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If designed, installed and used properly, seat belts can save lives. This has to do with the mechanical forces produced during a car crash. However, if not designed, installed or used properly, seat belts can turn on you and cause serious injuries if you’re involved in a car accident.
What most drivers don’t know is that millions of motor vehicles on the road today have defective seat belt and restraint systems. Car manufacturers have been aware of these defects for decades, but have done nothing to warn the public or change the design of their seat belts to make them safer.
Some examples of defective seat belts issues that have prompted litigation are:
- Malfunctioning Retractor – Seat belts don’t lock during a collision
- Door Mounted Seat Belts –Mounted on the door instead of the automobile frame
- Inertial Unlatching or False Latching Seat Belts – Seat belts that unlatch during a collision
- Defective Automatic Shoulder Belts – Cause neck injuries and decapitation
- Lap Belts – Seat Belts with no shoulder harness
Meningitis is an inflammation of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord. Most often it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
It is important for the patient’s prognosis to diagnose meningitis early, and identify the specific bacteria that caused it. Then the correct antibiotic can be given to prevent the disease from spreading to other people.
Meningitis is diagnosed by testing a sample of the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord for disease-causing bacteria or infection-fighting cells. The fluid is removed with a needle in a procedure known as a spinal tap or lumbar puncture.
While viral meningitis tends to get better on its own in seven to ten days, bacterial meningitis is far more serious and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities, and death. If bacterial meningitis is not diagnosed and treated early, it can cause catastrophic damage and has thus become a leading cause of medical malpractice suits.
Although there are other causes of truck accidents, one of the major causes is driver fatigue. Truck drivers often drive long routes for extend periods of time. These circumstances lead to exhausted and stressed drivers who may fall asleep behind the wheel or lose necessary alertness.
There are also certain risks associated with the trucking business itself that lead to tired drivers and safety issues. For example, truck drivers work under a system of compensation that rewards speedy deliveries and are often subject to tight delivery schedules. This increases the chances of having an exhausted truck driver on the road.
The trucking companies profit when products and cargo are shipped as fast as possible, so the less a driver sleeps or stops, the faster the shipments reach their destination. This results in decreased attention spans and lower reaction times which ultimately contribute to an increased number of truck accidents.
While cruise ship vacations are meant to be an enjoyable break from worry and stress, news stories are reporting that injuries can and do occur.
Slip and fall injuries
- Gangplank accidents
- Liquor and food liability
- Swimming pool accidents
- On-board viruses
- Fires
Injuries occurring during ship-sponsored shore excursions
- Assaults by crew members
- Medical malpractice by ship doctors
- Inadequate security
Lawsuits as a result of a cruise ship injury can be complicated by the issue of determining where the injury occurred. For example, if the injury occurred on a cruise ship in United States waters then state law will generally apply. If the injury occurred more than three miles from shore, then general maritime law will apply. If a death occurs on board a cruise ship, a wrongful death action may be filed. However, when an accident occurs more than three miles from the shore and results in death, then the Death On The High Seas Act (DOHSA) may apply.
If you have questions or comments please contact us.
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