Colorado Springs Personal Injury Blog
Can a Bicycle Helmet Decrease the Risk of Catastrophic Brain Injuries?
Spring is in full swing in Colorado, which means that adults and children alike are heading out onto the roads to enjoy bicycling. Although Colorado does not require bicyclists to wear helmets, choosing a helmet may significantly reduce the risk of a fatal or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in certain accidents.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine examined 235 case studies of patients admitted to emergency rooms with head injuries following a bicycle crash. It compared these head-injury patients to 433 patients who received emergency room care for other bicycle accident injuries.
4 of the Most Annoying Things to Do on a Road Trip
Who doesn’t love road trips? There’s nothing more exhilarating than hopping into the car with your friends and setting off on an adventure. Plus, America is made for this. You can travel from coast to coast using our country’s extensive freeway systems and experience all kinds of cultures and landscapes. New sights, sounds, memories – all of these and more are what make road trips great.
However, road trips are also potential friendship breakers. There’s nothing that tests a relationship more than being stuck with someone inside a cramped space for hours on end. Good times can easily turn sour when everyone has a short fuse.
For Safer Bicycling, Know Your ABCs
Bicycling safely means making yourself visible, always wearing your helmet, and knowing your route before you leave. But it also means making sure that your bicycle is in good condition and ready to go. Looking over your bicycle before you ride takes only a few minutes, and it can save you from a serious accident or injury.
To double-check your bicycle efficiently and thoroughly, keep in mind the “ABC Quick Check” tips from the League of American Bicyclists:
- Air: First, check your tires for damage. Note the recommended air pressure listed on the side of the tire. Check your air pressure in both tires, and inflate them to the listed pressure if they are low.
March is Workplace Eye Safety Awareness Month
The human eye is one of the most delicate organs in the body, yet it is also one of the organs we rely on most heavily. Any number of workplace safety hazards can cause serious damage to one or both eyes, resulting in severe pain, reduced vision, blindness, and other irreversible conditions.
March is Workplace Eye Safety Awareness Month in Colorado and throughout the United States. It’s a good time to learn more about protecting your eyes at work and to practice simple safety habits that can help you keep your vision in its best working order for a long time.
FMCSA Funds Study to Improve Fatigue Rates Among Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently began funding a study to learn more about the best ways to prevent fatigue in truck drivers. Fatigue is a major cause of truck accidents in Colorado and nationwide. In the past, the agency has attempted to address fatigue by requiring drivers to limit their total hours on the road per day and to take regular breaks – but the FMCSA and researchers continue to improve these requirements.
January is One of the Riskiest Months for House Fires
While you’re making your New Year’s resolutions, consider adding “check our household fire safety” to the list.
January is one of the worst months for house fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). While the number-one cause of house fires year-round is still cooking-related accidents, the addition of various heating methods in the winter months further increases the risk of fire. And when temperatures tend to plummet in January, the risk goes up accordingly. Burn injuries can cause severe pain and result in permanent disabilities, as many experienced Colorado Springs injury lawyers have seen.
Fireplaces, wood stoves, chimneys, and space heaters can all pose a fire risk. You can help reduce this risk for yourself and your family by taking a second look at your household’s fire safety rules this January. Here are some places to start:
Study Finds Girls’ Symptoms After Concussion May Differ From Boys
A study of over 9,000 teenage concussion patients published in the journal PLOS ONE recently suggests that, after a concussion, girls may struggle with symptoms that are different from boys’ symptoms – but no less debilitating.
The study surveyed 9,288 students in grades 7 through 12 who had suffered brain injuries, usually while participating in sports. The results showed that girls were more likely to report lingering problems like anxiety and depression, thoughts of suicide, becoming the targets of bullying, and turning to cigarettes or other substances to deal with their symptoms. Meanwhile, boys were more likely to report “acting out” at school and other events, bullying others, and letting their grades drop.
Choosing the Right Type of Rear-Facing Car Seat For Your Child
Rear-facing car seats offer the best protection for infants and toddlers in case of a Colorado car accident. The design of the seat protects the child’s developing head, neck, and spine in a crash, reducing the chances of a brain or spinal cord injury that causes harm.
Currently, there are several different types of rear-facing car seat on the market. Which is best for your child and your family’s needs? Consider these tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and your experienced Colorado Springs car accident attorney:
NHTSA Aims to Make It Easier to Survive a Bus Rollover Crash
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently proposed new regulations aimed at improving passenger survival when a commercial bus rolls over. Rollover accidents are one of the most deadly types of vehicle crash, as many experienced Colorado bus accident attorneys have seen.
The proposed standards would require new buses to pass certain safety tests. When the bus rolls over, for instance, the roof and sides must not collapse so far that they crush passengers. Equipment attached to the roof, like overhead luggage racks, must not come loose from the roof when the bus rolls. And emergency exits must stay closed during a rollover, but remain operable so that passengers can escape a bus after a crash.
Child Severely Injured in Colorado Springs Car Crash
A child was seriously injured after a three-car crash at a Colorado Springs intersection. Fox 21 News reports that the injury crash occurred at the intersection of Astrozon Boulevard and Academy Boulevard. Police said a PT Cruiser was heading south on Academy when its driver ran a red light at Astrozon. The PT Cruiser hit a Dodge Dakota which in turn slammed into a Ford truck. A 6-year-old passenger in the PT Cruiser was injured. His 22-year-old aunt was the driver. Officials say alcohol and drugs may have been factors in this crash. Criminal charges may also be filed.
Street intersection crashes often result in major injuries or even fatalities. Some of the common causes of such accidents include: