2010 July Archive

Personal injuries resulting from slip and falls in Tulsa and throughout Oklahoma still remain high in spite of numerous safety regulations to reduce accidents at corporations and other places of businesses. Although businesses hold a duty of providing a safe workplace, the truth is that sometimes this does not always occur.

Employees can be severely injured in slip and falls, breaking bones and even suffering concussions. In more serious instances, slip and falls can be fatal.

A 2007 Bureau of Labor and Statistics report indicated that a significant number of employee work absences were caused by falls on floors, walkways, and ground services. The following year in 2008, The Bureau of Labor and Statistics noted that 84 deaths occurred as a result of slip and falls on hard ground surfaces.

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) attributes slip and falls to four main causes:

• Workers
• Machines and Equipment
• Workplace Environment
• Improper Management

The ASSE focuses on preventative measures for workers. Workers can suffer from slip and fall injuries by not wearing proper footwear in slippery areas, which increases the dangers of walking in slick areas. The best precaution is to purchase tread safe footwear, or footwear with sturdy rubber soles with multiple ripples, or “tread grips” similar in appearance to tires.

However, this precaution is not enough to prevent slip and falls. Workers should be alert of slick areas and notify employers of wet spaces and leaks. Always seek areas that potentially have places where you can grip something stable in the event of losing your balance. For instance, some work areas have strong stationary tables which can help you prevent yourself from falling, if you do slip.

The ASSE also recommends knowing the types of floors where slip and falls would be most likely to occur. For instance, marble type walkways would present a greater hazard than tiled floors, when wet. Workers should tread more carefully in these areas.

Lastly, workers should learn how to fall to minimize injuries. Inevitably, there will be times when falls cannot be avoided. Safety sites recommend that workers stay calm when falling. Tuck your body in a way to avoid neck and back injuries by rolling together and attempting to bend knees inward. You should avoid wildly flailing arms as this may make falling worse. Following a fall, you should immediately ice the area of contact and seek medical attention.

The Oklahoma slip and fall attorneys of Maples Law Firm are highly skilled and qualified at helping clients obtain compensation needed to cope with a slip and fall. For your free legal consultation, contact our office today at 1-888-429-0609.

An article from the Oklahoman reports that a southern Illinois coal miner was killed when he was struck by a shuttle car that transported coal into the mine. Investigators say that the miner was a section foreman employee. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) had previously fined the miner’s employer $230,000 for past mine violations. The current workplace wrongful death is still under investigation.

The mine will be shut down until the investigation of the miner’s death is completed. The foreman’s death marks the 41st death related to a mining accident for 2010.

From 2006-2007, the MSHA reported 69 deaths and 11, 800 injuries for coal mining and non-metal mining industries. In 2009, the US saw a record low of only 18 coal mining deaths.

Coal mining workplace accidents can create life or death situations for employees who usually spend long hours in constricted conditions given the nature of their jobs. However, the employers of coal mining corporations have a greater duty to ensure that their neglectful actions do not lead to the harm of their workers. In some cases, they fail to adhere to this duty, and people suffer as a result.

The Oklahoma wrongful death attorneys of Maples Law Firm provide competent, skilled legal representation against cases involving corporate negligence. We provide strong legal support at a time when our clients may feel most vulnerable. If you have lost a loved one in a mining accident, or any other work-related accident, call our office today for a free consultation at 1-888-429-0609.

You’ve been injured in an Oklahoma car accident or work related accident. What should you do after you’ve sought medical attention? The answer is document, document, and document.

Oklahoma personal injury cases are heavily based on one’s ability to show that suffering was caused by the negligence of another. Providing proof requires documentation and sometimes, a large amount of it.

Begin with noting everything that you can remember during the actual accident and after the accident occurred. There may be a delay between the time your case goes to trial and the date of the accident. You will want to record details of the event while they are still fresh in your mind.

Your preliminary documentation should include the date of the accident, the time, the parties involved, and a description of what happened during the accident. In addition, you should keep all medical bills and all communications from your insurance company, if applicable.

Financial records are important for showing the extent of your injuries and necessary medical care. Your financial records can include the number of days missed from work and the estimated cost of loss salary benefits.

It may also be helpful to maintain a personal medical journal where you document your pain, or the information related to the diagnosis of your injuries, such as information about broken bones, fractures, and rehabilitation.

Most likely, you will use your preliminary documentation, during your first consultation with an attorney. The Oklahoma personal injury lawyers of Maples Law Firm are skilled at helping clients find viable legal solutions as well as compensation for their claims. Contact Maples Law Firm today at 1-888-429-0609 for a free consultation. We can assist you with your claim.

A recent Associated Press article reports that a 34-year-old male driver and a 29-year-old female driver were killed in a car accident in Pushmataha County following a tire-blow out from the man’s SUV.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) officials say that when the man’s front driver’s side tire exploded, he lost control of his SUV which went in to the opposing traffic lane. The man’s SUV collided with the woman’s pickup truck.

Both the drivers of the two vehicles were killed during the collision. Each vehicle had one surviving passenger, a 23-year-old woman from the SUV and 29-year-old woman from the pickup truck.

The OHP authorities report that while both drivers were not wearing their seat belts, both of the passengers wore a seat belt during the vehicle crash. The two surviving passengers were both airlifted to the hospital and listed in fair condition.

Tire blowouts can be the direct result of poorly designed tires and lead to driver and passenger injuries. Family members of loved ones who die in Oklahoma car accidents as a result of tire blow-outs and other defective tire problems may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of the their loved ones. Victims are entitled to compensation for their personal injuries, but they may need skilled Oklahoma personal injury attorneys to manage the complexities of a tire defect case.

The Oklahoma defective products attorneys at Maples Law Firm provide highly experienced legal representation for families and victims of car accidents arising from tire defects and other faulty auto components due to manufacturer negligence. Big corporations will use the top legal representation against you, shouldn’t you do the same? Call one of our knowledgeable and aggressive Oklahoma injury attorneys for a free consultation today at 1-888-429-0609.

The Associated Press reports that Toyota has issued yet another recall in addition to the current list of recalls related to defective acceleration pedals and faulty steering. The latest Toyota defect recall involves faulty car engines.

Toyota states that approximately 270,000 vehicles have been recalled due to the engines suddenly stalling while the vehicle is in motion. The recall applies to the following Toyota Lexus models: IS350, GS350, GS460, GS450h, LS 460, and LS600h, LS600hL, and the Toyota Crown.

Toyota says that these vehicles are primarily sold in Japan. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration stated that it was not yet made aware of the current recall.

The Lexus general manager claims that faulty manufacturing materials were used in some vehicles. The defects could cause abnormal noises, engine idling, and engine failure during driving due to faulty spring valves.

Toyota is still investigating which model years would be negatively impacted by the recall. The manufacturing company has already faced hefty fines for failure to recall some vehicles as soon as it received knowledge of defects.

The Oklahoma Toyota product recall attorneys of Maples Law Firm can help if you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident that you believe was caused by a defective recalled Toyota vehicle. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and you may have other viable claims against the manufacturer. For your free legal consultation, contact our office today at 1-888-429-0609.

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, several Oklahoma residents have already begun celebrating with fireworks and other devices. While a patriotic spirit is to be encouraged, far too many citizens overlook safety when utilizing these potentially dangerous objects. A new study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reveals that fireworks-related incidents were responsible for two deaths in 2009 and approximately 9,000 emergency room visits for injuries. According to the CPSC, throughout the 30 days near last year’s holiday, about 6,000 injuries involving fireworks were reported in which half of the injuries related to firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers.

Consumers below the age of 20 are the most prone to fireworks injuries; however, the risk of serious injury or even death still exists for anyone within close proximity of fireworks or other pyrotechnics. Some common fireworks injuries and hazards include:

• Lacerations
• Burns
• Loss of Limbs
• Wrongful Death
• Residential Fires

Parental supervision is very important when legal fireworks are being used. Never allow young children to set-off or play with fireworks or other gadgets. Remember to never throw or point fireworks at another person. To find out more about how you can help prevent severe injuries related to fireworks this Fourth of July holiday, please refer to the CPSC’s website for consumer fireworks safety tips.

The Oklahoma personal injury lawyers at Maples Law Firm understand how crucial consumer safety is during the Independence Day holiday and always. Please use extra caution this Fourth of July and help protect your loved ones.