THE INJURY LAWYER DIRECTORY BLOG

A new federal law has placed a ban on texting while driving for drivers of commercial trucks and buses. The new law is designed to curb bus accidents and truck accidents caused by distracted driving.

The law will go into effect immediately, levying fines as large as $2,750 on drivers who fail to comply. Truck and bus drivers may also face both criminal and civil penalties if caught texting while driving.

There has been an increasing body of evidence indicating that texting while driving poses a serious danger to other drivers on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has presented research indicating that drivers do not focus on the road for roughly 4.6 out of every 6 seconds they are texting. Furthermore, texting while driving results in a 20 times greater likelihood of getting involved in a truck or auto accident.

Over the past year, the federal government has ramped up their efforts to curb distracted driving. President Obama recently approved an executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving government-owned vehicles, and 19 states have enacted laws making it illegal to text while driving.

It is important to consult an experienced truck accident attorney if you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted truck driver. These claims are very complex, and your lawyer will need a solid understanding of both federal and state trucking regulations in order to help you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries.

If you have a truck accident claim in the Denver, Colorado area, please contact the law offices of Burg, Simpson, Eldredge, Hersh & Jardine, P.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Two Metro workers were hit by a maintenance truck last night while working on a closed track. Both men died in the work-related railroad accident. They were installing safety equipment on the track at the time of the accident.

The DC Metro system has endured a series of horrific accidents over the past year, leading many to question Metro’s safety practices. The most notable incident was a fatal train accident last June taking the lives of eight passengers and a train operator. There were two other fatal Metro accidents in the past year, resulting in the death of two employees.

In November, three employees were injured in a work-related accident when a train on its way back to the rail yard struck a parked train. In December, another accident was narrowly averted when a team of inspectors was almost hit by a train traveling at excessive speeds.

Recently, Metro has taken steps to improve safety by holding a three day workshop with nation-wide track safety experts. However, these efforts were not enough to prevent last night’s fatal workplace accident.

Metro will most likely face two wrongful death lawsuits from the accident victims’ surviving family members.

If you have lost a loved one in a work-related accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to consult an experienced wrongful death lawyer who can help you with your claim.

If you have a wrongful death or workplace injury claim in the Washington, D.C. area, please contact the law offices of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the death of a six-month-old baby from Iowa has led to the recall of more than 635,000 cribs. The recall encompasses 20 models of Dorel Asia cribs with drop sides and fixed front rails.

The recall was initiated due to product defects in the cribs resulting in the drop sides detaching, creating a dangerous situation where young children are likely to get trapped and suffocate. The baby from Iowa strangled to death after getting trapped when the crib’s drop side broke.

Other defective cribs were recalled due to children getting trapped when the slats break. This breakage can occur while the crib is being used, when it is being assembled, or during shipping.

The CPSC and the crib manufacturer have received 31 reports of drop side detachments; six of these incidents resulted in babies getting trapped. They have also received 36 reports of broken slats resulting in two children getting trapped.

These recalled cribs are sold at Kmart, Sears, and Wal-Mart. You can call Dorel Asia at 866-762-2304 to receive a free repair kit or visit their website at www.dorel-asia.com to learn more about recall protocol.

If your child was injured using one of these defective cribs, you should consult an experienced defective product attorney to see if you are eligible to receive compensation for your damages.

If you have a defective product claim in the Denver, Colorado area, please contact the law offices of Burg, Simpson, Eldredge, Hersh & Jardine, P.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed growing concern over Johnson and Johnson’s poor response to reports of defective products, including a variety of over-the-counter drugs. The organization has been very critical of the pharmaceutical company, claiming they have failed to take the appropriate action necessary to correct the problem in a timely manner.

While Johnson and Johnson has been receiving numerous complaints from consumers regarding a moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor associated with several of their products since 2008, the company did not issue a recall until November 2009. Last week, the Tylenol recall has been expanded to include other over-the-counter drugs made by Johnson and Johnson.

Symptoms associated with the defective drugs include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. A spokesperson for Johnson and Johnson has downplayed the issue, claiming that only a small number of complaints were reported and side effects were not serious.

The FDA does not agree with the pharmaceutical manufacturer’s assessment of the issue, arguing that Johnson and Johnson had an obligation to consumers to aggressively investigate and solve the problem in a timely manner.

As a result of Johnson and Johnson’s failure to take appropriate action, the FDA recently issued a warning letter to the company requiring them to report back within 15 days, detailing their efforts to address the situation. Failure to take appropriate action at this point will most likely result in more serious consequences, including legal action.

Currently, the Johnson and Johnson recall includes:

• Junior strength Motrin
• Children’s Tylenol grape meltaway tablets
• Extra strength Tylenol
• Extra strength Tylenol rapid release gelcaps
• Extra strength Tylenol PM geltabs
• Motrin caplets
• Extra strength Rolaids fresh mint tablets
• St. Joseph Aspirin chewable orange tablets
• Benadryl allergy ultratab tablets

Additional recall information can be found at www.mcneilproductrecall.com or by calling 1-888-222-6036.

If you have suffered an injury from taking one of these defective drugs, you should consult an experienced defective drug attorney to see if you are eligible to receive compensation for your damages.

If you have a defective drug claim in the New York City area, please contact the law offices of Trief & Olk today to schedule your initial consultation.

A mother in Massachusetts recently witnessed her teenage son weave across the road while using his cell phone, inspiring her to create a new application which prevents cell phone users from sending and receiving text messages while driving.

The new phone application, called the iZup, starts working once the vehicle reaches speeds exceeding 5 mph, and it remains in effect while at red lights or stuck in traffic. Passengers with the iZup on their phones will not be able to text either.

While it may seem unlikely that drivers will want to give up their ability to use their cell phones on the road, the iZup’s creator believes the application will be very popular among parents with teenage drivers.

The iZup does allow calls to 911 and the cell phone owner’s parents. The software can be downloaded for $5 a month or $50 a year.

Texting while driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents today. Studies have shown it impairs your ability to concentrate on the road more than driving under the influence of alcohol.

If you have been injured in an auto accident caused by a distracted driver texting on a cell phone, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to consult an experienced auto accident attorney who can help you with the filing of your claim.

If you have an auto accident claim in the San Diego area, please contact the auto accident attorneys at the Rubinstein Law Group today to schedule your free initial consultation.

A trip to a local robotics competition ended in tragedy for a group of Hartford, Connecticut high school students when a 16-year-old honor student was killed in a fatal school bus accident on the way to the competition.

The accident occurred after a Volvo, driven by a 16-year-old, collided with the bus on the highway. The bus veered off the road and fell 20 feet into a ravine. No one else, including the driver of the Volvo, was injured in the bus accident.

The cause of the accident has yet to be determined, although police believe that an unsafe lane change may have led to the collision. It is uncertain which vehicle was guilty of the driving infraction. The accident is also under investigation by the DMV; they are reviewing the mechanical records of the school bus.

Several people involved in the accident believe that if the school bus were equipped with seat belts, the student may have survived the accident. Local lawmakers are using this incident to spearhead an initiative to introduce legislation which would make seat belts mandatory for all state school buses.

If your loved one has been injured or suffered a wrongful death in a school bus accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. These claims are highly complex, and you will want to work with an experienced school bus accident attorney who understands the nuances of these cases.

If you have a school bus accident claim in the Washington, D.C. area, please contact the experienced school bus accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by physical force to the head. TBI is most commonly caused by slips and falls. Car accidents are the second leading cause. While TBI is avoidable, accidents do happen. The effects of a TBI can be irreversible and it is vital that medical attention is sought immediately following a potentially damaging physical hit to the head. While one might feel fine, there are sometimes problems occurring within the head that cannot be seen or felt right away. With immediate and proper treatment, the effects of a TBI can be minimized. In some instances a full recovery can be made.

To detect any interior brain damage that may be occurring, trained medical specialists combine their knowledge of the brain with the use of cutting edge technology to test for abnormalities and fully diagnose the severity of the injury. While there are a lot of medical professionals that treat TBI patients, a specialist will provide more resources to the patient; giving them a better chance at a full recovery. CareMeridian is one TBI specialist located throughout California and Arizona, as well as in Las Vegas, Nevada. CareMeridian has a fully experienced staff of medical professionals that provide specialty subacute care and rehabilitation services for TBI patients. Ultimately, their patients have a greater chance at fully recovering.

One other aspect of rehabilitation is dealing with frustration and mental anguish. A car accident can be traumatizing and lasting injuries can be reminders of a horrific experience. It is important that a TBI patient be surrounded by people who care and people who can relate. It is likely that a TBI specialist will have other patients around that can relate to the experience allowing camaraderie to be established. A smaller facility will also allow medical professionals to understand their patients on a personal level by giving them more time to get to know them as an individual, understanding their needs, and befriending them throughout the rehabilitation process. CareMeridian Las Vegas, for instance, has an 18 patient capacity and provides this type of environment. They also strive to establish a strong feeling of hope within each patient and make an outstanding effort to keep family members and friends that are close to the patient involved as much as possible to help promote that feeling of hope and support.

Sully Erna, vocalist for the band Godsmack, has recently settled an auto accident claim with Lindsay Taylor and her family. The 27-year-old woman suffered a severe traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident.

On April 11, 2007, Erna was involved in a three car collision while driving his Hummer H3 in Massachusetts. His vehicle rear-ended a Toyota Camry. Taylor was in the back seat of the Camry and suffered the brain injury in the accident.

Taylor and her family sued Erna, claiming his negligent driving was responsible for the auto accident. Erna unsuccessfully argued that partial blame for the accident should fall on the driver of the Camry, since he rear-ended another vehicle first, causing the collision with Erna’s Hummer.

As part of the settlement, Erna must pay $3.3 million up front. Lindsay Taylor will receive $1 million, while $1.8 million will be used to cover attorneys’ fees. The remainder of the $3.3 million will be distributed to Lindsay’s mother and father.

The multi-million dollar auto accident settlement will also continue to provide Taylor with monthly payments for several decades. She will receive:

• $4,637 per month for five years with a 3% annual increase
• $5,492 per month for the next 14 years with a 3% annual increase
• $9,659 per month after that for the rest of her life with a 3% annual increase

Also, Lindsay’s mother Elaine will begin receiving $710 each month for 20 years starting in 2017. This settlement is pending approval by the courts.

If a negligent driver caused an auto accident resulting in serious injury to you or a loved one, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to consult an experienced auto accident attorney who can help you receive what you rightfully deserve.

If you have an auto accident claim in the Baltimore, Maryland area, please contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at The Yost Legal Group today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Two years ago, Tarika Wilson was shot and killed at her home in Columbus, Ohio. Recently, her family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the city of Columbus for $2.5 million. Wilson, unarmed at the time, was shot by a police officer.

The shooting occurred as part of a SWAT team raid of Wilson’s home. Police officers were searching for her boyfriend, who later pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. One police officer errantly fired three shots into a bedroom containing Wilson and her six children. Wilson was the only person killed during the shooting, although her one-year-old son, who was in her arms at the time, was shot as well. He later had a finger amputated due to the incident.

The officer claimed he believed his life was in danger, even though he could not clearly see into the bedroom to determine who was in the room or whether or not anyone was armed.

Upon approval by a federal judge, the settlement will be placed in a fund to be used for Wilson’s children, who are now being raised by Wilson’s mother and sisters.

The settlement offer was made by the city’s insurance company acting on their behalf. Columbus officials have clearly stated that they still stand behind the actions of the negligent police officer, and that this settlement is not an admission of liability.

If your loved one has died due to the negligent actions of another, you may be entitled to receive compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims are highly complex and time sensitive. Therefore, it is important to consult an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to begin the filing process.

If you have a wrongful death claim in the Columbus, Ohio area, please contact the law offices of Robert W. Kerpsack CO., L.P.A. today to schedule your free initial consultation.