Michigan Personal Injury Blog - Helmet

Local Motorcyclist Exemplifies Fact that Helmets Save Lives

David Mittleman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:34:49 GMT

I recently wrote about motorcycle accidents and the serious injuries they can cause. A logical and simple answer to increase motorcycle safety (pdf) is to wear a helmet while riding. A local man is a testament to this fact: Jimmy Hunter, a 56-year-old musician from Muskegon and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle rider, suffered a brain injury after he was in a car accident two years ago. However, his injuries would’ve been much worse if hadn’t worn a helmet.

Along with purchasing a Harley-Davidson Sportster, Hunter also purchased one of the best helmets available. In fact, it was a full-face helmet. Hunter admits he might have looked “silly” going down the road, but he readily adds that if he had worn a smaller helmet, he wouldn’t have survived. In fact, Hunter was injured after a vehicle pulled out in front of him, even though he was following the speed limit. Although the accident left him in critical condition for weeks, and he still has difficulty moving freely on his own, he continues outpatient therapy and hopes to ride his Harley again soon.

In Michigan, motorcycle deaths have increased slightly, from 124 in 2007 to 127 in 2008. While deaths are up statewide, fatalities decreased in Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton counties between 2007 and 2008. Hopefully, the decline in deaths can be partially attributed to other riders who put safety first and wear helmets while riding their motorcycles. At least in Hunter’s case, his helmet saved his life.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Motorcycle Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries

David Mittleman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:54:31 GMT

Motorcycle accidents can be fatal. But just as likely, motorcycle accidents lead to serious, permanent, and debilitating injuries. The leading type of injury sustained in a motorcycle accident is a head injury.

Some important information that could help limit your exposure to serious injury while riding a motorcycle includes: wearing a helmet, reducing your speed around curves, avoiding alcohol consumption before riding the motorcycle, riding during the daytime, and avoiding speeding.

Statistics fluctuate with motorcycle accidents over periods of years. Ultimately, what doesn't change is the fact that an injury sustained while riding a motorcycle can be devastating. In 1998 alone, a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that 500 lives were saved by the use of a helmet, and another 307 could have been saved by riders killed in motorcylce accidents had they worn a helmet.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, feel free to contact our office, ChurchWyble, P.C. at (888) 227-4770 to discuss your situation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Judge Refuses Dismissal of Skiing Lawsuit Against Dartmouth University

David Mittleman — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Dartmouth University recently requested an end to a lawsuit filed by the father of Christina Porter, a student who died in January 2005 after sustaining head injuries during a university skiing class. However, the judge refused to dismiss the case.

Porter was enrolled in a beginning ski class to complete the University’s physical education requirement during the spring semester of 2004. Apparently, she skied into a tree at the Dartmouth Skiway, where the class was held. She was immediately taken to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where she remained in a coma for the next six months and eventually died the following January. Porter’s parents allege that the course instructors were negligent in allowing their daughter to ski without a helmet down a winding, wooded slope that was “too difficult for her”. They also argue that Dartmouth was responsible for their daughter’s wellbeing because she was enrolled in a College class during the time of the incident.

Dartmouth, in its request for the dismissal of the lawsuit, argued that it was devoid or responsibility for the accident because Porter signed a liability release. However, the judge denied the request last week, stating that the form did not notify the user that they were relieving the college of legal responsibility in case of an accident. At the time of the accident, adult skiers were not required to wear helmets at the Skiway. However, Dartmouth has since begun requiring all students enrolled in ski or snowboarding classes to wear protective helmets since 2004.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

36-year-old Skateboarding Enthusiast Dies of Severe Head Injuries

David Mittleman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:59:54 GMT

His friends and family members described skateboarding as his “life”, but the very activity that he loved killed the 36-year-old Lansing man last Saturday. While attempting a jump at the Ranney Skate Park in Lansing on June 18, the man collided with another skateboarder and suffered severe head injuries, which resulted in his death a few days later. Tragically, he wasn’t wearing a helmet, a simple device that probably would’ve saved his life.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, emergency rooms and other medical facilities treated as many as 242,000 skateboarding injuries in 2003. The most common types of injuries doctors report seeing are wrist and elbow fractures, followed by head injuries. They also report that 60% of skateboard accidents involve children under the age of fifteen. However, other skateboarders are also at greater risk for injury:

· Inexperienced skateboarders, those who have been skating for less than one week, suffer 1/3 of injuries.
· Skateboarders who do not wear protective gear—including a helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and appropriate shoes.
· Skateboarders who go near traffic or skate on “homemade” ramps.
· Experienced skateboarders who attempt to skate on irregular riding surfaces or try risky stunts.

Unfortunately, many of the skaters at Ranney Park say they don’t wear helmets either because there is a stigma surrounding their use. Some even went so far as to call not wearing a helmet a “badge of honor”, while others stated helmets were “too heavy” or an “inconvenience”. However, the 36-year-old Lansing man’s experiences can attest to the importance of wearing protective gear: prior to his fatal head injury he had suffered a broken knee, leg, collarbone, a separated shoulder, and had even been hit by a car. While the American Academy of Orthopaedic surgeons calls skateboarding “a fun and healthy sport”, it is also called an “extreme” sport for a reason. If you can’t resist the thrill, keep the following safety tips in mind for yourself or for your children:

· Use a quality skateboard

· Keep your skateboard in proper working order

· Learn the basic skills of skateboarding, especially how to stop properly

· Wear proper protective equipment

· Skateboard only on smooth pavement away from traffic, preferably in a supervised skate park

· Be careful with tricks and jumps

· Stay in good shape

· Do not use headphones while skateboarding

· Never attempt to put more than one person at a time on a skateboard

· Be considerate of fellow skateboarders, especially younger or less skilled skateboarders

· Know what to do in an emergency—don’t panic and call 911 for medical assistance or an ambulance immediately

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Head Injuries In the Spotlight Following Death of Natasha Richardson

David Mittleman — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:33:00 GMT

By now we are all familiar with the untimely passing of actress Natasha Richardson. While her death is undoubtedly tragic, it should also serve as a stark reminder all head injuries should carefully monitored. What’s more, many injuries can be avoided or minimized by a few simple safety measures.

We frequently discuss traumatic brain injuries in the context of car accidents. As Ms. Richardson’s case illustrates, sporting activities are another major cause of brain injuries. She suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage after falling on a beginner’s ski slope. Although Ms. Richardson laughed off the accident and acted normal immediately following her tumble, her condition rapidly declined. She was not wearing a helmet at the time of her fall.

Obviously, skiing is not the only recreational activity that poses a threat of brain injury. Almost any sport or hobby has the potential to cause serious injury. This is what makes Ms. Richardson’s case so unusual - she was not flying down the mountainside at top speed or taking unnecessary risks (as far as anyone knows at this time). Instead, she was taking a private lesson on an easy hill. Her story goes to show us that seemingly innocuous situations can hide incredibly grave dangers.

The sun has come out, the weather is starting to warm up, and Spring is settling in. Many people who have spent the Winter months indoors are finally getting out and engaging in their outdoor hobbies. But before we get back on our bikes or back on the baseball diamond, we should stop a moment to think about using a helmet.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman