Maryland Injury and Disability Blog

Though movie enthusiasts may associate rollover accidents with an exciting sequence in an action film, these types of auto accidents are more common than some may think and are the deadliest risk for occupants of SUVs (sport utility vehicles), trucks, or minivans. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 280,000 rollover accidents occur each year, resulting in more than 10,000 fatalities. SUVs unfortunately have the highest risk for rollovers as they often carry heavy loads, which may make them more top heavy, increasing the likelihood of the vehicle rolling over in an accident.

As explained by Howstuffworks.com, rollover accidents are directly related to a vehicle’s stability in turns, and this stability is influenced by the relationship between the center of gravity and the distance between the left and right wheels, also known as the track width. A high center of gravity and a narrow track may cause a vehicle to be unstable when there is a turn or sharp change in direction, all of which can increase the odds the vehicle will tip over once it begins to skid sideways. This particular problem is more pronounced in SUVS and pickup trucks with 4-wheel-drive because both have a higher ground clearance for off-road driving.

Presently, cars and trucks are not subject to federal rollover standards despite pressure to do so. However, the NHTSA introduced a rollover rating system in 2001 to help predict which vehicles may have the greatest risk of a rollover. In the rating system, one star indicates a greater than 40 percent risk of a rollover, while five stars is less than a 10 percent risk. The ratings are based on an engineering analysis of each examined vehicle’s center of gravity and the width between the front tires.

A few vehicle models that received a low rollover crash test ratings, with up to a 30 percent risk of a rollover accident, include: Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and a Dodge Dakota. Two cars with less than a 10 percent risk are the Subaru Impreza and the Acura TL.

The main cause of rollover accidents may boil down to science, but a defective car design can absolutely be a factor in a rollover crash as well. If you have been injured in a rollover accident that was caused by a vehicle defect, you may be entitled to compensation. The skilled Maryland vehicle rollover accident lawyer Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” is committed to holding any at-fault parties responsible for a rollover crash liable so that you receive the compensation you need to recover. Call (877) 228-4878 for a no-cost consultation.

Following Toyota’s acknowledgement that some of its best-selling vehicles have been prone to acceleration even though the driver steps on the brakes, Congress ordered a study last year to investigate the problem, according to The New York Times. The study, conducted by NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration), has now determined that the problems with uncontrolled acceleration were not caused by glitches in its electronic controls.

The study confirms the original determination of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is that the acceleration problems that led to a major recall of more than 8 million Toyota cars and trucks in 2009 and 2010 are caused by a mechanical issue.

Specifically, the problem was caused by either the vehicle’s gas pedals snagging on floor mats or sticky gas pedals that did not retract when drivers released them.

Though the findings of the NASA study may be good news for Toyota, the Times reports that it does nothing to dispel concerns about the weaknesses in the nation’s vehicle safety regulations, which includes a very slow recall process and paltry fines for violations. The NHTSA is considering tightening its safety rules in response to the criticism, including looking into ordering vehicles to have an event recorder to help determine the cause of accidents.

Consumers trust that products, including automobiles, are designed and manufactured with the user in mind and for ultimate safety. However, when a manufacturer takes shortcuts in production or fails to thoroughly test its products for safety, the results can be disastrous. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” is an experienced Baltimore defective product lawyer who is committed to helping clients obtain full compensation when injured or harmed by a defective or dangerous product. To see how our legal team can assist you, call (877) 228-4878 for a free consultation.

The number of people in Maryland and Pennsylvania who have become ill after drinking raw milk has risen to 23 according to health officials, reports CBS News. The raw milk, which was not pasteurized, was produced from Family Cow, a southern Pennsylvania farm, who says they sell their raw milk at its farm store and at grocery stores and markets in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Lehigh Valley and south central Pennsylvania. Nineteen of the 23 people who have reportedly become ill live in Pennsylvania. CBS News says health officials have advised consumers to discard any raw milk purchased from the farm on or after January 1.

Maryland health officials state that tests on two unopened samples purchased from the Family Cow farm in Chambersburg have confirmed the presence of the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, which has caused the illnesses. However, Pennsylvania health officials say their tests have not yet yielded results. On its website, Family Cow claims that their raw milk is third-party tested for Campylobacter and other bacteria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that consuming raw or unpasteurized milk may be unsafe as it may contain harmful bacteria, and even the state of Maryland prohibits the sale of raw milk. However, dairy farmers say the demand for this product is growing, spurred by the growing “interest in organic foods and concerns about hormones in traditional dairy products.”

People trust that products for sale to the public will be safe and not present any danger to themselves or their families, but when a manufacturer does not conduct proper safety testing or takes shortcuts in producing products, it can cause serious injuries and health problems to unsuspecting consumers. A Baltimore defective product lawyer can help you obtain compensation for your injuries when you have been harmed by a dangerous or defective product. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” is dedicated to providing reliable and skilled representation to injured victims. Please call (877) 228-4878 for a free consultation.

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a dangerous odorless and colorless gas that can cause sudden illness or death. This gas is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars, gas ranges, heating systems, and stoves. Any person or animal in an enclosed space, or semi-enclosed space, which lacks proper ventilation can be poisoned by breathing CO, as it can build up from any of the aforementioned sources.

CO poisoning can unfortunately be hard to diagnose as the symptoms can be similar to other illnesses, but if you think you may be inhaling this dangerous gas, here are some of the more common symptoms to look out for: headache; dizziness; nausea; chest pain; vomiting; confusion; and loss of consciousness due to high levels of CO.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that annually more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized. These alarming statistics show how common CO poisoning can be, so knowing how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning can save you and your family’s life. The following are tips offered by the CDC to help you and your loved ones avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Install a battery operated CO detector and check or replace the battery every spring and fall.
• Have gas, oil, and coal burning appliances, such as heating systems or water heaters, serviced by a qualified technician every year. Also, have your chimney cleaned every year to prevent CO buildup in your home.
• Any gas appliance must be vented to prevent CO buildup, and never use a gas range or oven for heating.
• Do not use a charcoal grill or a barbecue grill indoors, and never burn charcoal indoors as it gives off CO.
• Have a mechanic check your vehicle’s exhaust system every year; even a small leak can lead to CO buildup in your car or truck.

Following these simple safety tips can help prevent a CO poisoning incident; however, a defective product or the negligence of another party (such as an apartment manager who fails to properly service appliances) may still cause a CO poisoning accident to occur. If you or a loved one has suffered from CO poisoning, an experienced Baltimore carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer can help. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” is dedicated to helping CO poisoning victims obtain compensation for their injuries to help them get back on their feet. For a no-cost consultation, call (877) 228-4878.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that for the first time in 20 years a federal panel with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging the government to lower the threshold for lead poisoning in children. New research convinced members of the panel that children may be harmed from lead levels in their blood that are lower than the current standards.

The panel, named the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, has suggested lowering the definition of lead poisoning for children from 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood to 5 micrograms. This means that if the new standard is adopted, thousands more young children could be diagnosed with lead poisoning. Health officials estimate that as many as 250,000 kids may have lead poisoning, but with the new standard, the number may go up to 450,000.

Lead, which for years was a metal common in gasoline and paint, can severely harm a child’s kidneys, brain, and other vital organs. High levels of lead in the blood can cause convulsions, a coma, or even death, while lower levels can impair hearing and behavior, as well as reduce intelligence, among other problems. Too much lead in the bloodstream has also been determined to cause harm to developing brains and lead to a lower IQ. Victims of lead poisoning are often children who live in older homes that are rundown or under renovation, as the little one may pick up paint chips or dust and put it in his or her mouth. Children have also gotten lead poisoning from dust tracked in from industrial worksites or from soil contaminated by old leaded gasoline.

Finding out your child has lead poisoning can be devastating as the effects it can have are detrimental to a child’s health and well-being. If your child suffers from lead poisoning that you feel was caused by the negligence of another party, a skilled Baltimore lead poisoning lawyer can help. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” will help you obtain full compensation to help with your child’s medical bills and treatments. For a complimentary consultation, call (877) 228-4878.

According to a Huffington Post report, First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama is tackling the serious issue of post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The initiative is part of Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces campaign, which focuses on issues affecting veterans and their families, and she has received commitment from more than 100 medical schools to boost training and research for the treatment of veterans with PTSD (in addition to other mental health injuries).

Each participating school has agreed to rev up training for medical students in how PTSD is treated, along with traumatic brain injury, and share new information, practices, and research. A report by the Rand Corp. think tank estimates that about 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans currently suffer from either PTSD or major depression, but more than half did not seek treatment the preceding year.

Post traumatic stress disorder is a very serious mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms of this condition can last for months or even years and may include flashbacks, severe anxiety, nightmares, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. PTSD is a common condition experienced by those who have been in the service, so it is essential veterans receive treatment and aid to prevent the disorder from becoming long term. In addition, a person with PTSD may be at a higher risk for other mental health problems and medical illnesses, such as:

• Depression;
• Drug or alcohol abuse;
• Chronic pain;
• Suicidal thoughts or actions;
• Cardiovascular disease; or
• Autoimmune diseases.

This serious condition is treatable, however, and can include the use of different medications or psychotherapy.

Veterans who have sustained any kind of injury or illness while on active duty, or whose condition was worsened by active duty, should be eligible for disability compensation. The application process to receive this financial assistance requires a great deal of paperwork, such as discharge papers and medical records. In order to promptly receive the compensation a veteran needs, a qualified Maryland veterans disability attorney can help. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” can help any veteran applying for benefits simplify the process. To see how he can help, please call (877) 228-4878 for a free consultation.

In recent years, the alarming issue of both physical and sexual abuse occurring in juvenile facilities has garnered attention. Lack of oversight and nationally accepted standards for tracking these abuse cases makes it challenging to know exactly how frequently abuse is occurring. However, a 2007 Associated Press study in which juvenile correction centers in each state were contacted to find out the number of juvenile deaths and alleged and confirmed cases of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse by staff members revealed that there were 13,000 claims of abuse in centers across the country since 2004.

One of the primary culprits of physical abuse in juvenile facilities, and an issue that has sparked much controversy, is the use of physical restraints and devices. There have been quite a few cases of restraint-related deaths, including a Florida teen that was restrained while several guards repeatedly struck him and a 17-year-old in Maryland who lost consciousness and died after being held to the floor face down. In the latter case, prosecutors stated the staff waited 41 minutes after the teen was unresponsive to call for help. Maryland attorney, Steven H. Heisler represented the family of the 17-year-old in a wrongful death case against the state and the private facility in which a confidential settlement was reached.

The issue of sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers is also widespread. The federal Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a 2010 report that shows one in 10 youths in juvenile facilities and large non-state facilities reported sexual victimization by staff in the prior year. In the very worst facilities in the study, 20 to more than 30 percent reported sexual abuse.

Knowing your son or daughter has committed a crime and is in a juvenile facility can be difficult enough for a parent, but with the increasingly documented cases of abuse in these facilities, it can be a cause for serious concern. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” is a Baltimore juvenile facility abuse lawyer committed to protecting the rights of young people who have suffered any type of abuse in a juvenile correction center. Mr. Heisler can help you hold any at-fault parties legally accountable. For a no-cost consultation regarding your case, please call (877) 228-4878.

The Baltimore Sun reports that a Baltimore resident was killed in a pedestrian accident on Christmas Eve. The man was reportedly leaving a store and was trying to cross the inner loop of the Baltimore Beltway on December 24 around 7:45 p.m. The victim was then struck by an oncoming SUV near the intersection of North Point Boulevard and Interstate 695, according to Maryland State Police, and he was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV stayed at the scene of the accident, and alcohol was not determined to be a factor in this pedestrian accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly 5,000 pedestrians die in motor vehicle accidents each year, and more than 78,000 pedestrians suffer injuries when hit by a car or truck. The NHTSA also reports the startling fact that a pedestrian is injured in a traffic accident every 8 minutes and killed every 111 minutes. These shocking statistics serve to remind all MD pedestrians that safety and being cautious is extremely crucial while on two feet.

To help prevent a dangerous pedestrian accident in the upcoming New Year, cross at the corner of an intersection and only when clear, but continue to look left and right as you cross. Also, walk into the middle of the street, don’t run, and always look to the left and right for moving vehicles. Walking alertly can also help MD pedestrians avoid a collision; looking for signs that a car is about to move and using your eyes and ears will help you be aware of potential hazards. Lastly, it is important to stop at the edge of parked cars, curbs, and other vehicles.

Exercising pedestrian safety while walking Maryland roads may help you avoid a serious accident, but unfortunately, you cannot control the actions of motorists who may not be paying attention or driving in a cautious manner. If you are involved in a pedestrian accident that was caused by the negligence of the driver of a motor vehicle, the Baltimore pedestrian accident attorney Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” can help you obtain full compensation for your injuries. Call (877) 228-4878 for a free consultation.

As the temperature outside drops, Maryland residents are preparing for a cold but festive holiday season, complete with merry holiday decorations, celebratory holiday feasts, and staying warm and cozy by a fireplace. The cold winter months, though, present unique safety hazards, so the University of Florida’s Solutionsforyourlife.com has compiled a list of helpful safety tips to minimize you and your family’s risk of an at-home fire in the frosty months ahead.

• At-home heating: At the start of the winter season, have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional, as chimney buildup may cause a fire. Also, never use flammable liquids, evergreen trimming, or other flammable materials (such as wrapping paper or cardboard) in the fireplace, and use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks and embers from entering the room. If using a space heater, make sure to turn it off before going to sleep or leaving a room. In addition, place space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can catch fire, such as furniture, paper, or clothing.
• Kitchen and cooking safety: Cooking is the most common cause of fires in U.S. homes. To prevent an unfortunate kitchen fire, do not place flammable objects such as wooden utensils or oven mitts near the stove, and wear clothing that is form fitting so it does not drape over the open flame. Turning off the stove when you leave the room for any period of time can also help prevent a dangerous fire.
• Holiday decorations: Avoid choosing decorations that are flammable, sharp, easily breakable, or leaded. Candles should be kept in sturdy holders so they do not tip, and they should also be kept away from decorations, evergreens, and other combustible materials. If using electrical lights, make sure extension cords and strings of holiday lights are not frayed, showing bare wires, and are in good condition. Also, make sure lights have been safety tested by an independent lab (which will be stated on the label), and turn them off before going to bed or leaving home.
• Holiday trees: If decorating your home with an artificial tree, make sure the label says it is fire resistant. If using a fresh tree this December, keeping it fresh by putting it in a tree stand filled with water and cutting a few inches off the trunk can make it less of a fire hazard.

Following these simple safety tips can help prevent a dangerous in home fire. However, if someone else acts in a negligent manner and does not follow appropriate safety measures, it could endanger innocent people, whether at home or in the workplace. The experienced Baltimore burn injury lawyers at the law offices of Steven H. Heisler have years of experience helping burn injury victims get the compensation they need to recover from a serious burn related injury. Please call (877) 228-4878 for a complimentary consultation.

The Baltimore Sun reported this week that a recent accident in which a large flatbed truck struck a Baltimore Beltway overpass sent debris and metal in the path of oncoming cars. The flatbed truck, owned by the company Six M Co. Inc. of Whiteford, was carrying an excavator from a nearby construction site. The southbound truck could not fit beneath the bridge, which had a clearance of 16 feet and 4 inches. A Maryland state spokesperson explained that the truck driver did not lower the equipment enough to go underneath the overpass, so the large equipment hit the structure and sent debris (including an overhead sign and chains) onto the roads and into oncoming traffic. Truck driver negligence, such as this, is often the cause of big rig accidents in Maryland.

State officials closed two of three lanes on the outer loop of the Baltimore Beltway and the two right-hand lanes of Interstate 95 southbound while the debris was cleared. The state’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division is reviewing company records and reconstructing the accident to see if any charges will be filed or penalties assessed. Large trucks are required to have a state permit if they exceed a height of 13 feet, 6 inches.

Traffic accidents can be very serious and can cause life-threatening injuries to motorists involved. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) reports that each year, traffic crashes kill more people in Maryland than homicides. Large truck accidents can be especially dangerous for car or motorcycle drivers involved; due to their immense size and heavy cargo, large trucks often inflict extraordinary damage when they hit a smaller vehicle, even at slow speeds. Motorists involved in truck accidents can suffer spinal damage, brain damage, head trauma, broken bones, internal injuries, or even death.

Being involved in a large truck accident can have a devastating impact on one’s life, and compensation is needed for victims to recover from their injuries and pay for unexpected costs associated with the accident, such as medical bills or paying for vehicle damage. The experienced Maryland tractor trailer accident attorney Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” can help you receive any deserved compensation if involved in a large truck accident caused by the truck driver’s negligence. Please call (877) 228-4878 for a no-cost consultation.