Archive for the 'Truck Accident' Category

Tips for Safe Driving in Summer Storms

hfstaff July 19th, 2010

The storms that popped up in central North Carolina this weekend were a fast and ferocious reminder that rain can be as big a hazard as snow…especially if you are not prepared. Here are some things that weather and driving experts hope you’ll keep in mind. After all, summer is only half over.

Check The Tread

The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction that prevent your vehicle from slipping or sliding, especially when roads are wet or icy. According to Savercar.gov, the nation’s premier source of vehicle safety information, tires are not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch.

Tires have built-in treadwear indicators that let you know when it is time to replace your tires. These indicators are raised sections spaced intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves. When they appear “even” with the outside of the tread, it is time to replace your tires.

Another method for checking tread depth is to place a penny in the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you are ready for new tires. (In the photo, the tread on the tire covers the top of Lincoln’s head, so it’s not yet ready for replacement.)

Plan for Floods and Tornadoes

It’s not that we’re safety-obsessed (well, maybe a little…it’s our job), but we’re in the season when anything can happen, weatherwise. If you plan to be driving, pay attention to those “Flash Flood Warnings” that are broadcast when the danger is greatest. And then have a plan for dealing with whatever comes your way.

If you’re driving, don’t cross any roadway that is covered with water unless you know the depth of the water for certain. Some roadways dip and can leave a “puddle” deep enough to stall your car and leave you stranded. Even if it is your only route, don’t cross–turn around and wait the storm out if necessary.

If you do find yourself stuck with a stalled vehicle, abandon your car and walk to higher ground. In some cases, driving rains and floods have been strong enough to carry cars away–if you stay in your car, you’ll be carried away, too. People have drowned because of a decision to stay in a flooded car.

If you spot a tornado, don’t think you can out-run it. Your car may be fast, but tornadoes aren’t confined to roads. They can leap-frog over fields and suck your car up before you know what happened. Instead, get out of the car and seek some sort of substantial shelter–a large building or house with a foundation (sheds and trailer homes don’t count). Once inside, head for the lowest level and look for a room with the fewest windows. Cover yourself with a piece of furniture, cushions, blankets, pillows–anything that might protect you from flying glass and debris.

If there is no shelter, then lie down flat, stomach-side down, in a ditch, culvert, or other depression. Cover  your  head with your hands, and wait for the tornado to pass. (Common sense alert: If the ditch is too full of water to breathe if your head is down, find a different ditch.)

Subscribe to Weather Alerts

You’ll have a jump on the weather if you get weather alerts sent to your email address or cell phone. Some places will even have a recorded message called into your phone! To subscribe to local alerts for your favorite information sources, click here:

WRAL WeatherCall

WRAL Email Alerts

WTVD ABC11 Mobile and Email Alerts

WNCN NBC17 Mobile Text Alerts

Check back later this week for information about how to avoid hydroplaning and other rain/road hazards.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Celebration for North Carolina’s “Operation Firecracker”

hfstaff July 13th, 2010

North Carolina’s 2010 Operation Firecracker was successful…but is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

Don’t get us wrong—we love this program. The “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign set up sobriety checkpoints throughout North Carolina for the week leading up to the Fourth of July holiday. Officers look for drunk drivers (hence the “booze it” part of the title), but also any other vehicle or criminal infractions.

From June 28, 2010 to July 4, 2010, the state conducted more than 4,600 sobriety checkpoints and dedicated patrols. More than 49,000 criminal citations were issued, including 1,291 impaired drivers were taken off the road, 835 drug charges were issued, and 738 drivers were cited for child passenger safety violations. That’s a bittersweet success. The good news is that the streets were made that much safer…the bad news is that there were so many impaired and unsafe drivers to be caught.

“We received an outpouring of support from law enforcement from across the state during this effort,” said David Weinstein, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “Their dedication in removing impaired drivers from our roads is greatly appreciated.”

HensonFuerst would like to echo that sentiment, for ourselves, and on behalf of all our clients who have been injured or killed by impaired drivers. Thank you to all the diligent North Carolina law enforcement officers. They help clean up the streets every day, not only on holiday weekends.

To see how your county fared in specific citation categories, click here: Firecracker Totals.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Support for New Bill to Streamline Medicare Reimbursements

hfstaff July 7th, 2010

Imagine that you have been in a car wreck and are unable to work because of your injuries… or that you have ongoing hospital bills due to medical malpractice. You’ve done everything right. You took your case to court and won a settlement for your losses. How long do you think it might take to receive the money you need to pay your mortgage or other bills?

If you are younger than age 65, you could receive your settlement check within weeks. That sounds right, right? Here’s the problem: If you are age 65 or older, your settlement check could be delayed by years. Yes…years. The difference is due to the red-tape run-around involving something called the Medicare Secondary Payer System (MSP).

The MSP was the product of good intentions. It was designed to help keep Medicare solvent by reimbursing the Medicare Trust Fund if another insurance or compensation source is available to pay for health care costs. The timeline (ideally) would go like this:

  1. An injury occurs.
  2. The medical bills are paid by Medicare.
  3. A lawsuit is filed.
  4. A lawsuit is won.
  5. Medicare is contacted.
  6. Medicare bills are tallied.
  7. Medicare is reimbursed from the settlement money.
  8. The remainder of the settlement goes to the injured person.
  9. Other bills get paid and justice is done.

Again, that’s the ideal. In reality, this is what happens (differences are highlighted):

  1. An injury occurs.
  2. The medical bills are paid by Medicare.
  3. A lawsuit is filed.
  4. A lawsuit is won
  5. Medicare is contacted. (So far, so good.)
  6. Medicare sits on the request to tally the bill.
  7. Medicare sits on the request to tally the bill.
  8. Medicare sits on the request to tally the bill.
  9. Medicare sits on the request to tally the bill.
  10. Medicare sits on the request to tally the bill. (ad infinitum)
  11. Other bills don’t get paid; justice is not done.

The funds that have been won in a lawsuit can be tied up for years due to the red-tape and inefficiencies of the MSP system. And remember, we’re talking about senior citizens–many of them die before they see a dime of the money that could improve their lives.

What Is Being Done?

There is currently a Bill before Congress that would streamline the process of Medicare reimbursement. The Bill (HR 4796: The Medicare Secondary Payer Enhancement Act) will do several things. Most importantly, it will require that Medicare respond to requests for recovery information within 60 days… that Medicare develop an appeals process for repayment determinations…and that there be a 3-year statute of limitations, so that Medicare can’t ignore injured seniors forever.

One has to wonder why the system would allow this kind of bureaucracy or incompetence to continue. Don’t they want funds repaid in a timely manner? Who benefits from keeping the law in place as it is? It seems like no one: The bill was introduced in March 2010 by Reps. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) and Tim Murphy (R-Pa.). It is co-sponsored by 26 other Representatives–Democrats and Republicans–and is backed by a varied group of organizations and businesses, including Walmart, the Defense Research Institute, the American Insurance Association, and Safeway.

HensonFuerst also supports the bill. We have seen many of our clients suffer needlessly–additional suffering on top of their injuries–because of the current difficulties with Medicare reimbursement. If you want to read the full bill and see its status, click here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4796

And if you want to send a message of support to your Representative in Congress, go to the website for People Over Profits (http://www.peopleoverprofits.org), or click here to be taken to their dedicated web page: Support HR 4796.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Summer Safety #2: Avoid Auto Wreck Risk

hfstaff June 26th, 2010

Summer safety week at HensonFuerst continues today with tips for the road that could help you to avoid a breakdown or an accident.

We know that heat can affect the way our bodies run, but it also poses a danger for your car.  High heat is “a real car killer,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Martha Mitchell Meade in an Associate Press article published Thursday.

Here are some tips for how to prepare your car for the stress of summertime heat:

Maintenance and Performance

  • Cooling system. Most summer breakdowns are caused by overheating. Make sure your cooling system is checked out at the beginning of the season, and recheck coolant levels regularly, especially if you drive a lot of miles. (FYI: Wait until the car is cool before removing the radiator cap–too many people have been burned by hot water and steam.)
  • Tires. Keep tires inflated to proper pressure, and replace bald tires. Roadways are 15 to 20 degrees hotter than air temperature. A bald or underinflated tire heats up more quickly , breaks down more quickly, and is more likely to blow out. Rotate your tires every time you have your oil changed (and change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, as recommended by the vehicle’s manual). FYI: Summer is also the time when trucks are more likely to lose their retreads, so watch for flying bits of tire, too.
  • Check the battery. Car batteries last, on average, 3 to 5 years… and it can fail without warning.  Hot weather can cause corrosion, and corrosion is the biggest cause of car battery failure. According to the Associated Press, AAA Mid-Atlantic reported that service calls for dead batteries in this week’s heat wave jumped  by about 124 percent.

Avoiding Accidents

  • Watch for heat hazards. Just as you need to watch for black ice in winter, summer brings its own set of road issues. In Delaware yesterday, one stretch of highway was backed up for miles when heat buckled a patch of asphalt. Potholes, sinkholes, and heaving can happen out of the clear blue–literally–so keep a watchful eye on the road.
  • Watch for stalled or disabled cars. You have prepared your car for summer, but not everyone is as conscientious. It’s a fact of life: there will be cars abandoned on the shoulder…there will be blown-out tires. Worse, there will be drivers who slow down just to take a good long look at an over-heated engine. Keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, just in case.
  • Be kind–the car you save may be your own. As temperatures rise, so do tempers…and hot tempers means a greater potential for road rage. Try to be a courteous driver, and give others the benefit of the doubt. Our best advice (pun alert) is to simply chill out.

And one final tip: Keep your car stocked with a summer survival kit, just in case you end up stuck on the side of the road. Items that may come in handy are a charged cell phone, dried fruit or other snacks, bottles of water, a hat (in case you need to walk for help), and an instant cold pack that you can use to help decrease your body temperature in the event of an emergency.

Happy travels!

Popularity: 13% [?]

Are You Ready for Phone-Free Driving?

hfstaff June 22nd, 2010

According to the News & Observer Road Worrier, the U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would reward states with millions of dollars in grants if they outlaw all phoning and texting while driving. The bill is called H.R. 3994: Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009. (You can read the bill itself here: Distracted Driving bill.)

Research shows that talking on a cell phone–even a hands-free phone–increases your risk of being in a car wreck. In fact, driving while distracted is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. (Is it time for a new acronym? If we already have DWI, is it time for DWD?)

North Carolina already bans cell phone use while driving for school bus drivers and people under age 18. Texting is banned for all drivers. But as noted by the Road Worrier:

Our partial bans are steps in the right direction, but their limitations make them hard to enforce. Even if a cop sees that driver gripping her new Samsung Galaxy S Pro Android phone, it might be hard to guess how she’s using it or how old she is.

The bill has already been endorsed by the National Safety Council.

HensonFuerst also supports the bill. Cell phones are great–we don’t know how any of us would get through a day without them–but most of us underestimate the effect they have on our ability to pay attention when attention is critical, like when driving. Just yesterday we posted an entry on our Traumatic Brain Injury blog (Head Injury from Summer Fun) that reported that cell phone use is to blame for some of the increase in head injuries for cyclists.

There has to be a way to integrate beneficial technology into our lives, without putting ourselves at risk of injury, trauma, or death. Everyday, the injury attorneys of HensonFuerst represent people who have been seriously hurt in wrecks caused by distracted drivers. Power down the cell phones…save a life.

More Information

To sign a “No Phone Zone” pledge (Oprah’s website!), click here: No Phone Zone Pledge.

If you have been involved in a cell phone-related motor vehicle wreck and you want to learn about your legal rights, see the HensonFuerst auto wreck page: http://www.lawmed.com/north-carolina-auto-accident-lawyer.php.

To read more about the effects of distracted driving, and to watch Public Service Announcement, go here: www.Distraction.gov.

Read the full Road Worrier article:  http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/22/545192/senate-pushes-for-phone-free-driving.html#ixzz0rbIVBMPi

Popularity: 12% [?]

Raleigh truck accident leaves mess on highway

admin February 25th, 2010

February 25, 2010

WRAL reported that a Raleigh truck accident left the highway covered with hardwood flooring.

The driver of a tractor-trailer collided with a box truck, causing it to tip over and spill its contents onto the road.

One person suffered some injuries during the North Carolina truck accident, but the injuries were not considered life-threatening. He was taken to the hospital to be treated.

Crews worked for several hours to clear the scene of the Raleigh truck accident.

Read more

The Raleigh truck accident lawyers at HensonFuerst can help if you were injured in an accident.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Alcohol plus Caffeine equals Trouble

hfstaff February 2nd, 2010

After a night of drinking, a cup of coffee used to be considered the perfect preparation to help the drinker wake up before going home. Recently, high-powered caffeine drinks became popular mixers–a drink called “Raging Bull” calls for vodka, tequila, lime juice and high-caffeine Red Bull energy drink.

Now, as reported in ScienceDaily, research suggests that alcohol and caffeine might be the worst possible combination, at least when it comes to safety.

Researchers from Temple University discovered that caffeine does not sober you up…it just makes you less likely to realize that you’re drunk. In addition, you are more likely to act irresponsibly and put yourself and others into dangerous situations.

Caffeine and alcohol have different actions on the brain, and when put together, they interact in ways that are not necessarily what we expect.

Thanks to this research, we now know that when people mix caffeine and alcohol, they have reduced inhibitions, less anxiety, more energy, and an inability to learn and think straight. So you are drunk, mentally and physically impaired, and relaxed…but you also have more energy, you think you are alert, and you have a greater willingness to do crazy things. Like get behind a wheel and drive.

We all know that we should not drink and drive, but I know people still think a little coffee will make the drive home a little safer. Now we know it’s not true. Keep yourself and others safe–there’s no way to quickly sober up after drinking.

(To read more, click here)

Popularity: 26% [?]

Woman injured in Durham truck accident

admin January 14th, 2010

January 14, 2010

The Times-News reported that a recent Durham truck accident injured a woman.

The woman was driving her sport utility vehicle down the road when she was struck by a tractor-trailer.

The impact of the North Carolina truck accident caused the SUV to flip over onto its side. The woman was trapped inside the vehicle until rescue crews were able to extract her.

Authorities said the woman ran a red light, causing the Durham truck accident.

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The Durham truck accident attorneys at HensonFuerst can help if you were injured in a North Carolina truck accident.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Chapel Hill truck accident kills one man, injures another

admin March 24th, 2009

March 24, 2009

WRAL reported that a man lost his life in a recent Chapel Hill truck accident.

The man was driving his truck down the Interstate when he hit the back end of a box truck, causing it to run off the side of the road, hit a nearby guardrail, and overturn onto an embankment.

The first truck also went off the side of the road, struck the guard rail, and flipped over. The driver of the first truck died from the injuries sustained during the North Carolina truck accident.

The driver of the second truck suffered some injuries during the Chapel Hill truck accident, but his condition is unknown.

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The Chapel Hill truck accident lawyers at HensonFuerst can help if you were injured in a North Carolina accident.

Popularity: 94% [?]

North Carolina truck accident kills five

admin October 28th, 2008

October 28, 2008

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that a North Carolina truck accident, which occurred over the weekend, killed five people.

The five people involved in the crash were traveling in one car when the driver ran a stop sign. The car crossed the path of a tractor-trailer that ran over their vehicle.

Both the truck and the car kept moving into oncoming traffic and hit a station wagon.

The driver of the station wagon and the driver of the truck suffered some injuries in the North Carolina truck accident.

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The North Carolina truck accident attorneys at HensonFuerst can help if you have been injured in an auto accident.

Popularity: 50% [?]

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