Category: Personal Injury

Safety Tips for ‘March Madness’ in San Antonio

March 16, 2018
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

The NCAA men’s basketball playoffs – otherwise known as March Madness – will end in San Antonio this year, with the four-day Final Four event. The city anticipates around 93,000 visitors will attend the events and games between March 30 and April 2. All of the events that weekend will be downtown, so traffic congestion is likely to be heavy. If you’re planning to attend Final Four events, keep the following safety tips in mind. Use alternative transportation If you plan on drinking alcohol, or if you’d rather not deal with the hassle of finding a parking spot, there are plenty of alternatives to driving. For $5, adults can buy a round-trip bus ticket from Madla Station, Blossom Athletic Center, or Crossroads Park & Ride [...]

In a Personal Injury Case, A Picture Really Is Worth 1,000 Words

July 12, 2017
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

Skid marks, a dented guardrail, and shards of red plastic on the road, when viewed together, tell a story. These remnants of traffic accidents can help investigators determine exactly what happened, but when a crash occurs, it may not occur to the parties involved to get pictures of the immediate surroundings. If you are involved in a car accident, or any other type of accident that causes injury, take as many pictures as possible. They might just help you, or your attorney, prove an important point. Documenting the Scene If you’re at the grocery store with a friend, and your friend slips, falls, and seriously injures her back, she might be angry if you snap a photograph of her. But in this instance, it might be one the best ways[...]

Are Doctors Prescribing Unnecessary Medications?

May 30, 2017
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

Do you need medication to control your blood pressure? According to Consumer Reports, the answer depends on whom you ask. Blood pressure consists of two measurements – systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. The normal systolic pressure range is 90 to 120, and the normal diastolic range is 60 to 80. Consumer Reports says that the American College of Physicians recommends blood pressure medications for people age 60 and older only if systolic pressure is above 150, whereas the American Heart Association advocates blood pressure medicine when systolic pressure exceeds 140. High blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol levels increase one’s risk for heart attack and stroke. When LDL cholesterol levels are high, doctors may recommen[...]

Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries Killing High School Football Players

March 14, 2017
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

Researchers at the University of North Carolina released a report in January about the prevalence of fatal brain and spinal cord injuries in high school and college football players. The report stated that 24 high school athletes and four college players died from brain or spinal cord injuries between 2005 and 2014. Given that about 1.1 million high school students and 75,000 college students play football, deaths from brain and spinal cord injury are rare. But these deaths point to a need for additional research on how to protect young athletes. Common Factors The UNC researchers found that 58 percent of the high school deaths and all of the college deaths occurred in the past five years, highlighting the critical need for legal e[...]

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Car Crashes

January 24, 2017
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association added post-traumatic stress disorder to its manual of mental disorders. The official diagnostic criteria for PTSD say symptoms may occur following a distressing or shocking event “that is outside the range of usual human experience.” Initially, PTSD was considered a condition that affected primarily combat veterans, but over the years, psychiatrists have learned a lot about how PTSD affects civilians, including survivors of serious car crashes. The Prevalence of PTSD in Crash Survivors The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says about 9 percent of people who are involved in serious crashes that cause injuries develop PTSD. That may sound like a low number, but roughly 3.5 million peop[...]

The Dangers of Dehumidifiers

January 17, 2017
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

In November 2016, a manufacturer expanded an existing recall to apply to 2.5 million of its dehumidifiers sold in the United States. Gree Electric Appliances, which is based in China, initially recalled dehumidifiers in 2013, after reports of the devices catching fire and causing property damage. The recall was subsequently updated, then expanded in 2014, and as of the November re=announcement, Gree dehumidifiers had caused 450 fires and $19 million in property damage. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Gree knew about its product defects in July 2012 – 15 months before issuing the first recall. A CPSC investigation found Gree: Knew it was obligated to report the defect to the CPSC within 24 hours of it[...]

Austin Rolling Out Vision Zero Safety Plan

November 21, 2016
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

In October, workers began making improvements to the intersection at Cameron Road and U.S. Route 183. As reported in the Statesman, the upgrades include raised pedestrian “islands,” high-visibility crosswalks, and a flashing light to alert drivers that the traffic light ahead is red. The project was part of Austin’s Vision Zero Action Plan, a two-year plan to reduce serious and fatal injuries among drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Austin was ranked the 24th most dangerous city for pedestrians, in the Dangerous by Design 2014 report. Hopefully, by the time the initial stage of Vision Zero ends in 2018, Austin will be a much safer city. Specific Goals Vision Zero originated in Sweden in 1997. It’s a comprehensive approach t[...]

E-cigarette Battery Burn Injuries on the Rise

October 17, 2016
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

In February, a Houston TV station reported the story of a man who was driving when an e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket. The battery melted a section of his pants and severely burned his leg before it fell to the floor and ignited the floorboard. Luckily, he was able to pull off the road and get out of the car. That frightening incident is one of many involving e-cigarette batteries. The U.S. Fire Administration released a report in October 2014 stating 25 e-cigarette battery fires or explosions had occurred since 2009. At the time, the USFA estimated about 2.5 million people were e-cigarette users and predicted the number of users – and battery failures – would likely grow. That prediction seems to be correct. A doctor [...]

Are Bounce Houses Really Safe?

July 1, 2016
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

In May, a gust of wind at a Houston school carnival sent an inflatable bounce house tumbling 30 yards, injuring 10 people inside. And that wasn’t the first time a bounce house injured people. The Houston accident and others like it raise questions about the safety of these inflatable amusement devices. Known as bounce houses, bouncy castles, inflatable jumpers, moon bounces and moonwalks, these devices are supposed to be a safer alternative to trampolines, because they’re enclosed by netting that keeps children from falling out. However, in 2012, nearly 19,000 people – mostly children – sought emergency room treatment for injuries caused by bounce houses. Many of those injuries occurred when children’s arms or legs became en[...]

National Fireworks Safety Month Aims to Raise Awareness of Risks

June 15, 2016
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

Fireworks are an Independence Day tradition, with many communities holding professional fireworks shows on or near July 4. And in yards around the United States, families set off their own fireworks, too. Every year, though, some of those home fireworks shows go awry, sending thousands of people to emergency rooms for burns and other injuries. In the weeks surrounding Independence Day, an average of 230 people per day seek emergency room treatment for fireworks-related injuries. National Fireworks Safety Month, which is observed between June 1 and July 4, intends to educate the public about the dangers of fireworks and reduce the incidence of fireworks-related injuries. About Fireworks Accidents In its 2014 Fireworks Annual Report [...]