Little Rock Personal Injury Lawyer

Texting Driver Causes Accident In Little Rock

Chrissie Cole — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:35:00 GMT

Robert Biggerstaff was on his way home from work like every other day when his vehicle was T-boned by a 21-year-old driver that admitted to police he was sending texts while driving.

The accident happened last month when the young driver ran a red light on Fort Smith Road. Biggerstafff was left pinned in his truck. He suffered several broken bones, a head injury and a tear in his spleen.

“My uncle was very lucky to walk away from this accident,” said Charly Wesley, Biggerstaff’s niece.

The insurance company is allowing Biggerstaff to keep his vehicle, which his niece said she hopes can be used as a learning tool.

Wesley hopes to partner with a local nonprofit to put together an awareness program to go to schools.

The man responsible for the accident that injured Biggerstaff faces several charges including failure to yield and careless driving.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Raptiva Linked To Deaths

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:08:00 GMT

The FDA has issued a public health advisory concerning progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and the psoriasis drug efalizumab (Raptiva).

PML is a rare but serious progressive neurologic disorder caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. Patients with a severely compromised immune system are most at risk from suffering from an irreversible brain function and death. No treatment exists for PML.

There have been three reported deaths linked to PML. A fourth case is being looked at as well.

Patients diagnosed with psoriasis suffer from inflamed, red, scaly lesions, caused when affected skin cells reproduce faster than normal.

The product labeling for Raptiva was revised in October 2008 to include a boxed warning the risks of life-threatening infections, including PML.

The FDA advises health care professionals to carefully monitor patients on Raptiva, as well as those that may have discontinued use, for any signs or symptoms of the disease.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Auto Insurance Limits

Frank Bailey — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:25:10 GMT

We recently learned a person can purchase up to $100,000 in "PIP" or "med pay" coverage with your auto insurance. What a bargin. Mine only costs $57 per year for two vehicles. Everyone should get this coverage. Most people only have $5,000. That is just not enough!

This kind of insurance will pay your medical bills if you are hurt in an automobile wreck, even if it is your fault. Insurance companies don't want you to know about this.

Do it now. Call your agent and ask for more PIP coverage.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Tractor-trailer Rig Causes Death

Frank Bailey — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:01:41 GMT

Just when I think Mountain Home, Arkansas is a safe place to live, reality strikes. Yesterday on Highway 62-412 about twenty five miles west of Mountain Home near the small town of Viola a man was suddenly faced with an emergency situation. An 18 Wheeler overturned in front of him. Caleb Lard of Mountain Home did everything he could in the emergency situation to avoid hitting the three large rolls of rubber from the 18 Wheeler that blocked his path.
A utility pole on the side of the highway took the life of Caleb's passenger through no fault of Caleb according to the news reports.

Who is to blame? According to news reports, charges are pending against Roy Choate of Harrison, the driver of the Kenworth tractor that went out of control in a curve.

Living in Mountain Home, I drive on these curvy roads every day. But, do I expect a semi to lose control and overturn in front of me? Of course not.

We all need to take responsibility and drive cautiously, but sometimes there is nothing that can be done, as in a situation such as this when a semi rolls in front of you.

Also reported injured were 26 year old Chasity D Lawing of Mountain Home and two year old Ethan Pucket also of Mountain Home. It is not clear from the early reports how they were injured.

Developing…

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Confusing Allergy Warnings May Do More Harm Than Good

Ryan Scott — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:13:01 GMT

Do the phrases "may contain traces of" or "made in the same factory as" help you decide if the food is safe for your allergy?

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) these warnings may be hurting consumers more than they are helping. Starting in 2006, a U.S. law required that foods disclose in plain language when they intentionally contain highly allergenic ingredients such as peanuts or dairy. However, left out of the law are accidental-allergy warnings -- for foods that might become contaminated because they were made in the same factory, or on the same machines, as allergen-containing products.

The FDA's own surveys found the allergic pay more attention to warnings that a food "may contain" an allergen than those "made in the same factory" labels. Yet when University of Nebraska researchers tested nearly 200 products with various accidental-peanut warnings, they found that peanuts were more likely to have sneaked into products labeled "made in the same facility."

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, an influential consumer group, counts at least 30 different ways that the warnings are worded — and consumers too often falsely assume that one food is riskier than another because its label sounds scarier.

It seems as though many manufacturers would rather attempt to avoid liability using broad and vague labeling, than implement and stand behind procedures that would make such labeling unnecessary.

So, what to do?

In Canada, health officials have recommended foods bear one of two labels: "May contain X allergen" or "Not suitable for consumption by persons with an allergy to X." By limiting the manufacturer's options to one of the two, at least, the company will be forced to take responsibility for ensuring their product does not contain any allergen, or label the product and face the consequences at the cash register.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ryan Scott

Defective Valve Stems From China

Frank Bailey — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:25:08 GMT

Yet another Chinese import causes problems for Americans. The latest defective products are valve stems. Valve stems are the little black protrusions that are on the inside of each wheel and allow the tire to be inflated with air.

If a valve stem cracks, the air in the tire can suddenly escape, similar to a blow out, and the vehicle can go out of control and crash. The valves that are defective were sold between September 2006 and June 2007. There are some 30 million of these valve stems that were manufactured by Topseal, a subsidiary of Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corp. The valves were distributed by Dill Air Controls, an Oxford North Carolina, company.

Dill has issued a technical bulletin to its customers warning retailers to inspect the valves when the customers come in for regular service.

At this time the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the problem.

During these hot summer months, I expect to see more of these failures as the heat from the pavement causes the rubber to decay faster.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Do I Need An Attorney

Frank Bailey — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:01:16 GMT

Occasionally someone will ask me if they need an attorney for one thing or another. I inquire a little about their problem and usually respond that, “Yes they should consult with an attorney before signing anything.” Why do I do that?

In my experience, attorneys don’t normally charge for an initial consultation. It is like a store that doesn’t charge for you to go in and try on shoes to see if you like them, or if they fit. Attorneys are the same way. The initial consultation is to see if you need an attorney, if you like the attorney you are consulting with, and if the attorney is willing to undertake your case.

In our practice, we have become very selective in the cases we accept. It doesn’t do us any good to take a case where there is little chance of doing the client any good. In cases where neighbors are fighting over a boundary line, or parents fighting over child visitation or the like, we really can’t do much good for the client.

On the other hand, attorneys usually can be very helpful in the case of an auto accident, a case involving a dangerous drug or product, or a medical malpractice case. In fact, in most of those types of cases, an attorney is absolutely necessary to get the best result.

In choosing an attorney, word of mouth is good. Other factors to consider are board certification, years of experience, and interest in your case. Most attorneys are willing to discuss their experience and qualifications. If they are hesitant to discuss those types of issues, look somewhere else.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Senate Blocks Bill on Pilot Truck Program

Drew Dixon — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:44:52 GMT

Members of the Senate voted and blocked a truck program that would have given 100 Mexican truck carriers an opportunity to have 500 trucks cross the border and transport goods on U.S. Highways.

Since its inception in 1994, The North American Free Trade Agreement has given supporters of free trade the idea of a pilot program involving Mexican truck carriers. In fact, last year the Bush administration was fully committed to moving forward with a pilot test program that would have allowed Mexican trucks to operate freely across the U.S. until Congress cut off the necessary funding for the implementation of the program in December.

In a further effort to thwart the program, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 20-9 to block the pilot program last week, making it two times in a row the program has been contested.

Citing a concern for highway safety and U.S. jobs, opponents of the program believe there are insufficient safeguards in place to ensure Mexican trucks are as safe as U.S. carriers. The Department of Transportation may find it impossible to enforce their rules and regulations on companies in Mexico. Currently, Mexican trucks have to stop at a border buffer zone and transport their loads onto U.S. carrier trucks.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons by Alex Covarrubias

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Drew Dixon

Basic Head Injury Information

Frank Bailey — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:42:06 GMT

In my experience brain injuries are the most undiagnosed injuries Americans suffer. Car wrecks, motorcycle wrecks, and bicycle wrecks account for at least half of all TBIs and the largest portion of TBI in people under age 75. For those people aged 75 and older falls cause the majority of TBIs.

Why are brain injuries so undiagnosed in emergency rooms? Emergency rooms are concerned with saving lives and treating obvious injuries. Brain injuries are not always apparent when a person has just been in a wreck. Physicians are focused on broken bones, and more obvious injuries. Unless emergency room physicians are looking for brain injury, the brain injury may slip through the cracks.

People should have a basic understanding of the most common symptoms. If there is a change in the way you think, I call it fuzzy thinking, or if you have trouble finding words when you talk, these are common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. Other symptoms are dizziness, headaches, and changes in temperament.

Traumatic brain injury is a frequent cause of major long-term disability unless treated. Outcome for patients with head injury depends heavily on the cause. For example, in the US, patients with TBIs from falls have an 89% survival rate, while only 9% of patients with firearm-related TBIs survive.

Car manufacturers have helped reduce the number of brain injuries by making cars safer, but they still have a long way to go to become completely safe. Motorcycle helmets help, but if a rider lands on his head, the helmet may not prevent a brain injury even though it may have saved the rider’s life.

If you or a family member have been in a serious wreck, I suggest you be examined by a trained medical care provider to rule out brain injury, or to get treatment.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Bicycle Safety Tips

Drew Dixon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:05:09 GMT

When most people think of bicycle safety they think that wearing a helmet is sufficient. However, bike riders must also consider the danger of riding on roads prone to cars and trucks. With more and more people turning to bikes as the cost of gas increases, many cities like Little Rock continue to construct bike trails. However, there are places without crosswalks where people are expected to cross multiple lanes of traffic to continue on the trails. Therefore, it is important to follow these safety tips to ensure a safe ride.

• Try to keep your bike in good shape.

• Always let cars and people go first.
• Slow down and check traffic at all corners.
• Keep both hands on the handle bars except when doing turn signals.
• Walk across busy streets.
• Stay off busy streets.
And always remember to wear a helmet because most bike crashes result in injuries to the head. For more information on bicycle safety check out http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/bike_safety.html.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Drew Dixon