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Common Distracted Driving Behaviors That Lead To Trucking Accidents With Other Vehicles
Distracted driving is a huge concern on our roadways and the cause of many traffic accidents. If you look at the car next to you, you may find that the driver sharing the road with you is looking at his or her cell phone or distracted by other things inside or outside of the vehicle. Now, imagine if that driver is a trucker hauling heavy cargo down the road. Considering that tractor trailers can weigh 80,000 pounds and cause a lot of damage in a crash, this is a scary thought.
Unfortunately, distracted driving is a big issue among all drivers-including truck drivers. And while all drivers need to be mindful of their behavior behind the wheel, it is especially critical that truckers driving huge commercial vehicles are even more careful and safe at the wheel.
Common Ways Truck Drivers Get Distracted
When truck drivers take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off of driving-even for a few seconds-it is considered distracted driving and the cause of many serious crashes that result in permanent injuries and fatalities. Sadly, trucking accidents involving distracted truckers are common incidents due to the following truck driver behaviors:
What You Don’t Know About Airbags Could Hurt You
You've had many close calls on your daily commute into DC: vehicles cutting you off, drivers slamming on their brakes in front of you, texters swerving into your lane. Fortunately, you've been good about avoiding crashes. Last week, however, that all changed.
When you left your home it was bright and sunny. An hour later as you merged onto the GW Parkway, the sky opened and buckets of rain poured on you and other motorists traveling on the road. The car next to you hydroplaned, lost control, and ended up crashing right into you.
Are Your Airbags as Safe as You Think They Are?
Fortunately, your airbags deployed at the moment of impact and prevented your head from hitting the steering wheel. However, they caused other injuries to you and your passenger. Airbags commonly leave traces of their presence in the form of potentially serious injuries, including:
- Bruises and lacerations. Airbags deploy at high speeds that can cause damage to the skin upon impact. Consequently, bruises and cuts on the face, neck, chest, and upper extremities are quite possible. Additionally, accident victims can also experience lacerations to veins, arteries, and lungs, as well as the heart, brain stem, spleen, and liver.
General Motor Vehicle Recall: Are You In Danger?
When motorists purchase vehicles, they expect they are crafted by experts who have the occupants' safety in mind. Although a majority of vehicles are made with excellent care, some have flaws that put the lives of drivers and passengers in danger.
Recently, General Motors issued a recall on certain models because of faulty ignition switches. As of December 2014, around one million vehicles were still on the road with potentially dangerous parts.
What the Recall Means for You
If you own a vehicle that contains a recalled part, you likely aren't fully protected if you find yourself involved in an accident. The ignition switches that are in question are related to the airbags. If your vehicle still has a faulty switch, your airbags may not deploy in the event of an accident. Airbags can protect your head and neck if you are involved in a collision. You may sustain serious injuries if the airbags don't do what they are supposed to. Not sure if your vehicle was included in the recall? The following vehicles may contain the faulty switches:
Symptoms That Your Baby Is Suffering From Shoulder Nerve Damage
Your baby boy turns one month old tomorrow, and you can't believe how big he's gotten already. When he was born, he was only 6.8 pounds and now he's almost 10 pounds. He's above his age percentile in everything. He's obviously an overachiever, but you wouldn't change anything about him, except one thing: his arm.
When he was being delivered, your doctor told you that he was abnormally situated in the birth canal. As a result, he had to coax your baby boy's head to one side in order to negotiate his shoulders out. This "coaxing" led to what the doctor called a "pulled muscle" in your baby's neck. He swore that although you may see signs of immobility in your son's arm, it would heal in no time.
He was wrong!
After a full month, your son can barely lift his left arm and constantly holds it to his chest. Your heart breaks every morning as you try to ease him into his onesie because he cries when you touch his shoulder. He gets frustrated when he can't grab your shirt when you breastfeed him on the left.
Post-Sepsis Syndrome And Other Long-Term Effects Of Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially fatal complication of an infection. If a doctor's or hospital's mistake led to an infection that developed into sepsis, you may have a long recovery ahead of you. You may even experience permanent health issues as a result. We discuss the possible long-term effects of sepsis caused by medical malpractice.
Although some people make a full recovery from sepsis, others are not that fortunate and are left with life-changing challenges. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis affects over one million people each year. If you or a loved one is among them, read on to learn about possible complications.
What Life May Be Like in the First Days After Sepsis
Because sepsis is a life-threatening infection that attacks your tissues and organs, people with severe sepsis begin their recoveries in the intensive care unit (ICU). Once patients are stabilized with IV antibiotics and other medications, they will begin their slow journeys toward recovery. If the patient has been in a medically induced coma, recovery may include learning the basics from sitting up and standing up to walking. The first goal is to get you to the functioning level that you were at prior to sepsis, or as close as possible. It will feel like you are physically doing a lot, and you will get tired easily. Remember to take it slow, and that resting is important during this time.
What Type Of Damages Are Available In A Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
When a person dies as a result of someone else's negligence-especially a person who contributes to the family's bottom line like a bread winner or a stay-at-home mom-just compensation needs to be pursued. When the loss of a family member results in a loss of income or sudden expenses on top of funeral expenses and medical bills, a family can become financially desperate very quickly. That is why it is critical that these families know the types of damages they can collect through a wrongful death claim.
Types of Wrongful Death Damages
Any family who has lost a loved one as a result of medical malpractice or another type of wrongful action should pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in order to collect for the following:
- Funeral expenses. When someone dies, a family has to pay for the person's funeral and burial. Unfortunately, funeral expenses are costly, which is why it is critical that families who have lost loved ones due to medical malpractice need to collect for these types of damages.
What You Need to Know About Your Newborn’s Broken Clavicle
Having a baby is an emotional experience without parallel. For all the months of your pregnancy, you worked to keep your little one safe and healthy. All of that hard work culminated on delivery day when you finally got to see your precious child. Sadly, for some, the joys of childbirth are tempered by an injured newborn. While many medical professionals in Virginia call them "common," it makes them no less frightening.
Clavicle Injuries Most Common Among Newborns
Among the most common injuries is a newborn clavicle (also called a collarbone) fracture. This injury typically occurs during the more difficult or strenuous childbirths. As the baby exits the birth canal, one or both shoulders can become stopped or "stuck" at the mother's pubic bone. The physician applies force to remove the baby and, as he pulls, the force can break the clavicle. Doctors can use their own hands, forceps, or a vacuum to assist the baby through delivery.
Signs and Symptoms of a Clavicle Fracture
When Hemorrhaging Causes Disabling Injuries, Medical Malpractice May Be To Blame
When patients undergo a surgical procedure, they know they will likely lose some blood. After all, bleeding is quite normal when a patient has to be cut open. However, surgeons are there to minimize the bleeding and monitor the blood loss. Unfortunately, sometimes medical negligence occurs and too much blood is lost, which can result in adverse health effects for patients.
While some heavy bleeding during or after surgery can be stopped and treated, sometimes bleeding isn't obvious immediately following a surgery, which is why patients should be monitored in a recovery room following any surgical procedure. For example, a surgeon may have accidentally nicked an organ and didn't notice it before he closed the patient up, resulting in internal bleeding. Or a doctor or nurse may have failed to monitor the patient's medication to ensure the patient wasn't taking something that would prevent blood clotting.
When a nurse fails to monitor a patient closely for blood loss or a doctor fails to notice when postoperative hemorrhaging occurs, a patient can suffer life-threatening complications.
What Car Accident Injuries Really Cost Us
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new information about the cost of non-fatal accidents in the United States. According to the CDC, auto accidents which resulted in injury (but not death) cost Americans the following in 2012:
- One million days in the hospital
- $18 billion in lifetime medical costs
- $33 billion in lifetime work or income lost
In total, 2.5 million people went to emergency rooms and about 200,000 people were hospitalized after car crashes in 2012. On average, each one of these emergency room visits cost the victim about $3,300 and each hospitalization cost about $57,000.
But What About You?
The aggregate numbers provided by the government are startling and the average numbers are concerning, but they have little direct impact on your life if you have been injured in a car crash. If you have been hurt, you need to know more about what the accident could cost you specifically and about your unique recovery.
How Serious Accidents Affect Mental Health
Traumatic events happen every day, from being in a serious car accident to being assaulted. After a terrifying incident, it is natural to be upset and afraid; however, it isn't normal to feel these emotions months later. When a traumatic event continually impacts a person's mood, feelings, thoughts, and ability to function on a daily basis, a person may be suffering from a mental or emotional illness.
Mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can adversely affect every aspect of a person's life. While mental illness can be brought about by environmental factors, people involved in traumatic events are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder than any other disorder.
PTSD occurs when people live through a frightening or dangerous event that can involve serious injuries or death. In a car accident or other motor vehicle crash, for example, the driver, passenger, pedestrian, or even observer can be affected psychologically-especially if someone witnessed another person die. Although it is a natural response to feel distraught and fearful after a scary or shocking incident, PTSD sufferers don't recover from these emotions.
703-591-0067
10513 Judicial Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030
703-591-0067
From our office in Fairfax, Shevlin Smith, P.C. serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., including Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Dale City, Fair Oaks, Leesburg, Manassas, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, and Woodbridge, as well as Fairfax County, Arlington County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County.
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