Machine and metal workers in North Carolina know that their work environments present a considerable amount of risk to them daily. This potential danger makes it necessary for these workers to remain alert and aware while in the workplace.

A properly designed workplace and employees who understand safety protocol will do a lot to prevent the need for workers’ comp claims. However, some accidents that are common to the machine and metal shop environments will still happen from time to time.

Many injuries that happen in these work environments are the result of workers who use repetitive motions to lift and handle materials. These injuries usually consist of muscle strains and other minor injuries. Though painful, these strains do not often present a long-term health threat to the worker.

Machine and metal shop workers also face the risk of hurting themselves while working with hand tools. Workers should use tools only for the job they were designed to do, make sure the tools with which they work are properly maintained and adhere to all safety regulations regarding a particular hand tool. Strains are also common injuries sustained through the use of hand tools, but more serious injuries are possible.

Metal and machine shop workers face a threat from chemical hazards while in the workplace. Working with these substances is less dangerous when workers use the safety gear made available to them. It is also important for workers to ensure they are in an area that provides them with sufficient ventilation before working with chemicals.

Machine and metal shops should also use barriers to guard against workers coming into contact with dangerous machinery. These barriers can make a world of difference regarding the safety of the worksite and can protect workers from serious injuries. In addition to physical barriers, heavy machinery must receive proper maintenance to remain safe for workers to use.

Workplace hazards can result in injuries that affect the health of workers and hamper their ability to earn a living. Individuals with questions after suffering an injury in the workplace may find the answers they need by consulting with a personal injury attorney.

Posted in Workers' Compensation, Workplace Injuries | No Comments »

You need to maintain your vehicle to keep it safe and reliable for continued use on public roadways. When malfunctions or broken parts cause accidents, the driver and owner of that vehicle could be liable for the cost of bodily injuries arising from car accidents caused by poorly maintained vehicles.

Oldest and youngest drivers are most at risk

Motorists age 65 and older and teen drivers are the two age groups most likely to operate a vehicle that is in less than ideal operating condition, the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recently reported. The study says those two age groups typically have the least amount of money available to maintain vehicles, so they tend to drive older, used cars.

Both age groups also face higher risks in auto accidents. Older drivers suffer fatalities more often during accidents than other age groups. A lack of driving experience among teen drivers makes them most likely to be in accidents. Add in the likelihood of driving vehicles that are in poor mechanical condition, and both age groups often wind up in car accidents.

Local roadways add to dangers

North Carolina has a lot of scenic byways and mountain roadways that require vehicles to be in top shape to travel them safely. Those roadways become dangerous when traversing them in a car with poor brakes, worn-out tires or other issues that might lead to an accident. Inclement weather creates even more hazards that make travel downright dangerous for even vehicles in perfect condition.

Car accidents often trigger injury claims

Injuries suffered in car accidents can be very expensive to treat. An ambulance ride to an emergency room for costly medical treatment and a potential stay in the hospital could add up to very high costs. An experienced personal injury attorney may be able to help you obtain compensation for lost income and pain and suffering as well.

Posted in Car Accidents | No Comments »

It takes a great amount of force to fracture the femur, which is the strongest bone in the human body. High-impact car crashes, especially those involving pedestrians and motorcyclists, are the leading cause of femur fractures in North Carolina and across the U.S. Perhaps you were in such an accident yourself and suffered one.

The types of femur fractures

If you intend to file a personal injury claim, then you should be familiar with the nature of the injuries you incurred. The femur can be fractured at the head and neck, which connect to the hip; the shaft, or the midsection; or the distal end, which links the bone to the knee joint. Hip fractures, where the femoral neck is broken, tend to occur in older people with fragile bones.

Knee fractures, which involve a broken distal end, and fractures along the shaft arise most often from car accidents. In cases where the bone is crushed, it may splinter. Other injuries are partial breaks like stress fractures.

Femur fractures can be life-threatening

A femur fractures will be accompanied by complications, some potentially life-threatening, like torn muscles and ligaments, blood loss, blood clots and infection if the bone protrudes from the skin. Immediate medical attention is necessary in these cases.

Victims who break the femur along the shaft will likely need metal rods and screws to be implanted to reattach the pieces and straighten the bone. They may be given pain medications and have to undergo physical therapy and rehabilitative care. In cases of hip and knee fractures, victims may have their bone reattached via metal plates. If the risk for infection is high, they may take antibiotics.

What to do in the wake of a car crash

You suffered greatly in a motor vehicle accident, and now you’re wondering if you can recover damages from the other driver’s auto insurance company. Know that this state follows a pure contributory negligence rule, which bars plaintiffs from recovering if they are even 1% at fault. A lawyer may give your case personal attention and determine just how much you might be eligible for.

Posted in Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries | No Comments »

Perhaps you attend UNC Wilmington or work there, and during your drive to and from the campus, you were in a car accident. It could be that you had an advanced driver-assistance system on in your car or that the other driver did. It should be kept in mind that ADAS is not without its flaws. This may play a crucial role in your personal injury case here in Wilmington, North Carolina.

There’s no doubt that the global market for ADAS is growing. Market research firm MarketsandMarkets estimates that it will grow from $27 billion in 2020 to $83 billion by 2030. This comes to a growth of 12% each year.

Keeping drivers out of accidents

ADAS has so far been successful in preventing many accidents. LexisNexis Risk Solutions says that vehicles with ADAS experience 27% fewer bodily injury claims and 19% fewer property damage claims. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says about blind-spot detection, one ADAS feature, that it lowers crash involvement rate by 14%.

The way ADAS works is simple. Its main features are forward and rear collision warning and automatic emergency braking. The one alerts drivers to an impending crash while the other applies the brakes in time if drivers cannot. ADAS also includes safety features like:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Pedestrian detection
• Traffic-sign recognition

ADAS can be linked with unsafe driving

Though proven safe, ADAS can experience glitches and, for instance, apply the brakes at the wrong times. Drivers who mistakenly think ADAS can replace them at the wheel may use it as a pretext to distract themselves. In addition, ADAS is expensive, so auto insurers are unlikely to offer insurance discounts to those vehicles that are equipped with it.

Retaining a lawyer for your injury case

You may be wondering how you can be compensated for your injuries and how soon you can return to a normal life. Your medical expenses, lost wages and other losses could be covered under personal injury law if you file a claim against the driver responsible for your crash, but it may take a lawyer for the case to be successful. You may want to see one for a case evaluation.

Posted in Car Accidents | No Comments »

If you were injured at the hands of a teen driver here in Wilmington, North Carolina, you’re not alone. Teenagers are inexperienced and tend to be negligent and even reckless behind the wheel. While they can be a safety threat all year round, they are especially so during what are known as the 100 deadliest days: that is, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says that between 2008 and 2018, more than 8,300 people died in accidents with teen drivers during the 100 deadliest days. This comes to an average of over seven deaths for every day of summer in that 11-year period.

How dangerous teen drivers can be

The 100 deadliest days coincide with summer break, so it’s not hard to see why there would be an increase in teen driving crashes and fatalities during this time. School is out, teens are out on the road more and there are more chances to go to parties where, as is often the case, alcohol and drugs are served.

Impaired driving is not the only issue. In a recent AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index, 47% of respondents aged 16 to 18 admitted that in the past 30 days, they had driven 10 miles over the speed limit in a residential area. Forty percent admitted to speeding on the freeway, 35% to texting and 32% to running red lights.

What parents can do to prepare teens

Before the 100 deadliest days hit, parents can talk to their teen about safe driving, making sure that they themselves provide a good example of it. Parents can also coach their teen in-vehicle. AAA recommends at least 50 hours of these practice driving sessions and offers plenty of resources.

A lawyer to protect your rights

North Carolina holds to the strict rule of contributory negligence, which means that victims of an MVA cannot recover damages if they are so much as 1% to blame. Assuming that your case holds up to this, you may want a lawyer to give it personal attention and protect your right to compensation at every step.

Posted in Car Accidents | No Comments »

Truck drivers can be just as negligent as passenger vehicle drivers. For instance, they can travel while drowsy, drunk or distracted. Drowsiness is significant because it can be hard to prove sometimes. If you were injured by a trucker in North Carolina, there’s a chance you can recover damages. There just has to be proof of the trucker’s negligence.

High caffeine consumption, more crashes

With their long hours, truckers face drowsiness as a constant temptation. Unfortunately, many drivers try to stay awake by consuming large amounts of caffeine, and according to a recent study, this may only worsen the situation. The study was conducted jointly by researchers at the Virginia Tech Transport Institute and a Loughborough University Design School lecturer.

A total of 3,007 truck drivers from eight states participated. They were chosen specifically for their caffeine-consuming habits as one group consumed only one cup (or glass or pill) of a caffeinated beverage each day while the other group consumed more than five. Asked if they had been in a crash in the past three years, 21.6% and 27.8% of the first and second groups, respectively, answered yes.

Poor health reported among high caffeine users

The second group also tended to suffer from worse health. This was reflected in their lack of restful sleep; poor diet; and in some cases, a habit of smoking or drinking excessively. While researchers cannot directly link high caffeine use with higher crash risk, poor health can lead to unsafe driving.

What makes the study unique

This is perhaps the first large-scale documentation of caffeine-consuming habits among truckers. Previous studies have only analyzed the effect of caffeine on truckers in a laboratory setting. Still, further research will be needed to explore this effect.

A lawyer to protect your rights

Victims of motor vehicle accidents who are not to blame for their injuries are entitled to compensation. North Carolina follows the rule of contributory negligence, so it may be wise to have a lawyer assess the case beforehand in light of this strict rule.

Posted in Truck Accidents | No Comments »

You may have been involved in a crash with a drowsy driver, and now you’re wondering if you can file a claim here in North Carolina. First, it would be a good idea to know in what way drowsy driving is dangerous.

Drowsiness impairs judgment and reactions

Fatigue can make drivers three times more likely to crash. If they drive after being awake for 20 hours straight, it won’t be surprising if they’re pulled over for suspected DUI. This is because they’ll act like someone with a blood alcohol concentration of .08, which is the legal limit in this state.

When drivers fail to achieve the recommended seven or eight hours of sleep a day, they become slow in their reactions and inattentive. It may get so bad that they experience four- to five-second bursts of inattention called microsleep. At highway speed, drivers in microsleep will travel the length of a football field as if they were blind.

How common are drowsy driving crashes?

There are some 100,000 police-reported drowsy driving crashes every year, but since drowsy drivers can escape detection, the number of crashes is higher, as the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety puts it at 328,000 each year. Of these, an estimated 109,000 end in injury and 6,400 in death.

Fifty percent or more of drowsy driving crashes involve drivers under 25, a sizeable portion being male. Parents of teen drivers may help reduce the number of crashes, though, by setting up clear rules against drowsy driving. Universities may do their part with educational programs aimed at their students, many of whom don’t even get six hours of sleep.

A lawyer to protect your rights

While North Carolina operates under an at-fault system, it does follow the strict rule of contributory negligence. This means that victims of car crashes must not have contributed even slightly to the crash; otherwise, they cannot recover damages. To see how your case holds up to this, you could schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer.

Posted in Car Accidents | No Comments »

Distracted driving is a big problem in North Carolina. In fact, it is the second leading cause of crashes caused by driver error. It accounts for 19.7% of these crashes. Only speeding, which leads to 33.3% of these crashes, ranks above it.

Because of the prevalence of distracted driving crashes in this state, there are specific laws that address the problem. For example, all drivers are forbidden from emailing or texting while they drive. Failing to obey this law can lead to a $100 fine on a first offense. Drivers who are under 18 can’t even use the hands-free options that are available.

Many causes of distracted driving

Some individuals become so focused on cellphones when they discuss distracted driving that they forget there are other causes. For example, it is legal to eat while you drive in North Carolina, however, this isn’t a good idea because drivers should have two hands on the wheel. When you eat something, you take a hand off the wheel and your mind focuses on eating. You might even look at the food instead of the road.

Drivers should keep their full attention on driving. This includes keeping their eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel and mind on making decisions about their driving duties. When any of these three is missing, they are putting other people at risk of being involved in a crash.

Even short distractions are dangerous

It takes an average of just under 5 seconds to check a text message. In that short time, your vehicle will traverse the length of a regulation football field if you’re driving at 55 miles per hour. Many accidents can occur in that vast distance.

Even if you are driving slower than that, you can still cause serious damage to other vehicles and people if you aren’t paying attention. It’s especially important to remain vigilant when there are others around you, including motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

All drivers matter

You can only do your part to keep the roads safe. It’s possible that another driver might cause a distracted driving crash even if you’re watching the road as you should. If you’re the victim of one of these wrecks, make sure you contact the police to file a report. You should also seek medical care if you need it. Seeking compensation is possible, but be prepared to show that the other driver was negligent and that contributed to the wreck and your damages.

Posted in Car Accidents, Distracted Driving Accidents | No Comments »

Staying safe on the roadways takes a driver’s full attention. Some might not realize that aggressive driving is something that can lead to crashes. One behavior that people must be careful about is speeding. Driving too fast for the current road conditions is never acceptable.

When speed limits are set for roads, they are based on what speeds are safe when the conditions are optimal. It is never a good idea to drive faster than that or to try to reach those speeds when the weather isn’t the best.

Reasons for speeding vary

People speed for a variety of reasons. Some become aggressive when they’re running late. Others might just always feel as though they have to go faster than everyone else. Some people don’t view their vehicles as the deadly weapons they are. Instead, they think that they’re immune to anything going on around them. It’s also possible that some just don’t have any regard for the laws or safety of anyone who’s on the road with them.

Handling aggressive drivers

Coming into contact with a driver who’s speeding and driving aggressively is dangerous. When it is possible, allow them to pass you so that you don’t have to be in close proximity to them. If the driver is harassing you or refusing to pass, you may have to call police to get them to lend a hand.

Aggressive driving is dangerous

A person who’s driving aggressively isn’t only putting their own safety at risk. They’re also taking a chance on the safety of everyone around them. It will take longer for them to stop if they’re driving faster. They might lose control of their vehicle and strike someone else. Faster speeds mean that the injuries possible can be worse than if the crash occurred at a slower speed.

People who are injured in a crash with a speeding driver or one who’s driving aggressively can suffer catastrophic injuries. These can be costly, and they are often associated with high medical care costs. If you’re in this position, you might choose to seek compensation from the aggressive driver through a personal injury lawsuit. This is a way for you to pass that financial burden back to them while you focus on healing and returning to a life as close as possible to the one you had before the wreck.

Posted in Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries | No Comments »

Having a family member who has a catastrophic injury changes the entire family dynamic. The healthy adult, such as a spouse or parent, will have to care for the person. While many people, understandably, focus on the health of the injury victim, the caregiver also needs to think about themselves.

It is often hard for the caregiver to focus on what they need because they spend so much time caring for their loved one. This is a labor of love, but it can be downright difficult to get everything done.

Finding routines

You will have to find a routine that enables you to take care of your needs, as well as your loved one’s needs. This isn’t always easy. Things like preparing food ahead of time and choosing meals that are easy to make can help you, especially during the transition period.

You might find that things that worked for your family before the accident don’t work now. This is understandable, so being able to be flexible as you adjust to the changes can benefit everyone involved.

One thing that’s usually difficult is adjusting to the limitations of your loved one. This isn’t just about physical changes. You may realize that there is a period of grieving that comes along with this type of situation.

Setting time aside

You need to find a way to set time aside for yourself. Make sure that you’re able to take care of basic tasks, such as showering and sleeping.

Around three-fourths of caregivers don’t even go to the doctor when they should. Approximately 63% of caregivers surveyed note that they have poor eating habits.

Not taking care of yourself means that you might not be able to care for your loved one like you should, so try not to neglect yourself. Up to 70% of people who are caregivers are depressed and 41% have back problems.

Friends and family members might offer you help. Don’t be afraid to take them up on that offer. Even having a meal brought to your home for dinner can mean that you have a little more time to yourself.

One thing that is especially challenging in these cases is making ends meet. When you have a loved one who was injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, you might choose to pursue compensation. This enables you to try to hold that party financially liable, which can take some of the money worries out of your life. Remember, North Carolina has time limits for personal injury claims, so take action quickly.

Posted in Personal Injury | No Comments »