Thursday, December 31, 2009

Road Construction Accidents - Work Zone Related Crashes on Interstate Highway

NATIONAL - “The number of people killed as a result of crashes in work zones remains significant,” the Federal Highway Administration says on its website


“Safety and mobility impacts from work zones will likely be magnified with the infusion of a large number of new projects.”

Transportation officials are responding pretty much as they always have: by focusing primarily on drivers. States have raised fines for speeding in work zones, cracked down on drunken or distracted drivers and stiffened penalties for killing or injuring highway workers, even though roughly 85 percent of those killed in work zones are motorists.

TO WATCH VIDEO from NY TIMESDANGER AHEAD

CLICK on the link below:

http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/automobiles/1194811622349/index.html

TO READ the NY TIMES article entitled:

Efforts Lag to Improve Safety at Work Zones

CLICK on the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/us/22workzone.html

http://www.trippfirm.com/

BOOSTER SEATS - Good Fit - Seatbelts save lives - Prevent injuries in a crash

BOOSTER SEAT SAFETY VIDEO – Click link below to view

http://www.iihs.org/video.aspx/releases/pr122209

11 out of 60 BOOSTER seats evaluated aren't recommended

http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr122209.html

NEW BOOSTER RATINGS

http://www.iihs.org/news/2009/iihs_news_122209.pdf

WHICH BOOSTER IS BEST FOR ME?

http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4411.pdf

TRIPP LAW FIRM – Personal Injury Law

http://www.trippfirm.com/

SOURCE - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety


Why do air bags sometimes fail to deploy during a crash?

NATIONAL - The activation of an air bag in a crash is dependent on several important factors including: the characteristics of the crash (e.g., speed, other vehicle(s) involved, impact direction, etc.); the individual vehicle air bag system's design strategy; and the crash sensor locations. Air bags are not intended to deploy in all crashes. There may be circumstances when an air bag does not deploy. Some possible examples follow:

The crash conditions may be sufficiently moderate where an air bag would not be needed to protect an occupant wearing a seat belt. The seat belt may provide sufficient protection from a head or chest injury in such a crash.

Many advanced frontal air bag systems automatically turn off the passenger air bag when the vehicle detects a small-stature passenger or child, child in a child restraint system, or no occupant in the right front passenger seat.

Some advanced side air bag systems will similarly shut off the passenger side air bag system when detecting a small-stature passenger or child in the right front passenger seat who is positioned too close to the side air bag.

Some vehicles, such as pick-up trucks or sports cars without rear seats, may have a manual ON-OFF switch for the front passenger air bag. If the manual ON-OFF switch is positioned in the "off" position, the front passenger air bag will not deploy.

An air bag may also not deploy or work properly if the vehicle's air bag readiness light is illuminated. When illuminated, the air bag readiness light warns consumers of potential problems with a vehicle's air bag system. (If an air bag readiness light is illuminated, the vehicle should be serviced without delay.)

In used vehicles, a possible reason for the air bag not to deploy is that the air bag may not have been replaced after a previous crash. NHTSA recommends that 1) Air bags always be replaced after a deployment and 2) If, for any reason, a deployed air bag is not replaced, this information about the non-functioning air bag should be disclosed to the new owner upon the sale of the vehicle.

Any air bag that fails to deploy in an injury-producing crash should be reported to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation for investigation of possible system defects and potential recall. You can file a report by phone at 888-327-4236, or by mail at the following address: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC, 20590.

SOURCE: http://www.safercar.gov/




Toyota Announces Fix for Accelerator Pedal Entrapment Problem

NATIONAL - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced that Toyota has identified a vehicle-based remedy to fix a sudden acceleration safety issue involving floor mats trapping accelerator pedals in various Toyota and Lexus models. Toyota announced the recall of these vehicles in early October and said it would soon develop a vehicle-based remedy to reduce the risk of a crash due to accelerator pedal entrapment.

The models involved in the recall are: 2007 to 2010 MY Camry, 2005 to 2010 MY Avalon, 2004 to 2009 MY Prius, 2005-2010 MY Tacoma, 2007-2010 MY Tundra, 2007-2010 MY ES 350, 2006-2010 MY IS 250, and 2006 to 2010 MY IS 350.

NHTSA said Toyota plans to reconfigure the accelerator pedal, and in some cases the shape of the floor surface under the pedal, to address the risk of pedal entrapment due to floor mat interference, particularly with regard to inappropriate or improperly attached floor mats. At the same time, Toyota will develop replacement pedals for these vehicles, which will become available for some models in April 2010. Toyota will provide owners with the new pedal, when it becomes available, even if the vehicle has already received the modified pedal under the recall.

In addition, vehicles with any genuine Toyota or Lexus accessory all-weather floor mats will be provided with newly-designed replacement driver- and front-passenger side all-weather mats.

SOURCE: http://www.safercar.gov/

Saturday, December 26, 2009

AUTO ACCIDENT - Accident - CONCUSSION - Closed Head Injury - BLUNT TRAUMA

According to the Brain Injury Association - Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow or jolt to the head. The injury can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works.

A person does not need to lose consciousness to sustain a concussion. You cannot see a concussion, but you might notice some of the symptoms right away. Other symptoms can show up days or weeks after the injury. It is best to see a health care professional if you think you might have a concussion.

An undiagnosed concussion can affect your abilities at school or work and in everyday activities.

DID YOU KNOW?

• A concussion is the most common type of brain injury sustained in sports.

• Most concussions do NOT involve loss of consciousness.

• You can sustain a concussion even if you do NOT hit your head. An indirect blow elsewhere on the body can transmit an “impulsive” force to the head and cause a concussion to the brain.

• Multiple concussions can have cumulative and long lasting life changes.

• Concussions typically do NOT appear in neuro-imaging studies such as MRI or CAT Scans.

http://www.trippfirm.com/

Walt Disney World – ORLANDO - workplace injury - OSHA

ORLANDO – The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) cited Walt Disney World and urged them to follow monorail manufacturer operating instructions warning of potential hazards when moving the monorail in reverse. The manufacturer recommends using a spotter to watch a train backing up. The federal agency also urged Disney to provide written instruction and training for monorail console operators and to make sure a coordinator is in a control tower when directing monorail operations.

According to the resort’s chief safety officer, Disney World already has taken many of the steps recommended by OSHA.
 

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Air Bag Deployment – Ford – F-150 – Truck – Air Bags – complaints - injuries

NATIONAL - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into unnecessary air-bag deployments that could affect as many as 530,000 Ford F-150 pickups.

The agency says it has received eight (8) complaints from owners of 2005 models saying the driver’s side air bag deployed “during ignition or seconds after the engine had started.” Some complained of burns or bruises as a result of the air bag deployment.

http://www.trippfirm.com/

Child Restraints Being Recalled - Cosco - Disney - Eddie Bauer - Safety 1st

NATIONAL - According to New York Times - Wheels - The Dorel Group, a company that makes products for babies and infants, is recalling about 447,000 of its infant child restraints and travel system carriers sold under the brands Cosco, Disney, Eddie Bauer and Safety 1st because the carrying handle may come loose. Dorel told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the retaining screws are the wrong size and a child who is not properly restrained could fall out. The company says it plans to provide owners with new screws, instructions and a wrench.

Under the Safety 1st brand the models are the Sojourn Travel System, Eurostar Travel System, Explorer Travel System, Lite Wave Travel System and Vector Travel System are affected.  Under the Cosco brand the Sprint Travel System is affected.  Under the Disney brand the Propack Travel System is affected.  Under the Eddie Bauer brand the Adventure Travel System and Endeavor Travel System are affected.

http://www.trippfirm.com/

IKEA - Children's Highchair recall CPSC

NATIONAL - Ikea is recalling “Leopard” highchairs that pose a fall and choking risk to children. Consumers should immediately stop using the “Leopard” highchairs and return them to any IKEA store for a full refund.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), snap locks used to secure the highchair seat to the frame can break and allow the seat and child to drop through the frame. Ikea has received 11 reports worldwide of failing snap locks, including one report of a child falling through the frame and suffering bruised legs. In addition, the firm has one report of a child mouthing a detached snap lock. No incidents have been reported in the United States

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