Articles Posted in Car Accident Injuries

A great deal is written about car and truck crashes in Hollywood and other cities. However, a car does not have to be moving to cause catastrophic injury. Tragedies in Florida and Georgia last month have shone the spotlight again on the dangers of leaving children unattended in cars.

During Florida summers, especially, the interior of cars can reach dangerously high temperatures in just minutes – even with car windows open. Hot cars can cause child injuries in Hollywood as well as fatalities. About 500 children have died across the country since 2000 because they were left in the back of a car by a caregiver. In 2013 alone, 44 children across the country died in car-related heat incidents.

In most situations where a person is trapped in a hot car, heat stroke occurs very quickly, especially for young children. Heat strokes occur when the internal temperature of the body increases to 104 degrees or more. In these cases, it is important to cool the patient at once, or they risk succumbing to their injury.

When parents leave children in a car to suffocate, they can have charges brought against them by authorities. These cases also usually spark investigations by the Florida Department of Children and Families. If a caregiver such as a babysitter or teacher left a child in a car, civil claims can be brought against these parties. Of course, investigations and arrests cannot turn back the hands of time and advocacy groups say that more needs to be done to prevent these types of car-related injuries in Hollywood and other communities.

According to authorities, in many cases children are left behind in cars unintentionally, often as a result of distracted parents. While much has been written about distracted driving in Hollywood and other cities, distraction while parenting has received less attention.

The National Safety Council has several tips for parents to prevent this type of tragedy:

1) Focus on one task at a time. In many cases, parents leave a child behind in a hot car simply because they are so distracted by how much they have to do. Slowing down and taking the time to take care of each task individually can help reduce not only the risk of leaving a child alone in a hot car, but it can also reduce the risks of distracted driving.

2) Leave items in the backseat that you will need right away. If you cannot run errands or do your job without your cellphone or an important folder, leave this in the backseat so that you need to grab it and check the backseat before continuing on with your day.

3) Be especially careful if you have routines. If you lead a very structured lifestyle – for example, you drop off your child at daycare and then go to work – experts say that you are especially vulnerable because you may operate on “auto pilot.” In these situations, a minor change in parents’ routines have caused them to continue on to work or errands without checking the backseat of their car.

Continue reading →

Pregnant drivers and passengers face additional risks in a car or truck collision in Hollywood or their communities. There is of course the risk to the unborn child. In addition, the very safety systems designed to protect passengers can pose a risk. Airbags, for example, can place additional pressure over the abdomen while seat belts can cut into the stomach area, causing additional injury to a pregnant passenger. A new study, however, suggests that the risk of collisions itself may be higher for pregnant drivers.

The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, reported that women in their second trimester of pregnancy had a higher rate of car accidents. According to researchers from the University of Toronto, female drivers who were in their second trimester of pregnancy were 42 percent more likely to need emergency room treatment for car accident-related injuries when compared with the same women before pregnancy.

Before pregnancy, the women had an average collision rate of 4.55 accidents per 1,000 individuals per year. According to researchers this is almost double the average crash rate of the population as a whole, although this may be due to the younger age of the women. By the second trimester of pregnancy, however, researchers found that the women had a car accident rate of 6.47 collisions per 1,000 individuals per year. Young men in the same age range had an even higher rate of accidents.

The study’s authors suggested that part of the reason for the increase in accident risk may be because about half of pregnant women report absentmindedness while pregnant, and this may contribute to distracted driving as well as accidents. Researchers also noted that women who are pregnant may be affected by stress, morning sickness, and fatigue, which can also affect driving.

Critics of the study noted that the study’s authors did not consider how often women were driving during the second trimester. If women were driving more often as they took care of doctor’s appointments and various errands in preparation for the birth, this could help explain the seeming increase in numbers. Researchers did note that following birth, car crash rates dropped for these women again. Since new mothers may be more fatigued due to taking care of an infant, it seems unlikely that these drivers would somehow be safer drivers than women who are in their second trimester.

Some critics of the study also noted that women who are pregnant are more likely to visit the ER after even a fender bender to check that the baby is fine, and this could explain the seeming jump in ER trips. Women who are not pregnant, in other words, may not see a need for a visit to an emergency room unless they were seriously injured.
Despite these criticisms, the fact is that all drivers should use extra caution on the road. Women who are expecting a baby may be especially vulnerable in a traffic collision in Hollywood or their community as a car accident could affect the health of their unborn child. Doctors recommend that avoiding a car crash in Hollywood and other communities begins with some basics, such as:

•Avoiding speeding
•Obeying traffic laws
•Driving only when well-rested and alert
•Avoiding multitasking when driving
•Wearing a seatbelt

Continue reading →

Much has been written about the dangers of small cars. While smaller automobile models may be more comfortable for some to drive and are more affordable as well as environmentally-friendly, some safety experts have noted that they do not offer the same protection in a collision as a larger SUV or other larger vehicle. Instinctively, most drivers know this. In a trucking accident in Homestead or another community, for example, the truck driver often walks away with no injury while the passengers in the smaller passenger vehicle may suffer catastrophic internal injuries, head trauma, fractures, and other serious injuries.

Manufacturers of smaller cars have made big efforts in recent years to create safer vehicles that are still smaller while offering some protection. And, of course, larger vehicles have their own dangers. SUV and van rollovers in Homestead and other communities, for example, tend to happen with larger vehicles and not with smaller cars.

Nevertheless, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently added a new small overlap frontal crash test when testing vehicles and only one minicar achieved an “acceptable” rating in this test while ten other minicars were ranked as “marginal” or “poor” in this category.

The test measures safety of passengers when a vehicle’s front corner strikes a fixed object when traveling at 40 mph. The Chevrolet Spark was the only minicar to pass the test. Small vehicles that included compact sedans fared better in the text, with ten out of 17 earning either “acceptable” or “good” rankings in the test.

The test simulates what would occur if a car hit a pole or another object at an angle, and the IIHS admits that the test is more rigorous than other tests because the small overlap frontal crash test does not impact the crush zones created by manufacturers to absorb energy in a crash test. While a car’s frontal crush zones are designed to minimize impact in a head-on collision, the new test puts a bigger emphasis on seatbelts, airbags, and other systems. According to the IIHS, cars that have poor performance in the small overlap frontal crash may put passengers at risk of leg and foot injuries in a collision.

For owners of minicars, there is also more bad news. The IIHS also gives minicars poor and marginal ratings when it comes to structural integrity. In a car collision in Homestead or another community, structural integrity is what protects the car from collapsing. When the structure collapses, it can push a cars seats and airbags out of the correct position, increasing the risk of injury. In addition, only two minicars tested by the IIHS received adequate ratings for restraints and none offered automatic frontal crash protection.

If you have a minicar, you may want to consider your risk of traffic accidents in Homestead or your community. You may want to check the IIHS ratings to see how your car fares when it comes to safety features. In addition to safety features, however, it is important to keep in mind that how you drive has a profound effect on your safety. Driving defensively and responsibly is an important step in driving safely – no matter what kind of car you drive.

Continue reading →

Being involved in a serious traffic crash in Hollywood or your community can be a devastating experience. You may suffer serious injuries, including whiplash, head injuries, spinal cord trauma, fractures, and other types of injuries. Some of these serious injuries can affect your ability to live your life fully and return to work.

One type of injury that few people discuss is disfigurement and scarring. While not life-threatening in and of itself, scarring and disfigurement can be an extremely difficult injury, and this type of injury may happen in conjunction with other traumatic injuries. For example, if you have suffered serious burn injuries as a result of a car or trucking collision in Hollywood or your community, you may need physical therapy and you may suffer mobility issues as well as severe pain. In addition to all of this, you may need to deal with the challenges of serious scarring.

Scarring and disfigurement can be extremely traumatic. In some cases, patients who have suffered severe injuries feel so self-conscious about their appearance that it affects their self-confidence and their relationships. In some cases, patients with severe scarring can have difficulty leaving their home or may struggle with serious depression. Patients may find that strangers and even people that they know react negatively to their appearance, creating even more challenges.

These types of injuries can include:

•Lacerations
•Scarring
•Burns
•Facial injuries
•Dental injuries
•Eye injuries
•Disfigurement
Unfortunately, patients who have sustained these types of injuries often find that they have a hard time getting the support and assistance they need. Insurance money, for example, may not fully cover the expensive treatments needed to heal scarring. In some cases, car insurance and health coverage providers may argue that so-called cosmetic treatments are not covered by a plan. In addition, patients may be made to feel that scarring is somehow less serious than other types of trauma.

This is simply not the case. Scarring and disfigurement can be debilitating and if your injuries were caused through someone’s negligence you should not have to pay for someone’s recklessness. Scarring can be a tremendously debilitating issue and one that is emotionally very difficult. If you are facing this type of injury, you deserve support and assistance.

If you have suffered your injuries in a car or motorcycle accident in Hollywood or another Florida community, contact a personal injury attorney to find out what legal remedies may exist in your case. You may be able to pursue a legal claim so that you can recover money that can help you pay for the treatments you may need.

There are treatments available for scarring and other types of injuries, but these can be expensive. You may need to visit a cosmetic surgeon for skin grafts, fillers, or other treatments. If you have sustained many types of injuries, you may need extensive medical treatment and your scars may require multiple treatments as well as months of healing time. Seeking fair compensation can help you afford quality medical care, improving your chances of a better recovery.

Continue reading →

Car accidents lead to many serious conditions, including spinal cord injuries, head injuries, amputations, and fractures. One of the difficult things after a car accident in Hollywood or your community will be dealing not only with the injury itself, but also with the pain and suffering it will cause.

Unfortunately, some people who are several injury in a car or truck crash in Hollywood or their community will suffer chronic pain. For doctors, chronic pain is defined as significant pain that is widespread over the body and lasts for three months or more. For back injury patients in Hollywood and patients who have suffered soft tissue injuries or other injuries, chronic pain can be debilitating and can last for many months or even years. For some, it becomes a life-long condition.

It is important to acknowledge and address chronic pain, since this condition can have a profound impact on your life. It can cause fear or even panic attacks, anxiety, sleep disorders, and many other issues. In fact, it can affect every area of your life, including your physical and mental well-being. At its worst, it can prevent you from returning to your daily activities and can leave you feeling isolated and afraid or depressed.

According to doctors and the American Psychological Association, there are several things that you will want to do if you suffer from severe pain or chronic pain:

1) Speak with a doctor and get medical treatment. Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend surgery, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, acetaminophen, or other solutions to help with the condition.

2) Take care of your mental health. Chronic pain can take a toll on your mental health and can lead to frustration, anger, and other issues. It can be useful to meet with a support group or even a psychologist if you are struggling or feeling overwhelmed.

3) Practice stress reduction. Being in constant, significant pain can be very stressful. Stress, in turn, can make you tense, which can increase some types of pain and can make managing pain more difficult. Some patients find that yoga or meditation help, while others look for other ways to handle stress. It can be helpful to try a few different techniques to find one that helps you.

4) Take care of yourself physically. Staying hydrated, rested, and eating good food can help you feel better. At the very least, taking care of yourself reduces your risk of illness, which can add even more pain. Some patients find that changing their diet under a doctor’s supervision or introducing certain types of exercise also helps reduce pain.

5) Look to alternative therapy and healing options. There are many types of therapy that have been shown to be effective for some patients suffering chronic pain. Some studies have shown positive results from biofeedback, hypnosis, visual imagery, relaxation training, acupuncture, and other options. Talk to your doctor or try a few options yourself. Just keep in mind that some of these solutions may not be covered by your health insurance. You may want to speak with a personal injury attorney in Hollywood or your community to find out whether you qualify for compensation that could help defray some of the costs.

Continue reading →