Little Rock Personal Injury Lawyer - Car Accidents

Car Accidents Cause Herniated Disc

Sach Oliver — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:59:35 GMT

Motor vehicle accidents cause herniated disc. A disc is a structure that is found between the spinal vertebral bodies from the neck to the tailbone. Discs serves as cushions and help your spine move. A disc is composed of two parts the central part and the outer part. When someone is a car accident where the back is injured, it is common for them to suffer a herniated disc. A herniated disc is when the disc is displaced. Displacement of the disc can cause serious pains and other problems.

According to a medical journal from the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, injuries are a frequent cause of disc herniations. Usually the herniation is associated with sudden violent motion of the spine. The article specifically notes that motor vehicle accidents cause disc herniations. It only makes common sense; during a car accident the victim's spine undergoes extreme sudden and violent motions which cannot be healthy for the spine. (see Lumbar Disc Herniation Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment, Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, 2007)

Radiologist and surgeons us many different terms for disc problems: herniated disc, ruptured disc, protruded disc, prolapsed disk, and slipped disc. When a doctor says one of these terms to you, you have a disc that has been displaced backwards and is pressing on a nerve root or roots.

Pain is the biggest problem with herniated disc. Pain that radiates through the body stemming from where the disc is pinching the nerve is often debilitating. The pain often starts as simple back pain and then moves to the legs. Sometimes, the pain can be so great that it requires surgical treatment.

There are conservative and surgical treatment methods that can help with a herniated disc. To learn more about herniated disc or how a car accident can cause these injuries, contact us for a free consultation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Seatbelts Can Fail

Frank Bailey — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:00:04 GMT

As much as we depend on seatbelts to save lives, you would think seatbelts would never fail. This is not always true. A jury in West Palm Beach Florida ordered Mitsubishe to pay $11,000,000 in damages to the parents of their 25 year old son Scott, who died after being partially ejected from a SUV made by Mitsubishi.
Attorneys representing the family argued that Mitsubishi sold the SUV even though it knew of problems with the belt. Scott apparently was catapulted backward through the rear window even though he was wearing his seatbelt.
We all need to be aware, that just because we have on a seatbelt there are mechanical failures inherent in some belts that allow the occupant to be ejected in a crash.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Traumatic Brain Injury...The Unseen Harm

Frank Bailey — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:44:47 GMT

After a wreck, traumatic Brain Injury often goes undiagnosed in the Emergency Room. The doctors are worried about broken bones and other serious injuries and often overlook the most serious injury of all, traumatic brain injury (TBI). Every year, one in five hundred Americans have a TBI.

Not long ago, unlike a broken bone or a herniated disc, most TBI was invisible. This made this type of case difficult or almost impossible to prove. Now that most hospitals are equipped with a CT scan or an MRI a few more TBI are detected, but only 10% to 15% is detectable through traditional CT scan and MRI.

That means that as many as 85% of TBI go undetected! What causes this problem? Most TBI occurs on a microscopic level. During trauma, the brain undergoes a "shearing" phenomenon which destroys millions of cells instantly.

These cells are particularly fragile as they are long and thin and tend to stretch or even snap at the "axon".
Any violent movement of the skull may produce this shearing effect. Direct impact to the head is not necessary. Often an "acceleration/deceleration" injury is enough to cause a TBI. Sometimes the family or the attorney who spends time with the victim makes the connection.

Some symptoms common to TBI are, inability to focus on a task, mood changes, difficulty with problem solving, inability to name an object, difficulty with drawing, slurred speech, short term memory loss. These are just a few of many telling symptoms.

If you or a family member suspect TBI you should seek treatment from a health care provider who is familiar with this invisible injury.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Car Crash Not Always Driver's Fault

Drew Dixon — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:59:07 GMT

There were nearly 6,420,000 auto wrecks in the United States in 2005. Of those 6,420,000 wrecks more than 2,900,000 people were injured and 42,636 people were killed. That means that every ten seconds someone in the United States is involved in a car wreck.

Most often those wrecks are the result of driver negligence due to the driver's failure to obey traffic laws, use of a cell phone, or use of alcohol. However, sometimes the accident may be the result of factors unrelated to the driver such as: an automobile defect, poorly maintained roadways, or faulty traffic signals.

Although roadway design has improved significantly in the last century, errors in design, maintenance, and construction continue to contribute to automobile wrecks. The Federal and State Governments continue to stress better design, maintenance, and construction of roadways to help make the roads safer for drivers. However, some companies continue to design roadways that do not provide drivers with sufficient time to see, process, and react to situations that might appear on the roadways. Local municipalities and state agencies are the ones charged with the responsibility of maintaining these roadways. If you or a loved one have fallen victim to a dangerous roadway, most state laws allow you to collect from either the local municipalities or the state itself.

Determining negligence can be difficult, and the law requires the injured party to prove whose negligence caused the injury. Attorneys who understand automobile wrecks can help prove whose negligence caused the injury and can maximize the amount of recovery for their clients.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Drew Dixon

How to Make Our Highways Safe

Frank Bailey — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:08:59 GMT

The cause of the Tornado bus crash that killed four on Interstate 40 near Forrest City Arkansas is still unclear, but new facts point to driver fatigue. Police have now confirmed the driver was on amphetamines, a drug used to stay awake. Police have also learned that the Tornado Bus Co. falsified records by listing a co-driver, when the co-driver was actually off duty and in El Paso, Texas at the time of the crash.

Something needs to be done to make sure this tragedy does not happen to other families. As a trial attorney, I believe the best prevention is to allow a jury of common people to assess damages against the company and to set an example for other companies.
All too often, as in this case, the Federal Government is without the proper remedy. This is evident in the Tornado bus crash because the bus line had been cited during each of four federal operations reviews! But did that make a difference? No! And to make matters worse the driver had been ticketed for speeding four times in the past six years for speeding, and once for operating a bus with bad brakes, but he was still allowed to take the lives of innocent people for the sake of profit.
We at the Bailey and Oliver Law Firm think something should be done about this outrageous corporate behavior. We believe the Tornado Bus Company should be shut down, never to operate another bus. Then and only then can we begin to feel our highways are safe for our families and loved ones.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Mass Transit Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Closed Head Injury

Frank Bailey — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:47:35 GMT

A closed head injury is an injury to the brain without a breach of the skull or the brain's surrounding tissues by a penetrating object.
The biomechanics of a closed head injury may be understood by examining the inner dynamics of the skull and brain when influenced by the forces of acceleration, deceleration and rotating motions.
When the head is subjected to rapid acceleration and then suddenly stopped, the resulting motion is not only forward and backward, but also chin down and chin up rotation as the brain pivots on the cervical spine. This rotational motion is also present when the acceleration is from the side, causing the head to move closer to the shoulders.
Two laws of physics play a role in this action. Inertia: the tendency of matter to remain at rest if at rest, and to remain in motion if already in motion. Centrifugal force: rotation bodies will move outward, away from the center of rotation.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Car Accident Causes Power Outage in Little Rock

Shannon Weidemann — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:59:49 GMT

A two car accident in Little Rock caused a power outage for a neighborhood on Wednesday. Three people were injured in the accident, including a child.

The accident happened in front of the Twin City Bank on Broadway. Police say a car hit a van and the van was thrown into nearby power poles. Three poles were broken, and power lines scattered across the road.

The injured were taken to a local hospital and all are expected to recover from the accident. Traffic was detoured around the area while crews removed the power lines from the road. Power was restored to the area that night.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Truck Driver Admits Cocaine Use in Fatal Accident

Shannon Weidemann — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:51:12 GMT

A truck driver responsible for the deaths of five members of the same family has admitted to the police that he falsified his records and used cocaine prior to the car accident. While driving his semi-truck on U.S. 425 near Pine Bluff he crossed over the center line and hit a car head on. All of the people in the car died at the scene.

Trooper Oscar Bullard Jr., who investigated the accident, said neither driver was speeding, the weather was clear and the roadway dry.
Reading from the affidavit from Whitmore, Hunter said Arkansas Highway Police searched the truck and found drug paraphernalia, which Whitmore identified as a crack pipe.

Witnesses reported that they saw the driver of the semi truck both pulled alongside the road asleep at the wheel and struggling to stay awake while driving. The police believe he did not have the proper amount of rest before driving.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Tractor-Trailer Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Little Rock Bicyclist Hit by Car

Shannon Weidemann — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:26:44 GMT

A man from Little Rock was seriously injured in April while taking his normal 20 mile bike ride. He was riding near Maumelle Park when he was hit by a car from behind. He does not remember any details of the accident. He was airlifted to Baptist Hospital.

The extent of his injuries is simply incredible. Smith says on the left side of his body, he had cracked ribs and a bunch of cuts and scrapes.
Smith says, "But the significant injuries were my head, the trauma to my head. I actually have 15 fractures in my skull and face."

The man is optimistic that he will be able to ride his bicycle again soon. Over 800 bicyclists die each year in car accidents in the United States.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Springdale Girl Killed by Hit and Run Driver

Shannon Weidemann — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 21:41:41 GMT

A 4-year-old girl from Springdale was playing in front of her house when she was hit by a car and killed. The driver of a 1990s Honda Accord struck the girl and did not stop.

"We received a tip last night and detectives tracked him down today (Friday)," said Cpl. Chris McCarville, public information officer for the Springdale Police Department. "Detectives brought him to the station for questioning and he confessed."
The car was found at the residence in Rogers. The man is a Springdale resident, McCarville said, but had no permanent address and had been staying at different places.
Police began searching the neighborhood Sunday, going door to door, and asked for help from the public.

A $1000 reward offered by Eureka Pizza is credited with helping to find the suspect. The accident was on Tolleson Loop Sunday afternoon.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann