Safety in the car is a top priority for anyone who rides in one. From newborns to senior citizens, everyone who is in a vehicle while it is in motion should have on a seat belt. It is imperative that these are used properly because incorrect usage can mean that there are extensive injuries during a crash.

Car seats and seat belts help to prevent occupants of a vehicle from being thrown around the car or out of the car when there is a wreck. There is a slight risk that the seat belt or harness will cause injuries in a crash. Even when they do cause a problem, it is usually a much less serious injury than what would happen without it.

Seat belt and harness designs

These items are carefully designed to distribute the force of the crash to areas of the body that can handle it. In the case of the seat belt for adults and older children, the stronger areas are the hips and the shoulders, which is where the seat belt will focus the force. In babies and toddlers, by evenly distributing the force between both hips and shoulders, as well as some force on the chest, the baby faces a lesser chance of injury.

Car seat harnesses and seat belts also help to protect the spinal cord, neck and head from injury. If a person’s body was flung around the vehicle, they can hit their head on something or harm the spinal cord or neck. This is why having babies in rear facing car seats is important. The entire back, neck and head area is stabilized and protected.

Only effective when used as intended

It is imperative that a child is strapped into the car seat properly and that seat belts are used correctly. For the babies in car seats, the harness must be tight with only a finger width of space between the harness and the baby. The clip to hold the straps together must be placed at chest level to reduce the chance of internal injuries.

The shoulder belt should be directly across the shoulder. It should cross the chest diagonally. It is never appropriate to place it beneath an arm or behind the back. The lap belt must be across the hips instead of up over the abdomen. The seat belt should be snug and without slack so it can keep the occupant secured in a crash.

There is a chance that victims will suffer an injury in a crash even if they are wearing a seat belt or placed in a car seat correctly. These individuals might opt to pursue a claim for compensation that holds the liable party accountable for the damages suffered in the wreck.

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If you find yourself driving in heavy traffic, such as during rush hour, it’s critical to adjust your style with an eye toward safety.

Rush hour driving is unique in many ways, including the fact that you’re among a sea of vehicles that are moving at a slow rate of speed. To make things even more challenging, many drivers are in a hurry to reach their destination, thus leading them to take risks on the road.

Here are some rush hour driving tips you can follow to enhance your safety:

• Take your time: Don’t be one of those people who is in a hurry. Instead, give yourself extra time to reach your destination, as it will take a lot of pressure off of you when behind the wheel.
• Choose another route: If your usual route is full of traffic and danger, choose another way to reach your destination. Even if it takes longer, it may be a more calm and comfortable ride.
• Stay in your lane: There are times when you need to change lanes, such as to make your way to an exit. However, you should break the habit of changing lanes in search of the one that’s moving fastest.
• Increase your following distance: Just because you’re driving slowly doesn’t mean you should follow the vehicle in front of yours too closely. Leaving a couple extra car lengths gives you room to spare should you have to brake in a hurry.
• Avoid distractions: Rush hour traffic has a way of leading to distractions, such as texting or talking on the phone, drinking or eating. If you’re not paying full attention to the road, you’re increasing the risk of an accident.

If rush hour driving is a part of your day, follow these tips for avoiding trouble on the road.

In the event of an accident, such as one in which another vehicle strikes you from behind, move to safety and call 911. Wait for police and an ambulance to arrive before you do anything else.

As your health allows, file an insurance claim, review the police report and decide on the steps you can take to obtain compensation from the negligent driver.

Visit our website and read our blog for additional information pertaining to motor vehicle accidents in North Carolina.

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The average trucker on the road today is around 55 years old. These individuals will be retiring in the upcoming years, but there aren’t enough younger truckers to take the loads that these individuals are hauling. The shortage of truckers is getting more serious as time progresses. It is estimated that there will be a shortage of around 900,000 in this country by 2027.

You might wonder why this is important to the general public. For one thing, a lot of freight can’t be moved without the help of truckers. Another problem of the shortage is the impact it has on road safety when truckers push their limits. There are limitations on the number of hours they can drive per shift and on a rolling 7-day or 8-day week.

Truckers forced to drive long hours or take longer hauls run the risk of operating their rigs while they are fatigued. There is sometimes very little they can do to combat this fatigue because of the tight deadlines that trucking companies often have for these loads.

Individuals who are struck by a fatigued trucker might question why the driver didn’t just stop and rest. This is only one of the questions that might come up if the injured parties choose to pursue claims for compensation for the injuries they suffered. Just remember that if you are in this position, you need to consider your options carefully but quickly since you only have a limited amount of time to get the lawsuit filed without your case proscribing and leaving you without legal recourse.

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When you are injured on the job, you should be able to count on workers’ compensation benefits to helps you deal with the aftermath. One thing that surprises workers is that they need to ensure that their injury is compensable. There are a few things that might render a claim ineligible because the injury wasn’t actually compensable.

To be compensable, the injury has to occur during the course of your job. You can’t get hurt when you fall off a ladder while cleaning your gutters at home and then claim workers’ compensation should cover the expenses.

There are some instances in which you might be eligible for workers’ compensation for something that happens away from the workplace. For example, if you take clients to lunch and fall on the curb on the way into the restaurant, you can receive workers’ compensation if you break your ankle in the fall. This is because you were still doing work-related duties even though you weren’t at the business.

Company events, even when they aren’t on company property, can also lead to workers’ compensation claims if you are injured. Conversely, you wouldn’t be able to receive workers’ compensation if you and a coworker or supervisor grabbed drinks after work and you fell and suffered an injury unless going out for drinks was a work-related duty and not a social event.

It is imperative that you find out if the circumstances surrounding your injury mean that it is compensable or not. If it is in the eyes of the law and your workers’ compensation is denied, you can (and should) file an appeal.

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Distracted driving is a serious issue, taking many lives every year. All accidents caused by distraction are preventable, just like drunk driving accidents. That, in many ways, is the most tragic part of this whole situation. None of these accidents needed to happen. None of those lives needed to be lost.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help you avoid distraction in the car:

1. Don’t leave loose items in the car

A lot of distracted driving accidents happen when people reach to pick up items on the floor. It could be a cellphone charger, a water bottle, an old coffee cup or anything else. The key is to put everything away before you drive. Stash all loose items in pockets and compartments. Throw away garbage and other things you don’t need. If you drop something while driving, do not pick it up until you stop.

2. Turn off your phone

The real key is simply not to use your phone while you drive. Don’t make calls, send text messages, check for notifications or go on social media. However, many people have a lot of trouble breaking their phone addiction, and they can’t resist picking it up. Simply turning it off until you arrive can help tremendously.

3. Set up your car before driving

You should never have to make adjustments while you drive. Do them in advance. For instance, you may want to:

• Adjust the side mirrors
• Adjust the rearview mirror
• Buckle your seatbelt
• Program your GPS
• Turn on the AC or the heat
• Pick a radio station

Once you start driving, you do not want to look away from the road at all.

4. Clear your mind

Many distractions are simply mental distractions. You think about what you need to do at work. You worry about problems in a relationship. You brood over some slight or insult. Never drive while you feel overly emotional. Clear your mind, calm down and then get on the road.

5. Care for your children

If you have kids in the car, make sure they’re ready to go before driving. Buckle them in. Give them drinks and snacks. Hand them their toys. Turn on a movie on the phone or tablet. Whatever you choose to do with the kids in the car, do not try to turn around and do it while you drive. Children are one of the biggest distractions drivers have to deal with.

Car accidents

These tips can help you avoid distraction, but that doesn’t mean it’s no longer a problem. If you get hit and injured by a distracted driver, you may need to seek financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other costs.

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Motorcycle riders have a lot of hazards that they have to deal with. If you are thinking about these, your mind might focus on things like potholes and other driver, but there is another issue that might lead to danger – grass clippings that are blown into the road when citizens mow their lawns.

For a motorcycle rider, going over grass clippings is akin to riding on ice. The loose grass can get stuck in the tread of the tires, which means that the tires can’t grip the surface of the road like they need to. This can lead to slipping and an inability of the motorcyclist to control the vehicle.

One of the only things that a motorcyclist can do if they are faced with grass clippings on the road is to try to avoid them. If that isn’t possible, they will have to keep a consistent speed and keep the tires steady as they ride over, but this isn’t any guarantee that they will be able to avoid an accident.

Motorcyclists also have to watch out for other vehicles while they are paying attention to the road for grass clippings. This can quickly turn a pleasureful ride into a stressful one, but it doesn’t have to end in tragedy. Other drivers must pay close attention for motorcycles when the weather is nice. They should remember that these low-profile vehicles are sometimes hard to spot.

If a motorcyclist is hit by another vehicle, catastrophic injuries can occur. The medical care and other financial impacts can be considerable. Seeking compensation from the driver who struck them might be necessary since it attempts to recover monetary damages.

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Everyone has a duty to help keep others around them safe on the roads. When pedestrians are around, they must be an additional focus of these efforts. A pedestrian will almost always lose when they are in an accident with a vehicle.

No matter what your role is in the matter, you should remain alert and vigilant about watching what is going on around you. No pedestrians or drivers should ever be impaired by any substance, including alcohol. Cellphones and other devices should be put away so that they don’t become a distraction.

Pedestrians should always walk in a safe place. Typically, they should walk on the sidewalk and only cross at crosswalks. They might need to cross at an intersection if there isn’t a crosswalk available, however. Drivers must watch these areas carefully so they don’t strike a person who is walking.

There is an increased risk of danger for people who are walking from 8:00 at night and midnight. This time frame is when 32% of all fatal pedestrian crashes occur. Anyone walking when it is dark outside should wear reflective clothing or have something that makes them easier to see.

While drivers should watch for pedestrians, not all do. If you are walking around and see a car coming toward you at a fast rate of speed, don’t try to cross in front of the vehicle. There is no guarantee that they will yield the right of way to you — even if it is your turn. In this case, waiting a few extra seconds or minutes can improve your safety considerably.

People who are struck by a vehicle need to ensure that they get the appropriate medical care. The injuries that can stem from these accidents can be very serious. Once you have gotten that care, you can determine your next steps. One of these might be seeking compensation for the damages of the accident from the liable party.

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Spinal cord injuries that come about from an accident suddenly change your life. It can be difficult to deal with everything that is going on. Not only are you having to cope with major physical changes, but you also need to address some mental health challenges.

Everything going on with the spinal cord injury can be overwhelming. One thing that might help you during this time is to find out all you can about your injury. You might feel like you just want to hide, but knowing what to expect can give you some idea of what you need to do to maximize your abilities now.

Roller Coaster of emotions

You are likely going to feel a roller coaster of emotions as you go through the healing process. At first, you might feel angry that you are having to go through all of this. Once you deal with the anger, you may be sad that you can’t do the things you once did. You may eventually be thankful that you survived the accident. You might have hope that things will all work out eventually.

The roller coaster of emotions isn’t going to be easy to deal with. During the process, the you might realize that you have certain triggers that set off specific feelings. As you come to know what these are, you can plan how you will address them.

Knowing when to ask for help

You have to know when you need help. If you find that you are sinking into a depression, you should get professional help. You are dealing with a lot in your life and a mental health professional might be able to help you work through these emotions and find ways to cope with it all. Plus, having an unbiased ear can help.

You may be able to find friends and loved ones who are willing to listen, too. It is a good idea to take those individuals up on their offer. Just remember that you might have some things to say that you don’t want to say to people whom you know personally. This is where having a counselor can help.

Remember that healing takes time

Healing takes time, so you should be prepared to work through the impacts of the injury. Make small goals for yourself and work toward reaching them. As you meet them, you should be on your way toward a bigger goal. Be sure to make these realistic so that you can attain them with a little work.

Some aspects of the injury can be costly. The financial cost can cause more stress in your life. For some, seeking compensation is a way that they might be able to reduce this tension.

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Victims of a car crash often suffer head injuries — sometimes very serious ones. There are a few points that you need to know if you have a brain injury from a car crash.

An important point to remember is that you don’t necessarily have to hit your head to suffer a brain injury. It is possible that the violent force of the crash could lead to your brain suffering damage as it hits against the skull due to the impact of the wreck. While it might seem as though these won’t be as serious as incidents that involve a blow to the head, they can be very complex.

One thing that makes these injuries difficult to treat is that there is more than one area of impact. The brain will slam against the skull in one place and then bounce back to hit against the skull in the area directly across from the initial area of impact.

Healing from a brain injury after a car crash can be a long road, but not everyone will have the same experience. The severity of the injury and the impact it has on you will determine what type of healing process you have to go through. Typically, more severe injuries will require more treatment and healing time than mild injuries.

The challenges that you face can sometimes be overcome with hard work. It is possible that some will require you to rethink how you approach what used to be simple tasks. Assistive devices might be necessary.

You must be financially prepared to cover the costs of occupational and physical therapy as well as other medical care. You might choose to seek compensation from the driver who was at fault for the crash.

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