Crash data published by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration notes that speeding is one of the main factors in motor vehicle accidents. In 2009, the most recent year for which data is available, over 30 percent of fatal crashes involved speeding. This ratio has been relatively consistent over the course of the past decade.
]]> Certain groups pose higher risks than others. For example, 43 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes involved alcohol. In addition, young males are more likely than any other group of drivers to be involved in fatal accidents.In Tennessee, the problem is prevalent. In 2009, 209 of 989 fatal crashes involved speeding.
Speeding increases the chance of being involved in a serious car accident for several reasons. First, driver reaction time is greatly reduced, which makes a collision much more likely. Secondly, cars perform differently at high speeds. They don't turn as tightly, and some models will skid and roll much easier. Finally, the higher the speed, the greater the impact and the more serious the accident and injuries will be. When other factors such as alcohol or cell phones are involved, the risk only increases.
In Tennessee, fatal car accidents occur on all roads, regardless of their speed limit. Campaigns have been launched to place speed cameras and speed traps on intersections where crashes commonly occur. Unfortunately, until drivers realize the dangers of speeding, these fatal accidents will continue to occur.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "Traffic Safety Facts: Speeding"
]]>The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission recently issued a warning reminding parents that seemingly innocuous-looking drawstrings can turn children's garments into dangerous and defective products.
Drawstrings, especially those with toggles or decorations on the end, can easily get caught in playground equipment and car doors. This can lead to entrapment, strangulation, dragging accidents and other serious personal injuries. Even worse, CPSC knows of at least 26 incidents where children have died after their drawstrings became tangled in slides, school bus doors or other objects.
]]> In 2011, CPSC banned neck or hood drawstrings in children's upper outerwear. However, these dangerous drawstrings may still be present in hand-me-down apparel, as well as in shirts or sweatshirts that are not designed to be worn as outerwear. In addition, children may still be at risk of personal injury from drawstrings at the bottom of coats and jackets or in the waistband of pants and shorts.Over the past six months, CPSC has recalled eight items of children's apparel for having dangerous drawstrings. Since 1999, drawstrings have led to the recall of more than 130 articles of clothing.
Parents can minimize the risk of accidents or fatal injuries by looking through their kids' clothing to identify and eliminate any dangerous drawstrings. CPSC recommends keeping three concerns in mind:
Source: On Safety, "Drawstrings Not Allowed," May 8, 2012.
]]>There are a number of factors that lead to Tennessee's high rate of teen driving deaths, including dangerous country roads and a relatively low number of trauma centers. However, the biggest risk comes from teens' own behavior.
]]> Tennessee has laws in place that are designed to protect teens against the risks that come along with being an inexperienced driver. Chief among them is a restriction on how many passengers teen drivers are allowed to transport.Unfortunately, many teens choose not to follow this law, often with disastrous consequences. Dr. Tom Abramo, the chief pediatric emergency physician at Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt recently told The Tennessean that most of the accidents he sees involve a number of teens riding in the same vehicle. He said it's rare to see serious accidents involving teens who are driving alone.
Teens who travel in large groups are at a higher risk for dangerous driving behaviors including distracted driving, drunk driving, not wearing seatbelts and speeding.
Preventing Teen Driving Deaths
If teens are going to become safer drivers, they need to understand the dangers that come along with engaging in risky behavior. All the laws in the world won't make a difference unless teens choose to follow them.
For example, even though seat belts are mandatory, nearly half of all teen accident victims weren't wearing them.
A number of organizations, including the Vanderbilt children's hospital and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are waging campaigns to educate teens about the potential consequences of risky driving behaviors. However, the best education always starts at home. If you have a teen driver in your house, make sure they understand what is allowed and what is not.
Source: The Tennessean, "TN's Teen Drivers Pay Price for Inexperience," Tom Wilemon, April 24, 2012.
]]>Thankfully, both the state and federal governments provide oversight of Tennessee nursing homes. Although government inspections can't totally eliminate the risk of nursing home abuse and neglect, they can help uncover the most egregious problems.
Earlier this month, the Tennessee Department of Health lifted its ban on admissions to Bristol Nursing Home. Admissions had been suspended after the facility fell out of compliance with state licensing rules.
]]> A state inspection found that the facility did not have sufficient staffing levels given the number of patients who resided there. On some days, there were only three certified nursing assistants present. In addition, the inspection revealed that the facility did not have appropriate practices in place to document patient needs and adverse incidents.In at least one case, inspectors found that the nursing home's staff had failed to notify doctors that a patient had elevated blood sugar and needed psychiatric help.
Perhaps most troubling, though, were accusations that the facility was not doing enough to protect residents from physical abuse at the hands of two violent and psychologically unstable patients. These patients allegedly kicked, pushed and punched other residents. One of them may have even sexually assaulted some of the female residents.
The admissions ban was lifted after Bristol provided proof that it had remedied these problems.
Every nursing home patient has a right to feel safe and secure and to be treated with respect. If you suspect your loved one may be unsafe, neglected or abused, don't hesitate to report the situation to the Department of Health or local law enforcement.
Source: TriCities.com, "Update: Bristol Nursing Home Admissions Suspension Lifted," Michael Owens, April 18, 2012.
]]>Even worse, unsafe and congested roads are direct contributors to many Memphis motor vehicle accidents. Overcrowded roads can lead to dangerous merging accidents and rear-end collisions. In addition, drivers who are overly stressed from waiting in traffic may be more likely to become distracted. Unsafe intersections and on-ramps also play a significant role in causing car accidents.
]]> The Tennessee Department of Transportation recently released a three-year plan to improve outdated infrastructure, both in Memphis and throughout the state. It hopes that the construction projects will improve roadway safety while maximizing economic development throughout the state.Some of the projects in southwestern Tennessee include:
TDOT's work in other parts of the state will focus on reconstructing highway interchanges, adding truck climbing lanes and improving highway on- and off-ramps.
According to the Memphis Police Department, there were more than 26,700 car accidents and 101 car accident fatalities in the Memphis area in 2009. Hopefully, these infrastructure improvements will play a role in reducing accident rates throughout Tennessee.
Source: The Trucker, "Tennessee Announces 3-Year Infrastructure Program," April 13, 2012.
]]>On the night of the accident, the 2-year-old girl and her two siblings were riding with their father in his SUV. The father parked at a Captain D's restaurant and briefly ran inside, leaving the car running.
When the father came outside approximately 10 minutes later, the toddler's airway had been cut off. She apparently had stuck her head out the window and then accidentally engaged the power window control. She became trapped between the glass and the door frame and couldn't get out.
]]> The father performed CPR and then brought the girl to a nearby fire station. Unfortunately, her life could not be saved.Sensors Would Have Prevented Accident
Perhaps the saddest element of this tragic accident is the fact that the toddler's entrapment was entirely preventable. For years, automotive safety groups have been calling on automakers to install auto-reverse sensors on power windows.
The sensors work much like auto-sensors on elevators and power garage doors; they won't allow the window to go up if something is in the way. Auto-reverse sensors would be a cheap fix to an unreasonably dangerous product - on average, they cost only $6 or $7 per window.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, power windows cause about 2,000 emergency room visits each year. The safety group KidsandCars.org thinks this is a low estimate. It also notes that at least 33 children were killed by power windows between 2001 and 2010.
Hopefully, automakers will take action on this issue soon. In the meantime, parents can help protect their children from power window accidents by keeping window locks engaged at all times.
Source: The Commercial Appeal, "Toddler Dies in SUV, Father Charged With Criminally Negligent Homicide," Linda A. Moore, April 2, 2012.
]]>Thankfully, there are a number of government agencies and safety groups dedicated to protecting consumers from dangerous and defective products. One, called Kids in Danger, recently released a report showing that 2011 had mixed results when it came to protecting kids from dangerous products.
The report found that while the number of recalled children's products dropped by nearly 25 percent, the number of injuries from those products went up.
]]> Because of confidentiality mechanisms in the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall process, Kids in Danger couldn't point to the exact reason for the drop in recalls. It said it was unsure whether the drop meant that fewer dangerous products were being sold or simply that manufactures have been more reluctant to recall potentially dangerous products.The report did find that recalls for lead violations and dangerous cribs were down, largely because of new regulations regarding standards and testing.
Worst Products: Sneakers, Beds, Electronics
All told, the CPSC recalled 121 children's products in 2011. Most were either nursery products or toys.
The product that caused the most injuries before being recalled was a set of girls' Keds shoes decorated with stars. The shoes caused 27 reported incidents of lacerations.
Three children died in recalled-product fatal accidents in 2011. Two were killed after being strangled by a nursery monitor and one died after becoming entrapped in a bunk bed.
Children deserve to be safe from dangerous products. Parents can check the CPSC's website to see which products have been recalled. The agency also provides safety warnings about potentially-dangerous products that have not yet been recalled.
Source: Deseret News, "Injuries Up, Recalls Down for Kids' Products," Lois M. Collins, April 2, 2012.
]]>The facility, New Life Lodge, is still the subject of Tennessee medical malpractice lawsuits relating to those deaths.
An investigation into the patients' deaths revealed a list of noncompliance findings more than six pages long. Among the findings were claims that the facility failed to ensure its staff was adequately trained, failed to appropriately monitor and treat patients' physical complaints and failed to employ proper procedures for reporting "significant occurrences."
]]> After concerns about the facility were made public last year, the Tennessee Department of Children's Services refused to send children in state care to New Life Lodge. Then, three TennCare managed care providers also discontinued their relationship with the facility. All told, New Life Lodge lost more than $10 million in annual revenue from government contracts.Eventually, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health suspended all admissions until the facilities leaders could ensure that residents would receive safe and appropriate care.
Open, but With Restrictions
New Life Lodge will be allowed to reopen, but not at its previous size.
While the facility once housed nearly 230 patients, it will now only be allowed to have a maximum of 70 beds. It may be allowed to increase its capacity to 140 patients after six months, provided everything goes well.
In addition, New Life Lodge reviewed and revised its policies and hired a new medical director, clinical director and director of nursing.
Hopefully, these changes will lead to an increased quality of care for some of Tennessee's most vulnerable patients.
Source: The Tennessean, "New Life Lodge to Reopen in April, Accept Only Adults," Nate Rau and Walter F. Roche, Jr., March 24, 2012.
]]>The accident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. on March 13. The trooper had just completed a traffic stop and was parked on the shoulder of Interstate 40 while he filled out paperwork. All of a sudden, he was struck by a large truck traveling at a high rate of speed.
Authorities say the accident was directly related to truck driver fatigue. Apparently, the truck driver was either asleep or very drowsy. He has been charged with felony aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
]]> The trucker was driving a load of construction equipment from Pennsylvania to Texas. His co-driver was asleep when the accident happened.Trooper Saved by Fellow First Responders
By all accounts, the only thing that saved the trooper's life was the fact that other first responders happened to be in the area at the time of the crash. Two paramedics happened to be about a quarter-mile behind the trooper when the accident occurred. In addition, a Knoxville police officer had seen the trooper pulled over before the crash and was already headed his way to see if he needed backup.
Together, those first responders were able to pull the trooper out from his cruiser just moments before it burst into flames.
The trooper suffered catastrophic injuries in the accident, including a brain injury, neck and spine fractures, broken ribs, lung damage and second-degree burns. A day after the accident, he was still listed in critical condition.
This accident is an unfortunate reminder of just how dangerous drowsy driving can be. Trucking is an important part of the American economy, but truckers should never be on the road when they are not awake and alert.
Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, "THP Trooper's Rescue From Fiery I-40 Crash was 'Game of Seconds,'" Hayes Hickman and Don Jacobs, March 14, 2012.
]]>An investigation into the cause of the truck accident is still ongoing. Initially, police believe that the truck driver was unable to slow down or stop in time behind another vehicle that was turning and swerved into oncoming traffic, hitting the pickup head-on.
The conditions of both the pickup driver and child are unknown after the head-on collision with the semi-truck.
]]> Because of their weight and size, the stopping distance or braking distance required of a semi-truck can be substantially greater than that of a passenger car or truck. Add to that cargo loads of varying sizes and differing speed limits on the roads travelled and the stopping distance for a truck can change from one destination to the next.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has created new braking standards for commercial trucks that began a phase-in process in 2012. The goal is to reduce the needed stopping distance for a truck by 30 percent. Before the change, a truck traveling 60 mph required 355 feet to come to a complete stop. Under the new regulations, a semi travelling at 60 mph must be equipped to come to a full stop within 250 feet.
The change is expected to save over 200 lives each year and prevent over 300 serious injuries caused by truck crashes and motor vehicle accidents.
Regardless of what the regulations as to braking distance require, professional truck drivers are required, just like all other drivers, to maintain control of their vehicle. When a truck driver causes serious injury or even the death of another, he or she may be held responsible by law enforcement as well as the victim and his or her family.
Source: WTVA.com, "UPDATE: Child airlifted following accident," Mel Carlock, March 13, 2012
]]>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the production of dangerous drugs and requires negative side effects be self-reported to the agency via its Adverse Event Reporting System. The whistleblower claims that Takeda's motivation in failing to report the cases of congestive heart failure related to Actos use was for financial gain: maintaining that Actos was a safe and effective diabetes drug would mean big profits for the Japanese drug maker.
]]> Takeda denies any wrong doing.In 2010, the FDA changed the labeling requirements for Actos. It now contains a strong warning to consumers that the drug may cause congestive heart failure in some users. Congestive heart failure results when the heart becomes ineffective at pumping blood to the rest of the body.
More recently, Actos has been linked to bladder cancer in diabetes patients who've taken the drug for a year or longer.
Although the U.S. Department of Justice initially declined, along with 24 states, to join the former Takeda employee's lawsuit, she plans to continue her claims against Takeda. The former medical reviewer believes that once Takeda is forced to disclosed certain information through the legal process, the truth of her claim of a cover up by the drug manufacturer will be readily apparent.
]]>Police are still searching for the Impala blamed for the crash. The children were reported to be in non-critical condition after being ejected from their car by the collision. Police said only one car seat was inside the vehicle.
Although the same laws apply to everyone on Tennessee roadways, it is impossible to know how other drivers will behave when behind the wheel. To protect yourself and your family from the dangers of traveling by car, a seatbelt should be worn at all times and age- and size-appropriate car seats should be used to keep children safe as well.
]]> Tennessee Seat Belt and Child Safety Seat LawsAccording to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Tennessee requires children under age 1 or 20 pounds to be secured in a rear-facing car seat. Children between 1- and 3-years-old and over 20 pounds must still be secured in a child safety seat, but may face forward. Kids ages 4 to 8 and under 4'9" should ride in a booster seat. Once a child is 9 years old or over 4'9", he or she can use the car's own seat belt system.
Since 2004, Tennessee has required those age 16 and up to wear a safety belt while riding in the front seat of the car. Police throughout Memphis and the rest of Tennessee can pull over a driver who is not properly belted in or who is carrying a passenger that is not wearing a seat belt.
Seat belts and child restraint systems are intended to protect you and your passengers from serious, catastrophic injuries if you're involved in motor vehicle accident. That doesn't mean that someone who does hit you has no responsibility for the damage and injuries he or she causes in a car crash, but is intended to increase the chances that, despite another's bad or negligent driving, you and your family will have the best chance of walking away from a Memphis-area motor vehicle accident.
Source: News Channel 3, "Children Ejected After Hit and Run Crash," Wayne Carter, March 1, 2012
]]>A Memphis medical malpractice attorney usually does have to do a fair amount of investigating, digging into medical records when something goes wrong at a hospital, because very few health care professionals will come right out and admit mistakes. But, that culture of secrecy, usually intended to avoid malpractice lawsuits, may be changing.
One reason for the change is that hospitals are under increasing pressure to reduce medical mistakes, which makes sense, because a medical mistake is actually a patient who was harmed or even killed by the incorrect actions of a health care professional. In order to reduce mistakes however, hospitals must first recognize that a mistake occurred.
]]> Both Medicare and Medicaid are increasing pressure on hospitals to eliminate preventable mistakes by refusing to pay for readmissions and longer hospital stays that are required because of medical negligence.While admitting to the cause of a patient's need to be readmitted to the hospital may go a long way to helping families fully understand what is going on, it does not change that the medical mistake occurred. Admitting a medical mistake does not mean that a family who's lost a loved one due to malpractice no longer has a right to seek compensation for their loss.
Just as no amount of money will bring back a loved one, the admission of medical error will not do so either. But, together, both are pieces to helping families heal after a preventable medical mistake ends in tragedy.
Source: The Daily News Journal, "Hospitals moving to change culture, admit mistakes," February 18, 2012
]]>The 43-year-old driver of the motorcycle was also injured in the crash. The driver of the car was not.
Motorcycle accidents result in injury to over 50,000 people each year. Some reports estimate that almost 80 percent of motorcycle accidents will result in the death of at least one person. An analysis conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that deadly motorcycle accidents are on the rise, increasing by nearly 10 percent between 2003 and 2007.
Only about 20 percent of motor vehicle accidents are fatal.
]]> Some consider the act of simply riding a motorcycle 'inherently dangerous.' Unlike in cars or trucks, motorcycles have no metal, glass, air bag or other safety features between you and the road if you're involved in a motorcycle crash.There are several common causes of motorcycle accidents:
Motorcycle riders and those whom you allow to ride as a passenger on your bike can take additional steps to prevent serious injury in the event of a crash. Helmets and padded clothing/protective gear can help minimize the severity of injuries caused by a motorcycle accident.
Source: Cleveland Daily Banner, "One is dead in motorcycle, car accident," Greg Kaylor, February 16, 2012
]]>Reports indicate the other driver crossed three lanes of traffic and the median before causing the Memphis fatal car accident. Police are still investigating the cause of the car crash and the driver's condition just prior to the crash.
Any time two or more vehicles collide on Memphis roadways, there is a chance that everyone involved will suffer serious and even fatal injuries. Car accidents are particularly dangerous for pregnant women -- any woman involved in a car crash while pregnant should be examined by her doctor to determine the effect, if any, of the crash on her child.
]]> What Dangers Do Pregnant Women Face In Car Accidents?To be clear, it doesn't appear that there is anything that this woman could have done differently in the fatal car crash to better protect herself or her unborn child. This was a tragic motor vehicle accident. But, there are steps that women can take and should be aware of when travelling by car during their pregnancy.
One of the many dangers to a pregnancy in even a seemingly harmless crash is the chance of a placental abruption. Even if you don't feel a sudden jolt of movement from the impact, there may still have been enough force to cause the placenta to separate from the uterus. You may or may not notice any symptoms that would indicate a problem with the baby, but an emergency room physician can confirm that no harm was done.
Another important safety aspect for pregnant women is the proper use of seatbelts. A three-point seatbelt should offer the most protection in case of a crash. However, the seatbelt must be placed properly so that, upon impact, the lap portion and the shoulder portion will contact the woman's bones, rather than her stomach or other soft tissue.
Pregnant women who are also driving should try to position the steering wheel as far from them as possible.
Source: WMCTV.com, "Woman loses husband, baby in Germantown Pkwy. Wreck," Lindsey Brown, February 6, 2012
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