Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
15 Signs You’re a True Oklahoman
With a nation as large and diverse as the United States, you’re bound to come across all kinds of people, each with their own behavioral quirks, habits, and customs tied to their home state. Oklahoma is one such state in which its residents hold a lot of pride, and for good reason. The Sooner State is certainly fascinating with its diverse natural regions and dense cultural history.
But what about the people in the state? What are Oklahomans all about? Well, if you relate to the following list, you’re definitely a true Oklahoman.
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Report Shows Oklahoma Should Do More to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents
A recent survey showed that 33 states are actively promoting biking and walking and have set goals to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities. Oklahoma is not one of those states. In fact, Oklahoma does not have any plans to promote walking and biking or to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicycling accidents statewide. According to an Alliance for Biking & Walking survey, there has been a steady increase in the number of people walking and biking to work nationwide.
The survey found that people tend to bike and walk more in cities that have advocacy programs. This is a growing trend in the United States. There were only a handful of states with biking and walking advocacy organizations in 1996, but today there are approximately 230 state and local advocacy organizations with more than 500 full-time employees. Many of the states with the most advocacy employees have the highest percentage of bikers and walkers. Oklahoma, however, falls short.
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Woman Killed in Tulsa Construction Zone Hit-and-Run Crash
A 33-year-old woman was killed in an Oklahoma car accident involving a hit-and-run driver. According to a KTUL news report, the fatal hit-and-run crash occurred on 61st Street between Memorial and Mingo in Tulsa. Officials say the woman was walking with a man in a construction zone when a black or dark gray mid 2000s Chevy truck struck them. Both victims were taken to Saint Francis Hospital, where the woman succumbed to her injuries. Later, a 23-year-old man believed to have caused the crash was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident.
Under Oklahoma law, all motorists are required to stop and remain at the site of a crash when someone has been injured or killed. They must exchange information, offer assistance, and notify the authorities. However, it is common for drivers to panic and to leave the scene of an accident for fear of facing traffic citations and civil litigation. In many cases, they will face much harsher penalties for leaving the scene than if they stayed and obeyed the law.
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Maples Law Firm Wins $3 Million Verdict in Fatal Nursing Home Neglect Case
The nursing home abuse attorneys at Maples Law Firm recently won a three million dollar verdict for the wrongful death of a patient who was taken to a nursing home facility for physical therapy following a successful colostomy procedure at a local hospital.
According to the plaintiffs, the patient underwent a colostomy and was hospitalized at the Chicksaw Nation Medical Center (CNMC) from July 10, 2010 to August 16, 2010. During her treatment at CNMC, the patient was in good physical health with functional independence. She was then transferred to Ballard Nursing Center (BNC) for continued care and physical therapy.
However, once at BNC, the patient’s condition worsened as she suffered from neglect and mistreatment. Her clavicle was broken when an aide attempted to move her in a manner that was in violation of the standards of care, followed by the development of the classic signs of neglectful care, including dehydration, malnutrition, infection, and sepsis.
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New Oklahoma Nursing Home Background Check Law Begins Now
When you choose a nursing home for your loved one, you expect a certain level of professionalism from the care providers. There are some Oklahoma nursing homes, however, that hire potentially dangerous care providers who have criminal records. A new state law that went into effect in Oklahoma on March 1 addresses this problem.
The Oklahoma Long Term Care Security Act was designed to cut down on abuse and neglect in our nursing home facilities and adult day care centers. Under the law, all new employees must now undergo fingerprint-based background checks. According to a KOCO news report, all Oklahoma nursing homes must now perform these types of background checks before hiring someone who will have direct access to residents and patients.
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The 4 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state full of wondrous vistas and gorgeous natural landscapes. Whether you want to go on a romantic getaway or just need to take a break from your daily routine and experience something fresh, there are plenty of options for you to explore. Mountains, waterfalls, hills, and mountains – Oklahoma has everything. You can look at a map and set off on your own adventure. However, if such a prospect seems a bit intimidating, then you can start with our mini-guide to some of the Sooner State’s most beautiful places.
Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge
This grandiose nature spot in Lawton boasts more than 59,000 acres of territory characterized by green and golden seas of prairie and mountains as old as time. Bring your binoculars and your sunhat and watch for bison herds, prairie dogs, bobcats, coyotes, and other fascinating wildlife. For a stunning panoramic view of the park, hike to the top of Mount Scott. Your breath will be taken away, guaranteed.
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IKEA Recalls Bed Canopies for Strangulation Hazard
Since August 1996, IKEA has sold millions of bed canopies worldwide that are designed to hang over children as they sleep. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of families in the United States who have a bed canopy from IKEA, the Consumer Products Safety Commission is recommending that you stop using it immediately. In fact, IKEA has announced a massive recall of about 255,000 bed canopies in the United States and 2.6 million worldwide over strangulation concerns.
Officials say the recall is related to nine reports of children getting entangled in their bed canopies. In one incident, a 7-month-old girl pulled the fabric into her crib and wrapped it around her neck numerous times. Consumers should return these dangerous products to an IKEA store right away for a full refund.
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Safety Regulators Investigate GM Following Recall
General Motors (GM) recently recalled 1.6 million older-model compact cars for ignition issues that led to at least 13 car-crash fatalities. Now, according to a report by the Associated Press, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating how GM handled the recall. In a 27-page order sent directly to GM, NHTSA demanded communications and data relating to when the company knew about the defective ignitions and why they failed to issue the recall sooner.
NHTSA is specifically looking for whether GM withheld evidence and delayed its response. This is a serious issue because at least 13 traffic fatalities have been reported as a result of the defective ignitions. Furthermore, failing to inform NHTSA of safety defects within five days of discovery can result in serious fines. If GM knew of the faulty ignitions and failed to tell the NHTSA, they could face fines of up to $35 million.
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Oklahoma Lawmakers Halt Nursing Home Reform Bill
A bill that was created to help prevent nursing home abuse throughout Oklahoma has officially not made it to committee. According to a News 9 report, the fight to pass House Bill 2901 is not over. Many believe that Oklahoma’s reputation as having some of the worst nursing homes in the country is well earned and that more needs to be done to protect our elderly.
The comprehensive bill that has been put on hold would require nursing homes to increase staffing levels. The bill would also result in more medical director oversight and require the state to interview elderly victims, their family members, and the accused during any investigation of wrongdoing. It is unclear when and if the bill will be passed and what adjustments will be made before it comes up for a vote.
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Graco Recalling Millions of Child Seats
If you currently use a Graco child car seat, you would be well advised to look into whether it is one of the 3.8 million seats that have been recently recalled. In what is being called the fourth-largest child seat recall in U.S. history, Atlanta-based Graco Children’s Products has recalled 11 models made from 2009 to 2013. According to a recent ABC Action news report, the defective seats can become difficult to unlatch. The recall was issued after a number of parents filed reports stating that their children got trapped in their seats because of buckles that can stick together. Some had to use a knife to secure the release of their child.
Graco is currently under fire not only because of the recall but also because of the car seats they excluded from the recall. The NHTSA believes that Graco should recall another seven models that have the same defective buckles. Graco, however, has not recalled those models because they are for infants.
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