Michigan Personal Injury Blog - Train

Mayo Clinic Study Finds Doctors' Medical Mistakes Increase When Fatigued or Distressed

David Mittleman — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:15:58 GMT

Mayo Clinic researchers aren’t the first to discover some of the main causes of medical errors among medical residents, including fatigue and distress. However, a recent study by The Mayo Clinic also found that financial woes, family concerns and other elements of distress contributed to medical mistakes by medical residents.

The researchers surveyed 430 internal medicine residents, posing questions that specifically asked about medical errors, as well as the residents’ quality of life, fatigue, burnout, depression, and sleepiness. Of the 378 doctors who responded to the survey, 39% reported having made a medical error. Moreover, the link between fatigue and errors was evident: for every point increase in the fatigue score, doctors were 14% more likely to make a medical error. Similarly, for every point increase in the sleepiness score, doctors were 10% more likely to make a mistake.

The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, outlines how each specific type of stressor in medical residents contributes to mistakes. In fact, according to the report, fatigue, lower quality of life, burnout, and depression all independently led to medical errors among internal medicine residents. Unfortunately, thus far, physician training has emphasized fatigue as the main factor contributing to medical errors. However, from the research, The Mayo Clinic researchers were able to recommend training guidelines to combat the impact of other outside stressors on medical errors. Specifically, the researchers emphasize that physician training should continue to address resident fatigue, but other distress factors should also be addressed to help improve patient safety.

Nearly 100,000 people in the U.S. die each year from preventable medical errors. Currently, no mechanism exists to deal with the distress residents experience, or to monitor whether a hospital is complying with regulations to keep doctors from working for too many hours. The Mayo Clinic research is an important step in helping put theory into practice to create a safer medical environment for doctors and patients alike.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Weekend Monorail Crash at Walt Disney World Leaves Young Man Dead

David Mittleman — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:19:00 GMT

21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg, a monorail train operator at Walt Disney World, was killed after two monorail trains collided early Sunday morning in the Magic Kingdom section of the park. Five park guests were injured and treated at the scene and the other train operator was uninjured, but taken to the hospital for emotional trauma. Disney reported that this was the first fatal crash in the monorail’s 38-year history in the park.

Wuennenberg died at the scene of the crash at approximately 2 a.m. according to the local fire department’s deputy chief. Disney Vice President of Communications, Michael Griffin, identified the driver as Austin Wuennenberg but refused to comment on how long he had worked for Disney or any circumstances surrounding the crash. Disney officials also refused to comment on how the monorail system operates. Walt Disney World officials have already announced plans that they will reopen the monorail later today.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration launched an investigation beginning today. The agency will look into whether any workplace safety rules were violated that led to the monorail crash and subsequent death. However, the investigation could take up to six months to complete.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Washington DC Metro Train Accident

Timothy Smith — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:44:15 GMT

Various news outlets report that at least 9 people have died and up to 70 were injured when a Washington DC Metro train crashed into the rear of another train during the peak of rush hour traffic. Last night's crash occurred between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations.

Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the crash. In fact, the National Transportation Board is investigating witness reports that the impacting train stopped briefly before accelerating and crashing.

Metro management wouldn't comment on how fast the train was travelling at the time of impact. The impact took place at a location with a sizable distance between rail stations where the trains can reach some of the highest speeds along the rail system.

The lead train was actually stopped at impact. Video from the scene showed the incoming train ontop of the stopped lead train. The impact was so severe, that it was reported on Larry King Live that one of the cars was at least 75% compressed.

For information on safe train travel and what you can do to help ensure your and others safety on public rail transport, click here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Timothy Smith

Metro Trains Collide Outside of Washington, D.C. During Rush Hour Traffic

David Mittleman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:09:35 GMT

Two metro trains collided just outside of Washington, D.C. yesterday during rush hour traffic. The accident is being called “the worst in the city’s history” with nine people confirmed dead and another 75 wounded.

In the accident, a train operating on the heavily used Red Line rear-ended another stopped train at a considerably high speed at about 5 p.m. The rear train landed atop of the front train, trapping and crushing some passengers inside. Investigators are still treating the accident scene as a rescue operation, using such heavy equipment as cranes to extract other potential survivors from the mangled pile of glass and metal. The driver of the rear train, an operator since 2007, died in the accident.

Officials are searching for clues as to why this accident occurred. Initial signs of the investigation point to technical failures and possible driver error. However, the train that caused the accident was also part of an older fleet. In fact, The National Transportation Board had warned the Metrorail Transit System to phase the old fleet out back in 2006 due to major safety concerns.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Fun at the Zoo Ends for Indiana Family After Train Accident

David Mittleman — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:28:39 GMT

An Indiana family was expecting a fun day at The Louisville Zoo in Kentucky with their 2-year-old son, when things went terribly awry. While riding the zoo’s train, the family was thrown off of the ride and onto the ground when the driver took a sharp turn too quickly. The toddler was allegedly bleeding from his head, while another male family member that was with the family at the zoo, was pinned under a section of the train, which broke his leg in several places with bones protruding through his skin.

The train driver was reportedly 18, the minimum age required by state law for operating rides such as the train. The family described her as flustered and distracted and she allegedly came by to pick up their tickets twice, forgetting she had already asked them once before. The train engine and cars ultimately flipped over on their sides behind the zoo’s popular Gorilla Forest Exhibit with 30 passengers aboard.

The family has filed suit seeking monetary damages for physical and emotional pain, as well as a temporary court injunction to prevent the zoo from altering or destroying the train and any other photographs, videotapes, or reports or statements made after the incident. Twenty-two other adults and children were taken to the hospital as a result of the accident, but have all been released.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Car Injuries Common Even When the Engine Isn’t Running

David Mittleman — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:52:55 GMT

We often use this space to warn consumers about the dangers of driving and riding in cars, SUVs, and trucks. In the past, we’ve posted articles about car crashes, recalls, weather, highway conditions, and safety features. All of these topics have one thing in common - they assume that you are in the process of driving your car when an injury occurs. According to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), however, a significant number of injuries occur when vehicles are not in traffic.

The statistics are surprising. Over 1,700 people are killed each year by vehicles not in traffic, and an astonishing 840,000 more are injured (including non-impact injuries such as burns and electrocutions). Here are the most common injuries:

Radiator burns
Being struck by an object inside the vehicle that was not properly secured
Falling against or out of the vehicle
Being struck by the door while entering or exiting the vehicle
Sprains and strains
Cuts from the exterior or interior of the vehicle
"Back-over" incidents involving the vehicle’s blind spots
Other types of falls
Overexertion while loading/unloading or attempting to move a vehicle
Closing the door on one’s hand

The moral of this story is clear: Just because the car isn’t moving, don’t assume you’re safe. Be sure to exercise caution around vehicles at all times. Remember, these massive machines can do a lot of damage even when you least expect it.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Engineer Responsible for California Train Crash that Killed 25 had History of Cell Phone Use While Working

David Mittleman — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:20:00 GMT

Although bans on cell phone use and driving have only recently come to the forefront of legislation, Metrolink has prohibited its train engineers from using cell phones for a lot longer. Now, a source claims Robert Sanchez, the engineer operating the train that blew through a red signal and into a Union Pacific freight train last September, regularly used his phone while on the job. An investigation into the crash revealed Sanchez sent and received dozens of text messages while working the day of the crash, including sending a text message 22 seconds before the collision. The source, an anonymous co-worker who worked directly with Sanchez, claims he contacted his superiors at Connex Railroad LLC about Sanchez’s excessive cell phone use just a few weeks prior to the accident and that he complained to another co-worker the day of the crash. Furthermore, the source claims that Connex had found Sanchez to be in violation of both Connex and Metrolink rules of prohibiting engineers to use cell phones while on duty and that Connex failed to take any disciplinary measures.

Lawyers on behalf of 23 plaintiffs who were injured or killed in the crash amended their lawsuit on Monday to include the newfound negligence allegations against Connex, Sanchez’s employer. According to the L.A. Times, damage claims for this accident are well on their way to exceeding the $200 million cap imposed by Congress in an attempt to limit a railroad’s liability in a single accident. Although the dangers of texting while driving are well-known, people just don’t seem to get it. Not only is it illegal in some jurisdictions, but the harm you place yourself and those around you is substantial.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

High-Profile Mass Transit Accidents Cause for Worry?

David Mittleman — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:44:00 GMT

Mass transportation is convenient, environmentally friendly, and increasingly popular given the price of gasoline. As we gear up for a holiday season full of travel, it is likely that some form of mass transit looms in your future. While mass transportation is, for the most part, safe and efficient, the large number of people involved means accidents can be especially catastrophic. The recent crash involving a bus and semitrailer near Ann Arbor, Michigan is just the latest example of high-profile accidents involving common carriers.

Over the past year and a half, several mass transit-related accidents have cost dozens of lives and caused countless injuries. In March of last year, six college baseball players were killed when the bus carrying their team tumbled off an overpass and fell to the highway surface below. In that case, the design and layout of the highway off ramp was blamed for the tragic accident.

More recently, a bus crash in Sacramento left eight passengers dead. The bus was en route to a casino when it left the road and rolled over once before coming to rest. The driver was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, and an initial investigation shows that he did not have the proper license or certification to be driving a bus. The bus itself was apparently not properly registered.

Another allegedly drunk bus driver was involved in an incident in Tennessee. A school bus carrying thirty children was found stopped in the middle of a road with the driver passed out at the wheel. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Busses are not the only type of mass transit to be involved in disastrous accidents. Two recent Los Angeles-area train crashes have prompted some concern about that method of travel as well. Fifteen people were injured when a light rail train crashed into a bus. Fortunately, the bus was being tested by a mechanic and was otherwise empty at the time, or the toll might have been much higher.

The passengers aboard the commuter train that collided head-on with a freight train were not so lucky. At least 25 people were killed in that accident. Authorities believe the conductor of the freight train had been sending and receiving text messages immediately prior to the crash. Federal regulators issued an emergency ban on cell phone use by on-duty train workers as a result of the preliminary investigation.

On the whole, mass transit is safe, cheap, and "green." These major accidents are the exceptions to that rule. However, because dozens and even hundreds of commuters may be involved in any one accident, the potential for injury and loss of life can be staggering.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Michigan Truck Driver Crashes into Chicago Train Station

David Mittleman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:59:32 GMT

On Friday, April 25, 2008, Michigan truck driver Don Wells ran his semi-truck into a train station escalator in down town Chicago during rush hour. From what police are saying, Mr. Wells exited the Dan Ryan Expressway but failed to stop his truck before running into people at a bus stop and then an escalator servicing one of Chicago's "L" trains. There were two fatalities and at least twenty-one injured people at the scene, although that number may increase as the investigation continues. Although Mr. Wells was in police custody, there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the incident. The Chicago police continue to investigate this matter in order to determine exactly what caused this truck accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman