ChannelView Students Involved in Tragic Bus Crash

Shortly before dawn on Tuesday morning, a First Class Tours, Inc. bus carrying Channelview band students crashed into a 50 foot ravine in Baldwin County, Alabama.  The students were traveling home to Channelview from a trip to Disney World in Florida. The driver was killed, and dozens of students were injured. This type of crash often causes traumatic brain injuries, as well as orthopedic injuries. By all accounts, this was a one-vehicle collision.  The most common causes of this type of bus crash are driver fatigue and vehicle equipment failure. Federal and state law have strict requirements for interstate drivers of commercial vehicles.   Despite these rules, which limit hours behind the wheel, and require scheduled rest breaks, a crash study by the  Department of Transportation study found that, in collisions where the truck was at fault, 87 per cent were caused by driver fatigue.  Many of these collisions occur between midnight and 6 a.m. — the time of day when drivers are naturally drowsy. Federal and state laws also require regular maintenance and daily inspection of commercial vehicles.  Equipment failure, such as brakes that are dangerously worn or out of adjustment, often cause fatal collisions.  It is the driver’s responsibility to check his rig at the beginning of every trip, and to submit a vehicle maintenance report.  In spite of these requirements, poor vehicle maintenance is also a major cause of truck and bus collisions.  The tour company’s online safety record shows that the company has been involved in four […]

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source http://www.whamandrogers.com/blog/channelview-students-involved-in-tragic-bus-crash/

Mild traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome

One-third of all concussions are missed in emergency room examinations If you were “dazed” or “confused” following an accident, and are suffering from symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, headaches, trouble sleeping, blurred vision or ringing in your ears, you may have suffered a concussion.   A mild traumatic brain injury is defined as a brief period of being “dazed or disoriented,” or a brief loss of consciousness.  Statistics show that 33% of concussions are missed in emergency room examinations.  One reason for this is that mild traumatic brain injury does NOT show up on a CT scan or an MRI.  Standard neuroimaging will identify large focal contusions or hemorrhage, but conventional CT and MRI testing does not identify diffuse axonal and vascular injury, both of which are major drivers of poor clinical outcome after traumatic brain injury. Sharp DJ, et al. Practical Neurology 2015;15:172–186. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001087. Traumatic brain injury has been identified as a health epidemic Traumatic brain injury has been identified as a health epidemic by the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control. Each year over a million American suffer concussions Each year in the U.S., 1,000,000 people suffer concussions; 300,000 of these result in serious, long term injuries.  Centers for Disease Control, Report to Congress on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In the United States: Steps to Prevent a Serious Public Health Problem. Mild traumatic brain injury can have long-lasting symptoms A mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have serious and long-lasting symptoms, especially in persons […]

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source http://www.whamandrogers.com/blog/mild-traumatic-brain-injury-post-concussion-syndrome/

Pedestrian Right of Way

The Woodlands has more than 160 miles of pathways designed for residents to walk or run.  Many of pathways cross lanes of traffic, and unfortunately, pedestrians are sometimes struck by a vehicle while using the crosswalks.  We are often asked who has the right of way on crosswalks in the Woodlands.  Texas law requires vehicles to yield right of way to pedestrians in the following situations: When a pedestrian is crossing at a crosswalk facing a “walk” signal; If there is no traffic control signal and the pedestrian is already crossing in the vehicle’s half of the roadway or close to a vehicle’s half of the roadway; When the vehicle is entering or emerging from an alley, building, private road, or driveway and the pedestrian is crossing entrance on sidewalk; A pedestrian who has legally entered a crosswalk does have the right of way as to oncoming vehicles. This applies to a marked or an unmarked crosswalk; A pedestrian has the right of way to cross the road, when it is safe to do so, at any part (i.e., at the middle portion of the street) of a roadway that is not controlled by a traffic light. [ 552.005 (b), Texas Transportation Code] However, even if a pedestrian is technically in violation of the right of way rules, a driver who hits a pedestrian may still be liable; drivers are required to keep a proper lookout, and must safely control the speed of their vehicles, and must timely apply their […]

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Personal Injury Protection Coverage and How It Works

How do I get Personal Injury Protection coverage? In Texas you have the option to purchase Personal Injury Protection coverage (known as “PIP”) with your automobile insurance coverage. In fact, your auto insurer must offer you the PIP coverage. If you decline the coverage, you must sign a statement refusing the coverage. How much coverage is available under Personal Injury Protection coverage? Personal injury protection usually provides $2,500 to cover your out of pocket medical costs and lost wages due injuries you sustained in an automobile collision, whether you are at fault or another driver is at fault. Some companies offer personal injury protection coverage of $5,000 or even $10,000.00. How much does Personal Injury Protection coverage cost? Personal Injury Protection coverage is affordable. $2,500 in coverage usually costs no more than $50 per year. What is covered under Personal Injury Protection coverage? Medical bills and lost wages are covered under Personal Injury Protection coverage. How do I get reimbursed under Personal Injury Protection coverage? If you are injured in an automobile accident, you can call your agent or insurance company to open a PIP claim. You will be assigned a PIP adjuster to handle your claim. You will need to provide the adjuster with copies of your medical bills and, if applicable, proof of your lost wages. How long does it take for the insurance company to pay my Personal Injury Protection claim? Your PIP adjuster will be able to tell you when to expect your check for reimbursement, […]

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