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Drowsy Drivers Cause Virginia Crashes
Countless lives have been affected by drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Because of the busy lives we lead, we tend to think of these kinds of accidents as unavoidable. After all, we can't control how long a driver spent at work before going home, or how much sleep he got last night, right?
Understanding Drowsy Driving
The problem is, drowsy driving is not simply "falling asleep at the wheel." It is actually any amount of fatigue that can affect the driver's performance or reaction time. A tired driver's reactions can be impaired far before they lose consciousness-and usually before they realize their driving has been affected.
Some facts you may not know about drowsy driving in Virginia:
- Studies have shown that a driver can exhibit potentially dangerous levels of fatigue in as little as 80 minutes.
- Due to the numbing effects of road hypnosis and lack of sunlight, the number of drowsy drivers at night can be 10 times as many as those on the road during the day.
Birth Trauma Linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
"Stop staring at the baby. She's okay, she's just asleep."
"Calm down. The doctor said she's fine, everything looks normal"
"You don't have to constantly hold her while she's sleeping, just put her in the crib. She'll be fine."
As a new parent, how many times have you heard similar things from your friends, family or even your significant other? And how many times have you completely ignored them because you're convinced something horrible may happen?
When you have a baby, your protective instincts immediately switch on, making it very easy to become crazily overprotective-or, at least, that's how others may perceive you to be. However, this instinct may not be unjustified. In 2013, over 3,000 babies died of sudden infant death syndrome, making SIDS the top cause of infant mortality. But although the name suggests that the cause of death is sudden and doesn't have a particular reason for occurring, new research shows that the syndrome may actually have several contributing factors besides environmental suffocation.
Should You Blame Your Fairfax Doctor For Problems During Delivery?
Giving birth is one of the most wonderful experiences a woman can have. It is also the scariest. Although women give birth everyday to perfectly healthy babies with no complications, there are occasions where problems arise during delivery that-if not handled correctly and immediately by your doctor-can affect the health of your child.
Common Birth Injuries
The most urgent problems that your doctor must address are any complications limiting oxygen to your baby. These include:
- Cervical or uterine tears
- A compressed or prolapsed umbilical cord
- Abnormal fetal positioning
- A prolonged delivery
If these complications present themselves, your physician has to act immediately in order to deliver the baby as quickly and safely as possible to avoid serious injury, such as hypoxia. If your doctor hesitates for too long or misdiagnoses the complication, it can result in your child developing serious injuries or disorders. In addition to diagnosing the issue, your doctor must also take special care in how he decides to deliver the distressed baby, as this too can cause injuries. Assisted childbirth (including the use of forceps or vacuum suction), caesarean surgery, and natural childbirth can all increase the risk of injury to both the distressed child as well as the mother.
Understanding Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is one of the most vital parts of the body. Connected to the base of the brain, the spinal cord contains nerves that carry messages to and from the brain and body. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS), which works together with the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to control motor functions (both autonomic and conscious actions) and provide for sensory information. When damage occurs to the spinal cord, the results are never good. However, some injuries sustained may be more permanent than others.
In this article, an explanation of the causes and effects of a complete spinal cord injury will be presented. We will also discuss who is at risk for complete spinal cord injuries.
Understanding the Spinal Cord
There are three main parts of the spine: the bones that protect the spinal cord; the spinal cord itself, which is made up of a column of nerves that run from the brain down the back; and, finally, the discs, which provide cushion between the spinal cord and the vertebrae.
Northern Virginia City Attempts To Decrease Bus Related Accidents
Falls Church, Virginia, is set to become the first city in northern Virginia to ticket drivers for passing a stopped school bus. In an informal study, the school bus drivers were asked to count how many cars passed their bus while it was stopped. In one day, the violations were over 60. By unanimous vote, the city council voted to have video cameras installed on all of their school buses that would turn on when the buses stop to let children on or off.
Each year, students are injured by drivers that are distracted or not paying attention when a school bus stops. The Falls Church council hopes that the new ordinance changes the behavior of drivers around school buses. With students preparing to go back to school, educators and lawmakers are reminding drivers about safety in the school zone.
If you are a driver:
- Stop when you see a school bus with flashing lights. Drivers who fail to stop when a school bus stops can be charged with a misdemeanor and fined or jailed. If the driver causes an injury or death, the driver can be charged with a felony.
Are Some Virginia Doctors Wrongly Prescribing And Over Medicating
A new study discovered that over 60 percent of doctors are using antibiotics that are far too strong for the infection they are treating. Additionally, many antibiotics are prescribed for infections that are not bacterial in nature so the antibiotic cannot actually treat the virus.
The study, published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy focused on 238,000 adults that visited a doctor through medical offices, outpatient clinics and emergency rooms over a two-year period. They found that "broad spectrum" drugs accounted for 61 percent of all antibiotic prescriptions. The broad spectrum drugs are capable of killing a number of different types of bacteria, but also come with a host of unpleasant side effects on their own.
While the study analyzed adults, researchers found the same to be true for children. Study senior author, Dr. Adam Hersh, infectious disease expert and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine, said, "Many antibiotics prescribed for children are unnecessary, particularly for conditions caused by viruses, where antibiotics don't help at all. Even when an antibiotic is indicated, such as for strep throat or ear infection, physicians often prescribe an antibiotic such as a Z-Pak, which can be less effective than amoxicillin."
How Semis Cause Accidents at Intersections in Virginia
It's not just high-speed accidents that cause injuries. Trucks carrying heavy loads can cause irreparable damage at speeds as low as 10 mph-which is usually the case on city streets.
Common Types of Intersection Accidents
A few types of Virginia truck accidents that are more likely at an intersection:
- Rear-end accidents, also called under-ride accidents, occur when a driver slams into the back of a semi, wedging the front end of his car under the trailer. These are more likely to occur when a truck suddenly slams on its brakes, such as at a red light or due to slowed traffic.
- Head-on collision. Two-way traffic on city streets may be slower, but it also lacks the safety of concrete barriers. If a truck loses control or tries to go around another motorist, he can likely hit a car in the opposite lane head-on.
- Rollover accidents. If a truck collides with the side of a smaller vehicle, the car may tip over and spin into a roll. Due to the weight and size of the truck, these rollovers cause much more damage than normal rollovers, since they tend to roll longer and farther from the force of impact.
How An Insurance Adjuster Can Ruin Your Virginia Car Accident Case
After a car accident in Virginia, you may still be picking up the pieces when you hear from an insurance adjuster. Often, accident victims assume that insurance adjusters are required to be on their side or remain unbiased. Unfortunately this is not always true. Insurance adjusters can actually end up harming your accident case.
Sneaky Insurance Adjuster Tricks
Here are a few ways that an insurance adjuster can ruin your Virginia accident claim:
- An insurance adjuster's job is to settle the claim quickly and for the least amount of money possible.
- By moving quickly, adjusters do not allow time for you to speak with a lawyer.
- Adjusters know that by settling quickly, the extent of your injuries may not be known.
- Adjusters can manipulate you into making statements that could harm your case.
- Your own insurance adjuster can influence you to use the company's preferred auto repair shop or their physicians. These preferred businesses do not always have your best interest in mind. They work with the insurance companies.
The Danger Behind Safe Drugs In Virginia
You may be watching your favorite program and then during a commercial break, you see it: Another announcement about a bad drug that was supposed to be helpful but only ended up causing harm. So, why is this happening? Aren't drugs supposed to treat and cure diseases? Don't drug companies and doctors care about the patients?
Understand Exactly What "Safe" Means To The FDA and Drug Companies
Unfortunately, there are a few reasons why drugs are released to the public and then later found to be dangerous.
- The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) cannot guarantee that any drug is completely safe. They use the information used from the drug company itself. They also deem a drug "safe" not harmless. The term of safe just means that the benefit should outweigh the risks.
- Drug companies sometimes rush a drug through the approval process in order to get it on the market without studying the long-term effects or using a large enough sample study population.
What to Do if Your Child Suffers a Concussion at a Virginia School
It is the call every parent fears. The school nurse, principal, coach or teacher is one the phone telling you that your child has sustained a head injury. The full extent of your child's injuries may not be known yet, but you know that your child needs to see a doctor quickly. You drop everything and take your child to the doctor who diagnoses a concussion. Now what? What should you tell the school so that you and your child's educators can work together for the benefit of your son or daughter?
Communication With the School Is Important to Your Child's Recovery
After you get your child immediate medical attention, it is important to communicate with the school about your child's recovery. Specifically, it is important to:
- Keep your child out of play. Your child may not be able to participate in recess, physical education class, or sports until he or she has a doctor's clearance.
- Talk to the school about your child's attendance. Your child's ability to attend class may be limited. You may need to work with the school regarding how your child will make up work that is missed during his or her recovery period.
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.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
