Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

There are several things that passengers can do to reduce the odds of being in an aviation accident. Although aviation accidents are relatively rare, they can occur. Use these tips to avoid sustaining a serious brain injury, burn injury, spinal cord injury, or fatality in an aviation accident:

1) Fly on larger aircraft. Larger, commercial aircraft crash far less often. In the event of an accident, larger aircraft with more than 30 passenger seats also provide better chances of survival. Smaller, personal aircraft are far more likely to crash.

2) Choose non-stop flights. Non-stop flights expose you to fewer take offs, ascents, landings, and descents of the plane, the phases of flight when accidents are most likely to occur. Therefore, non-stop flights are statistically safer.

3) Store only light items in the overhead bin. Heavy items can put too much pressure on the overhead bins and in heavy turbulence, these items can fall through the bins, causing brain injuries. Store heavy items under the seat in front of you.

4) Review the safety features of the plane. Locate the emergency exits nearest you, and listen to the pre-flight safety briefing provided by the flight attendants. Reviewing emergency information ensures that this information is fresh in your mind in case you need it.

5) Pay attention to the flight attendants. If a flight attendant asks you to do something, do it promptly. Flight attendants are there to ensure that your flight is safe as well as pleasant. If they ask you to do something specific, such as store your luggage in a specific manner, you can be certain that there is a good safety reason for doing so.

6) Avoid unbuckling your seatbelt or wandering around the cabin without need. If you are on a long flight, you can prevent blood clots by taking brief walks around the cabin. However, keep traveling around the cabin to a minimum. If you hit turbulence, you're more likely to sustain a personal injury. For most of the flight, stay in your seat with your seatbelt securely fastened, even if the seatbelt light is off. Your seatbelt can save you from serious injury if the plane encounters unexpected turbulence.

Continue reading "Ways To Reduce The Chances Of An Aviation Accident" »

The American Red Cross recommends that all families have disaster preparedness kits or emergency kits that allow families to avoid some of the more preventable personal injuries that result when tragedy strikes. A few simple precautions and a good family plan can help prevent serious injuries, such as burn injuries in a fire or serious injuries to minors and children when a natural disaster strikes.

The cornerstone of any emergency preparedness kit involves an escape plan. Your family should be prepared to escape from your home safely and quickly in the event of a fire or major disaster. To develop an escape plan, go through your home and find two escape routes from every room in the house. At least twice a year, practice your escape route with your entire family. Designate a location away from the house where your family can meet once they have left the home. If you have a two-story home, purchase escape ladders or another method of escape so that people can escape safely from the upper portion of your home. Make sure that everyone in your home can use the ladders and fire routes effectively. With your children, practice crawling low to avoid smoke elation in the event of a fire. Teach your children to check the doors for warmth before opening them in the event of fire.

In addition to an escape plan, you will also want to develop a kit that helps you in the event of an emergency. This kit should be easily accessible and you should be able to grab this kit when you are escaping from your home. Keep all your kit items in one space, in a large sturdy box with good handles. Items that should be included in your kit are:

1) Non-perishable foods. You should have a three-day supply for every member of your home. The items should be easy to prepare, and you should check the expiration dates regularly. If you have packed cans, make sure you have a manual can opener in your emergency kit as well.

2) Water. Allow one gallon per person for every day, and make sure that you do have at least a three-day supply for everyone in your household. Don't forget about pets -- they need water as well. Consider adding some water purification tablets so that if you run low on water, you may be able to convert or clean some water for safe drinking.

3) Flashlight and radio with extra batteries. Look for a hand-crank radio or battery-powered radio that allows you to get emergency information from authorities in the event of emergency. Look for a high powered flashlight with a long battery life. Tuck several extra batteries into your emergency kit as well.

Continue reading "Prepare An Emergency Kit To Protect Your Family From Personal Injury" »

For the elderly, the bus is not only a possible means of transportation; it can also be a hazard. Each year, many people – most of them elderly – suffer falls and resulting injuries on buses. The movement on a bus and the relatively hard surface of a bus floor can mean that falls in this type of vehicle can lead to back injuries, broken bones, broken hips, brain injuries, and other serious injuries.

Elderly persons traveling by bus – and indeed any bus passengers – can prevent falls by:

1) Wearing proper shoes. Flat, sturdy shoes with no-slip treads are good option when getting on and off the bus. Shoes shouldn't come off the foot easily and should be firmly attached to the foot with laces or straps. Crocks, flip-flops, and many sandals, for example, are inappropriate because they can easily come off the foot and become jammed in bus steps or in between seats.

2) Sitting in the right seats. Every bus has seats available for the elderly or the disabled. Elderly people who do not feel that they can easily get to and from bus doors by themselves should sit in designated seats or in seats close to the bus driver. Staying visible to the bus driver ensures safety and help in the event help is needed.

3) Exercising extra caution on wet days. When it is raining, bus floors can quickly become wet and slippery. On wet days, it might be good to wear extra sturdy shoes that offer a good grip or to carry a cane that offers additional traction.

4) Asking for extra help when needed. If you require extra help to get to and from your seat, be sure to ask the bus driver. Bus drivers are there to help all the passengers enjoy a safe bus ride. If you're having trouble or if you have fallen, ask the bus driver for assistance.

5) Sitting when the bus is moving. Sit down before the thus begins to move again, and remain sitting until the bus comes to a full stop. You're much more likely to fall down if you're moving while the bus is moving. There is also the possibility that the bus will make a sudden turn or stop, which can cause virtually anyone to lose their footing.

6) Holding onto seats or bars when moving around the bus. If you need to move around a bus, in order to approach the bus doors or to speak to the driver, for example, hold onto the backs of seats or onto the special hand railings or overhead hand railings in order to maintain your balance.

Today, virtually every home has a computer or home office. Many children and minors spend considerable time on the home computer, studying, playing games, and chatting with friends. While in recent years parents have become more savvy about the threat of online predators, many parents are not aware of the personal injuries that can result from computers.

Computers are not just a means of communication. There are also physical objects that can produce muscle injuries, bruises, joint injuries, lacerations, and other personal injuries among children and adults. Because the children and minors tend to spend especially long periods of time on the computer, they are especially susceptible to repetitive stress injuries and other personal injuries related to the computer.

Teens are at risk of developing blurred vision, back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome if the spend many hours working at a computer for homework or for play. Teens will sometimes spend hours online or on the computer, without shifting position and without becoming aware that they are at risk of an injury. To prevent this, it is important to provide an ergonomically correct workstation for teens, and to encourage teens to get up and walk around the room every hour or so while they are on the computer.

In addition to the physical risks that teens face, younger children face physical risks from computers -- even if they don't use them. Small children and toddlers can inadvertently pull a laptop or a desktop computer off of the computer table and onto their heads, causing brain injury. Carefully attaching a computer or laptop to the computer workstation or desk helps prevent such accidental injuries. Also, keeping the office door locked when young children are around is a good idea.

Adults and children alike can trip or fall over computer equipment. It is important to keep wires and cords well out of the way. The newer wireless networks are especially handy for avoiding trip and fall accidents caused by wiring. However, if this is not feasible, simply gathering the wiring from a computer, binding it together, and binding it to a desk leg can help keep the wires off the floor and out of the way. Also, it is a good idea to keep computer parts, books, and accessories and equipment off the floor. Have a large enough workspace so that you can keep all computer-related items on a desk, and not on the floor where they can cause a tripping hazard.

In addition to trips, head injuries, and repetitive stress injuries, computers can also cause bruises and lacerations when people bump into them. Is easy to crash into a computer desk or computer, causing bruises and injuries. To prevent this, make sure that you have plenty of space around the computer station to walk around, and to exit the computer area safely. If you have a small home, look for space-saver workstations that can save you space and make your computer workstation safer as well.

Airplane accidents can occur on commercial flights, airplane tours, chartered flights, or on personal airplanes. In all cases, aviation accidents carry the risk of serious personal injuries, including spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, burn injuries, broken bones, and even fatalities. In many cases, investigating an airplane accident takes a lot of time and many resources. Unfortunately, while an investigation is ongoing, the families of victims often have to wait for answers.

Although airplane accidents involving commercial liners are extremely rare, they can occur. When these sorts of accidents occur, they are often widely covered by the media, and as a result some people fear flying. Aviation accidents, however, are more likely to occur with small private aircraft. In fact, such accidents involving small aircraft often are unreported, and therefore some people have the mistaken belief that smaller airplanes are safer.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that travel by air will double in the next two decades. This may mean that more aviation accidents will occur, simply as more planes are in the sky. Preventing such accidents is obviously a big priority for federal officials and for insurance companies.

Today, after an aviation accident the first order of business is to determine the cause of the particular accident. Insurance companies, victim's families, and the attorneys involved want to find who is legally responsible or liable for the cause of the accident. The operator or pilot of the aircraft may be liable, but the owner, airplane manufacturer, maintenance service, and other professionals may also be held liable. In some aviation accidents, the federal government or a particular owner of the property where the plane has crashed are also held liable for an accident. Usually, it requires extensive research and professional investigation to determine the true cause of an accident.

In some cases, the manufacturer of the aircraft is held liable because a part of the air craft is deemed to be unsafe. In some cases, maintenance services are held liable if the airplane has not been adequately maintained or kept in good condition. Pilot error or negligence is a common cause of aviation accidents as well. If the pilot has been reckless, the state as well as the federal government may pursue criminal proceedings against the pilot, above and beyond any civil proceedings that results from the accident.

If you have been in an aviation accident and have suffered an injury, you need to contact a qualified Florida personal injury attorney, since aviation accident cases can be quite complex and often require access to professional investigators, expert witnesses, and other professionals. A Florida attorney can help you understand what your options are and can help ensure that you do not have to pay all medical costs and lost wages out of pocket.

In the workplace, computers have become mandatory at virtually every office and every work environment. Some people are doing all their work remotely from a computer. While computers make work easier, they also pose their own hazard. A number of people are reporting injuries from computers. Some of the more common injuries include:

1) Bumps and bruises. With computers getting smaller, it's become very easy to drop a laptop or computer part on one’s hand, foot, or lap. While computers are getting smaller, however, they still weigh enough to cause serious injury. It is also easy to bump into computers or computer desks. Securing computers to workstations is one way to avoid such injuries. Leaving plenty of space around computer work stations can also reduce injuries.

2) Trip and fall accidents. Wires and cords on the floor pose a tripping hazard. Wireless networks are a great way to avoid trip and fall injuries. Another option is to tie all cords together and tie them to the leg of the computer workstation, so that the cords and wires are safely out of the way. Some workplaces are even having sockets and power outlets installed above workstations, so that cords and wires are not dragging on the floor.

3) Burn injuries. Although it is rare, there have been a number of cases in which a computer has burst into flames or has overheated seriously enough to cause injury. Keeping computers up-to-date, replacing computers with faulty or damaged wiring, and keeping track of recalled computers is an important part of keeping computer safe.

4) Repetitive stress injuries. Hours working on the computer can cause stiff necks, lower back aches, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive stress injuries occur when a worker has worked in the same position for several hours. Switching tasks, using special supports for the wrists, and having an ergonomically designed workspace can help reduce such injuries significantly.

According to the American Journal Of Preventive Medicine, 9,300 people across the country sustain computer-caused injuries annually. By following a few simple tips, you can avoid these workplace dangers. You can also apply the same tips to your own home office or home computer.

Many people assume that aviation accidents and injuries caused by airplanes occur most often in an airplane crash. Research, however, shows that most injuries sustained in airplanes occurs as a result of air turbulence. Air turbulence can cause brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and other serious personal injuries. In some cases, it can even lead to death.

Air turbulence occurs when an airplane hits an air pocket. This can cause the plane to shift suddenly, drop several hundred feet, or begin to shake dramatically. As a result, anyone who is standing up or moving around the cabin can be slammed against the sides, floor, or ceiling of the cabin. If overhead containers are open during a bout of air turbulence, bags and other heavy objects can come flying out and hit unsuspecting passengers. Turbulence can also cause people to lose their footing and fall. All of this can lead to injuries.

If a pilot realizes that he or she will be approaching some air turbulence, he or she will often alert passengers and turn on the seatbelt sign. Often, passengers will be instructed to return to their seats and buckle their seat belts. Unfortunately, pilots do not always have warning before encountering air turbulence. Air turbulence may happen very suddenly. Some passengers have a false sense of comfort, thinking that as long as the seatbelt sign is not on they can stretch, walk around the cabin, or undo their seat belts with complete safety. This is not entirely the case.

In most commercial flights, pilots warn passengers to remain in their seats unless needed, to walk around the cabin as little as possible, and to keep their seat belts on while their seats. Despite this, many passengers do not pay attention to these instructions. To keep injuries caused by air turbulence to a minimum, it is a good idea to pay attention, and to remain in your seat, with your seatbelt fastened, as much as possible during a fight.

During a typical flight, of course, you want to get up, stretch, and perhaps walk to the bathroom. Walking around and stretching can in fact help prevent blood clots, especially if you are on a long flight. Therefore, walking around for a shorter time may be good idea. However, if you are taking a walk around the plane, keep your walk to minimum, and hold onto the backs of seats as you're walking. This way, even if the plane hits turbulence, you can still retain your footing and possibly prevent a fall and injury.

If you are sitting in your seat during a flight, keep your seatbelt fastened. If you find your seatbelt uncomfortable, ask for a pillow to support your lower back, or adjust the clasp on your seat belt until it is fairly comfortable. Adjust your position until you're comfortable, but avoid removing your seatbelt entirely if at all possible. If you are pregnant, ask a flight attendant to help you adjust your seatbelt correctly.

Many workers compensation claims stem from back injuries sustained on the job. Lower back injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries causing back pain are a common occurrence in the workplace. In fact, back injuries make up nearly 20% of all workplace-related injuries. They can occur in any industry, and the majority of them can be prevented. You can avoid the hassle of claims and the pain of injuries by following some basic guidelines to back health:

1) Get proper workplace training. If your job requires moving, lifting, or other heavy work, make sure that you get the training that teaches you exactly how to do these tasks without getting injured. Get retrained regularly to ensure that these techniques remain fresh in your mind.

2) Get regular exercise. Regular exercise, especially training of your abdominal back muscles, can help make your back stronger and can prevent back injuries. Also, train to make sure that your hips and hamstrings remain strong. This can also help prevent back injuries.

3) Wear proper work clothes. Wear no-slip shoes that will help prevent back accidents caused by slip and fall accidents. Make sure that your shoes are low heeled and that your clothes fit correctly and are comfortable. If you are required by your job to wear a uniform or work clothing issued by or place of employment, make sure that your clothing is well-fitted and in good condition. If it is not, ask for placement.

4) Quit smoking. Studies have shown that smokers have weaker spines, probably because smoking and the ingredients in cigarettes reduce blood flow to the spinal area. Smoking can also decrease the density of your bones, making you more susceptible to some types of injuries, including back injuries.

5) Practice good posture. Good posture ensures that your spine is in correct alignment and ready for tasks. When you work at your desk, keep your spine and your back straight so that you are less likely to sustain repetitive stress injuries. During the night, while you sleep, make sure that you continue your good posture by sleeping on a firm mattress.

6) Speak with your doctor if you have a job that puts a lot of strain on your back. If you have a job that requires lifting, moving, or sitting still for long periods of time at a desk, speak with your physician about ways to reduce possible stress and strain on your back. Your physician may be able to prescribe certain exercises or preventative measures that can help you avoid a back injury.

7) Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts additional strain on all of your bones, including your spine. Additional weight can also throw your body out of balance, making you more susceptible to some types of injuries. Excess weight has also been shown to place additional strain on the back, causing back pain and other problems.