Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
Evenflo Voluntarily Recalls Nearly 14,000 Booster Seats in the U.S.
Evenflo Company, Inc. is voluntarily recalling an estimated 14,000 child booster seats because of a crack that occurred in laboratory tests that were done in late September, according to the Office of Defects Investigation in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The company has not received reports of the crack or injuries occurring to consumers.
The recall affects Maestro Combination Booster Seats with model numbers starting with 310. The defective child restraint systems were among those built from November 2009 to April 2010. Another 4,479 seats made during roughly the same time frame are being recalled in Canada. Evenflo has assured consumers the defective child product will immediately be removed from store shelves.
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Farming Accident Claims Life of Oklahoma Man
An unfortunate accident claimed the life of an Oklahoma farmer, according to KOCO.com.
The farmer, who was working in Jackson County, was operating a machine that compresses large amounts of cotton into bales at the time of his death. The specific details of the accident are unknown. The farmer was flown to an Oklahoma City hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
Farming is a dangerous profession. Agriculture’s death rate is first among all occupations in the United States. Mining is second and construction is third. In 2007, the last year for which statistics were readily available, 715 deaths were attributed to agriculture and 80,000 disabling injuries occurred in the agriculture profession.
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Injured Offshore Oil Worker Awarded $4 Million
On October 8, a federal jury ordered Transocean to pay over $4 million in damages related to injuries occurring in an offshore oil rig accident in 2007, according to BusinessWeek.com.
The jury ruled in favor of a 32-year-old oil field worker who was injured when an offshore oil rig’s hydraulic basket malfunctioned while he was working on it. He was working aboard the Amirante, which was owned by Transocean.
The employee now has permanent brain damage, among several other injuries. He cannot return to work or be left alone. He will need constant care for the remainder of his life. The jury unanimously found Transocean liable and awarded the injured worker $4,091,867.
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New OK Law Hopes to Discourage Distracted Driving Accidents
A new bill, House Bill 2276, was signed into Oklahoma law and will take effect on November 1, 2010 according to ABC news affiliate, KXII. The law is designed to prevent drivers from using electronics while behind the wheel and in turn, prevent car crashes. While not a specific cell phone or texting law, the bill gives law enforcement the power to cite a motorist for use of an electronic device if the officer observes an immediate danger posed by driver inattention. For example, if a police officer sees a driver texting, which is causing him or her to swerve, go off the road or drive too close to other vehicles, that officer may pull the driver over. However, if a driver is using a cell phone but not posing any danger by doing so, he or she will not receive a citation.
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety saw a decline in 2007 and 2008 of Oklahoma distracted driving auto accidents; however, in 2009, that rate increased by 20 motorists. Law enforcement as well as state legislators are hoping that the new law will help drivers be more aware of their surroundings and apply safe driving practices on Oklahoma roads and highways.
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Drunk, Unlicensed Oklahoma City Man Causes Multiple Car Crashes, 5 Injured
Five people, two of whom were in critical condition, were sent to area hospitals, when a drunk, unlicensed driver careened into multiple cars in Oklahoma City on September 19th, KFOR.com reports. Police officers say the man slammed into multiple cars on NW 23rd street near Portland Ave., but instead of stopping, he kept driving and crashed into two more vehicles on NW 23rd and Drexel driving at a speed of approximately 60mph. The 37-year old driver was arrested and charged with unlicensed driving, driving under the influence, causing an accident without a valid driver license, and speeding with the possibility of more charges being filed.
It is the responsibility of all motorists to obey all traffic laws in order to prevent auto accidents in Oklahoma and nationwide. These laws are in place for a reason and when motorists ignore them, they place not only themselves, but many others in immediate danger. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, 11,773 people lost their lives in drunk driving accidents with 749 of those fatalities being in Oklahoma.
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Distracted Enid Teen Loses Control of Truck, 2 Injured in Accident
Distracted driving played a key role in an Oklahoma car accident that happened on Sunday, September 19th about six miles north of Enid, News on 6 reported. A teen girl was checking her Ipod around 2am when she looked up, saw something in the road and swerved. A 54-year old woman was riding in the passenger seat and two 16-year old boys were riding in the bed’s truck. The vehicle left the road and flipped one time, ejecting one of the boys an unknown distance. Luckily, that boy was not injured. The other teen boy however, sustained critical head, internal and leg injuries and was transported to a local area hospital. The 16-year old driver also endured injuries and was listed in guarded condition. The 54-year old female passenger was treated and released.
One of the leading causes of Oklahoma auto accidents is distracted driving. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2008 5,870 people died and 515,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. Additionally, driver distraction rose from 8% in 2004 to 11% in 2008 as the reported cause of auto accidents.
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Caddo County Pedestrian Involved in Fatal Hit and Run Accident
A fatal Oklahoma hit and run accident occurred on September 12th on U.S. Highway 62 just north of County Road 1370. A man was found lying in the road at about 2:29am by Police Troopers, according to a report from Newson6.com. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the cause of death, evidence suggested, was fatal injuries due to the hit and run driver. Police say that the man smelled of alcohol.
Pedestrian accidents occur all too frequently and can almost always be prevented. In 2008, 4,414 pedestrians were killed in car accidents in the United States with 50 fatalities taking place in Oklahoma. While it is unclear as to whether or not the man may have stepped in front of the driver, the fact of the matter is that it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident, let alone an accident resulting in a fatality. Should you or a loved one find yourself in a situation where someone has sustained fatal injuries due to an Oklahoma auto accident, stay at the scene until help arrives. Do not ever leave the scene of an injury or fatality crash.
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Medical Malpractice in Oklahoma
Medical malpractice in Oklahoma occurs when medical professionals act in negligence and provide care that deviates from accepted medical standards and practices which cause injury or death to patients. Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are expected to provide the best healthcare possible, ensuring that the patient’s condition is treated, not made worse.
According to a study conducted by HealthGrades, from 2000 to 2002, an average of 195,000 individuals each year died due to in-hospital medical related errors. Over that time period, of the 37 million hospital admissions in the Medicare population, 1.14 million people were injured due to medical error. The causes of death of over 323,000 of those injured patients were attributed to the injuries they sustained while in the hospital. Additionally, the top causes of medical error related deaths were failure to rescue, bedsores, and postoperative sepsis.
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Oklahoma Riders in Favor of New Motorcycle Fee
A new tax will be added to the registration of all motorcycles in Oklahoma, according to NewsOK.com. The $3 tax is designed to fund safety programs for both experienced and inexperienced riders and reduce the risk of motorcycle accidents in Oklahoma. The article states that many in the motorcycle community are in favor of the new fee since it provides an opportunity for riders to learn about safety on the road.
One man, an avid motorcycle rider and host of a radio show about motorcycles says he has no qualms about the new fee, which the state will begin charging on November 1. The man even suggests that perhaps a program to teach motorists how to better watch out for bikers would be helpful. The Oklahoma Tax Commission reported that 123,906 motorcycles were registered in the state in 2009, which is a 7.4% increase from 2008.
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Arkansas Teen Killed in Tulsa Car Crash
A fatal accident took the life of a 17-year old Arkansas teen last week, reported KJRH.com. The girl was traveling with two friends in a Toyota Yaris when a white truck making a left hand turn collided with the vehicle. It is unclear whether the girl was driving or if it was another occupant of the Yaris. The fatal accident happened at the intersection of North Utica and Pine Ave. in Tulsa. The 17-year old was pronounced dead at the scene, police officials said. The other two teens as well as the driver of the truck were taken to a local area hospital with one admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The extent of their injuries was not immediately available.
An investigation into the circumstances of this fatal Oklahoma car accident will reveal the cause. Other news sources reporting on this story say that the driver of the truck may have been drinking. If the driver is found to have been under the influence of alcohol, he could be found liable for the wrongful death of the teen as well as damages and injuries sustained by the other two Arkansas teens.
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