Personal Injury

3 Ways You Can Help Us Prevent Drunk Driving

July 29, 2018 No Comments

We are committed to speaking out against drunk driving. That’s why we are big supporters of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Because we help many clients who are victims of drunk driving crashes, we understand the tragic consequences of this careless act. Raising awareness involves all of us, and we believe in doing our part by sponsoring our own local “Walk Like MADD” team, and periodically reminding people about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving. Why now? Because driving under the influence has always been a big problem, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the months of July and August have particularly high rates of fatal alcohol related crashes. Working together we can help solve this problem by constantly raising awareness and taking steps to prevent it. Did you know that in 2016, over 1.1 million drivers were arrested in the U.S. for driving under the influence? While these impaired drivers pose a significant risk to all of us, what is more heartbreaking is that 10,497 people lost their lives in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. That’s an average of one alcohol-impaired driving fatality every 50 minutes. Shockingly, the average drunk driver has driven drunk over 80 times before his or her first arrest. Kansas has about 94 drunk driving deaths each year and over 1,100 injuries, while Missouri has about 244 deaths each year and over 2,800 injuries. Here’s how you can help. 1. Don’t do it. This may be obvious but it’s worth stating. If you plan to drink, also plan for a designated driver, call a taxi, use public transportation, or spend the night at a friend’s house or hotel. Make a plan ahead of time and be 100% committed to never driving under the influence. 2. Express your commitment. Tell your family and friends you feel strongly about this issue and stay committed. Setting an example for others will help raise awareness and make others think twice. 3. Don’t allow guests to drive home under the influence. Cooking out this summer? Be a great host. Make sure your guests have a designated driver or consider providing one for them. Or, consider providing taxis or ride-share services to your guests at your own expense. Set clear expectations and stick to them. Let your guests know that their safety and the safety of others is important to you. Driving under the influence is 100% preventable and we are asking you to join us in this effort. Drinking and driving can kill you, those you love, your friends, and others. It can also lead to serious injuries – spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, etc. Moreover, if you decide to drink and drive, it can cost you significant amounts of money in legal fees and compensation for those you’ve injured – and that’s on top the legal fees and costs associated with criminal charges.

Summertime Motorcycle Safety Tips

July 11, 2018 No Comments

When the weather turns warm, there is nothing better than getting out in the fresh air and enjoying it. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, you are probably spending more time out on the road this summer. It is important to be aware that while the summer months are a great time for riding, motorcycle accidents increase in the summer months. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reports that over the last six years, motorcycle accidents have drastically increased. The month of July is noted as the most dangerous month, with an 80% increase in injury accidents. Increased Risk of Accidents Why is there an increase in motorcycle accidents in the summer months? Experts contend that there are some logical reasons for this increase. The biggest reason is that there are more people on the roads. The kids are out of school, and families are taking summer vacations. This increased danger is compounded by the fact that there are more teenage drivers on the roads. Also, construction companies tend to schedule road construction projects over the summer when the weather is warmer. Lastly, there are several holidays that occur over summer, which means there are more people driving intoxicated. Because of this, it is important to keep these safety tips in mind, so you can enjoy a safe summer: Wear a helmet: While every state varies in terms of helmet laws, it is the most important thing you can do to prevent serious injury or even death. In the event of a motorcycle accident, your helmet is the only thing protecting you from the road. It’s that important. Wear proper riding gear: When the summer is beautiful, it is tempting to ride your motorcycle with lighter clothing and enjoy the sunshine. However, wearing protective clothing will save you from serious cuts and scrapes if you experience an accident. Protective gear can include long sleeves, long pants, and boots. Make sure that the fabric is sturdy and a bright color to increase your visibility. Get anti-lock brakes: Anti-lock brakes can prevent you from skidding out of control from a sudden stop. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that anti-lock brakes can reduce a fatal highway crash by 37%. Bike maintenance: If you haven’t taken your motorcycle out in a while, now is a good time to give it a safety check. Consider these suggestions: Check your tires for wear and low pressure. Check all fluids. Be sure your lights are in working order. Make sure your horn works. Check your brakes. Watch the weather: Weather can be a little unpredictable in the summer. Bad weather can increase the likelihood of an accident. Be aware that an unexpected rainstorm can reduce visibility, make the roads slicker and increase the likelihood of hydroplaning. We hope that you keep these safety tips in mind and you are getting out there and enjoying your summer. If the unexpected happens and you are involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact us.

5 Myths About Spinal Cord Injuries

July 5, 2018 No Comments

Spinal cord injuries are life changing. You may be coping with putting your life back together after an accident and wondering about your next steps. You may be wondering about what type of immediate medical help you need and what you or your loved one will require in the future. The spinal cord serves as an information highway for the rest of the body. As your brain sends messages, they travel down the spinal column and direct nerves and muscles to function. An interruption in this mechanism causes serious impairment. Injury to the spine causes a variety of symptoms, from pain, numbness and tingling, to limited movement or complete paralysis. Statistics report that 250,000 to 500,000 people suffer from spinal injuries every year. Unless this has happened to you, there may be a lot you don’t understand about spinal injuries. There is a lot of misinformation out there. Here are some common myths about spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries mean the victim will never move again. It is important to remember that every injury is unique. Two people could have the very same injury and experience it differently. The mobility that a victim can regain after an injury is somewhat unique to the victim. Also, recovery has a lot to do with the quality of medical treatment you receive, a good assessment of your medical condition and a quality of your rehabilitation. The spinal cord must be completely severed to cause paralysis. This isn’t always true. A victim can lose motor function and sensation when the spinal cord is bruised, crushed or stretched. Spinal cord injuries are the same, always causing the same result. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that serve as an information highway of sorts. It allows messages from the brain to be transmitted to other parts of the body. If this information is obstructed in any way, movement and sensation are affected. There are generally two types of spinal cord injuries, complete and incomplete. With a complete injury, the victim will experience total paralysis below the site of the injury. With an incomplete injury the victim can have control and sensation of some, but not all body parts. Rehabilitation and treatment for a spinal injury ends when you leave the hospital. This isn’t true. When a patient is in the hospital, a team of therapists and doctors will create a treatment plan and set goals moving forward. Inpatient therapy isn’t complete when the patient leaves the hospital. In fact, the road to recovery may be very long, and a full recovery may not be possible. The cost of these therapies can be extremely costly. If you or a loved one has experienced a spinal cord injury that was caused by the negligence of another party, it is important to speak with us as soon as possible. We understand that these injuries are devastating physically and emotionally. We know that the treatments and therapies needed can be extremely expensive, and the victim is likely unable to work. Call us today for guidance and a free consultation.

Dispelling Common Myths about Traumatic Brain Injuries

June 17, 2018 No Comments

The human brain is a marvel. Everyday it seems science is discovering more about how our brains develop, function over our lifetime, and heal from injury. Despite all these advances, traumatic brain injuries are still often misunderstood. Discoveries about the science of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are occurring every day. Yet, there are many misconceptions still out there. Here are a few to be aware of: 1. A mild TBI doesn’t do any permanent damage. This statement is false. Studies have shown that one year after a TBI, 10% to 15% of TBI patients haven’t fully recovered. Some victims find that they even have more symptoms later than they had with the initial injury. After sustaining a traumatic brain injury, the victim may experience marked changes in attention, memory, cognition or information processing. Everyone experiences these types of injuries differently; some may only have one or two symptoms, while others may have all of them. The average time for recovery is twelve weeks. However, some people will recover at a much slower pace, and some people may never recover completely. 2. The symptoms of a TBI will be immediate. Many people are surprised to learn that if you are in an injury accident, the symptoms of a brain injury may not appear immediately. A few days after a car accident for instance, a victim may start noticing problems concentrating or paying attention once they get back to their daily routine. More serious symptoms may continue to manifest over the next few weeks. 3. Standard medical imaging tests are conclusive. With all the sophisticated testing available today, one would think that these types of injuries would be visible on a CT scan or other diagnostic test. Neurologists are now aware that these injuries may not be detectable from standard imaging tests. It is not unusual for a patient to have very clear symptoms of a TBI and a negative medical test. 4. You must be knocked unconscious to have a brain injury. Interestingly, only 10% of TBI patients experience a loss of consciousness. So, if you or a loved one suffer a blow to the head, but remained conscious, bear in mind that a TBI is still a possibility. Also remember that some individuals don’t even realize they had a loss of consciousness until a witness to their injury reports that they appeared to be unconscious for a period of time. 5. A TBI is always caused by a blow to the head. People are surprised to learn that violent movements of the head and neck are sufficient to cause a TBI. This type of injury can happen where the neck receives severe trauma, such as with whiplash. When whiplash occurs, the head violently moves forward and then backwards. The rapid deceleration of the head causes the brain to hit the front and/or back parts of the skull, which often results in a TBI. What Should I Do? If you or a loved one has suffered a serious head or neck injury due to an accident, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, whether you are experiencing symptoms or not. A physician can use a variety of tests to help determine if you could have a TBI including: Glasgow Coma Scale; Speech and language tests; and Various imaging tests. If your injury was due to the negligence of another, please call us for guidance. We understand the difficulty you may have if you were injured due to the carelessness of someone else… You may be contending with your injuries, unable to work and at the same time watching the medical bills mount. We are here to help. Call us at 913-839-2808 for a free consultation.

3 Distracted Driving Myths Everyone Should Know

April 4, 2018 No Comments

Did you know every 8 seconds someone is injured in a car crash? Join us in spreading awareness for Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Many of the things we do daily while driving are actually distracting us from the road and could cause us to someone in a crash. Would you have recognized these driving myths? I can multitask while I’m driving. Did you know the brain literally can only do one thing at a time? Even if it seems like multi-tasking is natural and instinctive for you, your brain is actually only focusing on one thing at a time. For example, we talk all day long, it doesn’t even seem to require much brain power, right? Wrong. When you’re talking on the phone and driving, your brain is quickly switching back and forth between the two tasks, even though you don’t notice it. This slows your reaction time. Think about trying to watch TV and talk on the phone at the same time. You’ll notice then that you can’t actually do two seemingly simple tasks at the same time. Your brain can only focus on one at a time. Go ahead, try it, and then think twice about talking on the phone while driving. But talking on the phone is just like talking to a passenger. Nope. It’s actually very different. Passengers in the car are also aware of what’s going on around you and can help keep you focused. Someone on the other end of the phone can’t see that car that’s about to cut you off. But your passenger can. So they can adjust the conversation when they see potential danger and they can even alert you to those potential dangers. We all hate backseat drivers but sometimes, they can actually help and save lives. Don’t be fooled. It is not safe to drive and talk on the phone at the same time. I can still text if I use voice-to-text. When cell phones first became capable of transcribing our voice into text messages, it was all the rage. “Now I can text without having to look at my phone.” Sounds great, right? Maybe not. Have you ever noticed that even while you’re using your voice to text, you constantly look down at the phone? That’s probably because of auto-correct issues or your phone misinterpreting your voice. This can be extremely dangerous because 1) you’re still looking at your phone and 2) you’ve let your guard down because you think you’re being safe by not actually texting. If it’s an urgent message, find a safe place to park, and take care of your text. Otherwise, ignore your phone and wait until you get to your destination. Help us spread awareness this month about the dangers of distracted driving so we can reduce the injuries and fatalities it causes.

5 Tips for Communicating with Someone who has a Traumatic Brain Injury

April 1, 2018 No Comments

Do you have a loved one suffering from a traumatic brain injury? It can be hard to adjust and know what to say. You want to help but you don’t want to offend your loved one. So what should you do? Each case is different and talking with their doctor could help you determine the best course of action. In the meantime, however, take a look at these general tips for communicating with someone who is suffering from a TBI. Treat adults as adults. Treat people with dignity. If you offer assistance, wait for that offer to be accepted. Don’t assume they need the help. Assuming that someone needs help and not allowing them to accept assistance can make them feel embarrassed or less of an adult. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure of what to do. Try to move to a quieter place. TBIs can cause concentration problems. Someone with a TBI may have difficulty concentrating and an area with a lot of distractions can make that worse. Be patient. Be prepared to repeat things more than once. Short-term memory deficits are common with TBIs. Sometimes, TBIs can create problems with understanding things. Take your time and make sure your loved one understands what you are saying. Maybe try saying things in a different way. Regardless, make sure you remain patient and understanding. Listen. This can be hard for a lot of people. Remember, they may have something important to say. They may want to contribute to a conversation. It may take them more time to organize their thoughts and be able to clearly express themselves, so take the time to really listen to them. Be supportive and understanding. Recovering from a TBI is not a linear process. Symptoms can fluctuate and can be influenced by outside factors, such as noise levels and distractions. Stay positive – this can be a very difficult time and your loved one needs all the positive support he/she can get. We hope this is helpful for you and your families. Feel free to pass this information along to other friends, family, colleagues, or anyone else who may know someone who has a traumatic brain injury.