Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
Preparing Your Vehicle for a Safe Summer Road Trip
Road trips are relatively inexpensive and can be fun for the whole family. They can also prove dangerous if proper precautionary steps are not taken. Even if your car is relatively new, it is important that you perform a mechanical check before hitting the roadway. It is particularly important to check the fluids, hoses, belts, tires, and brakes. If you are uncomfortable with performing this type of check on your own, take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic for an inspection.
Here is what you should look for if you perform the inspection yourself:
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Edmond Man Killed in Fiery Oklahoma Train Accident
A 60-year-old driver was killed when his Mack truck collided with a train and caught fire. According to The Associated Press, the fatal train accident occurred at U.S. Highway 64 and Oklahoma Highway 108 in Perry. Officials say the driver was turning when his truck was hit on the driver’s side by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train. He was trapped inside the burning wreckage and fatally injured. No injuries were reported on the train. It is unclear why the accident occurred or if the location had functioning railroad crossing warning signs.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis compiles data regarding railroad accidents throughout the country. According to a May 10 search of their records, there were 160 railroad accidents and incidents in Oklahoma in the year 2012. During that same year there were 45 train accidents, three train accident deaths, and one train accident injury in Oklahoma. Human factors were the cause of 13 accidents and 18 accidents were caused by track conditions.
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Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Observed in May
It is essential for all Oklahoma motorists to share the road responsibly. Sadly, many motorcyclists are injured or killed because of the negligence of a driver. To help reduce the number of motorcycle accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is promoting May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
There are a number of tips provided by the NHTSA to motorcycle riders and drivers to reduce the number of fatal collisions.
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Who Aids in Rehabilitation after a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries can result in life-long impairments in cognitive, physical, behavioral, and even social function. It is common for victims of serious traumatic brain injuries to never fully recover from their devastating symptoms. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, however, it may be possible to improve a brain injury victim’s quality of life and help him or her recoup at least some of their physical and mental abilities.
Rehabilitation following a traumatic brain injury is most effective when approached in an interdisciplinary manner. The list of medical professional who aid in rehabilitation and their respective responsibilities include:
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Avoiding Defects When Buying a Car
When purchasing a used car, it is important that you do more than just “kick the tires.” Even vehicles that appear to be in perfect condition may have dangerous safety issues that have never been fixed. Before purchasing a used car in Oklahoma, it is advisable to run a vehicle history report to see if it has been involved in a major collision or if it has defective parts that should have been replaced.
A recent study by Carfax.com found that more than two million used cars were for sale nationwide in the year 2012 with open safety recalls. This means that they had parts that were recalled by the manufacturer, but the defects were not fixed. While some used car dealers provide buyers with a vehicle history report, they often fail to mention if the car was recalled. There is no current federal law requiring car dealers to identify or fix vehicles with an open recall before selling it.
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The Cost of Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can occur when an individual sustains damage to any of the 31 vertebrae in their spinal column. These bones protect the spinal cord, which is a central bundle of nerves that transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body. If a vertebra is damaged and the spinal cord sustains trauma, the resulting symptoms may include temporary or permanent neurological impairments.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are responsible for 46 percent of all spinal cord injuries. Wearing a seat belt can reduce your chances of suffering an injury by 60 percent. It is important to exercise due care while driving and to wear a seat belt because the physical and financial consequences of a spinal cord injury are severe.
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Students Injured in Oklahoma School Bus Accident
Ten students were injured in an Oklahoma vehicle accident when their school bus crashed into a light pole. According to a News On 6 news report, the school bus carrying high school students crashed near Stillwater High School. The students were in Stillwater for a track meet. Several students complained of back and neck pain and were transported to a nearby hospital. Officials have not released information regarding why the accident occurred.
School buses are among the safest vehicles on the road because of their size. However, accidents can happen and children can get hurt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 1,236 fatal school transportation-related crashes between the years 2001 and 2010. In those accidents, 1,368 people were killed, which is an average of 137 fatalities per year. The majority of the fatally injured victims were occupants of other vehicles, but occupants of school transportation vehicles did account for 7 percent of the fatalities.
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Oklahoma-Bound Bus Involved in Fatal Crash
A bus carrying more than 40 people was on its way to Oklahoma when it went off the roadway and crashed, killing two people and injuring at least 36. The Associated Press reports that the fatal bus accident occurred on President George Bush Turnpike in Irving, Texas. Officials say the bus was weaving across the highway before striking two concrete barriers and toppling on to its side.
The passengers were thrown inside the bus and many landed on top of each other. Two people were killed in the crash and dozens of others were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to critical. A representative with the Texas Department of Public Safety says that many of the surviving victims suffered bone fractures. It is unclear what caused the Oklahoma-bound Cardinal Coach to crash or how the incident could have been prevented.
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Vehicles Recalled for Airbag Issues
More than 1.3 million vehicles in the United States, and 3 million worldwide, have been recalled for defective airbags that can deploy and injure passengers. According to a news report in USA Today, the auto defect recall involves vehicles sold by Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, General Motors and BMW. Owners of the vehicles involved in the recall will need to bring their vehicle to a dealership to replace the faulty canisters that hold the propellant, which can activate the airbags.
Vehicles included in the recall include:
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Woman Killed in Oklahoma Head-On Collision
A 39-year-old woman has been killed in an Oklahoma car accident involving a head-on collision with a semi truck. According The Oklahoman, the fatal truck accident occurred on U.S. 270 southeast of Seiling. Officials say a Mack truck crossed the centerline and struck the vehicle. The victim was pinned in her vehicle for two hours before being freed by the Seiling Fire Department. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A passenger in her vehicle was hospitalized with head and leg injuries. The truck driver was treated and released at the hospital. It is unclear why the accident occurred or if the truck driver will be cited for the collision.
Injuries that result from a head-on collision can be devastating due to the velocity of the vehicles involved and the impact of the crash. When head-on collisions involve a large truck, they will more than likely result in serious or fatal injuries to the occupants of the smaller car.
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