Colorado Springs Personal Injury Blog
Trucking Safety Organizations Urge Drivers to Avoid Speeding
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have teamed up to urge drivers of both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks and buses to avoid speeding in order to reduce the risks of serious or deadly crashes, according to a recent article in Land Line Magazine, a trucking trade journal.
The recent concerns are driven by the results of a study by the CVSA of speeding tickets issued in October 2012. The study found that the number of tickets issued to commercial vehicle drivers had increased 2.8 percent over the previous year, and the number of tickets issued to passenger vehicle drivers had increased 10 percent.
Overall, passenger vehicle drivers received half of all speeding tickets in the U.S. in the past year, while commercial drivers received 19.6 percent of tickets. Failure to use a seat belt and to obey a traffic control sign or signal were also common reasons police stopped drivers during the study, which involved over 35,000 vehicles, according to the CVSA.
FMCSA Imposes New Health Requirements for Truck Drivers
Beginning in 2014, professional commercial drivers of trucks and buses will have to meet new, more stringent health examination requirements, according to a recent article from The Associated Press.
The medical examination requirements that will take effect in 2014 are designed to enhance rules already enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Currently, truck drivers are required to have a medical examination once every two years in order to maintain their Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL). Drivers are referred for follow-up care if they have conditions or risk factors that might impair their driving, such as sleep apnea.
What Can I Expect After a Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) may have lingering effects that last for months, years, or even the rest of an injured person’s life.
The long-term consequences of a TBI depend on the severity of the injury and what part of the brain was injured, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some of the more common long-term symptoms suffered by TBI patients include:
- Problems with thinking, including memory and concentration;
- Issues with sensation, like experiencing garbled or confusing touch, taste, and smell sensations;
- Difficulty with language, including communication, expressing thoughts or feelings, and understanding written or spoken messages from others; and
- Problems with emotions, such as irritability, depression, anxiety, or personality changes.
Make the Season Bright, Not Burned: Tips for Preventing Holiday Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are notoriously dangerous and painful, and can even be deadly. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1.1 million burn injuries in the U.S. each year require emergency medical care, and about 4,500 are fatal.
The holidays often pose an increased risk of fire or burn injuries, especially when candles, holiday lights, and extra cooking and baking become part of the festivities. Here are some simple ways you can help reduce the risk of a burn injury hurting you or someone you love this season:
Motorcycle Accidents Cost U.S. Riders Billions
Tens of thousands of motorcyclists across the U.S. are injured or killed in crashes each year, imposing a high personal and financial cost on bikers and their families. Many experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in Colorado and other states are dedicated to helping families deal with many of these costs, which topped $16 billion in 2010.
Winter Snow and Ice Are a Major Source of Colorado Slip and Fall Injuries
Winter is coming, and in Colorado, this means snow and ice, both of which can easily cause slip and fall accidents that result in serious injuries.
According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), about half of all slip and fall injuries are to the lower extremities – the legs, ankles, and feet. Sprains, strains, dislocated joints, and torn muscles or connective tissues are among the most common injuries suffered. Fractures are also common, as are injuries to the arms and hands.
During winter, slip and fall accidents can occur not only on icy or snowy sidewalks outdoors, but also on surfaces indoors. Snow that gets tracked in on people’s shoes and boots can easily melt, leaving puddles that pose slippery hazards to those in the area.
Six Signs You’re Too Tired to Drive
Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving, according to a study by the AAA Foundation. However, as many as 10 percent of drivers actually take the risk of drowsy driving at least once per week, and 33 percent have done so in the past month. This is despite the fact that 96 percent of drivers who answered a AAA Foundation survey about drowsy driving agreed that it’s dangerous to drive when you’re sleepy.
How do you know if you’re too drowsy to drive? Here are six signs it’s not safe to be behind the wheel, courtesy of the National Sleep Foundation:
How to Properly Use a Seat Belt While Pregnant
Every driver and passenger should wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), including those who are pregnant. The NHTSA provides tips on how best to use your seat belt when you’re pregnant, including the following:
- Always wear your seat belt. Even if your car has air bags, wearing a seat belt is necessary to ensure the air bags do the job they’re designed to do in a crash. Wear the shoulder belt across your chest and away from your shoulders, and tuck the lap belt below your pregnant belly so that it sits snugly across your hips and pelvic bone.
- Move your seat. If you’re riding in the front seat while pregnant, move the seat as far back as possible. If you’re driving, put the seat as far back as you can while still reaching the pedals. Aim to keep at least 10 inches between your chest and the steering wheel or dashboard.
- Don’t turn off your air bags. Air bags and seat belts are designed to work together to provide protection in a crash. Most doctors recommend that pregnant women do not turn off the air bags in their vehicles.
Holiday Safety Tips for Colorado Drivers
Many U.S. residents travel to see friends or family during the holidays, and most of them make their trip by car. All this extra traffic increases the risk of a car accident, resulting in more deaths and injuries on Colorado roads than usual. To protect yourself and your family from harm the holidays, consider the following safety tips:
- Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking alcohol or using other drugs. Even some prescription and over-the-counter medications can make you too sleepy or impaired to drive. Instead, plan ahead so that a sober and alert driver is behind the wheel, or find a different way home.
- Plan your trip well in advance. Leave extra time to get to your destination, and get plenty of rest beforehand so that fatigue doesn’t pose an additional challenge.
Understanding Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries
About 1.7 million U.S. residents suffer a traumatic brain injury each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Severe traumatic brain injuries are a contributing factor in over 30 percent of fatal accident injuries. Whether due to a car accident, workplace accident, slip and fall, or other incident, a traumatic brain injury can permanently change a person’s life – or even end it.
Severe traumatic brain injuries are generally sorted into one of two categories: closed and penetrating. Closed traumatic brain injuries cause movement of the brain inside the skull, which leads to injury. Concussions are a well-known type of closed traumatic brain injury. The second type of traumatic brain injury, penetrating injuries, are caused by an object penetrating the skull, such as a bullet or a fragment of metal or glass.