Posts Tagged ‘safety’
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
All of us have been on the road at some point in time with the big trucks. Sharing the road with semis is something that all of us accept if we spend any time at all on America’s highways. Trucks are still one of America’s main forms of transportation for commercial good and products. Without them, and the drivers that are willing to pass their days over the road, we would not have the variety of produce, meats, clothing and household goods that we enjoy today. The truth is that we are dependant on these rolling behemoths to bring us the goods and products that we use every day. What do who know though about who is driving these trucks and whether or not they are taking required safety precautions? What happens when one of the drivers pushes their body too far – past the point at which the body must rest?
The fact is that each year truck accidents kill over 5,000 people and injure another 150,000 on America’s highways. According to one report, one in every four multiple-vehicle accident involves a large truck. Large trucks are involved in vehicular accidents twice as often as passenger vehicles resulting in over 800 drivers of large trucks dying each year. Despite the stringent requirements for obtaining a commercial driver license, it appears as though truck drivers are still involved in a disproportionate number of accidents each year. Commercial truck drier’s are required to complete a rigorous hands on training school as well as pass background checks, drug test, driving tests and written tests before they can obtain a commercial driver license. So why are these highly trained and screened drivers still getting into accidents?
One of the leading causes of truck driver accident is fatigue. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is charged with overseeing large trucks on American roadways. The FMCSA tells us that in recent years, as many as 750 people were killed and another 20,000 injured as a direct result of driver fatigue. Long hours on the road can take its toll on a driver. Although the federal government has set strict regulations regarding the number of hours a driver can spend on the road, drivers continue to reach the point where fatigue takes over and they loose control for that split second-just long enough to cause an accident. In a passenger vehicle, if you start to lose control you can generally gain back the control rather easily if you react quickly enough. In a large truck, however, once you start to lose control getting it back may be impossible due to the sheer size and weight of the truck. As a result, thousands of Americans are injured or killed each year due to the negligence of a driver that was simply too tired to drive.
Whether the driver himself made the decision to keep on truckin’ or whether his employer was pushing him on, the bottom line is that if you were involved in an accident with one of these “kings of the road” and you believe that accident may have been caused by fatigue, then you may be entitled to compensation for any injuries that you suffered. Contact the California truck accident law firm of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit them online for more information at www.ledgerlaw.com.
Tags: accident, accident law firm, federal motor carrier, federal motor carrier safety administration, highways, ledgerlaw.com, loose control, motor carrier safety, motor carrier safety administration, Negligence, ploy, point in time, roadways, safety, safety administration, safety precautions, semis, truck accident, truck accidents, truck drivers, trucker fatigue, trucks, vehicle, vehicle accident, vehicular accident, vehicular accidents
Posted in Trucking Accident Lawyer | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
In the fast paced world that we live in, people can’t seem to get from one place to another fast enough. Whether they are hurrying from one side of the country to the other for business or pleasure, there is no denying that we are rushing to get somewhere. As a result, there are significantly more airplanes in the sky today than there were a few decades ago in an attempt to accommodate all the passengers that need to get somewhere fast. Not only are there more large commercial airplanes cruising the skies over North America, but the number of private airplanes flying the skies has also increased dramatically and with the increase in private airplanes there is also an increase in the risk of an airplane accident.
When most people talk about statistical chances of being involved in an airplane accident or dying in a plane crash, they are generally referring to your chances in a large commercial jet airliner. While its true that your odds of being involved in, or dying in, a commercial airplane accident are slim, your odds get significantly worse when you are flying a smaller private airplane. Studies show us that flying on a large commercial airplane is by far the safest form of flying. Fatalities per million flight hours on large commercial airliners as a whole are at 4.03. Compare that figure to fatalities per million flight hours on commuter airlines – 10.74 and fatalities per million flight hours on air taxis/on demand flights – 12.24. The deadliest form of flight is by private airplane with a fatality per million flight hours of 22.43. By anyone’s standards, that is a significant difference.
Experts differ in their opinions as to why your chance of being involved in an accident is so much higher in a smaller private airplane. We know that significantly more than half of all airplane accidents can be attributed – at least in part – to wither pilot error or mechanical failure. While many pilots flying smaller private airlines may have years of experience and be excellent pilots, there is simply not the same oversight of private pilots that there is with commercial pilots. Commercial airlines are held to strict standards and depend on their safety record to make a profit. A private airline pilot may be licensed to fly the plane he is piloting, but may not have anywhere near the experience of his commercial counterpart. The same basic principle may apply to the mechanical failure accidents as well. The larger airlines have well established procedures to regularly check and maintain their fleet of airplanes. Again, failure to do so could cost them millions of dollars as well as their reputation. Private pilots are also required to de a pre-flight check of the airplane, but it may be that they lack the experience to recognize potential problems or simply that they have rushed through the inspection.
Regardless of the reason for the difference between commercial airplanes and private airplanes, if you have been the victim of an airplane accident in a private airplane you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries you suffered as a result. If the accident was due to pilot error, mechanical failure or other type of negligence, then you may have a valid California airplane accident case. Contact the law firm of Ledger & Associates and speak to California airplane accident lawyer Emery Ledger today for a free and detailed evaluation of your case. Toll-free at 1-800-300-0001 or online at www.ledgerlaw.com
Tags: accident, accident case, accident lawyer, accidents, airplane, airplane accident, airplane accidents, Negligence, pilot error, plane accident, plane crash, planes in the sky, reputation, risk, safety
Posted in Aviation Accident Lawyer | No Comments »
Monday, June 7th, 2010
Airplanes have undoubtedly become much safer over the last 50 years. Most of us don’t think twice when boarding a commercial airplane. Even those that might be inclined to give the safety of traveling by plane that second thought usually push it away. Travel by airplane is frequently required for work these days in the global world that we live in. If not for work, then most people find it is the fastest way to get to that vacation destination that you have been waiting for all year.
Each day in the United States, there are close to 90,000 flights carrying people and cargo from one side of the country to the other at speeds of up to 600 miles per hour. Of those 90,000 or so flights though, only about one-third are passenger jets. The other two-thirds are cargo airplanes, military airplanes, for-hire airplanes, commuter airplanes and private airplanes. While it is true that your chances of being involved in an airplane crash are relatively small, airplane crashes do still happen. So who is held responsible for the injuries caused in am airplane accident or who is required to compensate the families in the event of an airplane fatality?
Under California law, airplane accident cases are either considered to be a personal injury case in the event of a non-fatal accident or a wrongful death case in the event of a fatal accident. In either scenario, the issue of negligence plays an important part in the case. Negligence is a legal term that essentially refers to fault or blame. If someone – a person, entity or municipality – is found to be negligent, then they are usually required to compensate any victims in the accident for injuries suffered as a result of that negligence. In the case of an airplane accident, there are numerous variables that could be the cause of the accident. Statistics tell us though, that more than half of the time mechanical failure and/or pilot error play a part in the accident. If mechanical failure played a significant part in the accident, then it may be that the manufacturer of the part that failed can be made a defendant in a lawsuit. The airline or owner of the airplane may also be included as a defendant of they did not follow proper maintenance or repair schedules. In situations where pilot error was wholly or partially to blame for the accident, the pilot as well as the company the pilot was flying for may be held liable for the accident.
According to airplane accident attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates, as a plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit or a claimant in a wrongful death lawsuit, you are not limited to just one defendant. It may be that there are several defendants that all share in the blame (or negligence) for the airplane accident. What is important for you to understand is that if you have personally suffered damages in an airplane accident or have lost a family member in an airplane accident that you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries that you have suffered.
To find out more about what compensation you may be entitled to, contact the airplane accident law firm of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit their website at www.ledgerlaw.com
Tags: accident, accident attorney, accident case, accident cases, accident lawyer, accidents, airplane, airplane accident, airplane accidents, airplane crash, airplane crashes, attorney, attorney emery ledger, california law, claim, claimant, compensation, crash, crashes, damages, death lawsuit, defendant, emery, emery ledger, fatality, law, lawsuit, lawyer, Ledger, ledgerlaw.com, miles per hour, Negligence, Personal Injury, personal injury case, personal injury law, personal injury lawsuit, pilot error, plaintiff, plane accident, plane crash, safety, schedule, states, statistics, united states, wrongful death, wrongful death case, wrongful death law, wrongful death laws, wrongful death lawsuit
Posted in Aviation Accident Lawyer | No Comments »
Monday, May 31st, 2010
With over 4 million motorcycles registered in the United States, it is clear that for those who love to ride, they are willing to risk the potential for injury. Statistics, as well as common sense, tells us that if you are involved in a motorcycle accident that the chance that you will suffer injury is great. With nothing between you and the road, or another car, you are likely to make direct contact with the road or another hard object. No airbags to soften the blow. Unfortunately, how safety conscious YOU are may not be as important as whether the other drivers on the road are watching out for you. Accident statistics tell us that well over half of the two vehicle accidents that involve a motorcycle are actually the fault of the person driving the passenger vehicle. What this means is that you can be obeying all traffic rules, wearing the proper reflective clothing and be an experienced biker and someone may still simply not see you and cause an accident. Motorcycle accidents, when they happen, can cause serious injuries. One of the most common injuries in a motorcycle accident is a head concussion or a traumatic brain injury. A concussion is a type of brain injury that is usually caused by a blow to the head and generally results in unconsciousness. A concussion can normally be treated easily and the patient may just need to go home and rest for a day or two. A traumatic brain injury, on the other hand, can have serious and lifelong consequences. That same blow to the head can cause the brain to become severely damaged. Many people think that a person must lose consciousness for there to be a serious injury. This is not so. You could be suffering from a serious brain injury after a motorcycle accident and not be aware of it. Wearing an approved helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 40%. Broken bones or joints are another common motorcycle accident injury. The most common breakages are the shoulder and the pelvis. Not surprisingly, when you collide with a hard surface, whether that is the road or another vehicle, your bones or joints can only withstand so much blunt force trauma before they snap. Road rash, or soft tissue injuries are also common injuries from a motorcycle accident. Some of these can be just minor surface scrapes, but others can be deep and leave serious scars. Road rash is what happens when exposed skin scrapes along the road during a collision. Wearing leather clothing or other protective gear can help reduce the risk or the severity of road rash in the event of an accident. If you have been in a motorcycle accident in the State of California and you believe that the accident was caused, in whole or in part, by the negligence of the other driver (or drivers), then you may have a valid California personal injury claim. If someone else was responsible for your injuries, then you may be able to receive compensation for those injuries – including money to repair your bike. Contact the motorcycle accident law firm of Ledger & Associates for a free detailed evaluation of your case. They can be reached at 1-800-300-0001 or visit them online at www.ledgerlaw.com
Tags: accident, accident attorney, accidents, airbags, amp, attorney, biker, blunt force trauma, brain injury, broken bones, california motorcycle, california motorcycle accident attorney, cars, claim, common sense, compensation, concussion, consequences, dents, fault, head injury, helmet, injury, injury claim, juries, law, Ledger, ledgerlaw.com, money, motorcycle accident, motorcycle accident attorney, motorcycle accidents, motorcycles, Negligence, Personal Injury, personal injury claim, reflective clothing, risk, road rash, safety, soft tissue, soft tissue injuries, state of california, states, statistics, suffering, traffic, traumatic brain injury, united states, vehicle, vehicle accident, vehicle accidents
Posted in Motorcycle Accident Lawyer | No Comments »
Monday, May 31st, 2010
If you own a motorcycle, then you know that along with the incredible freedom that comes along with riding, you also accept the risks of an accident. Despite decades of attempts by both government entities and private groups to educate the car and truck driving masses about the need to watch out for motorcycles, they still fall short. Statistics tell us that the majority of the time when a motorcycle is involved in an accident with a passenger vehicle, the passenger vehicle was at fault or more at fault in the accident. Of those accidents, drivers most often report that the reason they were involved in the accident in the first place was because they simply did not see the motorcycle. Motorcycle safety has also come a long way. Bikes are made better and come equipped with a number of safety minded options. Protective clothing is available to prevent or limit the severity if injuries if the worst happens. Many states now require protective head gear to be worn at all times to prevent or limit head injuries. Having said all of that, if you are involved in a motorcycle accident, the chances are good that you have suffered damages (injuries in legal terms). SO how do you know what your motorcycle accident case if worth?
According to California motorcycle accident attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates, determining the value of any personal injury claim can be complicated and may involve a number of factors that are specific to your case alone. There are, however, a few things to take into advantage in all motorcycle accident cases to help you determine the value.
1. Who was at fault? If the other person was 100% at fault, then that makes computing damages much simpler. While you may think that the other driver was completely at fault, that may not turn out to be the case. Even if you did share some of the fault, in California as long as the other person was MORE at fault, you may still be able to recover damages and receive compensation. Your compensation will simply be adjusted according to the amount of fault (or negligence in legal terms) that you shared in the accident.
2. What are your economic damages? Economic damages are quantifiable damages. These include things such as medical bills, lost wages, damage to your bike and others.
3. What are your non-economic damages? Non-economic damages are what most people think of as “pain and suffering”. Computing non-economic damages can be more difficult and may depend on this such as the type and severity of physical injuries you suffered and your general health before the accident.
Only an experienced California motorcycle accident attorney can accurately determine what the value of your motorcycle accident case is based on your specific set of facts. If you have been in a motorcycle accident, contact the motorcycle accident law firm of Ledger & Associates as soon as possible for your free detailed evaluation of your motorcycle accident case. They can be reached by visiting them online at www.ledgerlaw.com or by telephone at 1-800-300-0001.
Tags: accident, accident attorney, accident case, accident cases, accidents, acto, amp, at fault, attorney, attorney emery ledger, california motorcycle, california motorcycle accident attorney, cat, claim, compensation, damages, dents, economic damages, emery, emery ledger, fault, head injuries, injury, injury claim, juries, law, Ledger, ledgerlaw.com, legal terms, medical bill, medical bills, motorcycle accident, motorcycle accident attorney, motorcycle attorney, Motorcycle safety, motorcycles, Negligence, options, pain and suffering, Personal Injury, personal injury claim, physical injuries, risk, safety, states, statistics, suffering, vehicle, wages
Posted in Motorcycle Accident Lawyer | No Comments »
Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Many people have heard the term Mesothelioma, but generally only those that have affected by it have any real idea what it is. Mesothelioma is a relatively rare type of cancer. In people afflicted with mesothelioma, malignant cancer cells are found in the mesothelium. So what is the mesothelium and how does one get mesothelioma?
The mesothelium is a membrane, or protective sac, that covers and protects the majority of the body’s internal organs. The mesothelium has two layers so that one layer is directly around the organ it is protecting and the other forms a sac around the first layer. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between the two layers which allows moving organs such as the beating heart or expanding lungs to glide easily against adjacent structures. The mesothelium can be referred to by different names depending on where in the body it is located. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most organs found in the abdominal cavity while the pleura surrounds the lungs and lines the walls of the chest cavity for example.
Mesothelioma – or cancer of the mesothelium – happens when the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and start to divide put of control. When that happens, they begin to invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Not only can they damage nearby tissues and organs, but when cancer cells metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body they can cause damage their as well.
Mesothelioma was once thought of as an extremely rare type of cancer. Over the last 20 years, the reported incidences of mesothelioma have increased at an alarming rate. Working with, or exposure to, asbestos is the largest risk factor for developing mesothelioma. Estimates are that 70-80% of the reported cases of mesothelioma can be traced back to extended exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a has been used in many industries including flooring products, brake linings, roof shingles, cement, insulation, textiles and many others. When these products are being manufactured, small particles of asbestos may escape into the air and then be swallowed by unsuspecting employees. Once these particles enter your lungs, they can increase your risk of developing mesothelioma.
Asbestos has been widely used in the United States for over 100 years in the manufacture of different products. The potential link between asbestos and cancer has been known for over 50 years, but regulations were not put in place to protect workers until recently. Now, the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) sets very strict guidelines for how much asbestos a worker can be exposed to. While that may help those that work in asbestos industries at the moment, there were thousands, maybe millions, that were exposed to asbestos before those rules and regulations were put into place. Worst of all, family members of workers in an asbestos industry could have also been exposed to the cancer causing asbestos and are also at risk for developing mesothelioma.
If you, or a loved one, worked in an industry that used asbestos, or believe that you were exposed to asbestos for any other reason, consult a physician for a thorough examination. The actual symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear for as long as 50 years after exposure takes place. Only a physician can diagnose mesothelioma but the sooner you are diagnosed the better your chances of beating the disease.
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries you and your family have suffered as a result of exposure to asbestos. To find out more about your legal options, contact the mesothelioma law firm of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit them online at www.ledgerlaw.com.
Tags: acto, amp, asbestos, ational, attorney, california attorney, cat, compensation, esto, family members, istration, juries, law, Ledger, ledgerlaw.com, legal options, lungs, Mesothelioma, options, osha, ploy, risk, safety, safety administration, shingles, states, text, united states
Posted in Product Liability Lawyer | No Comments »
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
California is one of the most beautiful states to own and ride a motorcycle in by anyone’s standards. If you are a California resident and motorcycle enthusiasts then you already know this. Where else can be ride along the ocean, through the mountains and end up in the desert all in one day? The weather is certainly another good reason to own and ride a bike in California. Sadly, the biggest drawback to riding, in any state, is the disproportionate number of accidents that motorcyclists are involved in compared to passenger vehicles.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show us that for every 100 million miles of motorcycle travel there are approximately 632 injuries. Compare this to only 122 injuries for the same miles of passenger car travel. The facts all point to motorcycle riding being more dangerous than riding in a passenger car. What makes these statistics even more frustrating for bikers is that those same statistics tell us that over two-thirds of the time when a motorcycle is involved in an accident with a passenger vehicle, the passenger vehicles is ultimately found to be negligent (at fault) for the accident. Clearly, the efforts at motorcycle safety over the past few decades have failed to educate the public about the need to be aware of motorcycles. So what can you do if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and you believe the other driver was at fault?
A personal injury lawsuit is a way for an injured person to receive compensation from the responsible party. The State of California follows the rules of comparative negligence for personal injury motorcycle accidents. What this means, in essence, is that more than one person, or entity, can share the blame for an accident. In other words, if you are found to be 10% at fault – or negligent – for your accident, you may still be able to collect compensation for any damages or injuries that you suffered in the accident. Your settlement, or jury award, will simply be adjusted to reflect the percentage of negligence that you had in the accident. Therefore, as long as the other person was MORE at fault, you may have a valid personal injury lawsuit.
In a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to collect for economic and non-economic damages. Examples of economic damages include things such as damage to your motorcycle, lost time form work and medical bills. Non-economic damages represent the suffering that you went through as a result of the accident. The value of your personal injury case will vary depending on a number of factors. If you would like to get an idea of whether you have a valid California motorcycle personal injury accident case, feel free to contact motorcycle attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates. Ledger & Associates have been fighting for the rights of motorcycle enthusiasts in the State of California for over a decade and will be happy to give you a free and detailed evaluation of your case. They can be contacted online at www.ledgerlaw.com or by calling 1-800-300-0001.
Tags: accident, accident attorney, accident case, accidents, attorney biker, bikers, california motorcycle, california motorcycle accident attorney, cat, comparative negligence, compensation, damages, dents, economic damages, emery, emery ledger, fault, highway traffic safety, injury, injury accident, injury motorcycle accidents, jury award, law, lawsuit, lawsuits, Ledger, ledgerlaw.com, medical bill, medical bills, motorcycle accident, motorcycle accident attorney, motorcycle accidents, motorcycle attorney, motorcycle enthusiasts, motorcycle riding, Motorcycle safety, motorcycle travel, motorcycles, motorcyclist, motorcyclists, national highway traffic, national highway traffic safety, national highway traffic safety administration, Negligence, Personal Injury, personal injury accident, personal injury case, personal injury law, personal injury lawsuit, personal injury lawsuits, responsible party, safety, safety administration, settlement
Posted in Motorcycle Accident Lawyer | No Comments »
