After all, for some age groups, cars are a leading cause of death. They often lead to between 35,000 and 40,000 deaths every single year. That's the entire population of a major college, and it happens annually. And that doesn't even take into account far more people who suffer serious and life-altering injuries.
Plus, cars are expensive. New ones often retail well above $30,000. They take hundreds of dollars per month in gasoline to use. They create mass pollution while doing it. You also have the endless cost of upkeep. If cars are dangerous and expensive, why do we love them so much that it's often just assumed that most people own them? Why do many families own a car for every driver in the family?
Some who have studied this have reported that the biggest reason is just convenience. In a country built on speed and schedules, cars make it faster to get from Point A to Point B. It's incredibly convenient to own a car in a country with so many rural towns that lack any other transportation options. It is clear that Americans are willing to overlook injuries, fatalities, costs and pollution in the name of ultimate convenience. And it does not appear that is going to change any time soon.
Have you been injured in an accident or lost a loved one? You're far from alone, and you need to know what legal options you have.
]]>What can change, of course, is the number of nurses, aides and staff members who actually show up for work each day. That number creates a ratio between staff members and residents, and it is often that ratio that determines the level of care everyone gets. What should it look like?
Optimally, some statistics appear to show that it's best to have under 15 residents per nurse or aide. On some days, it may fall under 10. That's great, and the staff can take care of that many people. Unfortunately, it sometimes gets far higher than that.
For instance, on the best days, one facility had about 13 residents per nurse and 7 residents per aide. On the worst day, this only fell to 16 residents per nurse and 9 per aide. These are all manageable numbers.
At another facility, though, there were 17 nurses and 7 aides per resident on the best days. On the worst days, that fell to 29 residents per nurse and 11 residents per aide.
Imagine being a nurse in a situation like that. Ideally, you should have around 13 people to care for. Instead, you have almost 30. Is it any surprise that the level of care declines?
That said, your loved one deserves better care than that. If they get neglected, you must know what options you have. Speak with an experienced attorney about the situation.
]]>One major aspect to consider is the role of phone addiction. And it's about more than willpower. It's a real issue that consumes the lives of many Americans, and phone apps were specifically designed to make you feel more and more addicted over time.
This addiction can make you do things that are not safe. For instance, maybe you checked your latest Instagram picture to see who liked it before you got into the car. Ten minutes into the drive, though, you find yourself at a red light, and you begin wondering if there are any new likes. Even though you just checked, you're likely to pick the phone up and do it again.
As a result, many distracted drivers who cause car accidents can offer no real explanation for their actions. They're not on the phone trying to handle an emergency at home or doing something else important. They're just browsing the web or checking social media. It becomes apparent how dangerous and pointless that is after they cause the crash, but by then, it is far too late for there to be any other outcome.
If you get injured by one of these distracted drivers, you may have a right to financial compensation.
]]>When you look into situations where cyclists get doored, one thing that becomes clear is just how quickly it can happen. A split second makes all the difference. The hardest crashes happen when someone opens the door just at the moment that the cyclist passes, so they can't brake or swerve.
Often, these accidents happen due to some kind of illegal activity. A lot of them are people getting out of cars or cabs, for instance, which may have parked in the bike lane to drop off their passengers. There are even examples of police officers opening their doors and hitting cyclists.
A cyclist may have to ride by dozens or hundreds of parked cars. Most are empty. But all it takes is one open door at the wrong moment to cause a crash. Plus, even the cyclists who are able to swerve and avoid these accidents are forced to swerve further into the traffic lanes, which could still result in a crash.
The injuries from this type of sudden accident can be severe and costly. They may keep you out of work, as well, decreasing your income. You need to know how to seek financial compensation for all of these different types of costs.
]]>If you aren't able to adjust your work schedule or other activities (and many of us can't) to avoid driving into the sun, there are some things you help you stay safe. Wearing sunglasses and using your sun visor are essential. Let's look at some other things you can do:
If you're involved in a crash caused by a reckless or negligent driver, make sure that you get the compensation you need to deal with medical bills and other expenses. An experienced attorney can help you.
]]>While there are many upsides to these bikes and there's a reason they've grown so popular, it is important to note that they're more dangerous than traditional bicycles.
Studies have found that those who use these e-bikes have a higher rate of internal injuries. They also end up in the hospital more often. People on powered scooters -- a different but similar means of transportation -- have higher concussion rates.
Why does this happen? One potential reason is that a powered vehicle allows a rider to keep a higher rate of speed for longer, meaning they're more likely to be traveling quickly when they crash. Another thing to consider is that commuters may ride their e-bikes during rush hour, which has the highest traffic levels. Meanwhile, those who ride traditional bikes for exercise alone may end up riding at hours with lower traffic levels and sticking to roads and trails where cars aren't as common.
Regardless of the reasons, it is clear that cyclists can and do get injured frequently. Those who do get injured need to make sure they are well aware of the legal options they have to seek compensation for their financial losses when someone else is at fault.
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How common is proper staffing? Not as common as you may think. Some reports have found that under-staffing runs rampant.
In the past, nursing homes could simply report all of their staffing numbers on their own. This meant that they could, in theory, alter the numbers to make it look like more people were working than actually were. When this changed and officials started tracking the numbers, that's when researchers discovered that many homes did not have enough workers on the schedule at the same time.
This risk of under-staffing is simple: Patient care will suffer. We often think of neglect as a worker not caring enough to do their job properly. With an under-staffed home, though, the workers can be as dedicated as they want, but they cannot do it all. If a single worker gets three call buttons at the same time, they have to delay care for two of those individuals and decide who to help first. Under-staffing can also create a chaotic work environment where workers may simply forget to do certain tasks since they have so much to do.
If your loved one is neglected, injured or caused to suffer in any way in a nursing home, be sure you are well aware of your legal options. It may be possible to hold a nursing home accountable for problems caused by under-staffing.
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Why does a long delivery increase the risks? Some of the reason is just that there is more exposure to potential injury if the event takes longer. Part of it is also that there is an underlying reason for the prolonged labor, and that reason in and of itself can be dangerous.
Though prolonged labor can happen for many reasons, some of the top causes include:
For example, a baby is typically born with the head facing down. If the baby has its feet facing down, it can be problematic. The baby can take longer to progress, may be exposed to risks involving oxygen supply and may need extra assistance to be born.
If the baby does need assistance, that just increases the odds of injury again. A doctor could decide to use forceps, which can grasp the baby and help pull it forward. This can put stress on the baby's body even when used properly. When used improperly, they could lead to cuts, bruises, broken bones and other such complications. However, the risk of not using them could be that the baby cannot breathe properly and isn't moving. Doctors have to make the right call and they have to do it quickly.
If your baby does suffer an injury during labor, you need to know what options you have. While nobody likes to think about lawsuits, that may be what's necessary to better secure your child's future.
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Every so often, though, there is an increase. This most recently happened around 2015 and 2016. While 2017 leveled off a bit and 2018 did fall, fatalities are still higher than they were in 2010.
In another sense, though, the deaths have been falling the entire time. They continue to do so. If you look at the graph for traffic fatalities per 100,000 people in the country, you'll see that it was highest in the 1920s and, with some very minor reversals, it has only declined since then. It's worth noting that they didn't start tracking these deaths rates until the 1920s, but cars were not as common in the decades before.
This ever-declining rate is, in some ways, very important when considering safety on the roads. Even if there are more overall deaths, the population increases dramatically every year. There is bound to be some increase in totals just due to having more people on the roads. As long as the rate keeps falling, though, it shows that a greater portion of the population is safer.
Of course, some of the falling death rate is also due to better medical care, which can save lives. These individuals could still be badly injured, though, and may be facing some major medical bills. They need to make sure they are well aware of the legal options they have to seek out compensation.
]]>On one hand, this problem gets worse at night. That small black bike can blend into a dark roadway as the sun goes down. We already know that the reduced visibility at night leads to car accidents, so it follows that it can lead to motorcycle accidents, as well.
The good thing for riders, though, is that they actually have the chance to become even more visible. They can do it by:
This push for visibility isn't just so that the rider can see better -- it's so that other drivers see the bike. With bright lights and moving reflectors, a motorcycle stands out on a dark highway at night in a way that it wouldn't during the day. That can draw more attention from drivers, potentially reducing the likelihood of serious mistakes like turning left in front of a motorcycle or pulling out in front of it at a stoplight.
Naturally, though this can help, accidents can and do still happen. Drivers do make mistakes, and motorcyclists pay the price. If you get injured in a crash, it is important for you to know how you can seek out financial compensation. Your injuries and financial losses can be considerable after a wreck. Don't accept anything less than a fair settlement.
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