North Carolina Injury Blog

Beware of drunk drivers this holiday season

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC posted in Car Accidents on Friday, December 6, 2019.

Now that the holiday season is here, anyone on the road needs to ensure that they are aware of the signs of a drunk driver. If you spot someone who you suspect is driving under the influence of alcohol, try to stay away from them. This might be challenging; however, it could help you remain safe on the road.

There are several signs that a driver might be impaired. These include behaviors like swerving between lanes, driving off the road, stopping in the middle of the traffic lane, failing to obey traffic signals or tailgating. Some impaired drivers won't turn their headlights on once it gets dark outside. Others might straddle the centerline, accelerate quickly, drive too fast or too slowly and drive against traffic. All of these behaviors are dangerous and put innocent people in danger of being struck.

Try to avoid the blind spots around commercial trucks for safety

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC posted in trucking accidents on Friday, November 29, 2019.

Commercial trucks are several times taller, longer and heavier than even the largest passenger vehicles on the road. That means that they create unique concerns for the people driving them. Commercial truck drivers have to go through special educational programs to safely manage large commercial trucks, and standard driving school usually includes lessons on sharing the road safely.

As someone in a passenger vehicle, you want to avoid getting into a collision with a commercial truck, as their size makes it highly likely that you will suffer devastating injuries or catastrophic property damage. Knowing how to stay out of the big blind spots around a commercial truck can help keep you safe.

Office workers have risks of injuries occurring

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, November 22, 2019.

People typically assume that working in an office setting is pretty safe. While it is true that these workers don't have a lot of the same hazards as construction workers or others who have manual labor to handle, there are still some risks that office workers face that must be addressed.

Even in an office, there is sometimes lifting that must be done. This might be picking up a case of paper or other office supplies. In order to do this safely, you have to ensure that the object isn't too heavy to lift alone. If it is heavy or bulky, you should get someone else in the office to help you lift it.

Motorcyclists should remain safe when riding in winter

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Friday, November 15, 2019.

People who ride motorcycles understand that safety must remain a priority while they are on the roads. It is imperative that they don't do things that might lead to them having accidents, but bikers can't control every potential hazard that they face. Other drivers are a huge risk for people who are on motorcycles.

The weather here lately hasn't been conducive to riding, but that doesn't mean that motorcycle enthusiasts are staying off the roads. Some choose to ride even though it is colder than normal, and they might also decide to head out when wintry precipitation is expected. For this reason, all drivers must ensure they remain vigilant as they traverse the state.

Seat belts can cause injuries in some car crashes

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC posted in Car Accidents on Friday, November 8, 2019.

Most people know that wearing a seat belt is the law, but what they might not realize is that there is a chance that this life-saving feature could cause injuries. The seat belt stops your body from flying around the vehicle, and possibly out of it, if there is a crash.

Occupants of vehicles have to realize that the benefits of wearing a seat belt far outweigh the hazards of not wearing one. The risk of having it on comes from the impact of your body pushing against it when the vehicle comes to an abrupt stop.

What must manual laborers know about work-related back injuries?

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC on Thursday, November 7, 2019.

Manual labor takes a toll on the body. Workers in the construction industry, those who have a warehouse position, and individuals in similar positions are at risk of a back injury. Around 30% of construction workers suffer from an injury to the back or spine that requires them to miss work.

To minimize the chance of construction workers and other laborers suffering from these injuries, employers and employees need at least a basic understanding of what can lead to them. Setting protocol to keep the risks minimal is imperative for all companies that have workers who might suffer injuries.

Proper safety protocol can minimize logging industry accidents

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, November 1, 2019.

The logging industry comes with several hazards for workers, but these can usually be minimized by the employers if they establish proper safety protocols. The rate of fatalities in this industry is 23 times higher than the rate for all workers in this country.

The greatest hazards for them are falling objects and being caught in or between objects. These accounted for around 59% of all fatalities. In 90% of those cases, the falling object was a limb, log, tree or snag. These are also the factors that can lead to catastrophic injuries on the job site.

Electrocutions at construction sites are often preventable

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC on Sunday, October 27, 2019.

There are many hazards that construction workers face on a daily basis, including electrocution, which is one of the four most fatal types of accidents. People who work in the construction industry are approximately four times more likely to suffer an electrocution than those in other industries.

While the percentage of workers who die from electrocutions is relatively low, there are still too many workers dying from this often-preventable cause. Employers must have a clear plan to help prevent electrocutions from occurring on job sites.

Broken bones can occur in car crashes

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC posted in Car Accidents on Friday, October 25, 2019.

Car wrecks lead to many types of injuries, including fractures. These occur when one of the bones in the body is broken or cracked as a result of pressure put on them. This is an injury that is usually noticed at the accident site because it causes intense pain in the area of the break. You might also notice discoloration, and the bone might poke through the skin in more serious breaks.

The violent force of a crash can break even the largest bones in the body. Broken legs, including the femur, are common in car wrecks. It is also possible to break the neck or spinal cord, the pelvis, the arms and the clavicle.

How far does a truck take to stop?

On behalf of of David & Associates, Attorneys at Law, PLLC posted in trucking accidents on Friday, October 18, 2019.

Whenever you're driving a semitruck, it is important to think about how the truck differs from a passenger vehicle and what that can mean for you.

One of the biggest differences, of course, is weight. Your standard car likely runs between 3,000 pounds and 4,000 pounds. Some SUVs and pickup trucks weigh a bit more.