How Motorcycle Accidents Commonly Occur

Motorcycle riding makes for a fun past-time. The adrenaline-filled sport is also one of the fastest ways to cover the distance by road.

But for all its wonderful, adrenaline-pumping attributes, it has also proven to be very dangerous and extremely prone for road accidents.

These accidents are often life-threatening to the motorcyclist, and in most cases, his or her passengers alike.

We outlined a few ways motorcycle accidents occur for you to be cautious of when you take your next ride:

When cars make turns by the left hand

One very deadly situation motorcyclist’s face is when cars make turns by their left hand. These types of collisions occur frequently, they account for a whopping 42% of all accidents that have to do with a motorcycle and a car. In most cases, the turning car collides with the motorcycle when:

The motorcycle attempts to overtake the vehicle.

The motorcycle tries to breeze right through a small intersection.

The motorcycle tries to go past the car.

Usually, the motorcycle is not fully visible to the turning vehicle due to its small size.

Even more vulnerable are those that try to pass cars that are on the same lane as the cars are often caught unaware.

 

When motorcycles and cars collide head-on

These situations are in most cases, fatal to the motorcyclist and often to his passenger alike. Accounting for a large, 56% of all deaths involving motorcycles, this is one situation you should be highly wary of.

Drinking and driving

The cry against drunk driving has been on for ages to no avail. Drunk driving also causes a car to car accidents but those are usually not as fatal as that of motorcycle to car or motorcycle to any other object because of the extra protection available to cars.

 

Lane splitting when driving

One of the advantages most motorcycle drivers thrive on is the ability to switch between two lanes at will, especially in cases of huge traffic jams. While this can be helpful to the motorcyclist and in most cases, his or her passenger, helping them saving time. It can also prove to be highly dangerous and fatal to both parties involved.

While there are many more causes of motorcycle accidents, we believe with these few; if you’re a motorcyclist, you can drive safer. And if you’re a passenger, always ensure to call your motorcyclist to order should he exhibit any of the above red flags.

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5 Steps To Take After a Hit & Run Accident

Hit and run accident cases in Texas has become a source of concern to innocent motorists. The best we can do is to know how we can protect ourselves and our rights to reduce our loses when affected. Fortunately, Texas car insurance have policies that cover for both an uninsured motorist, just in case, the ‘hit and run’ driver does not have insurance. However, you as the victim must have uninsured motorist insurance within your policy. Below are 5 steps to take if you become a victim of a hit and run accident in Texas.

 

Don’t be in a hurry to leave the accident scene

Unless urgent medical attention is needed, don’t be in a hurry to leave the hit and run accident scene. Stay there and capture as many details about the accident as you can. Note any information you can about the other car before it zooms off, take photographs of the scene, get eye-witness contact information and call the police while at the scene.

Contact a Texas car attorney

An experienced auto accident attorney can help you manage your claim-filling process and protect you from claim adjusters whose sole job is to ensure you don’t get as much benefit as you deserve. An experienced lawyer can also help with further investigations.

Speak to your insurance agent

Like we suggested earlier, it will be in your best interest to do this while still at the scene of the accident. Report only the facts and details of the crash and be careful not to accept any aspect of the blame because your insurance agent will be looking out for that.

Call the police immediately

Even if the police fail to unravel the identity of the other motorist involved in the hit and run accident, their arrival at the scene of the accident will help with uncovering a lot of other evidence that you could have neglected. Again, call the cops while still at the scene of the accident.

Go and see a doctor

We also advise that you get medical help as soon as you can, not just for the treatment of any bodily injuries that might have arose from the accident, but a doctor’s report will help for proper documentation and claim filing. This will help your financial recovery move.

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Dealing with Head Injuries in San Antonio Car Accidents

Among the most serious injuries suffered in car accidents are head injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) requiring hospitalization among adolescents and adults ages 15 to 44 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Head injuries, which include concussions as well as more serious TBIs, are of great concern. The signs and symptoms of a head injury may appear immediately or may not be apparent for days or weeks after the impact that caused the injury. Symptoms may come and go, particularly pain or headache immediately after the injury.

The Mount Sinai School of Medicine says that the number of people in the U.S. with undiagnosed TBIs that cause substantial and persistent cognitive, behavioral and social difficulties may exceed 30 million. Undiagnosed head injuries, often due to initial pain subsiding, have caused many deaths, including the loss of celebrities like actress Natasha Richardson and TV salesman Billy Mays.

Anyone who suffers a blow to the head in a car accident should see a doctor as soon as possible. If a doctor recommends further treatment, including hospitalization for traumatic brain injury, it is crucial to follow the doctor’s orders. If the car crash was caused by another motorist, after receiving medical treatment, contact a car accident lawyer at Herrman & Herrman in San Antonio, TX, to discuss your options to seek compensation from the at-fault driver.

Types of Head Injuries in a San Antonio Car Accident

Head injuries in auto accidents can happen because of a blow to the head – such as striking the side frame or windshield of the vehicle in reaction to the impact of a collision – or violent movement of the head in a rear-end collision. The forceful movement of the head can cause the brain to move inside the skull, causing bruising.

If an object breaks the skull, such as metal sheared from a car in the crash, it can also cause a penetrating head injury. In some cases, pieces of a broken bone can tear into brain tissue and cause damage.

A brain injury in a car accident may be described by doctors as:

• Concussion: The most common types of head injuries may cause a temporary loss of awareness or consciousness. Most people recover from concussions with several days of rest. However, having had one concussion makes you more susceptible to concussion from an additional blow to the head. Repeated concussions can cause cumulative, irreversible brain damage.
• Focal or diffuse axonal brain injury: A focal brain injury affects a single area of the brain. A diffuse axonal brain injury indicates widespread damage to tissue throughout the brain. Where the brain has been injured will dictate which bodily functions are affected. A wider area of brain damage will be more consequential.
• Intracranial hematoma: This refers to a blood clot located in the brain or near the brain. Intracranial hematomas can cause pressure on the brain, which may lead to permanent brain damage if not relieved. Depending on the blood clot’s location, hematomas are described as intracerebral hematomas, subdural hematomas or epidural hematomas.
• Brain bleeding/hemorrhages: Bleeding can occur within the skull outside of the brain, or within the tissue of the brain. Coma or death may result without immediate medical attention to address the bleeding.

A severe brain injury can cause a car accident victim to lapse into a coma. In the most serious cases, a person could be in a coma indefinitely.

Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms and Treatment

UT Health San Antonio says an individual with a concussion may experience:

• Headaches
• Memory problems
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Difficulty sleeping
• A brief loss of consciousness.

Patients with moderate to severe brain trauma might have any of the above symptoms, plus:

• Seizures
• Convulsions
• Repeated vomiting
• Dilated pupils
• Weakness or numbness
• Loss of coordination.

A car crash victim with mild injuries might be sent home from the hospital with instructions to follow up with his or her primary care doctor. Severe injuries might require a hospital stay for close monitoring and neurological exams to check possible neurological injuries. Sometimes neurosurgery is necessary to help manage swelling of the brain or to repair damaged tissue.

Functional recovery, in which a brain injury patient is responsive and able to manage his or her own follow-up medical care, can last months or even years depending on the severity of the injury, UT Health San Antonio says. A patient may need rehabilitation and skilled care during recovery. When important parts of the brain are injured, patients are not always able to achieve functional recovery and may require assistance with basic needs.

Some TBI victims benefit from the shared experience and belonging found in support groups, such as the Alamo Head Injury Association’s support group in San Antonio. The group meets monthly and is open to any acquired brain injury survivors, their families or caregivers, and others with interest.

How Can a San Antonio Lawyer Help Me with My Brain Injury Case?

If another driver caused the car accident in which you or a loved one sustained a head injury, you shouldn’t have to pay for your accident-related expenses. The at-fault driver or the driver’s insurance company should be held responsible for covering your medical bills and related costs from the accident.

Our traumatic brain injury lawyers at Herrman & Herrman have extensive experience representing clients and their families in cases involving auto accidents that have caused serious and life-changing brain injuries. We attend to every detail of the TBI car accident case and pursue maximum compensation aggressively.

In a severe brain injury case, an experienced San Antonio personal injury attorney from Herrman & Herrman would consult with top-level physicians, psychologists, and life care planners to document the physical and cognitive deficits your injury has caused and develop ongoing care and financial plan for the challenging future you will face.

Contact us today in San Antonio for a free explanation of how our lawyers can help you pursue a legal claim for a traumatic brain injury suffered in a car accident.

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Holiday Safe Travel Tips

The holiday is the most suitable period to go on pleasant travel trips, and the most popular time for travelers, as it comes with extensive travel time. It is, however, essential to be aware of certain safety precautions while planning your trip at this time of the year.

 

Holiday safety issue ranges greatly from late November to mid-January, when people gather massively for reunions with their families and relatives. It is, however, important to take several basic precautions to ensure your safety through the season.

 

The holiday travel comes with a lot of flying and airports, despite being the fastest means of transportation, most people ultimately travel with their cars; parked for drives, which has been identified with the highest fatality rate for accidents than other major forms of transportation.

 

It is therefore imperative that while planning your holiday travels you take the following safety precautions:

 

 

Prepare safety measures for your home against while you are away, ensuring proper security systems are installed and in proper working conditions.

 

Ensure you do adequate car maintenance check, keep emergency safety kits, and check state laws of the course you’d drive. Ensure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up, and do away with any form of distraction.

 

Know the terrain you’d be driving in, plan ahead and identify alternate routes, understand the safety regulations of driving on icy roads, how to maneuver your vehicle on such roads, and practise defensive driving. Also check on the weather condition and know the climatic state of areas you’d be driving in through your course of travel.

 

Make adequate plans for frequent rest stops, and not travel for too long each day. As it is essential to rest your legs to maintain your energy level and remain alert on the road.

 

Ensure you have the right gadget with you. Carry a mobile phone with you and charger, importantly a portable mobile travel charger and a car phone charger, and any navigation system of your choice.

 

Keep a few bottles of water in handy to stay hydrated. As dehydration during a long drive can cause fatigue and decrease alertness which is dangerous on the road.

 

Keep your hands clean and sanitised at all times, with soap and hand sanitizer, as it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle against contagious germs and diseases. Simultaneously considering the safety of your food during your trip, packing healthy nutritional food rather than fast foods.

 

Ensure someone close to you has a copy of your travel plans, contact information and keep copies of any form of your identification. And remember to drive safely.

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Apartment Fires In Texas – Who Is Liable?

Fire accidents associate with trauma, injury, loss of lives, destruction of properties, and displacement from homes, with victims uniformly sent into turmoil and puzzling circumstances such as payment of medical bills, replacement of destroyed personal possessions, difficulty in finding alternative housing, and the most overwhelming; the question of who is responsible for the expenses of the fire-damaged apartment building.

The response to that question however varies, depending on the circumstances that caused the fire, the insurance involved, and the terms of agreement of the residential lease. The following procedures are however essential to determine who is liable for the damage.

■ Investigation and Document on the damage

The Landlord, tenant and any insurance carriers’ rights will be obligated to investigate and document the damage focusing on the scope and cause of the damage. Reports will, however, be made written with photographs to describe as well as illustrate the damage.

■ Insurance companies expert advice

The insurance carrier will survey the damage. However, prompt notice by the landlord to the Insurance company is essential as several policies have been made that relieve an insurance company from liability if the company isn’t informed promptly. As paragraph Eight of the Texas Apartment Association however states that: ‘the owner’s insurance does not cover loss to a resident’s personal property’ as such properties do not have an insurable interest. But this can be argued if the insurance company is promptly notified.

■ Determine the landlord’s as well as the tenant’s obligations

Ordinarily, the owner’s insurance covers damages to the building and its premises and destroyed properties of the third party ‘only’ due to the landlord’s negligence. Most of the time when the owner fails to maintain proper smoke detectors, provide emergency exits, provided hazardous materials that accelerated the fire, and generally failed to abide by the fire code standard of construction, they would be liable for the damages of the apartment’s fire.

It should, however, be considered carefully that a third party can also be liable for the damages caused by the fire if the cause of the damages is a result of faults caused by such person. Such a person’s rental insurance may cover some Fire-Related losses.

However, in the absence of proper documentation of lease provisions and rental insurance, the law provides that:

• The lease is terminated: As a tenant has the right to occupy the property until the right of occupancy is terminated by law, at the end of the agreed term or when both the landlord and tenant agree to terminate the lease.
• Responsibilities of Repair: A landlord is ever obligated to maintain the rental premises in a habitable condition. However, if evidence indicates that the landlord neglected in their responsibility, they must repair it. And if the tenant out of his way damaged the property; is obligated to make repairs.
• Other Payments: If a fire accident is caused by a landlord’s negligence, then the landlord becomes liable for the tenant’s inconvenience. If a tenant causes a fire and if found responsible, the tenant is liable to pay damages to the landlord in addition to rental payments.

 

Notably, it is essential to talk to a lawyer during conflicts regarding “who is liable for the fire damages” as this simultaneously calls for an investigation into the cause of the fire. As the owner of the damaged property may sue the renter for the fire damage and unless there is a contract that says otherwise, a tenant will be liable to the fire damages over negligence.

Ultimately, determining who is liable for the apartment fire requires determining the cause of the fire. It is therefore paramount that tenants in Texas uphold legal options in such accident cases and obtain renter’s insurance for themselves.

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Where Is Vaping Banned, And Why?

With smoke-related diseases on the rise among young people, American society is looking into how vaping or e-cigarette could be the silent cause. Vaping was introduced into the market to curb the effect of excess smoking but obviously, the purpose was not met.

As more people fall victim to illnesses caused by vaping, the health industry is taking note and insisting on tougher laws to curb the dangers related to vaping. The following states have taken the bull by the reins and banning vaping and vaping related ailments among its citizens.

San Francisco

The city of San Francisco happens to be the first city in the United States to ban the sale and usage of e-cigarettes which is also known as vaping. And this ban happened on the 25th of June.

 

Michigan

Michigan government placed a ban on the sale of flavored vaping products on the 4th of Sept.

 

New York

The city of New York isn’t left out, as they also placed a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes.

 

India

On citing the way death rates increased in the United States, the country of India fears for the life of its citizens, hence, they happen to be the first country to place a nationwide ban on vaping products.

 

Massachusetts

Massachusetts government placed a temporary ban of four months on the sale of all vaping products. The government did this to buy time for researchers to investigate the effects of the usage of vaping products, and how it is related to so many illnesses. This ban was placed on the 25th of September, 2019.

 

University of Texas

The University of Texas also placed a ban on the usage of vaping products due to health issues that are rising and death rates.

 

Los Angeles

Los Angeles also placed a ban on vaping products because of kids so they don’t get addicted to it before they are old enough to make a choice.

 

Oregon

Oregon placed a six months temporary ban on the sale of all flavored vaping products.

 

Why is vaping banned?

The countries that banned the sale and usage of vaping products have a good reason for doing that. Due to the increase in lung injuries and the growth of death which is linked to the usage of vape, most countries have decided to ban it.

It is said that vaping products contain nicotine that is harmful to the body system, it increases high blood pressure and also lung injuries which lead to untimely deaths of so many people. Although most countries are still investigating it, while some cannot withstand the increase in death rate because of e-cigarettes, hence the ban is necessary.

 

Although it is said that e-cigarettes are not as harmful as tobacco, world health organization still insists that it poses a health risk in society and due to the various flavors been introduced, it makes the young ones get addicted to vape which is bad for their health. Hence, the need for countries to ban vaping products completely. If you want to go on a vacation with your vape pen, be careful not to take it into a country that has banned it. With the list above, you should have an idea of which country not to go with a vape.

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New Vehicle Safety Features For 2020

As vehicles evolve and improve, it is also important to improve on their safety features. So over the decades, components such as shatter-resistant glass, anti-lock brakes, airbags, electronic stability control, child safety locks and more have been added and constantly improved upon to ensure better safety and efficiency of the vehicle.

As new technologies are utilized in the manufacturing of vehicles, safety will remain a top priority to both the producer and the consumer.

 

Here are some improved or entirely new safety features to look out for in 2020 vehicle models

360° vision for the drivers-

An improvement over the rear-view camera you may see in 2020 and beyond is the 360° view. Several cameras are stitched together in these models to make up for blind spots both in front and at the back of cars.

Pedestrian detection alert-

This will alert the driver of any passers-by and bicycle users on its path. This feature in no doubt will reduce road accidents.

This feature mostly uses infrared light hence can aid the driver’s sight at night.

Adaptive cruise control-

We all desire a long road trip once in a while. This necessitated the inclusion of cruise control as one of the safety measures in earlier models. However, constantly adjusting it to account for vehicles before you can be quite cumbersome.

The adaptive cruise control is made of dynamic radar to make up for this. It can adjust or maintain the speed concerning that of an oncoming vehicle on its path.

Lane departure alert-

One of the most severe forms of road accidents is usually due to lane diversion. The near future models are fitted with measures that will either alert the driver or redirect the vehicle to the original lane to avoid a collision.

Inter vehicle communication-

Cars may have the ability to communicate using fitted Wi-Fi. This is a perfect way to update each other on their speed, direction, location, etc to avoid a collision. This feature can also help with car searches in cases of missing vehicles or persons.

 

The good news is that some manufacturers (for example, Toyota) has included these features as part of the standard in 2020 ( Toyota corolla 2020) models. Therefore, one doesn’t have to pay extra to get them.

You will appreciate these more if you’ve even been involved in or lost someone dear to road accidents that could have been avoided if the vehicle producer paid more attention to the safety needs of the users.

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