2011 September Archive

Accidents involving tractor rollovers are amid the highest reasons behind farm and agricultural fatalities. Around 80 percent of accidents resulting in injury on farms stem from a tractor incident, and many of those include a rollover. Operators can take precautions to decrease the risk of rolling over, such as maintaining a slow speed, making turns and maneuvers slowly, refraining from making turns while moving uphill, and gaining a solid command over the vehicle through practice prior to operating it in a working environment. Outside of a driver’s operation, the most efficient measure to prevent rollovers is known as a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS).

The structure is basically a specially designed metal bar that protects the rider in the event that the tractor tips over. After being manufactured, an ROPS is put through thorough tests by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers to verify that the unit will sustain numerous levels of impact on the shielded area around the operator. Be sure to confirm a valid certification for a ROPS with the dealer. Homespun apparatus used as a substitute are not adequate and can even put an operator in additional peril due to amateur design defects or installation flaws. In combination with a ROPS system, tractor operators must use safety belts at all times to ensure protection in an accident.

Owners should retrofit older tractors with ROPS, with an authorized dealer serving as a guide for installation. While the price may seem high at first glance, don’t allow that to dissuade you, a program exists to help subsidize payments and provide assistance on cost, installation, and as much as $765 in rebate, also including shipping.

Have you been injured in a tractor rollover accident? Call 1-888-226-6159 to speak with the Oklahoma personal injury attorneys with Maples Law Firm to discuss your case today.

An explosion of a gas drilling rig illuminated the sky close to Watonga, OK, this past week. Town officials ordered the evacuation of nearby homes and said the flames may burn for a number of days, according to The Enid News and Eagle and Associated Press. Reports stated that no one was injured or killed, however, the incident occurs at a time when increased federal and local authorities are focusing on drilling safety.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma has seen its share of oil field eruptions and fires. The unpredictable nature of the substances involved can cause large fires without warning. Corporations may take shortcuts to meet deadlines and turn larger profits while workers may be directed to use antiquated equipment to minimize cost. Luckily, the damages in this recent accident have been confined and relatively minimal, but that’s not always the case. Destruction can occur to properties nearby the event, and severe injuries or fatalities can be suffered by individuals in the region of the explosion.

Trauma that an individual can suffer as a result of an Oklahoma oil field explosion includes:

• Loss of sight and hearing;
• Broken or fractured bones;
• Limb loss;
• Damage to nerves;
• Burn injuries; and
• Spinal cord wounds.

The oil field or operating company should be held legally accountable for accidents resulting in injuries, fatalities, and property destruction. If you or a loved has been injured in an Oklahoma oil field accident, contact the Oklahoma City oil field injury attorneys at Maples Law Firm for a complimentary case review. Call 1-888-429-0609 today.

Due to manufacturing faults, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that farm tractor giant John Deere will recall more than 20,000 units of two of their tractor models as a result of safety problems.

The first recall is for approximately 15,500 Lawn Tractors. In this instance, the apparatus that secures the blade to the deck of the tractor can bust. This can allow the tractor’s mower blades to rotate for longer than they are supposed to after the power has been turned off and can pose a danger for laceration. The model was sold by Home Depot, Lowes, and John Deere dealers for between $1500 and $2000 between December 2010-September 2011.

The second recall is for approximately 5,200 units of their Lawn Tractors (model D100). In this circumstance, the apparatus that secures the brake unit with the transmission casing can snap or come apart, which can result in brake failure, loss of vehicle control, and potentially serious injury. The D100 model was sold for approximately $1,500 by Home Depot, Lowes, and John Deere dealers across the country (with the exception of California) between October 2011-September 2011.

Both products were manufactured in the United States. The CPSC instructs consumers to cease using both models at once and contact the customer service department at John Deere for further information and instructions. Have you or a family member suffered injury in an Oklahoma accident involving faulty farm or agricultural tools? Contact an Oklahoma defective product injury lawyer at the Maples Law Firm to discuss your case. Call 1-888-226-6159 for a free review with an attorney today.

Although Labor Day marks the unofficial close of outdoor swimming pool season, drowning risks for young children are significant year-round. According to recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), “drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 4.” The biggest risks are found inside the home with around 92 percent of drowning incidents happening in residential settings, according to the agency.

The CPSC reports 660 submersion household water accidents involving children younger than five years old, from 2005 to 2009. Out of those, there were 431 deaths, 212 injuries and 17 accidents with undetermined injuries. Most of the victims were under two years old and involved baths or bath-related products (the leading cause of drowning for children behind swimming pools), while buckets, containers and even landscaping equipment were also involved in accidents.

The majority of accidents reported occurred when a parent or caregiver left the child alone in a bath or near a water source for a brief amount of time while attending to a domestic task. In other cases, older siblings were left in charge of monitoring a child. A young child can drown in only a few inches of water, so a potential risk isn’t always easily discernible without proper education and awareness.

CPSC Drowning Prevention Instructions:

• Never leave a child unattended in a bath or near any water source, no matter the amount of water present.
• Never go more than an arm’s length away from a child in a bath tub. If you have to exit the room, take the child along.
• Never leave a young child in a bathtub under the supervision of another child
• Never leave any amount of liquid in a bucket or container unsupervised around a young child. Toddlers are top heavy and can fall into buckets headfirst.

In addition to those rules, putting locks on toilet seat covers and learning CPR can help avoid tragedy. Has your child has been injured due to negligent supervision near a household water source? Please call 1-888-226-6159 to speak with an Oklahoma personal injury lawyer with Maples Law Firm today for a complimentary case review.

The start of the school year can be a blur of activities that include gathering classroom supplies, picking out new clothes, and getting ready for athletic practices. However, it’s crucial that all families make safety awareness and discussion part of their hectic schedules. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has offered some of the following guidelines on back to school safety.

• Make sure your kids’ coats, jackets and “hoodies” do not have long strings attached to any portion of the garment, top or bottom. The CPSC reported 26 instances of fatalities involving children when a drawstring became stuck in playground equipment, a school bus door and other objects. “New regulations specify that you shouldn’t be able to see more than 3 inches of the string when the clothes are stretched wide,” the agency notes.
• One of the most important accessories in your child’s back to school wardrobe should be a helmet if he or she rides a bike, scooter, skateboard or anything else with wheels to school. The helmet must fit snug and secure (it should not move around on the head), without being uncomfortable or obtrusive. Consult a professional bike shop for the right fit. Helmets that have adjustable back straps for tightness and customizable padding typically work well.
• Train your children to take off their helmet once off their bike on the playground; it can become stuck in certain playground apparatus and cause injury.
• Lastly, the CPSC commands coaches, school officials and staff to provide proper instruction and safe playgrounds for athletic competition.

If your child has been injured during school activities, call the Oklahoma personal injury attorneys with Maples Law Firm at 1-888-226-6159 for a complimentary case review.

The amount of fatal automobile crashes in the United States is at an all time low. However, according to recent initial projections by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there was still an approximate 32,788 car accidents resulting in death last year. For that reason, the NHTSA issued a number of recommendations to officials and policy makers as part of their latest Status Report publication to highlight safety measures that save lives. Below are summaries of a few of the key suggestions.

• Mandated, primary laws for seat belts and helmets: Seat belts are the single most efficient and effective way to prevent and reduce injuries in vehicle accidents. An approximate 12,713 lives were saved by seat belts in 2009, and another 3,688 could have been saved if every vehicle passenger above five years old had worn one, said the agency. They also stated that in states with primary laws, highway officers can pull over and ticket a vehicle solely for not wearing seat belts, resulting in higher compliance.
• Little kids ride in reverse: Every child under the age of two should ride in rear facing seat restraints (or until they surpass the weight or height restraints of their seat). After that, the child should travel in seat restraints that face forward for as long as viable, depending on the restrictions of the seat, followed by booster chairs that position the belts properly. This should continue until adult seat belts fit correctly, which typically occurs when the child grows to four feet and nine inches in height. Additionally, children should travel in the back seat until at least 13 years of age.

While government and state mandated safety initiatives are both crucial and helpful in preventing highway tragedies, the ultimate result lies in the ability of individuals to follow those rules and also govern their own driving behaviors in a sound fashion. If you or a family member has been injured in an Oklahoma car accident that you believe was the fault of another driver, contact the traffic accident attorneys in Oklahoma City with Maples Law Firm. Call 1-888-226-6159 for a complimentary consultation.

Due to severe risks of flash fires and burns, nine U.S. manufacturers and distributors recalled pourable gel fuels in their product lines. Gel fuel products are used as an alternative to fire wood. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a release in June of this year notifying consumers of the dangers associated with using fuel gels.

The recent recall includes approximately 2 million product units of different pourable gel fuels encased in one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs. The products were sold in non-scented and scented formulas for between $5 and $20 since 2008. They have proven to ignite without warning and spray onto people and items nearby when poured into a fire that is still burning.

The CPSC reported 65 incidents resulting in two deaths and 34 victims who were hospitalized with second and third degree burns to the chest, hands, arms, legs, and face. Twenty-eight of those accidents, including 37 burn injuries and two fatalities, occurred from the use if products made by Napa Home and Garden, which recalled its products in June 2011 in conjunction with the CPSC’s announcement.

The CPSC stresses that all pourable gel fuels pose serious fire and burn dangers but consumers are instructed to immediately stop using gel fuels recalled from the following nine companies:

1. Bird Brain Inc.;
2. Bond Manufacturing;
3. Sunjel Company (2 Burn Inc.);
4. Fuel Barons Inc.;
5. Lamplight Farms Inc.;
6. Luminosities Inc (Windflame);
7. Pacific Dcor Ltd.;
8. Real Flame; and
9. Smart Solar Inc.

Consumers should contact companies individually for return and refund information, while retailers are required to remove the recalled gels from their stock. Have you been burned by a fire in Oklahoma that resulted from gel fuels? If so, the experienced dangerous products attorneys in Oklahoma City with Maples Law Firm may be able to help. Call 1-888-226-6159 for a free review of your case.

In collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) end of summer battle against impaired driving, Oklahoma is ramping up efforts across state and county lines to assist the clampdown. The NHTSA plan is named “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and it’s in effect August 19-September 5. According to the administration, the nationwide campaign blends “high-visibility enforcement and public awareness messaging.”

Law officials and state safety offices joined forces during the final weeks of summer, with the height of the project’s efforts during the upcoming high traffic and party laden Labor Day weekend. Each state’s approach is unique depending on its territory, circumstances and resources, so individual measures are profiled on the NHTSA website.

In Oklahoma, over 260 law enforcement groups are slated to participate in this season’s elevated enforcement effort. The state is utilizing the NHTSA’s national motto, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” in their state messaging. The action features both earned and paid media, in addition to opportunities for groups to gain incentives for their involvement. With help from Safe Communities organizations and the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, Oklahoma is hosting publicity functions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Miami and other surrounding areas to promote safety awareness.

The program is a crucial step in battling impaired driving across the country during a key period but the issue will still remain after the initiative is finished. If you’ve been injured in a car accident that you think was the result of an impaired driver, contact the Oklahoma car accident attorneys at Maples Law Firm today. Call 1-888-226-6159 for a complimentary review of your claim.