Archive for the ‘ Injury prevention ’ Category

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29
Mar

Five Steps To Eliminating Traffic Deaths

Want to totally eliminate motor vehicle fatalities in North Carolina?  Dr. Herb Garrison, head of the East Carolina Injury Prevention Program, knows how…and he has outlined his methods in the latest issue of the North Carolina Medical Journal. The article, written with coauthor Jennifer Smith, is titled: Is Fatality-Free Travel on North Carolina’s Streets and Highways Feasible? It’s Time to Think the Unthinkable.

According to an article published in the News & Observer, there were 1,312 road fatalities last year in North Carolina. Dr. Garrison believes all of those deaths could have been prevented.

“In the emergency room, we see lots of hurt people from car wrecks,” Garrison, 57, told the Road Worrier. “Having fatality-free highways is not an unrealistic goal, but it’s one we need to keep working at every day.”

His provocative 5-point plan for eliminating road deaths is:

  1. Make 17 the minimum driving age.
  2. Create special courts for DWE cases to boost conviction rates…and alcohol interlocks mandatory for all DWI offenders.
  3. Ban hand-held phone use while driving.
  4. Build more bike lanes and sidewalks.
  5. Add proven road design elements: more roundabouts at intersections, and make rumble strips standard on road shoulders and center lines.

Dr. Garrison also would like to see stricter enforcement of seatbelt laws and speed limits.

According to the article in the North Carolina Medical Journal:

Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said recently that “society should treat traffic fatalities as a disease to be eliminated.”

We agree. It will take effort on all our parts, but nothing tremendously burdensome. It comes down to recognizing that the way we’ve always done things may not be the best way. It’s easy to get irritated when asked to put down the cell phone, but there is a greater good: The traffic death you prevent may be a family member or a friend. HensonFuerst applauds Dr. Garrison for publishing his insights, and we hope that North Carolina takes steps to move toward his traffic utopia.

Resources

To read the full medical journal article, click here: Is Fatality-Free Travel on North Carolina’s Streets and Highways Feasible? It’s Time to Think the Unthinkable.

To read the full newspaper article, click here:  News & Observer

And please feel free to visit our website for more information about the legal aspects of motor vehicle wrecks: HensonFuerst

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21
Mar

New Recommendations for Keeping Kids Safe in Cars

Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new recommendations about the best ways to keep children safe in vehicles. The kids may not like the changes, but the goal is fewer injuries in the event of a crash. The policy statement was published in an online article of the medical journal Pediatrics.

For maximum safety, the experts suggest:

For infants and toddlers up to age 2: Use rear-facing car seats. Current laws require rear-facing seats only until the child is one year old. But infants have relatively large, heavy heads…and weak neck muscles. These new guidelines are designed to prevent severe whiplash and brain injury in the event of an wreck. Smaller children will benefit from remaining rear-facing seats longer, while other children may reach the maximum height or weight before 2 years of age.

For children through age 4: Use forward-facing car seats.

For children ages 4 through 8: Use belt-positioning booster seats, in the back seat only.

For children ages 8 through 13: Use lap-and-shoulder seat belts for all children who have outgrown booster seats. In addition, all children younger than age 13 should ride in the back seats of vehicles.

Remember to update your child’s car seat or booster to meet his or her height and weight requirements. Car seats won’t protect a child who has outgrown its maximum protective ability.

According to the lead author of the policy statement, Dennis Durbin, MD, FAAP:

“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” Dr. Durbin said. “For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.”

To read the full recommendation, click here:  Pediatrics

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11
Mar

Doctors Could Do More to Protect Patients’ Safety

In a special online publication by the British Medical Journal Quality & Safety, researchers report the results of a poll of doctors in the United States and Great Britain about various aspects of professional behavior. The results are surprising, and not all in a good way.

The following are the answers given by the U.S. physicians:

  • Should doctors put patients’ interests above their own financial interests? Seems obvious, right? But only about 3 out of 4 answered yes.
  • Should doctors report all instances of significantly impaired or incompetent colleagues? As a patient, I would like to know that doctors would report other doctors if they were drunk, high, or incompetent. However, only 63% of doctors said they would do so. That means 37% of doctors would look the other way.
  • Should doctors disclose significant medical errors to patients affected? Only about 64% said yes.

The researchers asked those doctors who observed impaired or incompetent behavior why they didn’t report the behavior, and also what other action they took. About half the doctors who observed inappropriate behavior said they had spoken directly with the offending physician, and 20% said they thought someone else was dealing with the problem. In addition, the most common action reported by U.S. doctors faced with an impaired colleague was to stop referring to that doctor. (That reasoning seems a bit like a child’s game of peek-a-boo: If my eyes are covered, you (or your incompetent behaviors) don’t exist. When played in the field of healthcare, that can be a dangerous game.

To read the full article, click here:  Professional values and reported behaviours of doctors in the USA and UK

To learn more about medical malpractice, feel free to visit our website at http://www.lawmed.com/. If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.

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24
Jan

What Are Clinical Trials?

Duke University is no stranger to controversy. The latest problem involves cancer patients who participated in clinical trials based on flawed research by a discredited associate professor named Anil Potti.

(For more details about this story, you can read our previous blog here: Another “Oops” for Duke; Or, you can watch our YouTube video here: Duke Clinical Trials Investigation.)

A lot of people find the topic of clinical trials confusing, so we’ve put together this brief explanation.

About Clinical Trials

When you go to the doctor to get medication, surgery, or other treatment for an illness, medical science has already demonstrated that the treatments or procedures work because they have passed extensive, pre-designed research “tests” known as clinical trials.

To explain how this works, imagine that there’s a brand-new, fictional medication called MEMOR-ALL, which was developed to help improve memory. Before MEMOR-ALL can be given to patients, it has to pass research tests to show that MEMOR-ALL:

  1. Is safe, without serious side effects.
  2. Does what it was designed to do. Put simply, does it really work? (In this example, does MEMOR-ALL actually improve memory?)
  3. Works better than current standard treatments.

These questions are answered by a series studies collectively known as “clinical trials.” Each individual question is called a “Phase.” All Phase I clinical trials address the question of safety…Phase II trials address the question of whether the medication works…and Phase III trials address the question of whether the new treatment works better than old treatments.

People volunteer to participate in clinical trials for a number of really good reasons. Clinical trials can give people access to new research treatment before they become widely available… allow them to get treatment at a leading health care facility… and make a contribution to medical science. Of course, there are some major risks, depending on which Phase is being tested. For example, patients in Phase I run the risk of side effects, and patients in Phase II or Phase III may be placed in a research group that does not received the new treatment (receiving, instead, either an ineffective placebo or a different treatment, depending on the type of testing being conducted).

Before signing on for clinical trials, people are supposed to be fully informed about the potential risks and benefits of the research–a process called “informed consent.” This is an important part of research protocol to prevent people from being used as unwitting guinea pigs in a scientist’s risky research.

If you participated in these clinical trials (or underwent testing for them) and have questions about what your legal options might be, contact the compassionate lawyers of HensonFuerst. We’re available 24/7 to anyone in the United States at 1-800-4LAW-MED.

If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.

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    4
    Jan

    The Most Dangerous Part of Your Drive

    Road statistics show that of all normal (and legal) driving maneuvers, the most dangerous is something we do every day:  Making a left turn. Studies of intersection wrecks show that making a right turn caused only 4% of collisions, but making a left turn caused a whopping 50% of intersection collisions. The reason has to do with the multiple factors that have to be considered to make a left turn successfully, including traffic from three different directions, estimating speed of cars traveling straight across the intersection, and estimating the amount of time your car will need to cross the intersection, among others.

    According to an article in the January-February 2011 issue of AAA magazine, the problem is so pervasive that UPS teaches its drivers to complete routes without making left-hand turns!

    “Basically, our longstanding policy has always been to train our drivers to plan routes in loops so they always make only right turns,” says Ronna Branch of UPS.

    To make left turns less risky, AAA.com offers these recommendations:

    1. Find the balance between aggressive and timid driving. Aggressive drivers often overestimate their ability to cross an intersection safely; timid drivers hesitate, linger too long in an intersection, and create a hazard for other drivers. AAA teaches that if the light is green and no other vehicle is ahead of you preparing for the same left turn, it is usually safe to enter the intersection and wait for your time to turn.
    2. Keep wheels pointed straight. Even though you may want to turn your wheels to the left in preparation for the turn, this is actually dangerous. If your stopped car is hit from behind, the force of the impact along with turned wheels could push you directly in the line of oncoming traffic. If your wheels are straight, a similar impact will push your car straight.
    3. Stay patient. Don’t make a turn until you are positive that it is safe—ignore impatient drivers around you.
    4. Plan for right turns only. There’s no glory in a left turn. As AAA.com says, “The safest left turn is the one you don’t make.” If you are in a city or town with roads laid on a grid, it is often easier to drive one block past your intended intersection, take a right at the next street…then another right…then another right. In that case, three rights make a left! (This is less effective in the country, when roads are more likely to wind for miles.)

    To read the full article, visit the website at AAA.com.

    At HensonFuerst Attorneys, we represent a lot of people who have been injured in wrecks involving left turns in intersections. If you want to learn more about your legal options following a wreck, please feel free to visit our dedicated web page: Motor vehicle collisions. Or, if you prefer the personal touch, call us anytime at 1-800-4LAW-MED. If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.

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    16
    Dec

    Eyetracker Device to Help Keep Drivers Awake

    copyright Fraunhofer IDMT

    It won’t be in next year’s model cars, but there is a terrific new device that could become a built-in standard in the next few years.

    According to an article in ScienceDaily, German researchers have developed a system that tracks a driver’s eye movements. If the driver’s eyes close for too long, the device emits a loud warning sound to keep the driver from nodding off to sleep.

    The special feature of the Eyetracker is that it can be installed in any model of car. There is no need for a complicated calibration of the cameras…. There is also another benefit: The system does not require a PC or a laptop.

    And get this: The Eyetracker is about half the size of a matchbox, and can be mounted behind the sun visor or in the dashboard. This tiny camera system could help save lives by preventing people from drifting off the road as they drift off to sleep.

    To read the full article about the Eyetracker, click here: ScienceDaily

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    6
    Dec

    “Booze It & Lose It” Safety Campaign Under Way

    As a law firm that represents clients who have been severely injured by drunk drivers, HensonFuerst Attorneys is always happy to announce the start of the “Booze It & Lose It” crackdown against people who drink and drive.

    According to an article in the New Bern Sun Journal, the North Carolina Highway Patrol launched its “Booze It and Lose It” campaign last Friday. From now through January 2, 2011, officers will be conducting random stops and working sobriety checkpoints to make help keep our road safe from drunk drivers.

    “We will have checkpoints during this time, saturated patrol in areas where driving-while-impaired motorists typically drive, and showing our presence on the highways,” said Sgt. Rich Willis of District 6, which includes Craven and Pamlico counties.

    Citizens can also help to get drunk drivers off the road: If you see someone you believe might be driving while impaired, can call dial *HP or 911 from any cell phone.

    “Booze It and Lose It” is a valuable tool for law enforcement during the holiday season, when people are more likely to attend alcohol-fueled parties, dinners, and family gatherings. The last “Booze It and Lose It” campaign (Operation Firecracker) took place from June 28 through July 4. During that one week, 1,291 impaired drivers were taken off the road. The current campaign will last 30 days.

    We always recommend that if you intend to drive, don’t drink. If you do drink, find someone sober to drive you home, or find an alternate way to get home. (A taxi company will be happy to take your call and send a car to get you.) But this advice takes on added importance during the holidays, which should be a time of celebration. No one wants to spend the holidays planning a funeral… or visiting a loved one in the hospital… or figuring out how to raise enough money for bail.

    According to an article in the Winston-Salem Journal, Chief Scott Cunningham of the Winston-Salem Police Department stresses that safety is the message for the holiday season.

    “If you’ve consumed alcohol, don’t drive,” he said. “Don’t take the chance, it’s not worth it.”

    Short, but perfect. We couldn’t say it better ourselves.

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    15
    Nov

    Local Bike Accidents Highlight Safety Concerns

    This weekend, at least three bicyclists were injured in collisions with cars. We’re cyclists here, so we always read these types of stories with a heavy heart. Both stories were reported on WRAL.com.

    On Friday evening, just north of Selma, two bicyclists were struck by driver Marie Jania. They suffered only minor injuries. It is not exactly clear who was at fault. According to the WRAL.com article:

    Car driver Marie Jania, 37, moved into the southbound lane to pass bicyclists Renny Barnard, 17, and Richard Baker, 20, who were going north on N.C. 96, troopers said. At the same time, the bicyclists moved into the southbound lane to let the car pass them. The car struck the back of the bicycles.

    This story brings to mind two related pieces of advice: 1) know (and follow) the rules of the road; and 2) share the road by respecting bicyclists and drivers alike. Cyclists and drivers need to follow the same rules of the road–we need to be able to count on others to act safely and logically.

    The other accident, which happened in Raleigh, was more clear-cut. According to a separate article on WRAL.com, driver Brandis Chevelle Thomas was drunk and talking on a cell phone when she struck cyclist Justin Gabriel Walker.

    Walker and his bike were thrown 110 feet and landed on the pavement of the right side of the road, according to the wreck report. Thomas kept driving for 2,000 feet before making a u-turn and returning to the scene.

    Walker was taken to WakeMed, where he was in critical condition. …In addition to DWI, Thomas was charged with felony serious injury by vehicle.

    The lessons of  this wreck are obvious: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive while distracted by talking on a phone.

    While you don’t have control over the actions of others, cyclists can reduce their risks of being hit at night by making themselves as visible as possible. Make sure your bike has lights and reflectors, put reflective tape on your helmet (because you ARE wearing a helmet, right?), and wear white or light-colored clothing. If you drive a car at night, watch more carefully for cyclists.

    By the shortest day of the year, December 21, sunrise will occur at about 7:20 am, and sunset will occur at about 5:07 pm. That means many people will be driving to and from work in the dark. So whether you ride on four wheels or two, let’s be careful out there!

    If you have been injured in a bicycling accident and want to explore your legal options, contact the attorneys of HensonFuerst. We understand cycling, and we protect the rights of the injured. If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.

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    1
    Nov

    Trial Begins for Doctor Charged in Ballerina’s Death

    Elena Bright Shapiro

    This is a story everyone remembers. On September 11, 2009, Dr. Raymond Cook went drinking…then drank some more…then got behind the wheel and caused the wreck that killed Elena Bright Shapiro, a promising ballerina with the Carolina Ballet.

    According to an article on WRAL.com, Cook’s trial begins today.

    Raleigh police said Cook, of 10516 Beckridge Lane, was traveling 90 mph when he crashed into the back of Shapiro’s vehicle at Lead Mine and Strickland roads.

    Cook had been drinking at a local country club and at a local tavern prior to the crash, witnesses said.

    Cook, a former plastic surgeon, surrendered his medical license and went to rehab. He is charged with second-degree murder, driving while impaired, and felony death by vehicle. He was offered a plea deal in May, but Cook didn’t accept it.

    His trial begins on the day when the medical journal The Lancet published the results of a study that found that alcohol is the most dangerous of all drugs, including heroin and crystal meth, in terms of the amount of harm it does to individuals and to society. This case could be exhibit 1: A young woman’s promising life is snuffed out… her family must live with the traumatic aftermath of this tragedy… a a physician’s career is destroyed… his family suffers… and a community is left with the remnants of memories of two lives that should have soared. Except that alcohol, hubris, and bad judgment destroyed them.

    “You can’t imagine a bigger tragedy,” said Robert Weiss, the artistic director of the Carolina Ballet. “A beautiful, young girl, who’s talented and at the prime of her career, getting cut down like that and not having a chance to live her dream.”

    This is a haunting tragedy with so many levels of pain. As the holiday season nears, with all the requisite parties, the attorneys of HensonFuerst would like to take this opportunity to remind you that even two drinks can impair your ability to navigate a 2,000-pound vehicle. Please don’t drink and drive; we don’t need anymore alcohol-related tragedies.

    Follow the story of the trial here: WRAL.com

    Read about the study that found alcohol to be the deadliest drug here: HensonFuerst blog

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    1
    Nov

    Alcohol Most Dangerous of All Drugs

    A study published in the prestigious British medical journal The Lancet compared the harms caused by the misuse of a variety of drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine (crystal meth), marijuana, crack cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, and alcohol (yes, it is a legal liquid drug). The researchers looked the addictive properties of the drug, how it affects the health of the individual using it, and the social and community costs. Social costs included factors such as the drug’s role in breaking up families, incarceration costs, and deaths due to the actions of the person using the drug.

    On an individual level, heroin, crack, and meth were the most deadly. On a societal level, alcohol was by far the deadliest, followed by heroin and crack. When all harms were tallied, alcohol came up the clear winner in the “World’s Most Dangerous Drug” contest. It has the most devastating consequences for everyone–the drinker and those around him or her.

    Scientists and addiction experts agree that the problem lies not with the vast majority of people who enjoy a glass or two of alcoholic beverage, but problem drinkers…and a culture that is tacitly tolerant of inappropriate drinking. Think about tailgating parties at football games, underage rite-of-passage high school keggers, and all the funny and sexy commercials for alcoholic beverages. The message is that alcohol is fun, until it turns deadly.

    According to the report on WRAL.com,

    When drunk in excess, alcohol damages nearly all organ systems. It is also connected to higher death rates and is involved in a greater percentage of crime than most other drugs, including heroin.

    Experts said the study should prompt countries to reconsider how they classify drugs.”Drugs that are legal cause at least as much damage, if not more, than drugs that are illicit,” said Wim van den Brink, a professor of psychiatry and addiction at the University of Amsterdam.

    At HensonFuerst, we see the aftermath of this lethal drug in the mangled lives of people we represent who were hit by a drunk driver. While this study cannot be be called good news, it certainly validates what personal injury lawyers have known for years: Alcohol really is the most harmful drug in the world.

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