Gymnastics Accidents Cause 86,000 Injuries Annually
Every year in the United States, 86,000 injuries caused by gymnastics accidents are treated in emergency rooms and doctor’s offices. Gymnastics is a rigorous sport and the risk of injury only increases with the child’s age and complexity of the routines. Although gymnastics-related injuries are not often severe, they should be seen by a medical professional to try and prevent chronic pain or muscle weakness that could lead to further injury.
Common Gymnastics Injuries
In gymnastics exercises, the upper body is used as a weight-bearing joint which causes many injuries to the shoulder, elbow, and wrist:
Superior Labrum, Anterior-Posterior (SLAP) Lesions in the Shoulder
Labral tears (also called SLAP tears) most commonly occur during ring exercises. These tears are characterized by pain that seems to clear up but tends to recur when the activity is resumed. An MRI is sometimes used to establish a definitive diagnosis.
Elbow Dislocation
A dislocated elbow occurs when the bones that form the elbow joint are displaced from their normal position. Dislocated elbows are typically caused when a gymnast breaks their fall with an extended straight arm. Dislocated elbows require immediate medical attention.
Wrist Sprains
The wrist takes on a big load in gymnastics; often subjected to forces that can exceed twice the body weight. After a wrist injury, athletes should cut back on training hours and intensity and avoid activities that hurt the wrist over a six-week recovery period. A brace may be worn during this time to help immobilize the wrist.
When gymnastics injuries happen to the lower body they are usually a result from a landing or dismount and involve the knee and ankle:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
ACL injuries are caused when a gymnast lands “short” or is over-rotated while tumbling, dismounting, or vaulting. Sometimes a “pop” is heard or felt followed by a swollen knee. An MRI is often performed to confirm an ACL injury. ACL reconstruction is often recommended for gymnasts who wish to return to full form.
Achilles Tendon Injury
Gymnasts land and jump repeatedly and thus can suffer from a variety of injuries to the Achilles tendon located just above the back of the heel. Achilles tendinitis causes sore calf muscles and treatment often includes an initial ultrasound, stretching, activity modification, and calf exercises. In severe cases, foot immobilization may be recommended for seven to ten days.
Lower Back Injuries
Low back pain and injuries are caused by muscle strain, ligament sprain, fracture, and/or disc disorders. Low-back pain can worsen with activity, especially with extension movements, such as arching the shoulders backwards. Gymnasts often recover well with rest and physical therapy exercises. An MRI or a bone scan are often helpful to rule out more significant injuries.
Foot and Ankle Injuries
Injuries to the foot and ankle are common in gymnastics but with varying degrees of severity. Signs of a serious foot injury include swelling, bruising and tenderness directly over the bones. Minor foot injuries will typically have tenderness limited to one side of the joint and lack significant swelling. Serious injuries should be seen by a medical professional and may require significant rest before returning to the sport while minor injuries may be resolved in a week. Protecting the ankle with tape or a brace can help speed recovery and reduce the risk for re-injury.
Gymnastics Safety Tips
Along with the following safety tips, proper training techniques and the consistent use of safety equipment can help to prevent gymnastics related injuries:
- Always wear safety gear while training or competing including items such as wrist guards, hand grips, footwear, ankle or elbow braces, and pads.
- If you are injured or you are in pain be sure to see your doctor and follow instructions for treatment.
- A first aid kit should be accessible during all competitions and practices.
- Equipment should be inspected for safety before using it for training including an assessment of its condition, padding on the floors, secured mats under every apparatus, and safety harnesses for learning difficult moves.
- A spotter should always be in place while learning new skills.
- Before jumping into training, warm up muscles with light aerobic exercise such as jumping jacks or running in place.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreRecreational Fishing Safety Tips
Recreational fishing is a hugely popular sport and means of sustenance for millions of people around the world. There are, however, many things that can go wrong while fishing such as boat engine failure, a fall on the boat deck, boat collision, an accident with a hook, etc. There are many types of fishing, people, and boating situations that can lead to accidents on the water including sport anglers on charter boats, whale watchers, ferry passengers, and harbor tour passengers. Each year hundreds of people die, thousands are injured, and millions of dollars of property damage is incurred because of preventable recreational boating and fishing accidents.
Fishing Safety Tips
1. If you’re on a boat to fish you should be wearing a life jacket. The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that life jackets could have saved the lives of over 80 percent of boating fatality victims.
2. Inspect waterfronts each day that you go out to fish as the water environment changes daily.
3. Follow the rules and don’t fish in areas where it is not permitted. You must trust that these areas have been declared “off limits” to protect wildlife, vegetation, or for your safety.
4. Consider safety factors when choosing a location to fish.
5. Weather changes frequently and is always a factor in safe boating. Set up a weather committee or person in charge of weather forecasting responsibilities.
6. Just like when packing for a hike, bring along extra safety items such as water, flashlights, maps, and a cell phone or GPS radio.
7. Stay dry, warm and protected from the sun, wind, and rain. Wear a waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply every two hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wear thin layers of clothing that start light for warm weather, cover up with warm clothes for cold weather and water/wind resistant gear for the final layer. Wear shoes that will keep your feet warm and dry and with good soles to stop a slip on the deck. Wear a hat for sun and rain protection.
8. Bring along insect repellent.
9. Sharpen fishing knives at the start of each season and keep blades covered when not in use.
10. Handle fish carefully, particularly when cleaning with a knife.
11. Use safety glasses when casting.
12. Use caution when baiting and removing hooks.
13. Perform a vessel safety check at the start of each season or go to one of the free safety checks provided around your community.
14. Operator errors account for 70 percent of boating accidents. Take a boating safety course before operating a boat for the first time and every five years to stay fresh on your safety skills.
15. Educate yourself about the potentially lethal boating danger of Carbon Monoxide.
16. Boating under the Influence is a serious offense that can lead to hefty fines and jail time. Alcohol is a factor in one third of all boating accidents.
17. Create a float plan in case of emergency.
Liability for Fishing Accidents
People injured on recreational fishing boat are not seamen covered under the Jones Act but federal maritime law and admiralty jurisdiction could still be a factor in resolving liability in a fishing accident. The plaintiff is usually looking to establish negligence on the part of the owner or operator of the vessel. Winning damages from a lawsuit involving recreational fishing or boating can be very complicated; it often involves conflicts between state and federal law. Your best chance to win damages from your case is to hire an experienced maritime personal injury lawyer like the ones at Tario & Associates, P.S.
Note: Federal Law requires boating operators to file a boating accident report with the State reporting authority.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreTop 4 Farm Accidents
Some may idealize the beauty of working the land to harvest food and grain without acknowledging the inherent risk for farm accidents. Compared to the simple tools used thousands of years ago, today’s farmers must contend with modern machinery and chemicals. Farming accidents are a real factor to consider when becoming a farmer or looking for farming work. Read on for a discussion of farm accident statistics and farm safety tips.
Farm Accident Statistics
Fatalities
- In 2012 alone there were 374 farming related deaths; resulting in a very high fatality rate of 20.2 deaths per 100,000 workers. Tractor overturns were the leading cause of death for these farmers and farm workers with about 270 per year.
- On average, 113 youth under the age of 20 die every year from farm-related injuries (taken from statistics between 1995 and 2002), with 34 percent of these deaths occurring to youth between 16 and 19 years of age.
- 23 percent of all deaths among youth involved machinery (including tractors).
Injuries
- Agricultural workers suffer work-place injuries at a high rate compared to other types of work. Every day, about 167 agricultural workers suffer an injury that requires time off from work to recover; five percent of these injuries result in permanent impairment.
- In 2012, approximately 14,000 youth were injured on farms; 2,700 of these injuries were as a result of farm work.
Top 4 Farm Accidents
- Tractor accidents are by far the most common and deadly farming accidents; tractor related deaths account for anywhere between 250 and 300 deaths per year. The most common cause for serious injury involving a tractor is the rollover. Technology does exist for rollover protective structures and high quality seat belts but many tractors do not come with that equipment.
- With the amount of grain, fruit, hay, and other commodities that get moved around a farm, sometimes worker become entrapped under a load of product in a silo, barn, or other similar structure.
- Many farmers use heavy doses of chemicals to care for their livestock, enhance soil, and treat produce. There is potential for farm workers to become exposed and sick from these chemicals which can lead to both short and long term negative health effects.
- Injuries occur from direct contact with farm animals including trampling, sickness, etc.
Tips on Preventing Farm Accidents
The OSHA fact sheet offers insight into the lead causes of farming accidents and how to prevent them: Common accident factors include: Roll-over protective structures for tractors, emergency preparedness, age of workers, and protective equipment for farming machinery.
The most effective way to prevent tractor overturn deaths by tractors is the use of a Roll-Over Protective Structure (ROPS). In 2012, just 59 percent of tractors used on farms in the U.S. were equipped with ROPS. It is believed that survival rate of overturn when in a properly protected tractor improves from a frightening 38 percent up to 99 percent. These numbers show that it is irresponsible not to provide these safety elements on all tractor models.
Farmers should embrace emergency preparedness as a way to prevent or best handle accidents. It is important to consider that farms are often in rural areas with a long drive to a hospital. In order to prepare for possible accidents, farmers should take inventory of all hazardous material and equipment on the premises and supply the proper measures to deal with injury. For example, a physical injury will require first aid; a chemical burn can require poison prevention, etc.
People under the age of 15 and over the age of 65 are most likely to be injured in general and that applies on the farm as well. Farm owners should accommodate those people most at risk and make sure they have the proper safety equipment, training and, if applicable, supervision to avoid an accident.
Protective equipment on farm machines is critical for safety. Farming equipment is usually large and capable of chopping, shredding, gathering, and more. Seat belts and other protective measures are rarely required by law so shortcuts are often taken despite the lives and injuries that could be saved if they were used.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreTrampoline Accidents
Despite their popularity, pediatricians and safety experts warn that home trampolines are “intrinsically dangerous” and should be strongly discouraged. Children love to jump on trampolines and parents love that they help their kids burn energy and keep them busy but the risks seem to strongly outweigh the benefits. While trampoline parks are growing in popularity, sales of home trampolines peaked several years ago. A 2007 study conducted by researchers at Brown Medical School reported that despite a decline in sales, trampoline injuries this decade have doubled compared to last decade. They found that over half a million kids were treated in emergency rooms for home trampoline-related injuries between 2000 and 2005.
Parents may believe that they are making their trampoline safe by adding safety features like complete netting enclosures and padding over the springs but according to pediatricians they don’t actually significantly decrease the risk of injury. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, The Canadian Pediatric Society, and the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine have all issued similar statements discouraging recreational and playground use of trampolines, citing safety concerns. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ statement on trampoline safety published in the journal Pediatrics does acknowledge that trampolines “…have an acceptable role when used as part of a structured athletic training program with appropriate coaching, supervision, and safety measures in place.”
Trampoline Accident Statistics
The National Electronic Injury Surveillance report for 2009 estimates that there were 98,000 trampoline-related injuries that year; the injuries resulted in 3,100 hospitalizations. Those numbers are down from 3,300 hospitalizations and 112,000 injuries in 2004.
About 75 percent of trampoline injuries occur when more than one person is jumping on the trampoline.
Kids five and under are usually at greater risk for significant injury in a trampoline accident. Many of these accidents happen under adult supervision.
Although fractures and dislocations make up 48 percent of all trampoline injuries, other common injuries include sprains, strains, and contusions.
Falls from a trampoline caused 27 percent to 39 percent of all injuries; falls can be catastrophic, resulting in head and neck injuries.
Head and neck injuries account for 10 percent to 17 percent of all trampoline accidents.
Common Trampoline Injuries
- Broken arms and legs
- Concussions
- Lacerations
- Abdominal injuries
Trampoline Safety Tips
- One jumper at a time
- No somersaults
- Adult supervision
Many parents simply do not understand the risks associated with jumping on a trampoline nor the liability that comes with allowing other children to jump on your trampoline. Many home insurance policies exclude coverage for trampoline injuries or mandate that they are within enclosed areas with restricted access.
In their defense, trampoline makers say the pediatricians’ statement is based on old data from before safety nets were common and fails to acknowledge the valuable health benefits associated with trampoline use. Today about 85 percent of the approximately 900,000 home trampolines sold are purchased with a safety net. Jumping on a trampoline is a great way to get exercise, which is sorely lacking for too many children in the last decade.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreAmusement Park Accidents
Summer has long been associated with hot, dusty days spent riding the rides at amusement parks. Children relish the thrill of the roller coaster and the tilt-a-whirl while parents have memories of getting sick on the rides as youngsters. Whether it is a travelling amusement park or a year-round themed park, amusement park accidents are a real threat to the fun. Some rides have caused very serious or life-altering injuries and many times ride operators are unskilled summer workers who are not adequately trained or paid.
Amusement Park Accident Statistics
According to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were approximately 8,800 people who sought treatment for amusement park injuries in emergency rooms in 2006. It is estimated that 4,400 children are hurt each year on amusement park rides, but only 1.5 percent of those injuries are serious enough to require hospitalization. Between 1990 and 2000, approximately 93,000 children under the age of 18 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries incurred at amusement parks or traveling carnivals.
Children account for about 50 percent of all amusement park injuries, with kids between ten and 14 years old sustaining the most injuries of any age group with 17.9 percent of all reported injuries. Children are also the victims in three quarters of those accidents that involve a rider falling or forcefully ejected from an amusement park ride. Between 1987 and 2000, 51 people were killed on amusement park rides; roller coasters accounted for 16 deaths and whirling rides for 11 deaths.
Amusement Park Ride Injuries
Catastrophic amusement park ride injuries include:
- traumatic brain injuries
- neck or spine injuries
- broken bones
- internal injuries
- crush injuries
- amputations
- electrocution
- whiplash
- brain hemorrhages
- paraplegia/quadriplegia
- death
Causes of Amusement Park Accidents
A great personal Injury attorney will understand and evaluate every possible cause of an injury. Common causes of amusement park accidents include everything from operator error, mechanical or design flaw or failure, design defects or limitations, loose, worn, or rusty cables, nuts or bolts, faulty or inadequate safety features, improper height or weight calculations or restrictions, and exposed electrical wires. Environmental factors such as proximity to salt water and high temperatures must also be taken into consideration when evaluating damage to rides that could have caused the accident.
Liability for Damages
In an amusement park accident, you are likely looking at a combination of product liability, negligence, and premises liability law. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in an amusement park ride accident or carnival accident you should seek the help of an experienced amusement park accident attorney who will investigate the cause of the accident and fight for damages on your behalf.
Like many businesses, most amusement parks and carnival operators will not settle a claim unless they are sued. Never agree to settle a claim without the help of an accident lawyer who will help you settle in your favor.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreSecondary Drowning: What You Need to Know
Although most people have never heard of it, secondary drowning has been making headlines in the last couple of years as tragic cases have made national news. Everyone is aware that drowning is a serious concern but it turns out that drowning doesn’t always occur while someone is in the water. Secondary drowning accounts for just one to three percent of all drowning deaths but it is important to know its symptoms in case your child is in trouble. So what exactly is secondary drowning?
Secondary Drowning Defined
Secondary Drowning is defined as pulmonary edema that occurs one to 24 hours after a near-drowning due to loss of surfactant. It is a secondary injury to the lung caused by a small amount of water being inhaled into the lung from a near-drowning incident or a sudden rush of water. It is sometimes also called “parking lot drowning” in reference to the fact that the person leaves the water and then drowns.
What is so terrifying about secondary drowning is that the swimmer often appears fine immediately after the water is inhaled but over the next 24 hours the water in the lungs starts to cause edema (swelling). When the lungs’ alveoli are filled with water, they cannot exchange oxygen to and from the blood and this causes the heart to slow as the swimmer’s blood oxygen level drops.
The exact number of secondary drownings is not known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Consumer Product Safety Commission don’t separate active (or wet) drowning incidents from secondary drownings in their statistics. There are about 400 pool and spa drownings each year in the United States that involve children younger than 15 years old; 75 percent of these deaths occur in children under the age of five.
Secondary Drowning Symptoms
Symptoms of secondary drowning appear one to 24 hours after the incident and can include:
- persistent coughing
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- lethargy
- fever
- unusual mood change
Parents should keep an eye out for complaints of these symptoms because if the swelling is caught early, doctors can administer oxygen and try to remove the fluid from the lungs using diuretics and positive air pressure.
If the symptoms go untreated, the water irritates the lung tissue, causing inflammation that then progresses to pulmonary edema (you will see a pink frothy discharge from the victim’s nose and mouth), hypoxia/anoxia, respiratory and cardiac arrest, and death. The lungs themselves start to create fluid; you are literally filling up with fluid and drowning even though you are no longer in the water.
The American Red Cross recently launched a national campaign to reduce the drowning rate in 50 U.S. cities by 50% over the next three to five years. Check with your local pool for certified swimming instructors and classes.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation!
Read MoreSummer Safety Tips
Summer is here and many people are taking advantage of the opportunity to get outside and participate in activities such as camping, road trips, and playgrounds. Children in particular are able to partake in summer fun since school is out. It’s our job as parents to make sure our children are safe while partaking in summer activities and we can reduce the risk of injury to ourselves and our children by following some simple safety guidelines.
Summer Safety Guidelines
Playing Outside is a wonderful way to have fun and get some exercise but following some safety tips can help prevent injuries. Outdoor safety tips:
- Don’t forget to wear a helmet every time you ride bikes or use skates or skateboards.
- Bike riders under the age of ten should only bike on bike paths or the sidewalk if necessary; they simply do not possess the skills to navigate traffic.
- Climbing trees, swinging on tire swings, and playing in tree houses is a cherished summer tradition but falling from a tree can cause serious injuries. Make sure the tree house and tire swing are no higher than ten feet in the air and encourage children not to climb to the top of the tallest trees. A fall will be less serious if the ground underneath a tree house, swing, or other play equipment is softened with a 12 inch layer of wood chips or mulch.
- Backyard trampolines can cause many injuries from flying off onto the ground to getting a leg or foot caught in the coils. The bottom line is that trampolines are not safe unless the coils are covered and there is a safety net attached all the way around.
- Make sure your children are not playing close to a street and teach them to never run after a ball or toy that has rolled into the street.
- Set strict limits about where your children are allowed to ride bikes and play outside. Always know where they are and who they are with.
- Sun feels great until you’ve had too much. Use these sunshine safety tips to avoid a sunburn or heatstroke:
- Since the sun is the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., limit the amount of time you spend outside during these hours.
- Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 on yourself and 30 on your children about 30 minutes before heading outside. Be sure to reapply the sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating. Remember that even if it’s cloudy, you should use sunscreen.
- To avoid heatstroke and dehydration, be sure everyone drinks plenty of water.
- On hot days, be careful to limit intense physical activity outside.
- Be aware that cars can reach very high temperatures in the sun even if it’s only 65 degrees outside. NEVER leave your child or pet alone in the car, even for a minute.
- Always lock your car doors and keep keys away from children who could climb in the car unbeknownst to you, become trapped and overheat.
Swimming Safety Tips:
- If there are ever children around, a backyard pool should be surrounded on all sides by a four feet high fence with a self-closing gate.
- Children under the age of 12 should only be allowed to use the pool if an adult is watching them carefully without distraction and within arm’s reach.
- Parents should watch for signs of drowning such as the inability to speak and head barely above water.
Fireworks are fun to watch from afar but they can be very dangerous when not lit carefully. Here are some fireworks safety tips:
- Even sparklers, which are commonly thought of as “safe” for kids, can reach temperatures of 1000 degrees F and easily ignite clothing.
- Adult supervision cannot prevent all fireworks injuries.
- Even if you do not let your child play with fireworks, he can be injured by someone else who lets him.
- The best and only safe way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display by professionals.
- Window Safety Tips:
- If you leave windows open during the summer, remember that your little one could fall through the screen. Use window stops to prevent children from opening windows all the way and install window guards on all second story windows.
- Children can climb on furniture to reach windows so keep all furniture pushed away from windows.
Other Summer Safety Tips:
- Do not mow your lawn while children are outside playing as they could be hit with a rock or stick thrown by the mower.
- Keep lawn equipment locked up and away from children.
- Grill outside and away from the house.
- Check your yard for poisonous plants and insects and remove any if possible.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation!
Read MoreSkateboarding Accidents
Skateboarding is an adrenaline filled sport and pastime that carries with it a risk of falling. Common injuries from skateboarding accidents include lower limb, upper limb, and spinal or hip injuries. More serious injuries such as fractures increase the higher the jumps and the faster the speed of travel. Thankfully, most skateboarding injuries are considered soft tissue injuries such as bruising or sprains that will heal on their own or respond well to alternative medical treatments. If you are skateboarding, experience a serious fall and suspect a concussion or broken bone, it is best to go to the Emergency Room to be assessed by a doctor.
Skateboarding Accident Injury Statistics
Not surprisingly, the number of skateboarding injuries has increased as the sport has grown in popularity and injuries are expected to increase as more unusual and risky tricks become the norm.
Skateboarding injuries most often occur to the wrist, ankle or face, which makes sense because many of these injuries happen when a skateboarder loses his balance, falls off the skateboard and lands on an outstretched arm. Younger skateboarders are more prone to fractures than older skateboarders.
91 percent of skateboarding injuries among children occurred while skateboarding on ramps and at arenas; only 9 percent were injured while skateboarding on roads.
37 percent of the injuries occurred because of a loss of balance, and 26 percent occurred because of a failed trick attempt. Falls caused by surface irregularities were common but resulted in the highest proportion of moderate injuries.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Skateboarding is not recommended for children under the age of 5 because they do not yet have the physical skills and thinking ability a person needs to control a skateboard and ride it safely. 60 percent of skateboarding injuries involve Children under the age of 15, mostly boys.
Despite the risk of injury, overall skateboarding is a fun and healthy sport that provides a low-impact cardiovascular workout and an adrenaline rush!
How to Decrease your Risk of a Skateboarding Injury
- Practice common sense: skateboard as safely as you can based on your skill level and use protective equipment such as helmets and wrist guards.
- Learn the basic skills of skateboarding, especially how to stop properly.
- Avoid a crash with a vehicle or person; skate in professionally designed “bowls” and “ramps” or other designated skateboarding areas that are located away from car and pedestrian traffic.
- Only do tricks within your ability/level of skill.
- Use a quality skateboard and keep it in proper working order
- Do not use headphones while skateboarding; it is too easy to be distracted or to miss the sound of oncoming danger.
- Never put more than one person on a skateboard.
- Children aged 6 to 10 years should only ride a skateboard under the close supervision of an adult or trusted teenager.
Recommended Skateboarding Protective Equipment
- Helmet
- Wrist guards
- Knee and elbow pads
- Shoes
Skateboarding Accidents Risk Factors
Inexperience. One-third of skateboarding accidents and injuries happen to people who have been skating for less than a week.
Lack of protective equipment. Since trips and falls are common while skateboarding, protective gear can break the fall and reduce the severity of the injury.
Skating in dangerous places. Skateboarding near motor vehicle traffic or on a homemade skateboard ramp are at a very high risk for injury.
Poor riding surfaces. It is easy to fall if you are stumbling over rocks, twigs, or rough, cracked pavement.
Risky stunts. The more risks one takes for stunts, the more likely they are to get in an accident.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation!
Read MoreGeneral Motors Recall Internal Investigation Released
A scathing internal report released by General Motors (GM) indicates that lives could have been saved if faulty ignition switches placed on Chevrolet Cobalts and Saturn Ions had been recalled when it was first discovered that they did not live up to specifications over a decade ago. Former U.S. Attorney Anton Valukas, who headed the investigation, submitted his 325 page report to the National Highway and Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May, 29, 2014. GM has opened a fund to compensate families that lost loved ones.
The engineer, 61 year old Ray DeGiorgio, who approved the switches for production has now been fired along with 14 other employees. It is not entirely clear why the other employees were fired; after interviewing hundreds of witnesses no other GM personnel could be identified as knowing the switches were faulty before 2013. Valukas was able to uncover e-mails between DeGiorgio and Delphi, the supplier working on the ignition switches, as far back as 2002, that make it clear that DeGiorgio knew there were problems but chose to go forward instead of delay production to replace the part. The report does indicate, however, that neither the engineer nor the company was aware that the faulty switch would cause air bags not to deploy in a crash, which in turn endangered thousands of drivers, killed 13, and injured many. The company had only issued a global recall of 2.6 million Saturn Ions and Chevrolet Cobalts over the faulty ignition switches earlier this year.
In his report, Valukas recommends that GM make several changes both cultural and practical to ensure that a deadly, costly, and embarrassing mistake like this never happens again.
Corporate Changes Recommended
- The board should receive quarterly reports on production.
- Safety must be “embedded in the fabric of the organization.”
- Employees need to understand that they have an obligation to raise concerns about safety and speak up until they are heard.
- A plan needs to be put in place to ensure that executives all the way to the CEO are aware of safety concerns being raised at the production level.
The United States Department of Transportation recently announced that GM has agreed to pay a record, maximum $35 million civil penalty for violating federal safety laws by not reporting a safety issue to the Federal Government in a timely manner, and also to have unprecedented oversight requirements while the investigation is underway. The agreement, made in a Consent Order with the NHTSA, orders GM to make broad internal changes to how it handles reviews of safety-related issues and to improve its ability to decipher possible consequences to product defects in the United States. GM is also obligated to pay additional civil penalties for failing to respond on time to the agency’s document demands during NHTSA’s investigation. Federal law requires auto manufacturers to notify NHTSA within five business days of determining that a safety-related product defect exists or that a vehicle is not in compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards and to issue a recall in a timely manner.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation!
Read MoreRoad Construction Accidents
In the Pacific Northwest, warmer weather means road construction season. Road construction can seem endless but projects are often necessary to keep roads in good driving condition or to expand roadways to adapt to increased traffic flow. Flaggers are usually in place to remind drivers to slow down, navigate around pot holes, debris and cones, and to help cars take turns but road construction accidents do happen. To avoid an accident, it is best to slow way down, follow the instructions of the flagger and be aware of pot holes and equipment on the road.
Road Construction Accident Statistics
- In 2010, there were 87,606 car accidents in work zones which accounted for just 1.6% of total roadway crashes in that year.
- Only 0.6 percent of road construction accidents were fatal, 30% were injury crashes and 69% were property damage only crashes.
- There were 37,476 injuries in road construction work zones in 2010. This means that there was one work zone injury every 14 minutes (96 a day), or about four people injured every hour.
- Texas, California, and Florida ranked as the States with the highest number of motor vehicle crash fatalities in construction and maintenance work zones in 2012, each with at least 50 deaths.
- In 2012, 75% of occupational fatalities in work zones occurred to workers in the following occupations: construction laborers, highway maintenance workers, heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers, first-line supervisors of construction and extraction workers, and construction equipment operators.
Work Zone Car Accident Fatalities
- In 2010, there were 514 fatal road construction accidents which caused 576 fatalities.
- 576 fatalities in a year is equal to one work zone fatality every 15 hours (or 1.6 a day) and 2% of all roadway fatalities that year.
- The number of work zone fatalities has been steadily decreasing since 2002. There was a 51% decrease in work zone fatalities between 2002 and 2010 compared to a 23% decrease in overall highway fatalities during that timeframe.
- Common Factors of Road Construction Car Accident Fatalities
- Not wearing a seatbelt (53% of cases)
- Speeding (31% of cases)
- Alcohol (20% of cases)
- Time of Day
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