Teenagers and risks of car accidents

In America, teenagers constitute the highest risk category when it comes to road accidents. Teen drivers are four times more vulnerable to casualties than any other age group. The main reason for this is that teenagers tend to not follow the law; they are unskilled and inexperienced drivers and are inclined to behave recklessly. There are various other reasons for car accidents as well. Let us quickly look at some facts:

• Every year over 5,000 teenagers between the age group of 16 to 20 die due to car accidents;
• Teenagers comprising 10% of the American population and account for 12% of all fatal crashes;
• The 16-19 year old drivers comprise the highest risk in terms of people involved in car accidents;
• In the US, about $26 billion is spent every year on drivers involved in accidents, male and female, aged under 24 years;
• Of all fatal teen car accidents in 2007, one third were due to speed related collisions and one quarter due to driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs;
• Around 53% of all fatal accidents involving a teenager happened on a weekend (between 9 PM to 6 AM);and
• In 2007, every 2 out of 3 teenagers killed in a motor vehicle crash was male.

Why do fatal crashes happen?

Car accidents cause tremendous loss of property and life, apart from having a huge emotional impact. Thoughtlessness, unsafe driving and negligence are the primary reasons for fatal accidents among teenagers. The most common reasons for crashes are:

• Speeding – Teenagers tend to drive over the speed limit;
• Lost control – These are high speed crashes where a driver has lost control over the vehicle;
• Substance/alcohol abuse – In 2007, around 29% of males and 15% of females who were fatally injured had high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels;
• Low vision – Driving at night is a high risk activity for a teenager. Night driving can be twice as risky as driving during the day;
• Lack of safety measures – Two-thirds of the teenagers who died in 2007 did not wear seat belts;
• Defective airbags – There are times when the advanced frontal air bags meant to safeguard a driver’s life fail to protect;
• Faulty seat belts – There have been incidents reported where the seat belts did not buckle or latch properly;
• Faulty brakes – There are times when brakes of the vehicle did not work for technical reasons or simply failed;
• Cell phone usage and driving- Texting and/or using mobile phones while driving can be fatal;
• Tire malfunction – Under-inflation of tires is the most common cause of accidents;

How can accidents be prevented?

Responsible driving is something that needs to be instilled among teenage drivers. This can only happen if the parents guide their children to follow traffic rules. Tougher laws, such as for drinking and driving, should be enforced strictly.

What to do in case affected?

Thousands of Americans are left with incapacitating injuries each year after traffic accidents; some of them need permanent rehabilitative therapies. One should contact an experience personal injury lawyer in case of an accident that has occurred due to negligence or someone else’s fault, in order to recover lost wages, medical expenses and other costs.

ATV Crashes and Faulty Designs

All Terrain Vehicle

Sports can be dangerous; especially with an all terrain vehicle, popularly called an ATV. It is an extremely popular activity among children. An area of concern has been the increasing number of deaths related to ATVs in the US. The annual report of the USCPC – United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reveals that the total number of casualties due to ATV crashes totaled 542 in 2007. These crashes cost Americans a total of $6.5 billion in medical and legal fields every year. The rising figures have alarmed consumer groups, environmentalists, child safety advocates as well as medical professionals.

The American Academy of Orthopedic surgeons collectively believe that that the use of ATV poses a major threat to public safety as the ATV industry fails to upgrade safety measures.

Why ATVs are dangerous

Recent reports have proved that certain ATVs have design flaws. Such flaws can endanger a rider, leading to serious accidents and subsequently death, in some cases.

Other reasons that make ATVs dangerous are:

• It has high a center of gravity
• Lack of suspension impacts the vehicle
• It has little or no rear wheel differential
• It is unstable at high speed
• Widespread ATV misuse (high speed, riding in low lighting conditions without proper safety measures, lack of expertise in driving)
• Driving under influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• Driving in unsuitable places like roads, streets and/or highways

Further, daring riders tend to incline too much and ultimately rollover with the vehicle leading to fatal circumstances.

Are Advertisements Misleading?

An average ATV will not be able to move in steep inclines, but sometimes their marketing material says so. The vehicle is specially designed to a limited zone, usage and circumstances. Lack of sincerity is seen with ATV manufacturers; their enticing TV ad campaigns show a glamorous and daring side of ATV products, making it popular among teenagers and young men. The makers make a deliberate attempt to underplay risks and hazards associated with ATV driving. The ATVs are designed for flat surfaces only with an exception of mild incline.

Precautionary steps

An ATV rider should undergo special training for correct usage of this vehicle. One should check designs of the ATVs and avoid ill famed vehicles like the Yamaha Rhino ATV. Other precautions include:

• Protective clothing
• Special training and rider education
• Understand usage of ATV

Seek legal help

Many states in the US report ATV crashes to law enforcement divisions within a certain time period. You have a legal right to claim money and file lawsuits against those who deliberately cause or are responsible for acts of recklessness and negligence. Even an adult failing to supervise correct usage of ATV can be held responsible in case of an accident. To claim injury benefits, consult an experienced attorney right away.

Bayer Pharmaceuticals Faces Lawsuits: Eyebrows Raised over Oral Contraceptives

Pharmaceutical companies have always been the center of personal law injury controversies and this time it is Bayer. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals faces federal lawsuits filed in Ohio and Wisconsin for its compounds drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. The company has allegedly failed to disclose the complications arising from the use of its birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin. Four lawsuits were filed after Bayer came to an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008, allowing it to run a $20 million television ad campaign underplaying the risks. The plaintiffs claim that they suffered side effects including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and stroke as a result of taking Yaz or Yasmin pills.

Failure-to-warn

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are legally responsible to disclose details of possible side effects to consumers, either directly or by passing relevant information to physicians. They are required by law to continue to take steps to determine side effects and communicate the same to consumers as long as a product is in the market. Failure-to-warn is among the several types of claims and lawsuits filed against pharmaceutical companies.

More lawsuits to be filed

Janet G. Abaray, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, said that more suits will be filed in forthcoming months. “That’s going to be important evidence – over-promotion and downplaying the risks,” she said. “We have many cases. It’s just a matter of getting all of the medical records.”

Defective product injury and help

A drug manufacturer is considered an expert in its area and is, therefore, held liable for providing information regarding known dangers and/or side effects to consumers. Someone who has been taking prescribed drugs and has suffered side effects has the right to file a lawsuit and claim compensation. In fact, you are entitled to claims even if you have not experienced side effects, but have used the drugs. Inadequate warning, or failure to warn, falls under the broad category of product liability injuries. However, these are complex claims, since most pharmaceutical companies are giants. Establishing liability requires thorough investigation and organized filing of claims. This makes it critical to consult a good personal injury lawyer to evaluate your position and file a claim against a defective product.

Entrepreneurs: Books, Web site help lawyer grow practice

If you get in a car accident and contact Billings attorney Solomon Neuhardt about filing a lawsuit, he might tell you to find another attorney.

“Each year, we accept a limited number of accident cases from the hundreds of people who ask us to represent them,” says Neuhardt.

He makes that statement in the first few pages of his book “The Ultimate Guide to Accident Cases in Montana.” He sends the slim, yellow book – or one of the other law primers he’s written – home with nearly every potential client who contacts him.

“Sometimes the best advice you can get when you’re thinking about a lawsuit is that you do not have a claim that can be won,” Neuhardt says in his accident book.
But, if he does take your case, “fewer cases means more time for you,” he says.

The Neuhardt Law Firm is located at 2602 First Ave. S., Suite 319, in the downtown post office building. It can be reached at 294-9540.

Here’s what else Neuhardt had to say about striking out on his own, and what it feels like to lay down in an empty office on your first day and wonder if you’ve done the right thing:

Nature of the business?

Business primarily focuses on personal injury. However, we also help with medical malpractice and criminal defense.

Why start this business?

Primarily to be independent. I worked at the former Yellowstone County Public Defender’s Office as a deputy public defender and wanted to be able to run my own operation. I also knew that the most successful businesspeople typically started their own businesses.

Where did startup funding come from?

My checking account. I remember renting an office space at 2722 Third Avenue North and laying on the floor of my office waiting for the furniture people to arrive with my desk and credenza. I had no idea if I was the making the right decision, but it seemed to be at the time and has turned out that way.

How long have you been in business?

Five years as of April 15.

Your biggest challenge during the current recession?

We haven’t seen the recession as much of a challenge. We placed a lot of efforts into marketing in the latter part of 2008 until now.

I wrote three short books in the last six months or so to promote information to consumers and for marketing. They include “Five Deadly Sins That Will Wreck Your Montana Accident Claim,” “Why Most Victims of Medical Malpractice Never Recover a Dime,” and “What You Don’t Know about Car Insurance Will Hurt You.”

All of these can be downloaded from our Web site at www.mtaccidentattorney.com. The first book is also available on Amazon.com or from Barnes & Noble or Borders books. A free copy can also be obtained by calling my office. We send out a copy of the accident book to every potential personal injury client who contacts us. We also started sending out a newsletter to current and former clients and others on a monthly basis that is informational. And we spent a lot of time and effort developing our Web site so it provides information about personal injury and medical malpractice cases. The Web site also includes testimonials from former clients and information about the firm. I have a tech person in India who works for us for $4 an hour who spends a lot of time promoting the Web site and the law firm. He works full time.

What was done to overcome those challenges?

Whatever challenges existed, if there were ones, were overcome by our stepped-up marketing efforts.

What is being done to expand the business?

The publication of the books, the mailing of the newsletter and the development of the Web site has brought a lot of new business in to the firm. The books provides great information to consumers. The newsletter keeps us at the forefront of people’s minds when they are looking for an attorney. The Web site provides great information and attracts potential clients to us.

Your best business decisions?

The books, newsletter, and Web site. Great staff members.

Your worst business mistake?

Spending too much money on projects with questionable returns on investment.

What advice do you have for someone running a business?

Try and keep your costs low and focus on revenues. Customer service should never be compromised. Develop as many business relationships as you can.

Number of workers?

Four, including myself.

What’s your five-year plan for the business?

Quadruple our revenues. I will publish the medical malpractice and car insurance books and make them available to the public and potential clients.

Expand the newsletter mailing as much as possible. Continue to develop and promote the Web site.

A question you would ask other entrepreneurs?

What is the meaning of life?

If you weren’t doing what you are now, what would be your dream job?

Bartending at the Ritz-Carlton in Anguilla.

Financial Compensation and Personal Injury Claims in Motorcycle Accidents

Nearly one out of every five motorcycle crashes result in neck or head injuries. In just a few short seconds it is enough for a skilled motorcyclist to suffer a crash due to a negligent driver. Year after year, thousands of victims suffer the loss of a loved one due to the negligence of others.

Reasons

If you take a look at any newspapers that report motorcycle accidents or injuries, you are likely to see that following:

• Drunk or aggressive driving
• Speeding or risky turns
• Negligence of the other auto/vehicle driver
• Traffic jam or congestion
• Violation of traffic laws
• Motorcycle signaling error
• Driver error

What’s disturbing is to note that most motorcycle accidents occur on short trips, but bike riders who wear helmets are three times more likely to emerge as survivors despite head or neck injuries. Otherwise, the damage to the head and neck can be quite extensive.

Wearing a helmet has its advantages because helmets save lives. However, a study involving 900 motorcycle accidents revealed that 40 percent of the riders wore helmets but that didn’t safeguard them from neck or head injuries. So, it may happen that wearing a helmet is a recommended safety measure but definitely not a full- proof one.

Financial Compensation

Motorcycle injuries are expensive and difficult to treat, which is why you require the best motorcycle injury lawyers. They are the experts you need to consult when confronted with motorcycle accidents.

Factors to consider include:

• Some states follow the no-fault insurance laws so as to prevent frivolous suits
• Motorcyclists, who obey the traffic laws, wear bright clothing, avoid speeding and keep on their headlights have a better chance of success in case of a personal injury claim.
• The only way to establish your case is to have the best known personal injury lawyer with remarkable success and expertise in this field to represent you.

Keeping aside the fact that you want to win your case, a lawyer with expertise in motorcycle accidents will educate you about your legal rights better than anybody else.