Improved School Bus Safety
April 28, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
If there were ever a debate about what the largest mass transportation system was in the United States, a lot of people would lose their first bet, as the largest system is actually thousands of school buses.
They are mellow yellow and are seen in virtually every neighborhood in America, taking on the responsibility of transporting over 20 million kids to school and home and taking them to sporting events and on road trips. “For the most part school buses are a safe way to travel,” said Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, “however, the statistics do show that school bus accidents account for roughly one third of all fatalities.”
They can’t help their size and because school buses are that big, they naturally have a higher likelihood of being in fatal collisions. “Recognizing that it was time to do something about the safety issues that have always surrounded school buses, manufacturers, in partnership with national lawmakers, are striving to include three new features for school buses,” outlined Francis.
The newer features include something called an Obstacle Detection System, an Integrated Collision Warning System and a Transit Integrated Vehicle Based Safety System. The driver reaction to these additions has, so far, been fairly positive, as these features are being seen as enhancing the bus driver’s ability to protect his or her charges.
The Obstacle Detection System extends the driver’s sight with ultrasonic sensors on all four corners of the bus. A visual and audible alarm sounds when something is in the buses path within 4 to 8 feet. This is a nice addition to a bus’s safety arsenal and helps get rid of some of the driver’s blind spots.
The Integrated Collision Warning System has a forward and side collision warning system by using radar and other sensors to track objects around the bus, and the Transit Integrated Vehicle Based Safety System is still being tested, but it appears to reduce hard braking.
School bus safety is a vital issue to everyone, as those buses take the future of our nation to school and beyond. If a loved one has been involved in a school bus collision, do not wait to contact a school bus accident lawyer to obtain justice. Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, has an excellent track record for ensuring justice is done for his clients.
To learn more about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.
When the Bike Hits the Pavement
April 28, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
Everyone knows that when a motorcycle hits the pavement there will be serious injuries or a death. The problem lies in determining who is at fault for the injuries of the survivor or the wrongful death of the biker.
Every day there are motorcycle accidents, and every day bikers either come out of a crash alive, but seriously injured, or lose their lives on the road. It’s a well-known myth that motorcyclists are reckless drivers with no regard for the rules of the road or other vehicles. “The fact of the matter is that it is negligent car drivers who are the cause for most bike crashes,” indicated Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida.
An injured biker may file a claim for injuries, pain, damages, loss of income, etc. so long as they are able to show that the defendant was negligent and responsible for the accident. If this accident took place in a state that apportions liability, there may be a different outcome relating to damages if the judge assesses negligence on the part of both parties in the accident.
At all times, anyone involved in a motorbike crash must be acutely aware of the statute of limitations in their respective state. A competent motorcycle crash attorney, such as Tony Francis of the Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, will be able to offer solid advice on how to proceed with a claim. “If the lawsuit is a claim for injuries due to negligence, compensation may be sought for medical bills, loss of earning potential, partial or permanent disability, property damage and psychological suffering,” outlined Francis.
Wrongful death lawsuits are similar in some respects to lawsuits for damages, in that wrongful death suits may seek reimbursement for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, the pain of the deceased, financial compensation for the heirs, as well as loss of companionship, society and love. “The crucial element in a wrongful death lawsuit is that the accident must have been caused by someone else who acted negligently,” said Francis.
The negligence may not necessarily be due to an impact with another vehicle; it may also have something to do with the bike manufacturer making a defective product or a parts manufacturer selling a defective part. “Aftermarket parts with performance problems have also been the cause of some motorbike crashes,” added Francis.
Keep in mind that there are various laws in each jurisdiction depending on the circumstances of the accident. Also, the cause of the accident will dictate the type of wrongful death case e.g. product liability. It is imperative if a loved one has been involved in a motorbike crash, that the family immediately consult a motorcycle attorney without delay.
To learn more about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.
Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Varies
April 28, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
People who suffered a traumatic brain injury, also referred to as a coup/contrecoup injury, have a long road to recovery ahead of them.
Many traumatic brain injury patients find they have a very long road to recovery from the damages their brain has sustained due to impact trauma. The trauma may be as the result of a fall (e.g. Natasha Richardson) or sustained in a car crash, etc. “There is one commonality among all traumatic brain injury patients; medical assessment is crucial when they present to a doctor, and time is of the essence to minimize the damages,” said Tony Francis of The Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida.
While there is not a lot physicians are able to do after the injury has occurred, they are able to focus on minimizing brain damage by making sure the victim’s brain receives sufficient oxygen. Lack of oxygen increases the chances of further damage. “Monitoring the blood pressure is another critical factor, along with ensuring intracranial pressure is under control, ” outlined Francis.
There are a variety of ways to treat intracranial pressure, and each one of these areas may be ripe for a medical negligence lawsuit. They include raising the head (or straightening it), for better blood flow, drain cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles and the use of paralytic drugs. Each course of treatment outlined is often fraught with uncertainties as to the outcome, which makes a doctor’s duty of care to the patient a very high one.
“TBI patients are also usually subject to the onset of seizures, often treated with benzodiazepines. Unfortunately these potentially life saving drugs, if used incorrectly, depress breathing and lower blood pressure,” explained Francis. The other area where medical errors tend to happen is during surgery to remove hematomas. A craniotomy, which removes a portion of the skull, is used in roughly one third of all patients diagnosed with severe TBI.
In all cases dealing with TBI’s it is best to speak with a highly qualified TBI attorney, such as Tony Francis of The Francis Law Firm in Orlando, Florida, who will outline what needs to be done to present the case to the courts. Damages that may be awarded may include money for physical/occupational therapy, speech rehabilitation and psychiatric and psychological counseling. There are other damages that may be claimed as well, however for further information speak to an attorney.
Tony Francis is an Orlando personal injury lawyer. His practice specializes in being an Orlando accident lawyer helping innocent victims get compensation for their losses. To learn more about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.
The Bigger They Are the Less They See You
April 28, 2009 by christy · Leave a Comment
It’s not such a smart move to travel too close to big rigs while you are rocketing down the nation’s highways. The bigger they are, the harder time they have seeing smaller vehicles right next to them.
America’s highways are home to many kinds of vehicles, ranging from school buses to passenger vehicles, and from tow trucks to tractor-trailers – the big rigs that are sometimes called double wide because they are hauling two trailer units, not just one. That makes for a lot of truck to pass.
Sharing the road with monsters like a double wide is a bit of a balancing act, and drivers need to be alert and aware of where they are at all times in relation to the rig. Let’s talk a bit about just how big some of these units happen to be. Would you believe that a loaded tractor-trailer is up to 8 ½ feet wide? To put this into perspective, that works out to be 102 inches, or 50% wider than your car.
Not only are these units wider, they may also be hauling up to 65 feet of trailer behind them on the road. On the other hand, logging trucks may range up to 70 feet long, which translates into four times the length of an average car. If you’re going to pull out and pass one of these trucks, you had better know what you are doing and have a clear road to do it.
Did you realize that the usual load for a truck with a “single” trailer may range up to 80,000 pounds? Some states allow truckers to haul on a multiple axle basis, which kicks up their load capacity anywhere from 120,000 pounds to 160,000. That is a lot of serious danger on tires and is what can be called a deadly weapon on wheels, even if the driver knows what they are doing.
Sharing the road with these rigs not only means they need to drive responsibly, but that you must also take extra steps to drive safely when around them; for instance, stay out of the truck’s blind spots. Sure truck drivers have side mirrors as do car drivers, but both have blind spots. For trucks, there are blind spots on both sides of the vehicle and directly behind it. Be smart. If you can’t see the truck’s side mirrors, then you are in the blind spot – hurry up and pass or drop back.
There have been TV ads about the dangers of following huge rigs too closely, yet people still do it. The ideal distance from the back of a big rig is at least 25 car lengths. Give yourself room to get out of danger if something happens ahead of the truck.
If you opt to pass a big rig, then don’t pull back in front of it the minute you have passed its nose end of the cab. Wait until you are able to see the headlights in your rearview mirror.
Tony Francis is an Orlando personal injury lawyer. His practice specializes in being an Orlando accident lawyer helping innocent victims get compensation for their losses. To learn more about Orlando injury lawyer, Orlando personal injury lawyer, Orlando accident lawyer, Orlando injury attorney, visit Francislawgroup.com.