New statistics released by the U.S. Department of Labor reveals an increase in job-related fatalities, according to a GalesburgPlanet.com news report. The Department of Labor report shows that 4,690 workers in the U.S. suffered fatal injuries in 2010, which is a three percent increase from 2009. The increase does, in part, reflect the high profile disasters in 2010, including the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico in which 11 people lost their lives, a West Virginia coal mine explosion that killed 29, and a Tesoro Corp. oil refinery blast in Washington that killed seven.
The data also reveals some startling trends regarding fatal workplace injuries. According to the report, the number of workers killed in fires or explosions rose from 113 in 2009 to 191 in 2010. In addition, work-related transportation deaths increased from 1,795 to 1,857. However, construction-related deaths fell from 834 to 774, which can likely be attributed to the weak housing market in 2010 and ailing economy.
A health and safety director for the AFL-CIO believes that work-related fatalities in 2011 may increase as well given that the economy has picked up, and is surprised that there hasn’t been much improvement in reducing workplace fatalities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that the reality that 12 workers die on the job daily continues to drive the work of the Department of Labor and that the group will continue to enforce the laws that keep U.S. workers safe.
Any worker injured in the state of Kentucky deserves compensation to help him or her recover. Kentucky work injury attorney Tad Thomas is committed to protecting the rights of injured workers and will work to ensure full compensation is received through a workers’ compensation claim or by holding any at-fault parties responsible for the accident in a personal injury claim.
A Kentucky motorist is recovering from his injuries after he collided with a school bus in Burlington on April 23, according to a KYPost.com report. The Boone County Sherriff’s Department states that a 33-year-old driver was traveling southbound on North Bend Road around 9 a.m. when he failed to slow down at a stop and rear-ended a school bus that was in front of him, which wedged the car underneath the school bus. The collision occurred in front of Stevens Elementary.
Fortunately, there were no students on board the school bus at the time of the accident. The 61-year-old driver of the school bus did not sustain any injuries in the crash, but the driver of the vehicle was transported by helicopter to University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. He was reportedly not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.
An official investigation is being conducted by The Boone County Sherriff’s Department and no further details have been released regarding the accident or what caused the crash. The accident scene was cleared around 10 a.m.
A collision with a school bus or any large vehicle, such as a semi truck, can leave a person with very serious injuries simply due to the vehicle’s immense size. Kentucky bus accident attorney Tad Thomas has extensive experience helping injury victims and is dedicated to ensuring that negligent parties are held responsible for any damage caused.
According to Kentucky.com, one of the state’s deadliest highway crashes recently spurred the state’s Legislature to approve $100 million worth of improvements for Interstate 65 over the next two years. The dangers of I-65, a very heavily traveled route in Kentucky, were highlighted during the legislative session, with a spotlight on a fatal KY auto accident that occurred in March 2010. The KY auto accident, which killed 11 people in a single crash, is only one in a series of both fatal and injury accidents that has occurred on this highway in recent years.
The heavily trafficked Interstate 65 runs from Louisville in the northern part of the state to Bowling Green in the south, and is one of the top five traveled interstates in the U.S.
One of the state’s Representatives claims that after examining the data, the total amount of vehicle crashes averages to about one accident per day for the last six years. On this dangerous stretch of KY road, there have been a total of 11 fatalities per year and an estimated 150 injury accidents. With these alarming statistics, a state Senator stated this improvement project was one of Kentucky’s top priorities.
The improvement project aims to widen I-65 from four to six lanes in portions of Barren, Hardin, and Hart counties. In addition, a road construction plan was also approved for the work to continue over the next four years, which calls for about $80 million.
Determining who is at-fault in an auto accident can be difficult without experienced legal representation, particularly if a crash was caused by a poorly designed or ill-maintained roadway. Tad Thomas is an experienced Louisville car accident attorney who works to hold those responsible for a crash legally accountable and help victims get the compensation they need to recover.
According to a news report from The Sacramento Bee, the Nestle Prepared Foods Company has issued a voluntary food recall of Stouffer’s Satisfying Servings Lasagna Italiano. Nestle decided to take this action after two consumers reported finding Stouffer’s Stuffed Peppers in the Lasagna Italiano packaging, which may present an allergy risk. The recipe for the Stuffed Peppers includes Worcestershire sauce, which contains anchovy as an ingredient; therefore, consumers with fish allergies should not consume this product as their heath may be at risk.
The recall is limited to two hours of production only, which were distributed to multiple states, and the production codes include 1349595513R and 1349595513S. Consumers can locate the product code by looking for the “proof of purchase” panel that is located on the right end flap of the package, below the ingredient statement. This recalled product was produced during December of 2011, and due to its popularity, Nestle believes there is very little left in retail distribution. As such, the company urges consumers to check their freezer inventory for this item.
No other varieties of Stouffer’s products are affected by this recall. Nestle will provide customers with a replacement coupon and may also make arrangements to retrieve the product for examination. Consumers should call (800) 392-4057 or e-mail nestlefrozenfoods@casupport.com for more information.
Companies have the responsibility to produce products which are safe for consumption, particularly food items. However, if they do not, the health of an unsuspecting customer may be in jeopardy. Any consumer in Kentucky who has suffered harm or any adverse health issues caused by a defective food item should contact a Louisville food recall attorney to obtain compensation for their injuries.
Being involved in an accident of any kind can certainly have a devastating impact on a person’s life and getting financial assistance to recover is imperative, particularly from an insurance company. However, when an insurance company fails to fulfill their obligation and does not act in such a way that is required in a contract, it can be considered “bad faith,” which is legally defined as an intentional dishonest act that does not fulfill legal or contractual obligations, misleads another, and violates basic standards of honesty in dealing with others. Bad faith insurance law is a patchwork of federal and state laws and case decisions that pertain to the practices and conduct of insurance companies.
Examples of bad faith practices can come from insurers of all types, including auto, business, and property insurance. Here are a few common scenarios which may represent bad faith:
- Company does not thoroughly, or promptly, investigate a claim;
- Wrongfully denies a claim;
- Shortchanges a person’s benefits;
- Unreasonable delays occur with the payment of benefits;
- Refusal by the insurer to settle a claim; or
- Insurer uses an unreasonable interpretation of the policy’s terms.
Not all disputes with a person’s insurance company are considered bad faith, and the insurer has the right to question and investigate any bad faith claims made against them. Every state sets its own particular penalties for a proven “bad faith” claim, but all do allow for punitive damages to punish the insurance company and its acts.
Insurance bad faith is illegal, but it can often be difficult to prove or document. Tad Thomas is a skilled Louisville bad faith insurance lawyer with years of legal experience and is committed to protecting the rights of accident victims and those who have been wronged by others.
Cerebral palsy is a disorder of muscle tone, movement, or posture caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain. This injury and abnormal brain development most often occurs before or at birth, which is called a birth injury. This disorder affects an astonishing one in 278 children, and each year approximately 8,000 babies and infants are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Though cerebral palsy is caused by an abnormality or disruption in brain development, oftentimes the trigger for the disorder isn’t known; however, certain factors may lead to problems with brain development. These include:
- Fetal stroke, which can be caused by a disruption of blood supply to the brain;
- Lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) caused by a difficult delivery or labor;
- Maternal infections that affect a developing fetus; and
- Infant infections, which can cause inflammation in or around the brain.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy typically appear during infancy or a child’s preschool years, and those affected frequently have conditions related to developmental brain abnormalities, such as seizures, vision or hearing problems, or intellectual disabilities.
The signs and symptoms of this disorder can vary greatly, but the movement and coordination problems often associated with it include: difficulty walking, eating, and speaking; stiff muscles and either exaggerated or normal reflexes; lack of muscle coordination; delays in reaching motor skill milestones, such as crawling; and involuntary movements.
Cerebral palsy is a disorder with no cure, so it is imperative a woman’s physician provides proper prenatal care and deliver the child with extreme caution and care. Also, early recognition and treatment of infections may help prevent cerebral palsy. If a healthcare professional fails to do any of these things, a baby may be affected with this lifelong disorder. If your child has cerebral palsy caused by an injury at birth, a knowledgeable Louisville cerebral palsy lawyer can help you obtain compensation for your child and for any losses or damages.
The Brighton Patch reports that children ages 0-4 and 15-19 are the two age groups most at-risk for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to the Brain Injury Association of Michigan. TBI is one of the leading causes of acquired disability and death in children and infants. The reasons for TBI in children include unintentional causes, such as falls and motor vehicle collisions, and inflicted causes, including child abuse in infants and younger children and assaults in adolescents.
The only known cure for traumatic brain injury is prevention, so the following are seasonal safety facts to protect your children, or those in your care, from suffering this type of child injury in Kentucky.
Spring
- Wear a helmet for protection during activities that may pose a danger of a head injury, such as bicycling, baseball, or skating. Also, two-thirds of ATV accidents have involved children under 16, so a helmet is important to wear when riding, as well as protective clothing.
- Falls are a common cause of playground injuries and thus brain injuries, so try and avoid hard surfaces such as concrete. Loose surfaces, like shredded mulch, may be safer for playing.
- The leading cause of death in children hit by cars is brain injury, so instruct your children to stop at curbs or the edge of the road and, most importantly, to not run into the street.
Summer
- Always supervise your children when they are in or near the water.
- Alcohol use is a leading factor in boating accidents and deaths, so if your child or teen may be going out on a boat, tell him or her not to go if the person operating the boat has been drinking.
- Install child safety window guards on screens to keep children in and protected.
- For bicycling, it is very important to wear a helmet, so be sure yours meets safety standards. Make sure the helmet is secure enough by tightening the chin strap.
Protecting your child from a brain injury begins with following these preventative tips; however, an injury can still occur due to the negligence of another person. Tad Thomas, a skilled brain injury lawyer in Louisville, is dedicated to helping injury accident victims obtain the compensation they need to get on the road to recovery.
A 10-year-old girl is recovering from severe injuries at a Louisville hospital following a recent Kentucky dog attack, according to WLKY.com. Metro Animal Services (MAS) was called around 7 p.m. on a Sunday evening to the neighborhood of the young child and when the respondents arrived the girl was reportedly bloodied and bitten with wounds on her neck, face, and arms.
The MAS report indicates the 10-year-old was playing with the children next door who had just moved in when the family’s pit bull puppy, who was chained on the front porch, became agitated. The neighbors put the dog inside the home, but the dog later broke through the front door of the house and attacked the little girl, pulling her to the ground and grabbing her face and arms.
Presently, the girl is recovering from her bite wounds at Kosair Children’s Hospital. The mother of the girl states her daughter has stitches in her face and bite marks covering her arms. X-rays taken show a white speck in the young girl’s chin, which may possibly be a piece of the canine’s tooth; however, no surgery is needed as the tooth did not hit any major arteries.
The owner faces charges for possession of a potentially dangerous animal, and the 8-month-old puppy is “behind bars” being evaluated and checked for rabies. The puppy will be observed for ten days and no decision as to the animal’s future will be made before that time.
A dog attack can leave a victim with very serious physical injuries, in addition to the psychological and emotional pain, all of which can add up to an extensive and costly recovery for a person to live life normally again. Any KY resident who has been the victim of a dangerous dog attack should contact an experienced Louisville animal attack attorney who can help them understand their legal rights and aid them in seeking compensation for their injuries from any at-fault parties.
Four leaf clovers, green beer, and shamrock hats are the familiar trappings of one day celebrated across the United States: St. Patrick’s Day! Although St. Patrick’s Day originated in Ireland and was created to honor Saint Patrick, one of the country’s most recognizable patron saints, it has become a favorite holiday stateside and a popular day to go out and enjoy traditional Irish food and drink. Though this holiday is one of the merriest of the year, it has also become dangerous as some partygoers may negligently choose to drink and drive.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 37 percent of motor vehicle-related fatalities during St. Patrick’s Day in 2009 involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher, which exceeds the legal limit in all states. The NHTSA also reports that there were 103 fatal car crashes on this holiday the same year. In order to help Kentucky residents celebrate this holiday safely, Stopimpaireddriving.org offers these tips to help prevent drunk driving on March 17:
- Before you head out to celebrate, plan a safe way home. Designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home, or have a friend or family member pick you up to get you home safely.
- If no one is able to give you a lift, utilize public transportation or call a cab. Program the number of a taxi company in your cell phone before you leave home.
- If available, use your community’s sober ride program for a safe ride home. Visit http://www.drinkinganddriving.org/tools/services.html for more information.
- If you are out on the road and see someone who may be driving drunk, contact law enforcement immediately.
- Lastly, ensure the safety of fellow partygoers; if you see someone is trying to drive after they have been drinking, take their keys and help them make arrangements to get home.
Following these drunk driving prevention tips can help residents across the Bluegrass State celebrate smart and avoid a dangerous accident. A drunk driving crash may still occur, however, if someone carelessly chooses to get behind the wheel after drinking. If you have been injured in a drunk driving collision caused by another person’s negligence, a skilled Louisville personal injury lawyer can help you obtain compensation to recover from your injuries and hold any at-fault parties legally accountable.
According to Surfky.com, a mining accident in Kentucky’s Harlan County has claimed the life of one miner. The Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) reports that the 32-year-old Kentucky miner was killed while working near the community of Blair at the Timber Tree Mine, which is owned by Parton Brothers Mining. The worker was repairing a canopy, the protective covering over a shuttle car, when the canopy collapsed. The tragic accident was reported around 5:40 a.m. and no one else was hurt. The Harlan County Coroner confirms that the victim suffered blunt force trauma to the head and chest as a result of the collapse.
An investigation is being conducted by the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing. This is the first mining fatality in Kentucky for 2012.
Mining is certainly one of the more dangerous industries a person can work in; however, workplaces accidents are far too common and can happen anywhere. With more than 3 million recorded cases in 2010 of workplace injuries and illnesses according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it is imperative workers understand they have legal rights when injured on the job. Oftentimes, workplace injuries are the result of defective products or malfunctioning equipment, or even the negligence of third parties. In the case of the above accident, it is possible that a negligent contractor cut corners during construction or constructed the canopy with substandard materials.
Kentucky work injury attorney Tad Thomas is dedicated to helping workers pursue the compensation they need to recover from a devastating workplace accident that was caused by a negligent third party. Attorney Thomas has extensive experience handling personal injury cases and works to ensure that those injured because of another party’s negligence receive the compensation they need to get back on their feet.
