For the fifth consecutive year, there has been a drop in car accident fatalities in the state of California. According to statistics by the California Office of Traffic Safety, auto accident fatalities in 2010 dropped to 2,715 from 3,081 deaths in 2009. That was an 11.9% drop, and is the biggest drop recorded in California since 1944. For some more perspective, it is a drop of 37% from 2005.
The California Office of Traffic Safety attributes this decline to a number of factors, including increased and high visibility enforcement, expanded use of sobriety checkpoints across California, as well as the use of public awareness campaigns. However, Los Angeles car accident attorneys believe that the drop has much more to do with the fact that people are driving safer cars and that there are now fewer accidents involving people who think it is safe to drive after they have had a few drinks. The fact that drunk driving accidents have been down over the past five years, has contributed to a substantial decline in auto accident deaths.
The California Office of Traffic Safety also believes that safer highway design and easier access to emergency and trauma care services is helping save more lives in accidents.
More than 2,700 accident deaths in a year in spite of safer vehicles, fewer drunk drivers and greater adherence to traffic safety laws, is no reason for celebration. Fortunately the California Office of Traffic Safety does not plan to let up on accident prevention efforts. The agency plans to give out millions of dollars in grants to local agencies around the state to be used for highway safety initiatives.
However, most of the grants will fund prevention of drunk driving accidents, with little attention paid to other growing accident factors, like the increasing number of drivers driving under the influence of prescription medications, or distracted drivers.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Spiritual Health Can Help Brain Injury Patients Heal Better
A strong spiritual relationship may help patients with a brain injury heal faster. According to researchers from Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, belief in a higher power or a supreme being can help a brain injury patient’s process of rehabilitation. The research is published in the journal, Rehabilitation Psychology.
According to the researchers, they were aware that religion and spirituality is typically associated with better physical and mental health outcomes. However, they had little information about what kind of effect a strong religious foundation would have on recovery after a brain injury.
To establish a link between spiritual health and brain injury recovery, the researchers interviewed 88 persons with traumatic brain injury. Most of the subjects were male African-American Christians. The participants were also put through a neuropsychological study of their cognitive abilities. The partners of these participants were also involved, and gave their input about the individual's cognitive abilities.
The researchers found that a majority of the participants who had a belief in a supreme being, reported higher rates of success in emotional and physical rehabilitation. Intriguingly enough, the study did not find that participation in religious activities, like going to church, speeds up a person's recovery after a brain injury. In fact, such religious activities seemed to have no effect at all on the results of the rehabilitation.
According to the researchers, this is likely because patients who suffer from a traumatic brain injury do not have the ability to attend religious activities on their own. These people may be dependent on others to take them to church, or to participate in socio-religious activities. This may be why these activities don't dramatically impact recovery after a brain injury.
California brain injury lawyers would explain this effect of spirituality on rehabilitation through the widely-accepted fact that faith helps individuals through difficult times. These people may feel less stressed about their condition. A sense of calm and lowered stress levels can only be conducive to any kind of rehabilitation.
According to the researchers, they were aware that religion and spirituality is typically associated with better physical and mental health outcomes. However, they had little information about what kind of effect a strong religious foundation would have on recovery after a brain injury.
To establish a link between spiritual health and brain injury recovery, the researchers interviewed 88 persons with traumatic brain injury. Most of the subjects were male African-American Christians. The participants were also put through a neuropsychological study of their cognitive abilities. The partners of these participants were also involved, and gave their input about the individual's cognitive abilities.
The researchers found that a majority of the participants who had a belief in a supreme being, reported higher rates of success in emotional and physical rehabilitation. Intriguingly enough, the study did not find that participation in religious activities, like going to church, speeds up a person's recovery after a brain injury. In fact, such religious activities seemed to have no effect at all on the results of the rehabilitation.
According to the researchers, this is likely because patients who suffer from a traumatic brain injury do not have the ability to attend religious activities on their own. These people may be dependent on others to take them to church, or to participate in socio-religious activities. This may be why these activities don't dramatically impact recovery after a brain injury.
California brain injury lawyers would explain this effect of spirituality on rehabilitation through the widely-accepted fact that faith helps individuals through difficult times. These people may feel less stressed about their condition. A sense of calm and lowered stress levels can only be conducive to any kind of rehabilitation.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Calls for Safety Technology to Prevent Table Saw-Related Accidents
According to the National Consumers’ League, every year more than 4,000 people suffer horrific amputation injuries involving the use of table saws. Most of table saw injuries occur at home. The average medical bill for a person who suffers a finger amputation from a table saw-related accident is about $30,000. The total cost of these injuries is more than $2 billion a year.
The worst part of it all is that these injuries are preventable. The technology to prevent amputations from the use of table saws and bench saws has been around for years now, but manufacturers of table saws have failed to adopt this technology in their tools.
Now, the National Consumers’ League is asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission to pressure the industry to install amputation-prevention technology in their tools. The technology to prevent these injuries is Saw Stop. It has been around for a while, and has been widely proven to prevent amputation injuries from the use of table saws. Saw Stop works by detecting a finger in the path of the blade. When the finger is detected, the machine automatically switches off.
However, the company that manufactures Saw Stop has already begun its own line of tools incorporating the technology. Other manufacturers don't want the Consumer Product Safety Commission to mandate Saw Stop technology because it would give that company an unfair edge over their tools.
While manufacturers continue to delay, thousands of innocent people suffer serious injuries from dangerous products every year that can leave them incapacitated. Amputations can be life altering injuries. According to the industry, these tools are currently equipped with plastic guarding systems that protect them from injuries. However, Los Angeles personal injury attorneys believe that the guarding technology is hardly useful, because it discourages easy use of the tool, and therefore, consumers are simply likely to remove the guard.
The worst part of it all is that these injuries are preventable. The technology to prevent amputations from the use of table saws and bench saws has been around for years now, but manufacturers of table saws have failed to adopt this technology in their tools.
Now, the National Consumers’ League is asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission to pressure the industry to install amputation-prevention technology in their tools. The technology to prevent these injuries is Saw Stop. It has been around for a while, and has been widely proven to prevent amputation injuries from the use of table saws. Saw Stop works by detecting a finger in the path of the blade. When the finger is detected, the machine automatically switches off.
However, the company that manufactures Saw Stop has already begun its own line of tools incorporating the technology. Other manufacturers don't want the Consumer Product Safety Commission to mandate Saw Stop technology because it would give that company an unfair edge over their tools.
While manufacturers continue to delay, thousands of innocent people suffer serious injuries from dangerous products every year that can leave them incapacitated. Amputations can be life altering injuries. According to the industry, these tools are currently equipped with plastic guarding systems that protect them from injuries. However, Los Angeles personal injury attorneys believe that the guarding technology is hardly useful, because it discourages easy use of the tool, and therefore, consumers are simply likely to remove the guard.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
High Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injury in Prison Population
A new report indicates a substantially increased risk of traumatic brain injury in prison inmates compared to the general, non-incarcerated population. Brain injury among prisoners is a much neglected and underestimated health and safety issue facing these people.
According to the study Traumatic Brain Injury among Prisoners, brain injuries are believed to affect an estimated 25% to 87% of the prison population in the country. In comparison, about 8.5% of the non-incarcerated population of the country suffers from traumatic brain injury. The incidence of traumatic brain injury in the prison population therefore, may be as much as 10 times as in the non-incarcerated population.
There have been other studies and surveys that have pointed to the causes of such injuries. In a study conducted among male prisoners in Minnesota, the survey found that of the 998 inmates, an approximate 82% reported having suffered from one or more head injuries during their lives. Most of these injuries were caused by assault, auto accidents and sports accidents. However, the Minnesota study seems to indicate that prisoners may also be at risk of suffering brain injury because of certain unique prison factors. For instance in Minnesota, incarcerated gang members are sometimes initiated through a procedure called “pumpkinhead,” in which a person is severely beaten until his head swells like a pumpkin.
Another study showed that traumatic brain injury occurs among prisoners who knock their heads against the cell walls or bars until they are unconscious. This is very often seen in persons who are restrained in isolated cells.
The report makes for fascinating reading. California brain injury attorneys suspect that the problem is even greater in California with its overcrowded and congested prisons that have recently been criticized by the Supreme Court because of the lack of medical care.
According to the study Traumatic Brain Injury among Prisoners, brain injuries are believed to affect an estimated 25% to 87% of the prison population in the country. In comparison, about 8.5% of the non-incarcerated population of the country suffers from traumatic brain injury. The incidence of traumatic brain injury in the prison population therefore, may be as much as 10 times as in the non-incarcerated population.
There have been other studies and surveys that have pointed to the causes of such injuries. In a study conducted among male prisoners in Minnesota, the survey found that of the 998 inmates, an approximate 82% reported having suffered from one or more head injuries during their lives. Most of these injuries were caused by assault, auto accidents and sports accidents. However, the Minnesota study seems to indicate that prisoners may also be at risk of suffering brain injury because of certain unique prison factors. For instance in Minnesota, incarcerated gang members are sometimes initiated through a procedure called “pumpkinhead,” in which a person is severely beaten until his head swells like a pumpkin.
Another study showed that traumatic brain injury occurs among prisoners who knock their heads against the cell walls or bars until they are unconscious. This is very often seen in persons who are restrained in isolated cells.
The report makes for fascinating reading. California brain injury attorneys suspect that the problem is even greater in California with its overcrowded and congested prisons that have recently been criticized by the Supreme Court because of the lack of medical care.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Why You Need a Business Lawyer Even for a Startup
Every business needs a strong legal foundation. If the legal fine print of the partnership agreement, shareholder matters and other issues are not defined properly, you could find yourself in a position where you're involved in ugly litigation, needing the services of an attorney. Unfortunately California business litigation lawyers often come across people who rush into startups or small businesses without bothering to have an attorney involved. A business lawyer can help you get it right at the very outset.
A business of almost any size can benefit from having a business attorney at the start. However, having a lawyer on board is absolutely imperative when you are starting a partnership. Often, people enter into partnership agreements without really thinking through partnership issues. As a result, a few years down the line, they get entangled in nasty disputes that can quickly get ugly. Having a business lawyer on board right at the outset can help prevent such disputes, and outline the steps to be taken to resolve a dispute when it does arise.
You also need a Los Angeles business attorney on board if you have ambitious plans for the future and expect your company to grow rapidly. With rapid growth can come rapid challenges and friction within a company. A business lawyer has experience setting up all kinds of businesses, and has seen firsthand the challenges that can arise in the future. He can help you avoid these challenges, or prepare you adequately for dealing with them. A business lawyer is also absolutely necessary when you're signing a shareholder agreement.
Needless to mention, an attorney will cost you less if you hire one at the time of setting up the business than if you go looking for one to resolve the dispute.
A business of almost any size can benefit from having a business attorney at the start. However, having a lawyer on board is absolutely imperative when you are starting a partnership. Often, people enter into partnership agreements without really thinking through partnership issues. As a result, a few years down the line, they get entangled in nasty disputes that can quickly get ugly. Having a business lawyer on board right at the outset can help prevent such disputes, and outline the steps to be taken to resolve a dispute when it does arise.
You also need a Los Angeles business attorney on board if you have ambitious plans for the future and expect your company to grow rapidly. With rapid growth can come rapid challenges and friction within a company. A business lawyer has experience setting up all kinds of businesses, and has seen firsthand the challenges that can arise in the future. He can help you avoid these challenges, or prepare you adequately for dealing with them. A business lawyer is also absolutely necessary when you're signing a shareholder agreement.
Needless to mention, an attorney will cost you less if you hire one at the time of setting up the business than if you go looking for one to resolve the dispute.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Survey Indicates Americans Want More Government Rules to Prevent Accidents
Less government is not necessarily better government, at least when it comes to traffic accident prevention. That's the message Americans are sending to the federal government. A new survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that a majority of Americans want the federal administration to enact more laws to prevent motor vehicle accidents and keep Americans safer while traveling.
Sixty percent of the respondents in the survey wanted more laws to prevent motorists from indulging in dangerous behavior behind the wheel. Further, 57% also wants states to get more involved in passing laws to keep motorists safer. At least 70% of respondents in the survey also wanted stricter enforcement of current driving laws. There also seems to be strong support for tough graduated driver licensing standards for teen drivers. Eighty six percent of the respondents in the survey wanted teen drivers to complete a driver’s education program before they are receive a driver’s license.
Another fact that emerged from the survey that California car accident attorneys find particularly interesting, is that Americans believe carmakers could be doing more to keep motorists and passengers safe. Increasingly safer cars are one of the reasons why traffic accident deaths around the country have been declining, but at least 50% of the respondents in the survey believe that automakers could be doing more to make their cars safer.
The survey coincides with an initiative by the United Nations to reduce traffic accident deaths around the globe. The ten-year initiative aims to reduce worldwide traffic accident deaths by the year 2020. The Initiative is called Decade of Action for Road Safety, and aims to work with governments around the world to affect traffic safety change, to help reduce the number of fatal traffic accidents and save lives. According to the initiative, more than 1.3 million people die every year in traffic accidents. In the United States, motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers and young children, and also one of the leading causes of accidental death for the general population.
Sixty percent of the respondents in the survey wanted more laws to prevent motorists from indulging in dangerous behavior behind the wheel. Further, 57% also wants states to get more involved in passing laws to keep motorists safer. At least 70% of respondents in the survey also wanted stricter enforcement of current driving laws. There also seems to be strong support for tough graduated driver licensing standards for teen drivers. Eighty six percent of the respondents in the survey wanted teen drivers to complete a driver’s education program before they are receive a driver’s license.
Another fact that emerged from the survey that California car accident attorneys find particularly interesting, is that Americans believe carmakers could be doing more to keep motorists and passengers safe. Increasingly safer cars are one of the reasons why traffic accident deaths around the country have been declining, but at least 50% of the respondents in the survey believe that automakers could be doing more to make their cars safer.
The survey coincides with an initiative by the United Nations to reduce traffic accident deaths around the globe. The ten-year initiative aims to reduce worldwide traffic accident deaths by the year 2020. The Initiative is called Decade of Action for Road Safety, and aims to work with governments around the world to affect traffic safety change, to help reduce the number of fatal traffic accidents and save lives. According to the initiative, more than 1.3 million people die every year in traffic accidents. In the United States, motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers and young children, and also one of the leading causes of accidental death for the general population.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Risk of Fractures in Elderly from Thyroid Drugs
Elderly patients, who are on thyroid medications to treat hypothyroidism or an under active thyroid, may be at a higher risk of suffering fractures. According to a new study, California pharmaceutical product liability lawyers may have reason to be concerned that elderly patients who are on the drug levothyroxine, which is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone, may be at a higher risk of such fractures.
The researchers analyzed data from 200,000 female patients aged 70 and above who were prescribed levothyroxine between April 2002 and March 2007. The researchers then tracked these patients during the follow-up period, which lasted until March 2008. They found that at least 10% of these patients who had taken levothyroxine during the study period, suffered at least one fracture during the follow-up period.
Some levothyroxine users were much more likely to suffer fractures. For instance, people who had recently started taking the drug, or were currently taking the drug were at a much higher risk of suffering fractures, compared to those people who stopped taking the drug a long time ago or had stopped taking it in the past. There is a strong link between the risk of fractures and the dosage of the levothyroxine. People who took high doses had a risk of suffering a fracture that was 3.5 times greater, compared to patients who took lower doses of levothyroxine.
The researchers have concluded that the use of levothyroxine seems to increase the risk of fractures in both men and women, even after considering other factors that could cause fractures.
The researchers are advising that older patients who are on thyroid hormone replacement therapy like levothyroxine, be monitored regularly to determine whether the dosage needs to be adjusted over a period of time. It's also important for doctors to consider that there may be a natural reduction in the thyroid hormone as a result of age, which needs to be taken into consideration while deciding dosage.
The researchers analyzed data from 200,000 female patients aged 70 and above who were prescribed levothyroxine between April 2002 and March 2007. The researchers then tracked these patients during the follow-up period, which lasted until March 2008. They found that at least 10% of these patients who had taken levothyroxine during the study period, suffered at least one fracture during the follow-up period.
Some levothyroxine users were much more likely to suffer fractures. For instance, people who had recently started taking the drug, or were currently taking the drug were at a much higher risk of suffering fractures, compared to those people who stopped taking the drug a long time ago or had stopped taking it in the past. There is a strong link between the risk of fractures and the dosage of the levothyroxine. People who took high doses had a risk of suffering a fracture that was 3.5 times greater, compared to patients who took lower doses of levothyroxine.
The researchers have concluded that the use of levothyroxine seems to increase the risk of fractures in both men and women, even after considering other factors that could cause fractures.
The researchers are advising that older patients who are on thyroid hormone replacement therapy like levothyroxine, be monitored regularly to determine whether the dosage needs to be adjusted over a period of time. It's also important for doctors to consider that there may be a natural reduction in the thyroid hormone as a result of age, which needs to be taken into consideration while deciding dosage.
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