Arkansas Personal Injury Blog - Automobile Accidents - Most Popular

Car Accidents & Trauma Induced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Sach Oliver — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:40:00 GMT

Car accidents can cause trauma induced carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is pain, tingling, and other problems in your hand because of pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. The median nerve and several tendons run from your forearm to your hand through a small space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve controls movement and feeling in your thumb and first three fingers. Numerous medical journals and articles discuss how car accidents causes carpal tunnel syndrome.

According to Dr. Elliot L. Ames, carpal tunnel syndrome can result from acute injury, as indicated by a retrospective study. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome developed in 96 patients within 2 months after an automobile accident in a study conducted by Dr. Ames. Forty-four (44) of these ninety-six (96) patients underwent carpal tunnel release. It is postulated that the mechanism of injury is blunt trauma from the steering wheel or dashboard. (see Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Motor Vehicle Accidents, Journal of American Osteopathic Association, Dr. Elliot L. Ames, 1996)

Dr. Ames is a clinical assistant professor of surgery, division of orthopedic surgery, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ. The carpal tunnel joint on the wrist are in close proximity as the hand grasps the steering wheel, and as a result, are vulnerable during impact. The injury can occur when the hand is braced on the steering wheel at the time of a front or rear-end collision. Because the base of the thumb can be injured by the steering wheel and the carpal tunnel is in close proximity, it is reasonable to calculate the carpal tunnel takes blunt trauma during impact.

To learn more about this topic read: Acute Median Neuropathy After Wrist Trauma: The Role of Emergent Carpal Tunnel Release by Gregory Mack, M.D., Scott McPherson, M.D., and Bruce Lutz, M.D. This article was published by Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, 1994. In a nutshell, the article explains that acute carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a sudden increase in carpal canal pressure that shuts down microcirculation to the median nerve. The most common etiology (cause) is hemorrhage caused by trauma.

Ultimately, do not be shocked to learn that a car accident victim is suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Also, do not be shocked if their symptoms do not show up immediately after the accident. For more free information or to ask questions to see if you need legal representation to fight the other person's insurance company, contact our firm.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Toyota Sudden Acceleration Danger

Frank Bailey — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:30:53 GMT

Sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles presents a present danger to the American public. In a recent series of sudden acceleration cases it has become apparent that floor mats have caused a number of unintended accelerations accidents.

Toyota has recalled the floor mats. In announcing the recall Toyota stated, “Recent events have prompted Toyota to take a closer look at the potential for an accelerator pedal to get stuck in the full open position…A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.”

But, there may be an even more insidious danger…the electronic throttle control in the Camry, Camry Solara, Lexus ES 300 and ES 330s, Sienna, Tacoma and RAV4 vehicles beginning in the 2002 model year. When Toyota installed a new electronic throttle control for these vehicles, the number of unintended accelerations reported has increased.

NHTSA has received over 100 reports of incidents where the accelerator in Toyota vehicles has become stuck.

If you have one of these vehicles, it is critical you observe the recall of the floor mats. If you experience a sudden unintended acceleration, what can you do to avoid a crash? I welcome input from those of you who know more about what to do than I do. It seems to me that fast clear thinking without panic while applying the foot brakes, taking the vehicle out of drive and putting it into neutral, and finally turning off the ignition might prevent injury or death in these types of cases…

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Why Uninsured or Under-insured Motorist Coverage is Necessary

Drew Dixon — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:59:42 GMT

With the cost of treatments for many injuries rising, people involved in accidents do not always have enough insurance to pay their bills after an accident. Almost every state requires a driver carry some liability insurance, but the sad truth is that not everyone does and chances are the ones that do are under-insured. It is estimated that the uninsured motorist population in the U.S. has grown to more than 15%. In fact, in some states such as California it is estimated that as many as one third of drivers do not carry insurance.

What that means is that nearly one out of every eight serious accidents in the U.S. is caused by an uninsured driver. And when an accident is caused by an uninsured driver, the victim may have to rely on their health insurance through work to pay their medical bills. And more often than not the victims lost wages and property damage go unpaid and uncollected.

A solution to this growing problem is the added insurance coverage for "uninsured" and "under-insured" motorists. When you select this on your policy you are covered when the tortfeasor either does not have insurance at all or doesn't carry enough to pay your medical expenses. With this in mind I would recommend that you contact your insurance provider and add both "uninsured" and "under-insured" motorist coverage because you never know when you might be in an accident.

Image source: Wikimedia commons

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Drew Dixon

Car Wrecks, Car Wrecks, and More Car Wrecks

Sach Oliver — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:55:51 GMT

Car Wrecks, Car Wrecks, and More Car Wrecks

Every day we read the paper and everyday it seems there are more and more car wrecks. In our fast pace society people are driving faster and faster. In our technologically advancing world, more and more people are texting and talking on their cell phones while driving. In this economy, more and more people are probably worried about money and bills more about driving. Who knows what is on the minds of drivers! What is clear, negligent and reckless driving severely injures and kills folks on our highways every day.

When you read the paper and see these wrecks, the first thought that should run through you mind is not who will be lawyer if I get hit. The first thought should be: Do I have enough auto insurance and do I have the right types of coverage? Auto insurance is essential for the victim and the wrongdoer. Let me repeat that: auto insurance is essential for the victim and the wrongdoer in an auto accident. People’s first thought is the wrongdoer should have insurance. Yes, they should. But the victim also needs insurance.

The victim should have what is called “PIP” coverage or also known as medical payment coverage plan. This type of coverage pays your medical bills in a wreck at a minimum of $5,000 and you can buy up to $100,000 in coverage. PIP is automatic payment. You don’t have to win your lawsuit or settlement for it to kick in a pay. Ask your insurance agent about PIP today and raise your coverage.

The victim should have uninsured and underinsured coverage. Uninsured coverage applies when the person who hit you does not have insurance at all. You will need this uninsured coverage to pay for all of your harms and losses. Underinsured coverage applies when the person who hit does not have enough insurance to cover all of your harms and losses. Ask your insurance agent about under and uninsured coverage and raise your coverage.

The wrongdoer should enough insurance to cover the harm they can cause to some else. For example, the bigger the vehicle the more coverage you should have…or the more you drive, the more likely it is for you cause a wreck…or do you drive at night a bunch. The list goes on and on. Another way to judge how much insurance you should have is by your assets. The more assets you have the more insurance you need to protect your assets.

Hopefully, none of this applies to you because you do not ever get into wrecks. But if you are unfortunate and become involved in a wreck, please feel free to contact us with questions.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Basic Car Insurance Information

Frank Bailey — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:07:39 GMT

Car insurance is complicated. Attorneys don’t always understand policies that are filled with fine print. How can consumers be expected to understand what kind of insurance they are buying. This article is intended to offer some basic understanding of a car insurance policy.

Liability insurance provides money to cover damages you cause to other people or their property due to your negligence. The laws of most states require that every driver have this coverage. The problems come when the policy has minimum limits. In Arkansas that is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. In many, if not most accidents, this is not enough to cover all injuries with today’s rising cost of medical care.

Consumers can purchase higher limits for a minimum amount. Some insurance companies or agents do not disclose this because the additional coverage means the insurance company will possibly have to pay more money out if you are the cause of a serious injury. If you only have minimum limits, the company is protected. It only has to pay the minimum limits, and you may be on the hook for the rest.

We recommend to all our clients that the safe thing to do is to have higher limits even if it costs a little more. What are higher limits? $100,000\300,000 is a good place to start. It doesn’t cost that much more, and will cover all but the most serious of accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Car Accidents Cause Herniated Disc

Sach Oliver — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:59:35 GMT

Motor vehicle accidents cause herniated disc. A disc is a structure that is found between the spinal vertebral bodies from the neck to the tailbone. Discs serves as cushions and help your spine move. A disc is composed of two parts the central part and the outer part. When someone is a car accident where the back is injured, it is common for them to suffer a herniated disc. A herniated disc is when the disc is displaced. Displacement of the disc can cause serious pains and other problems.

According to a medical journal from the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, injuries are a frequent cause of disc herniations. Usually the herniation is associated with sudden violent motion of the spine. The article specifically notes that motor vehicle accidents cause disc herniations. It only makes common sense; during a car accident the victim's spine undergoes extreme sudden and violent motions which cannot be healthy for the spine. (see Lumbar Disc Herniation Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment, Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, 2007)

Radiologist and surgeons us many different terms for disc problems: herniated disc, ruptured disc, protruded disc, prolapsed disk, and slipped disc. When a doctor says one of these terms to you, you have a disc that has been displaced backwards and is pressing on a nerve root or roots.

Pain is the biggest problem with herniated disc. Pain that radiates through the body stemming from where the disc is pinching the nerve is often debilitating. The pain often starts as simple back pain and then moves to the legs. Sometimes, the pain can be so great that it requires surgical treatment.

There are conservative and surgical treatment methods that can help with a herniated disc. To learn more about herniated disc or how a car accident can cause these injuries, contact us for a free consultation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Tornado Bus Accident is Truly a Bad Storm for Victims

Sach Oliver — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:53:54 GMT

The U.S. Department of Transportation found that the Tornado Bus Driver driving in the November 25th accident on I-40 near Forest City had been driving too many hours. Too many hours means the Tornado Bus Company disregarded the passengers' safety. Too many hours means Tornado Bus Company is responsible for four deaths from the accident.

Companies like the Tornado Bus Company should be held accountable. As far as I am concerned they should never be able to operate again. Basically when a company violates a rule and kills someone that is murder. What happens in this country when someone commits murder? They go to prison for life or receive the death sentence. The Tornado Bus Company should receive the death sentence.

The Department of Transportation ordered Tornado of Dallas to cease all commercial transportation operations immediately. Let's hope this is permanent. The department found Tornado poses imminent hazard to its passengers for letting (encouraging) its drivers to operate buses more than the maximum time allowed. Tornado was also falsifying records. I wish we could punish the management and leadership of Tornado who obviously allowed this felonious behavior.

Melissa DeLaney, a U.S. dept of transportation spokesperson said, "This is a flagrant disregard for our federal laws." Mrs. DeLaney is right. Tornado did not care about following our laws. Tornado only cared about one thing...MONEY! Well, how do you put a price on the lives they took and seriously injured?
Felix Badillo Tapia from Texas had been driving the Tornado bus for more than 10 hours continuously on November 25th when he fell asleep and drove across the median. The Tornado bus hit a truck and a tractor-trailer. Three people on the bus was killed and one of the other drivers.

Forty-six passengers were heading from Milwaukee to Dallas. Let's say a prayer for this folks who have lost loved ones or have experiences injuries at the hands of the Tornado bus company.
Tornado Bus Company was falsifying records when it listed a co-driver for Tapia. Payroll records from Tornado indicated the named (alleged) co-driver was actually off duty in El Paso at the time of the accident.
Tornado has been fined $57,680 since 2001 for violating hours of service requirements and falsifying records. This means that Tornado would rather pay these small fines that follow the rules. It is time to hold these wrongdoers accountable for their actions.

Tornado Bus Company is dirty and they are rule breakers. They have a history of non-compliance and violations. Tornado has illegally dispatched drivers alone on routes lasting as long as 17 hours without back-up drivers. Tornado doesn't care to break the law. Imagine what laws they have broken and rules they have violated that we do not even know about yet.

The families of these how lost loved ones and the folks who were injured in the wreck have the ability to hold this bad company accountable for their actions. Let's not let companies like Tornado get away with this and just pay some small fine to start breaking the rules on the road again.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Wearing a Bicycle Helmet May Save Your Life if You are in a Bicycle Accident

Paul Ford — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:06:19 GMT

I have been an avid cyclist for years and look forward to Daylight Savings time so that the days are longer and I can get in a bike ride after work. Already this year I have seen many others heading out for a ride in the afternoon now that we have had a few warm days as well. Yet sadly, I notice many are not wearing a helmet.

Having had numerous crashes, I know well how important it is to wear a helmet. Over 10 years ago I had a bad wreck that broke my collarbone and wrist. And that was after I broke my fall with my head. But for my helmet, I have no doubt that I would have been killed.

"It is so important that everyone who rides a bicycle wears a helmet," said Sara Snelling, a physical therapist at HealthSouth Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital. "The risk of brain injury from a bicycle accident could be reduced by almost 90 percent if a helmet is worn."

The next great mistake that is made is by cyclist who think they are too experienced to wear a helmet. I myself made that mistake one day. I missed being hit by a car at highway speeds by less than 100 feet. I have worn one everytime since. And don't think it cannot happen to you. The infamous Lance Armstrong was recently involved in a wreck. No one cam claim more expereience than that!

Armstrong reportedly remains hospitalized in Spain following a crash this morning. The seven-time Tour de France champ was participating in his first professional race on European soil since winning his last yellow jersey when he got caught up in a massive pile-up involving dozens of other riders.

Reports say Armstrong went down about 12.5 miles from the finish line during the first stage of the 5-day race. Sources say the star athlete broke his collarbone. Some reports say the father of three young children (and one more on the way) appeared to be in considerable pain as he was rushed by ambulance to the Rio Carrion hospital in Palencia. Other reports say Armstrong has withdrawn from the race and will be flying back to the United States to seek advanced medical care

So when you head out on your bike for a little exercise, wear that helmet. It may just save your life. And after you follow safety tip #1, make sure you obey all safety and traffic laws.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Ford

A Car Wreck with an Uninsured Driver: What do I do?

Paul Ford — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:03:03 GMT

More and more drivers do not have insurance. The law refers to these people as uninsured motorists. And being in a car wreck with such a motorist can be extremely damaging to you, beyond the injuries you may have suffered. So, how can you protect yourself?

First, you should have full coverage. Both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Having minimum "liability only" coverage can cost you significantly. For example, you only have liability coverage and you are hit by a driver who ran a red light; then to make matters worse, this negligent driver does not have insurance. Because you had liability coverage only, there will be no insurance proceeds to repair your car, nor coverage for your injuries.

If you had uninsured motorist coverage, there would be coverage for both your car repair and any injuries you and/or your family may have suffered.

So, why have underinsured coverage? The State of Arkansas only requires a minimum of $25,000 in coverage per claim, $50,000 per occurrence. If that same driver that ran the red light only had the minimum coverage and you or a passenger were (unfortunatley) seriously injured, there may not be enough coverage to cover your medical bills, much less any lost wages or pain and suffering. By having underinsured coverage, you have provided extra coverage to protect you from these losses.

While it is my sincere hope that you are never involved in a car wreck, you may very well be in one some day...I sure have. And if that unfortunate event does in fact occur, not having sufficeint insurance coverage will only make it worse. So, protect yourself and your family and discuss these matters with your insurance agent. And I bet you will be surprised how little this very valuable and added coverage will cost.

Finally, when driving, be safe and buckle up!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Ford

Texting Driver Causes Accident In Little Rock

Chrissie Cole — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:35:00 GMT

Robert Biggerstaff was on his way home from work like every other day when his vehicle was T-boned by a 21-year-old driver that admitted to police he was sending texts while driving.

The accident happened last month when the young driver ran a red light on Fort Smith Road. Biggerstafff was left pinned in his truck. He suffered several broken bones, a head injury and a tear in his spleen.

“My uncle was very lucky to walk away from this accident,” said Charly Wesley, Biggerstaff’s niece.

The insurance company is allowing Biggerstaff to keep his vehicle, which his niece said she hopes can be used as a learning tool.

Wesley hopes to partner with a local nonprofit to put together an awareness program to go to schools.

The man responsible for the accident that injured Biggerstaff faces several charges including failure to yield and careless driving.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole