Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
How Can You Protect Your Loved One from Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is a serious problem that may exist even in the nicest-looking, swankiest facilities in Oklahoma. This makes nursing home abuse or neglect challenging to detect and prevent. There are steps, however, that family members can take to reduce the chances of their loved ones suffering from negligence or abuse at an Oklahoma nursing home.
One of the most common causes of abuse and neglect in nursing homes is understaffing. There is a smaller chance of abuse or neglect at a facility that has a greater number of qualified workers and where staff turnover is not high. When choosing a facility for your loved one, ask about the number of residents they have per certified care provider. It is also advisable to read online reviews about recent incidents and concerns at the facility, which you are considering.
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Medical Transportation Company Under Scrutiny after Oklahoma Helicopter Crash
A patient was killed in a recent helicopter accident in southeastern Oklahoma en route to a Tulsa medical facility. According to The Associated Press, the helicopter accident occurred near the Choctaw National Health Care Center. Officials have not stated if the patient died because of injuries sustained in the crash or from a previous medical condition. The helicopter’s flight nurse was transported to a Tulsa hospital in stable condition. The pilot and a medic suffered minor injuries, and it is unclear if any other helicopter occupants were injured. The accident is the third deadly crash involving an EagleMedLLC helicopter in Oklahoma since 2010.
The executive director of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems has stated that EagleMed’s accreditation will be reviewed following the crash. This fatal Oklahoma helicopter crash occurred less than four months after two people were killed in an Oklahoma City helicopter crash on February 22, 2013. Prior to that accident, a helicopter pilot and nurse were killed in a helicopter crash in Kingfisher on July 22, 2010.
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Preventing Boating Accidents in Oklahoma This Summer
In addition to the natural Oxbow and Playa lakes, Oklahoma has more than 200 man-made lakes. There are more lakes created by dams in Oklahoma than in any other state in the United States, and many of them are great for boating. If you are going out on a boat this summer, it is important that you exercise caution. Boating can be dangerous, and collisions often result in devastating injuries.
Here are a few ways in which you can reduce your chances of being involved in an Oklahoma boating accident:
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What You Should Know about Your Nursing Home Arbitration Agreement
Admitting a loved one into an Oklahoma nursing home can be challenging and stressful. During the application process, there are many documents that are difficult to understand and requirements that are challenging to meet. One of the many legal documents you may be asked to sign is a nursing home arbitration agreement. It is important that you review this agreement and learn about what it means before signing it.
A mandatory arbitration agreement is an easily overlooked legal document that is sometimes included in a package of admissions documents. Failing to read whatever you are signing can prove costly if your loved one becomes the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. A nursing home arbitration agreement takes away your right to sue the nursing home. Instead, your disputes will go directly to a professional arbitrator. If you sign an arbitration agreement, you will not be able to take the nursing home to court even if your loved one dies as a result of neglect or abuse in the care facility.
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Passenger Killed in Oklahoma Motorcycle Crash
A 39-year-old woman was killed when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger crashed into a guardrail. According to a NewsOn6 report, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred on Avery Drive west of Chandler Park in Tulsa County. Officials say the 42-year-old man who was driving the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate a turn. The motorcycle left the roadway and struck the guardrail. The female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, and the motorcyclist sustained injuries. It is not clear if the motorcyclist will be cited for the crash.
Speed is a common factor in Oklahoma motorcycle accidents. Under Oklahoma statute 47-11-801: “Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive the same at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the highway and any other conditions then existing.” Motorcyclists who lose control of their vehicle because they are traveling too fast may be held accountable for their actions.
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Child Injured in Crash Caused by Texting Driver
A child was injured in an Oklahoma City car accident, which officials believe, involved a distracted driver. According to a KFOR news report, the car crash occurred at I-44 and SW 29th in Oklahoma City. Officials say a woman was driving slowly to a gas station because her vehicle’s tire blew out when a truck rear ended her. Officials also say the driver of the truck was texting while driving. A child, who was in the backseat of the car, was transported to a nearby hospital with back injuries.
There are a number of laws and regulations regarding distracted driving in Oklahoma. Throughout the state, there is a handheld ban for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license. There is also a ban on cell phone use and text messaging for all bus drivers.
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Two Pedestrians Injured in Oklahoma City Hit-and-Run
Two pedestrians were injured in an Oklahoma car accident involving a hit-and-run driver. According to a News 9 report, the hit-and-run accident occurred at SW 32nd Street and Blackwelder in Oklahoma City. Officials say the two victims were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It is unclear from the report if they have any clues regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle or the identity of the hit-and-run driver who fled the scene.
It is against the law to leave the scene of an Oklahoma car accident when someone has been injured or killed. Under Oklahoma Statute 47-10-102: “The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in a nonfatal injury to any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident.”
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Nissan Issues Massive Recall for Faulty Steering
Nissan has announced plans to recall about 841,000 vehicles worldwide because of a defective steering wheel. According to a report in Metro News, a bolt used in the steering wheel was not screwed on properly and may need to be fixed or replaced. Nissan officials say that there is no danger of sudden failure and there have been no accidents involving the defective auto part. Many drivers, however, say they have noticed their steering wheel feeling loose. The vehicles involved in the recall include certain models of the Micra compact car and the Cube manufactured between 2002 and 2006.
This recall is one of many that Nissan has had to issue recently. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 123,000 Nissan Altima vehicles from model year 2013 were recalled to adjust the amount of inflation of the spare tires. Earlier in May, Nissan also recalled approximately 500,000 vehicles globally for a passenger airbag fault.
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Five Tips to Handle Insurance Companies after a Car Accident
It is a common misconception that insurance companies act in the best interests of their clients. In reality, insurance companies are highly profitable corporations that protect their bottom line by denying valid claims and offering inadequate settlements to deserving claimants. If you have been injured in an Oklahoma car accident, insurance adjusters will likely utilize a number of tactics to deny or reduce the value of your claim.
Here are five tips to help you handle insurance companies and protect your best interests:
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Subaru Recalls Vehicles for Defective Steering
If you have a new Subaru, your vehicle may have just been recalled because of a dangerous steering issue. According to a CNN Money report, Subaru is recalling 5,379 Legacy and Outback cars that have a defective steering shaft. The recalled vehicles have a steering shaft that is composed of an inner and outer shaft. If these two pieces become separated, the driver can lose his or her ability to steer the car.
Subaru uncovered the potentially dangerous auto defect at a factory in Indiana. The auto manufacturer then received a complaint about a loss of steering control from a driver. They submitted a document to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 13, 2013 stating that they plan on notifying dealers about the recall within 30 days.
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