Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
Honda Pays Record Fines After Failing to Report Vehicle Injuries and Deaths
Honda Motor Co. recently agreed to pay fines totaling $70 million dollars in the United States after an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that the automaker had failed to meet its obligations under the federal Early Warning Reporting System, according to an article in the Huffington Post.
A NHTSA investigation began looking into Honda’s reports to the Early Warning Reporting System, which collects information about vehicle damage, warranty claims, injuries, and deaths that may point to a hidden vehicle defect or other serious problem. The system provides information to support vehicle recalls and to inform the public, making it a key part of the work of many experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyers. Automakers are obligated to report certain events to the system in order to aid in tracking.
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Prevent Burn Injuries This Winter
Winter is one of the riskiest seasons for household fires and burn injuries from household items, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA).
Cooking-related fires top the list of household fire causes year-round, and they are a significant source of serious burn injuries, especially in young children. During the winter months, however, fires and burn injuries caused by household heating equipment also start to play a significant role in endangering Oklahoma families, as every Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer has seen.
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Growing Overmedication a Concern in Nursing Homes
According to a recent NPR article, there is a serious, growing issue of overmedicating nursing home residents. There are around 300,000 seniors in nursing homes today who are receiving anti-psychotic and/or anti-anxiety medications. These medications aren’t explicitly prescribed for dementia or Alzheimer’s, rather, they’re administered to make the stress and aggression that go along with these diseases more bearable for all involved, including the nursing home staff.
However, Federal Law prohibits nursing home staff from administering antipsychotic or other psychoactive drugs for their own convenience, and for good reason. These drugs are intended to treat very specific and serious mental disorders (i.e. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), and they have very specific warnings associated with their use with dementia, citing an increased risk of “heart failure, infections and death.” Medical professionals agree that these medications should be used as a last resort, but this is not always the case.
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Pedestrian Fatally Injured on Interstate 40
A 58-year-old resident of Oklahoma City was recently killed after being struck by a pick-up truck. The man was hit while he was trying to cross eastbound Interstate 40 near Morgan Road. An official on the scene described it as “pretty horrific” and “the worst he’s ever seen.”
While it is unclear who was at fault at this juncture, there is no denying how dangerous a moving car can be. Without the protection of a metal frame, seat belts or airbags, pedestrians usually suffer severe injuries in a vehicle accident. While crosswalks help indicate where pedestrians are legally allowed to cross a street, it is far too common for motorists to carelessly drive through without watching out for others.
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Understanding the Impact of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a birth injury that affects one out of every 323 babies born, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Problems can arise before or during labor, and what may seem like a small mistake can cause a lifetime of disability for the child.
Cerebral Palsy is usually caused by restricted oxygen flow to the infant. Whether it’s due to the baby’s size or a twisting of the umbilical cord, it is the job of the doctor to identify this problem efficiently and quickly so the proper steps can be taken. If lack of oxygen or another contributing factor was never identified, or identified and not properly treated, then the injury may be the liability of the doctor or supervising medical staff. It is unfair for a family to assume complete responsibility for a child’s lifelong care if the injury was due to medical negligence.
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Drive Safe This Holiday Season in Oklahoma
Each year, tens of millions of people hit the road during the holiday season to celebrate good times with their loved ones. If you and your family are planning a get-together this year, it is important that you all remember to keep driving safety in mind in order to prevent this year’s festivities from becoming a tragic memory. Reach your destination without incident by following the simple safety tips below:
- Make sure your vehicle is good to go before you start your trip. Take it to the shop and make sure your car is tuned up and in good shape for travel. This is especially important if you’ll be driving in wintery conditions.
Know Your Rights as a Nursing Home Resident
Certified nursing homes in Oklahoma City and throughout the state are required to respect their residents’ rights and protections under federal and state law. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Too many instances of nursing home abuse and negligence have been reported in recent years. In fact, the Sooner State has been deemed one of the worst in the country when it comes to the quality of our assisted care facilities. This is a drastic issue that needs to be addressed by legislators in prompt fashion.
Until the state of our nursing homes vastly improves, it is primarily up to nursing home residents to look out for themselves and ensure that they are receiving the treatment they deserve. If you are a nursing home resident, know that you have the right to:
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OKC Student in Critical Condition after Campus Collision
According to a report by NewsOK.com, on the morning of November 7, an Oklahoma State University student was hit by a pickup truck while riding his bicycle on campus. Later in the afternoon, he was reported to be in critical condition.
Authorities stated that the accident occurred around 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Washington Street and Hall of Fame Avenue. Reportedly, the driver of the pickup, a fellow student, was turning left onto Hall of Fame Ave. eastbound when the bicyclist came from the north and collided into the right front corner of the pickup.
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Hydrogen Sulfide: The Invisible Killer in Oilfields
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic gas – both invisible and flammable – that naturally occurs at crude petroleum and natural gas fields. The dangerous effects of HS2 poisoning can be felt within as little as a single breath, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The sense of smell is not the most dependable barometer when it comes to detecting hydrogen sulfide. Although at low concentrations hydrogen sulfide is detectable by its rotten egg-like odor, the toxic gas dulls the sense of smell at higher concentrations, making it subtle yet deadly – a dangerous combination.
Symptoms of minor exposure include fatigue, eye irritation, dizziness and headaches, coughing and nasal pain. In cases of more severe exposure, the aforementioned symptoms are intensified and may lead to unconsciousness, suffocation and death, depending on the duration, intensity and frequency of exposure in addition to the victim’s susceptibility to the gas.
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One Woman Killed in Edmond Intersection Accident
According to a report in News9.com, on the afternoon of October 6, there was a fatal two-vehicle collision involving a red Corvette and a dark SUV on Danforth Road and Kelly Avenue in Edmond.
The passengers of the red Corvette, a husband and wife in their mid-50’s, were transported to OU Presbyterian Hospital. The wife later died as a result of her injuries. At the time of the report, the husband was in serious condition with a head injury.
The driver of the dark SUV was treated at a separate Edmond hospital. None of his injuries were life-threatening.
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