are fewer deaths for teens involving alcohol, texting has the potential to be a much more difficult issue to solve. The researchers report that there was no difference in death rates between states, whether or not they had anti-texting laws.
Because texting is something many teens do all day long, sending and receiving thousands of texts, a substantial part of the danger is due to it becoming an unconscious behavior. They may not even realize while driving that they are checking their phone for a text. It is vitally important that parents remind their teens that no text is worth their life.
Source: Newsday, "Study: Texting while driving now leading cause of death for teen drivers," Delthia Ricks, May 8, 2013
]]>Perhaps the most prevalent distraction in our vehicles today is the smart phone. The distractions a smart phone can offer are many, but the most dangerous distraction of all appears to be texting.
]]> According to recent research from Cohen Children’s Medical Center, texting while driving is now the leading cause of death among teen drivers and passengers, surpassing drunk driving. Drunk driving, which has been one of the leading causes of fatal accidents for years, caused about 2,700 teen deaths per year according to the research. Although the dangers of drunk driving are abundantly clear to most people, many appear to be unaware of how dangerous texting and driving can be.According to the recent study, more than 3,000 teens die every year from texting-related auto accidents and another 300,000 teenagers are injured in texting accidents. With such a large amount of victims, texting while driving must be common among teens. But how common is it?
According the Cohen researchers, 49 percent of teen boys admitted to texting while driving. Girls did not fare much better, with 45 percent admitting to this dangerous activity.
Source: Newsday, “Study: Texting while driving now leading cause of death for teen drivers,” Delthia Ricks, May 8, 2013
]]>These germs, such as Clostridium difficile, (C-diff) or Methicillin-resistant staf (MSRA) are both dangerous and can lead to sicker patients and medical malpractice cases. They present different problems for cleaning. While C-diff is less of a problem for patient treatment, it is a more significant problem for hospital cleaning staff. Any rooms and surfaces infected with C-diff need to be "intensively" cleaned with bleach according to the Centers for Disease Control, and it can survive on equipment, door handles and bed rails for days.
]]> One solution is the introduction of high technology machines that can use ultraviolet light or chemical sprays to attempt to fill in the gaps that human cleaning might miss.These machines come with high price tags, some at over $125,000, and some hospitals that have been using them report improved infection rates. If they are effective, they could help reduce the number of hospital deaths related to infections. C-diff causes an estimated 14,000 deaths every year.
To make real gains, hospital need to see a change in culture, where "routine" cleaning is viewed as part of the overall strategy of preventing infections.
Hospitals need better inspections of cleaning, better tracking of the types of infections, where they were found and how the spread, are all necessary for an effective implementation of any program of infection control.
If you have suffered a hospital related infection, contact an attorney to review your facts and to determine if compensation is available for your injuries.
Source: USA Today, "Hospitals see surge of superbug-fighting products," April 29, 2013
]]>Two seconds it the maximum time that the Department of Transportation want drivers to have to take their eyes off the road. They are issuing guidelines recommending that auto manufacturers design their equipment to attempt to limit the distraction that drivers face from the ever-growing array of electronic devices installed in cars. This is to prevent distracted driving car accidents, which in 2011 claimed more than 3,000 lives.
]]> The guidelines involve the use of "secondary" items in cars, including hands-free phones, GPS units, and other internet-enabled devices. These are items that are not essential to the operation of the vehicle, but pose a great risk for distracting the driver. These guidelines do not address the problem of hand-held cellphones and other portable electronic devices. DOT is working on another guideline for those devices, but they have long discouraged use of cellphones by drivers.DOT issued guidelines, instead of mandatory regulations, because of the fluid nature of evolving technologies. The recognized that it formal rules could be obsolete before they were issued and hope manufactures will cooperate and limit the distracting devices in vehicles.
Source: CNN, "'Two second' safety guideline for cars of the future," Mike M. Ahlers, April 24, 2013
]]>When they are driving on a curvy Ozark mountain road, perhaps slick with rain or snow, they do not have the real world experience of feeling the rear end of a vehicle beginning to drift to the side, as they begin a skid. Will they violently try to overcorrect? Or will they fail to take action quickly enough to avoid sliding into the ditch or causing a car accident with another vehicle
]]> Traffic safety researchers have studied issues involving teen drivers for many years and they realize that first few times a new driver goes out alone are the riskiest. They lack the experience necessary to effectively handle driving under conditions that are different from daylight, on dry, straight roads with light traffic, which are often the conditions they practice driving under.Researchers at the University of North Carolina have developed a phone app that allows the setting of goals that can help teen drivers gain a variety of driving experiences. The app works on iPhones and allows them to track their progress. Driving a motor vehicle is a complex activity and this is one place where using a cellphone in a car may help make teen drivers safer.
Source: USA Today, "Honk if you love apps that protect teen drivers," Larry Copeland, April 8, 2013
]]>A recent report has found that these hospitals have a higher mortality rate than other hospitals, and while most hospitals nationwide have seen declines in their mortality rates, these critical access hospitals have seen their rates increase. While the study did not indicate an increase in medical malpractice in these hospitals, the authors concluded that the higher rates of mortality might be due to these hospitals having less sophisticated technology and less access to specialists.
]]> These hospitals also have the issue of dealing with a generally older and frailer clientele, which combined with their lack of some technology, may lead to a higher mortality rate. However, another problem with the critical access designation is that it reduces the oversight they receive.One of the researchers noted that the hospitals within this system are "invisible" because they are not required to submit performance evaluations to Medicare, which means they could be in need of more assistance.
She noted that by creating the separate system, we have "not done patients in these hospitals any favors." Determining when a hospital failed to meet the standard of care it should provide can be a complex question. If you or a family member received substandard care, you should consult with an experienced medical malpractice attorney, to see if you may have a viable case.
Source: Springfield News-Leader, "Death rates rise at remote hospitals," Jordan Rau, USA Today, April 2, 2013
]]>The unusual motor vehicle accident occurred when the SUV accelerated at a high rate of speed across the parking lot of the Target and crashed into the side of the apartment building, causing minor injuries to the resident, but killing the passenger in the SUV. The driver was taken to the hospital and was reported by the News-Leader as being in stable condition.
]]> We are so familiar with cars and trucks, that we sometimes forget that they are always dangerous. Even a compact car, weighing 2,000 lbs, moving at a relatively slow speed in a parking lot can cause severe injuries to a pedestrian, and any vehicle traveling at highway speeds packs the kinetic energy of a small bomb.While we often caution small children not to run out into the street or in a parking lot, we should all take a moment to consider that we never really know the condition of the driver of a car or truck approaching.
They may stop in time, or they could be drunk and run into you at full speed. The driver of this vehicle was 72 years old. Perhaps she had some medical issue that caused the accident. With more elderly drivers on the road every day, it pays to be aware and be cautious.
Source: Springfield News-Leader, "One dead, two injured after car crashed into Springfield apartment building," Jess Rollins, April 5, 2013
]]>This is what is known as an underride collision, a motor vehicle accident where the nose of the passenger car under rides the rear of the trailer, allowing the deck of the trailer to "intrude" into the passenger compartment. This is the type of accident that killed Jayne Mansfield. Underride accidents can leave passengers in a car or small truck with severe and sometimes fatal injuries.
]]> To prevent underride accidents the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) required that semitrailers have underride guards. These guards are designed to prevent a vehicle from sliding under the back of the trailer.While the guards are somewhat effective if a vehicle hits the trailer squarely in the center, they are much less effective if a car strikes only part of the rear of the trailer. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested eight trailers to see how well they performed in offset rear crashes.
The IIHS found only one of the trailers passed their test. They have petitioned NHTSA to strengthen the requirements for underride guards, but NHTSA has not responded to their request.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "New crash tests: Underride guards on most big rigs leave passenger vehicle occupants at risk in certain crashes," March 14, 2013
]]>One of the other drivers was taken to the hospital, but the news story does not describe what injuries were suffered by that person. Emergency personnel responded to the accident, which resulted in the southbound lane being blocked. Fatal motor vehicle accidents are always tragic, but in addition to the tragic death of one person, more often than not, they result in severe injuries to other vehicle occupants.
]]> Perhaps the driver eyesight, at age 84, may not have been as good as it once was, or perhaps the sun was in her eyes, or possibly, she was distracted by a cellphone. We may never know, but for drivers injured in any car accident or crash, the costs of the accident may last a lifetime.An injured driver or passenger may face numerous surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, drugs and long-term healthcare expenses. The economic costs of car accidents for medical expenses and lost productivity have been calculated by the Centers for Disease Control at nearly $100 billion every year. They also note more than 2 million people need to visit the emergency room as a result of car accidents.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact an attorney who can help you obtain compensation for your injuries.
Source: KY3.com, "Woman dies in three-vehicle crash south of Springfield," Gene Hartley, March 20, 2013
]]>Another teacher yelled at him and he realized the driver had slumped over on the steering wheel. He thought he had fallen asleep, but was unable to rouse him. The band director was able to take the wheel, steer the bus and apply the brakes to safely bring it to a stop, preventing a motor vehicle accident or the bus from running off the road.
]]> The driver appeared to have passed out due to a medical condition, but it was unclear from the report what had caused him to lose consciousness. It was very fortunate, as in the last few months there have been numerous fatal bus accidents.News today from South Africa reports of 24 deaths in a bus accident apparently caused by the bus driver losing control and running off the road. On Tuesday of this week, a bus crashed carrying a lacrosse team from a small Vermont college after it was struck by a car that spun out on a wet interstate in New York. The driver of the car was severely injured and the passenger was killed in the car accident.
These accidents serve as a reminder to always be alert when on the highway. You never know when another driver is drunk, distracted, reckless or incapacitated by a medical condition.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Parkway North band director saves bus of students after driver passes out," Jessica Bock, March 15, 2013
]]>It is natural to assume if one test is good, then two tests must be better. However, the medical evidence does not support this conclusion. Research has shown that some of the duplication is ineffective or unnecessary. It drives up the cost of healthcare by using the limited resources of the system. It also increases the risk of medical malpractice by leading "to worse outcomes or false positives."
]]> The ABIM Foundation created a list of 45 procedures that were overused in April of 2012 and this week added another 90. The initiative, called Choosing Wisely is designed to remind doctors to not just order another test or procedure when there really is no necessity.The program is funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, president and CEO of the foundation said, "Reducing the overuse of health care resources is a critical part of improving the quality of health care in America."
One problem is the financial incentive; tests and procedures that are more expensive may have more to do with the doctor or hospital's bottom line than the patient's medical condition. Overuse of unnecessary procedures do little to help patient care.
Source: American Medical News, "Campaign to fight unneeded tests targets "more is better" mindset," Kevin B. O'Reilly, March 4, 2013
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