Recent Blog Posts in September 2009

Since 1980, a group of mothers got together to form a group to help prevent drunk driving. The name of the organization is “Mother’s Against Drunk Driving” or “MADD” for short. “The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.”

MADD is very pleased that due to their hard work and continuous effort to make people more aware of the true dangers of drunk driving, new fatality data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) shows that drunk driving fatalities declined 9.7% ; 11,773 in 2008 and 13,041 deaths in 2007. According to DOT, “the number of overall traffic fatalities reported in 2008 hit their lowest level since 1961.”  The numbers for 2009 show a continued decrease so far.

Arizona and New Mexico lead the nation in reductions of  drunk driving fatality with 20% less in Arizona and 21% drop in New Mexico.  Both states require all drunk driving offenders to install an ignition interlock in their car which is believed to be the reason for the decline.  The state-by-state fatality numbers are available at

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811172.pdf.

http://www.madd.org/

During labor and delivery, medical complications can result in birth injuries. Doctors and health care professionals must exercise the utmost care to avoid injury to babies during the especially vulnerable times of labor induction, Cesarean section, and mechanically assisted (forceps) births. Babies who experience severe oxygen deprivation to the brain, or head trauma, during these delicate obstetrical procedures often die or face lifelong disabilities. Approximately 10,000 babies each year develop Cerebral palsy (a condition which impacts the ability to control movement) as a result of oxygen deprivation. Oxygen shortage also causes brain damage. Other types of traumatic obstetric birth injuries include prenatal asphyxia, Erbs Palsy or Brachial Plexus Palsy, Klumpke’s Palsy, Torticollis, and Shoulder Dystocia. Fractures, spinal cord trauma, cephalohematoma and intracranial hemorrhage may be the result of preventable obstetrical damage. Common errors for which medical providers may be held responsible are as follows: 

• Difficult or prolonged labor (often due to a large baby);
• Failing to detect the umbilical cord wrapped around a baby’s neck;
• Unreasonable delay in performing an emergency Cesarean section;
• Failure to test and treat conditions during pregnancy, or misdiagnosis
• Failing to recognize negative fetal signs

Approximately 27 of every 1,000 births in the United States results in a birth injury. A “birth injury” is defined as any type of damage to an infant’s body before, during or just after birth. The March of Dimes cites 60 percent of birth defects due to unknown causes; however, thousands of developmental defects and fetal deaths are attributable to an expectant mother’s exposure to toxic substances. Studies have shown that women living within two miles of a landfill have an increased chance of giving birth to a baby with spina bifida, a hole in the heart, or other defects. Pregnant women exposed to high levels of pollutants have almost three times the risk of delivering an infant with a cardiac problem. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are well documented hazards to pregnant women and may inhibit a child’s intellectual ability, short and long-term memory and attention span. Microcephaly (an abnormally small head circumference) is caused by detrimental in utero factors such as pharmaceutical drugs, radiation, or a mother’s prenatal infection of rubella (German measles).

Heavy metals (gold, lead, mercury), cleaning solutions, paint, caffeine, radiation, drugs and alcohol are also culprits in causing birth defects. Manufacturers who fail to inform (via labeling) pregnant women of the risk can be held responsible for the birth defects caused by their products.

There are many “natural” circumstances wherein oxygen deprivation can occur during the labor and delivery process: the umbilical cord can become compressed or twisted in the birth process; the baby is too large to pass through the birth canal easily, or the baby is breach or sideways in the womb.

There are also many circumstances where brain damage or brain injuries are caused by mistakes made by doctors, hospitals or other medical professionals during the delivery process: a delay in performing a necessary C-section delivery, complication with a VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section) delivery - such as uterine rupture, use of excessive force during the delivery, or a miscalculation in the size of the baby, causing a traumatic delivery.

http://www.syracuseinjurylaw.com/birth_injuries.html

Underage drinking is the number ONE youth drug problem in the United States. About 5,000 people under the age of  21 die each year due to underage drinking. This does not include sexual assaults, violence and injuries.

The minimum drinking age is the most studied public health law ever. As you might guess, lowering the drinking age costs lives. Some have suggested that we should experiment by lowering the drinking age and see what happens. Organizations have “experimented” with giving alcohol to teenagers 18 and 19 years old and studies find they are much more immature and irresponsible when they are drunk then the average 21 year old adult.   

In 1999, New Zealand lowered its drinking age from 20 to 18. Not only did the alcohol-involved crash rate increase among 18 and 19 year olds (12% increase for males; 51% for females), but also among 15-17 year olds (14% increase for males; 24% for females).

A lower drinking age promotes unsafe binge drinking. Most European countries with lower drinking ages have not only higher drinking rates, but higher binge drinking/intoxication rates. As a result, several of these countries are considering increasing their drinking ages because the 21 minimum drinking ages is so effective. In the United States  statistics prove that from 1983 (the year before the national 21 law) to 1988 (the year when all states had adopted it), binge drinking among 12th graders dropped 15 percent during the same time binge drinking rates were increasing among the same age groups in Canada.

In fact, all underage drinking is unsafe drinking. Research has shown that the brain continues to develop into the early twenties. The part that controls reasoning and cognitive ability takes the longest to mature; thus, underage drinking, especially heavy drinking, affects memory and reasoning. The part of the brain responsible for forming new memories is noticeably smaller in youth who abuse alcohol. Alcohol use in adolescence also decreases executive functioning, memory, spatial operations, and attention among adolescents.  Research shows most of this damage is permanent.

The most dangerous room in a house happens to be a tie between the kitchen and bathroom. Many people visit hospitals reporting injuries happening in these two rooms.

Every year, there are about 200,000 bathroom slip and fall accidents. The Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention compiles statistics on falls.  The leading cause of injury among older adults, is a slip and fall accident in the bathroom resulting in a fractured hip or traumatic brain injury.

Each year in the United States alone, more than 100,000 people go to the emergency room reporting kitchen related injuries such as burns and cuts from knives. Hot water alone causes 3,800 injuries and 34 deaths each year in the United States. Water boils at 212 degrees and it only takes a second to get third-degree burns. A knife slip means a nasty cut, stitches or potentially even the loss of a finger or two. Propane stoves cause many fire accidents and a glass casserole dish left on top of a range burner can explode, sending shards of glass in every direction.

Be careful of the potential hazards throughout your home, especially in the bathroom and kitchen.
http://www.noahbalmer.com/noahbalmer_research_bathroom_safety.pdf
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/the-most-dangerous-room-in-the-house/

Light Rail officials told ABC15 they are starting to re-focus their efforts on safety now that the official grand opening ceremony is complete.

Four minor collisions have impacted the new train system since December, including one that occurred during the practice phase.

“They’re all unfortunate,” said Hillary Foose, a Light Rail spokesperson.  “If there is any silver lining it gives us the opportunity to talk more publicly about safety and how to be safe, reinforcing the message about obeying the traffic signals,” she said.

Foose said all of the collisions are under investigation, but it appears as if most of the independent drivers involved in these cases failed to obey all of the traffic laws.

Currently, Tempe Police are reviewing the surveillance tapes from the trains.

According to Foose, each train car contains sixteen cameras, including ten that monitor the exterior of the train in several different angles.

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/story/4-accidents-cause-Light-Rail-to-refocus-safety/oTvU6-nBmUmEyONOiW4_dw.cspx

Each year thousands of people suffer personal injury from slip and fall accidents, as the result of another person’s negligence. Slip and falls are one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in the United States.

The term slip and fall, or trip and fall, refers to a situation in which a person suffers an injury from a fall due to an unsafe, hazardous condition. Slip and fall accidents can occur inside or outside and can be caused by various conditions, including water on the ground, poorly lit stairs, rugs that seem to be lose, holes in the sidewalk, etc. If you are injured in a slip and fall accident due to a dangerous condition that the owner knew, or should have known, about he or she can be held legally liable.

In these instances, get the names and numbers of any witnesses to the accident, as well as people who were there after the accident occurred. It is also helpful to take photographs of the dangerous conditions, before the property owner has a chance to fix it. Slip and fall cases can be hard to prove, so it is important to have knowledgeable representation that can help you gather the essential evidence as soon as possible.

If you or a loved one suffers from severe injuries or death from a slip and fall accident, the Phoenix personal injury lawyers of Phillips and Lyon will help you get the money you deserve. Contact us now.
http://www.sgklawyers.com/PracticeAreas/Personal-Injury.asp#slip

A few tips and suggestion on how to be safe when riding your motorcycle!

1. Take a basic riding class to learn better riding techniques and helpful hints. More than 90% of riders involved in accidents had no formal training.

2. Make sure you have a motorcycle license! Nearly half of all motorcycle riders involved in accidents are unlicensed or improperly licensed.
3. Prepare for your ride. Wear appropriate gear for comfort and protection including proper shoes and most importantly a helmet!
4. Make sure you can be seen by the other drivers on the road. Stand out and wear bright clothing and use retro reflective material.
5. Make sure you are alert while riding. Fatigue or drowsiness can impair a motorcyclist’s ability to react.
6. Have a plan when riding in a group, determine your route in advance and coordinate it with the other riders.
7. Make sure your motorcycle is safe to ride.  If something fails on a motorcycle it can be very dangerous.
8. Ride sober. Alcohol and other drugs affect judgment and do not mix with motorcycling.
9. Don’t speed.  Speeding increases the risk of a serious injury accident by 60%.
10.  Be considerate on the road; show courtesy and respect to other drivers.

The attorneys at Phillips & Lyon have a well-earned reputation for protecting the rights of motorcycle accident victims. Unlike other firms in the Phoenix area, our senior partners are involved in every case and Greg Lyon, a senior partner, is an avid motorcycle rider! Our steadfast commitment to our injured clients along with our wealth of experience has lead to consistent results for our clients.

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/mcyc-tip.htm

An airbag, or supplemental restraint, is designed to protect drivers from making a hard impact during a car accident. Being a “supplemental restraint” gives the general idea that both seatbelts and airbags need to be used together, not just one or the other. If the airbag inflates, the seat belt will act by providing body support and preventing occupant ejection. The airbag can be said to bear similar texture to a soft cushion, and this cushion is what separates the driver from other hard surfaces in the car like the steering wheel, windshield, and dashboard and prevent severe injuries.

Furthermore, it is called a “passive” safety component, because it only inflates after an accident has occurred, it doesn’t prevent accidents from occurring. Airbags help avoid or lessen the risk of severe head and chest injuries in collisions.

 The inflation of an airbag is triggered by the airbag control unit, which reacts to the crash sensor when it detects a heavy impact.  The airbags release rapidly and protect the passenger from more severe injuries.  Airbags are known to cause “burns” on the driver’s arms or other injuries, but the injuries caused by an airbag are usually far less then if there was no airbag.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, please contact Phillips and Lyon!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Airbags&id=1315758

These perfect scores varied from the safety cage, restraints, airbags, “crumple zones”, and how secure the driver’s and passenger’s head, neck, chest, pelvis, leg and foot are.