Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
Tips to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse
Abuse can happen at any Oklahoma nursing home. Even if you made every effort to find the perfect place for your loved one, there is still a chance that wrongdoing will occur there. Workers at some of the most highly rated, most expensive Oklahoma nursing homes have been accused of abuse and neglect.
There are several steps families can take to protect their loved ones in nursing homes:
- Choose the right facility. Read online reviews and inquire about the staff training. You want to find a home that has a reputation for having plenty of qualified care providers. Don’t be afraid to ask management if they run background checks on their employees and if there have been issues in the past with abuse and neglect.
Three Killed in Oklahoma City Car Accident
Three people were killed and two others were seriously injured in an Oklahoma car accident. According to a KOCO.com news report, the fatal crash occurred on State Highway 3 in Oklahoma City. Officials say a 24-year-old man was behind the wheel of a 1999 Ford when it left the westbound lanes, crossed the centerline and crashed into a culvert. The driver from Broken Bow, a 12-year-old boy from Idabel and a 24-year-old Heavener man were killed. The boy’s 30-year-old mother was seriously injured and his 10-year-old sister was listed in critical condition. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. None of the occupants were believed to be wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
When a vehicle leaves a travel lane and enters the shoulder, parking lane or median, it is called a run-off-road (ROR) crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ROR accidents are responsible for about 70 percent of fatal single-vehicle crashes. The most common contributing factors of ROR accidents include:
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Oklahoma City Personal Injury Lawyer Offers Bicycle Accident Prevention Tips
Whether you are commuting to work or riding along one of our great biking trails like the Hefner-Overholser in Oklahoma City, it is important that you exercise great care. An accident can occur at any time and the results are often tragic. Here are a few bicycle accident prevent tips to help you stay safe.
- Check your bike before you ride. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and your brakes are in working order.
- Get a headlight. Under Oklahoma Law, riders must equip their bikes with a headlamp and rear red reflector when riding at night. This will increase your visibility.
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Two Injured in Oklahoma Crash Involving Sanitation Truck
Two people were hospitalized following an Oklahoma accident involving a collision between an SUV and a sanitation truck. According to a News 9 report, the crash occurred near the intersection of Berry Road and Nebraska Street in Norman. Officials say the sanitation truck veered toward the left before colliding with a Chevrolet Tahoe. The 41-year-old driver of the truck and the 49-year-old driver of the SUV both suffered injuries that are not considered life threatening. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the truck-car collision, but it appears possible that the truck driver suffered a medical event before veering into oncoming traffic.
All commercial drivers must be properly trained and in adequate health to prevent tractor trailer accidents from occurring. When a driver is ill or experiencing a medical condition, he or she should not be behind the wheel of a large vehicle or any type of vehicle. Trucks are larger and heavier than other vehicles on the roadway and can cause devastating injuries if the driver loses focus, falls asleep, or suffers suddenly from a medical emergency.
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Woman Struck by Car on Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City
A 29-year-old woman was critically injured after being struck by a car along the busy and fast moving Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City. According to a News 9 report, the pedestrian accident occurred along the Northwest Expressway between Meridian and NW 63 in Oklahoma City. Officials initially were unsure what caused the accident, but an updated report in News OK states that she may have stepped into the path of an oncoming car. She has been listed in critical condition and no arrests or citations have been issued.
Pedestrian accidents are common in Oklahoma and they often result in serious injuries and even death. Pedestrians are vulnerable to traffic and have nothing to protect them from serious harm. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, there were 605 people involved in 564 pedestrian accidents in the year 2009. In those accidents, 161 pedestrians were injured or killed.
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Tulsa Nursing Homes Dangerously Understaffed
Recent news reports have highlighted the deplorable conditions faced by Oklahoma nursing home patients due to understaffing. In one egregious case, a FOX 23 news investigative report uncovered frequently occurring incidents of abuse and negligence at an understaffed nursing home in the Tulsa area.
The news report states that at one point during their investigation, there were only two aides responsible for 76 patients. Residents were left in their own feces because there was not enough staff to provide adequate care and support. In these types of conditions, the skin of the victims can break down, bedsores can develop, and the patient could even die. State officials are currently investigating the nursing facility.
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Top 3 Oklahoma Staycation Ideas for the Summer
If this past year hasn’t been so good when it comes to your finances and your budget is pretty tight at the moment, then the summer staples – travel, theme parks, resort stays – don’t sound viable at all, they just sound expensive! But what can you do? Summertime is precious, and you don’t want to waste it away sitting at home twiddling your thumbs. Well, don’t go burning through your savings just yet. Why not save some hard cash and take a staycation? Oklahoma is full of interesting sites, some of which you may not have even heard of, even if you have lived in the state your whole life. So, put on your cap and your sneakers, go outside, and start your staycation by visiting these wonderful places described below!
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The Danger of Car Fires
Motor vehicles have electrical wiring, flammable liquids, and explosive gases that are extremely flammable. Whether it is caused by a mechanical malfunction, chemical reaction, or human error, the results of a car fire will be the same. Occupants must get out of the car as quickly as they can and get as far away as possible from the car. Small car fires do not stay small for long and the entire vehicle may be engulfed in flames in a few moments.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to approximately 152,300 automobile fires per year between 2006 and 2010. Cars fires result in 209 civilian deaths, 764 civilian injuries, and millions in direct property damage each year. In fact, there are about 17 auto fires reported nationwide every hour resulting in about four deaths a week.
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Motorcyclist Injured by Distracted Driver on US 169
A 27-year-old man was injured when his stopped motorcycle was struck by a driver who was looking at a phone instead of the roadway. According to a Tulsa World news report, the distracted driving accident occurred on US 169 northbound in Tulsa. Officials say the 27-year-old motorcyclist came to a stop because of slowed traffic when he was rear-ended by a Chevrolet Silverado. Officials say the driver of the Silverado was checking to see whether his phone rang and did not have his eyes on the roadway. The victim was transported to Saint Francis Hospital in serious condition. The 42-year-old driver of the Silverado was not injured in the crash. It is unclear if he will be cited for the collision.
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous. You are much more likely to cause an accident if your mind is not focused on the task at hand, your eyes are not on the roadway, or your hands are not on the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,328 people were killed and approximately 421,000 people were injured nationwide in distraction-affected crashes in 2012.
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Five Tips to Choose a Suitable Nursing Home for your Loved One
Many families in Oklahoma must choose a nursing facility while under pressure because of health or financial issues. Choosing the right nursing home can be difficult under the best of circumstances, but finding an affordable and safe facility within a short period of time can be particularly challenging. Here are five tips to help you find a suitable nursing home for your loved one in a timely and efficient manner.
- Learn about your financial options and what you can afford. There is no point considering homes that are too expensive or do not accept government aid. Medicare generally does not cover long-term care, but Medicaid can provide support for home- and community-based services. Research what type of aid your loved one is eligible for and only search for nursing homes that accept that type of support.
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