Archive for the ‘ Brain Injury ’ Category

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29
Feb

Tennessee Lawmakers Pushing To Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors On RVs

February 29, 2012

In an effort to keep users of rented recreational vehicles (RVs) safe from the harms of poisoning from the toxic and fatal fume, carbon monoxide (CO), Tennessee lawmakers are aiming to pass a bill that will require CO detectors to be installed on all leased campers.

According to reports from New Channel 5, the piece of legislation, which is sponsored by state Senator Tim Barnes and state Representative Joe Pitts, was passed through both the Senate and House on Monday. The Bill is expected to hit the desk of Governor Bill Haslam and be signed into law soon.

The strict regulations come after five people died from carbon monoxide poisoning in an RV in Clarksville, Tennessee. Investigators determined that fumes from a nearby generator were being sucked into a vent on the vehicle and collecting inside. There was no CO detector in the camper. We send our condolences to the families of those that tragically died.

With spring and summer road trips right around the corner, the Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers with Hughes & Coleman suggest RV owners have the piece of equipment installed before taking off or letting someone else use the vehicle.

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15
Feb

Bill Proposes Changes To Tennessee Motorcycle Helmet Law

February 15, 2012

Debate has been stirred on Capitol Hill in Nashville, Tennessee, over a proposed law change that would allow some motorcycle riders a choice on whether or not to wear a helmet when riding. According to an article released by News Channel 5, House Bill 2661 would allow riders who are 21-years of age or older to choose to not wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle. As the current state law stands, everyone on a motorcycle is required to wear head and eye protection.

While some say the decision to wear a helmet should be a personal choice, others feel like it’s a matter of public safety and simple economics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that motorcycle accidents resulting in injuries and-or deaths have an annual cost to taxpayers of around $12 billion. A study by the organization confirmed these findings by examining cases of 105 different motorcycle accident victims hospitalized in major trauma centers across the country. They determined that 63% of the costs for those patients care was covered by public funds, with roughly half of the charges being covered by Medicaid.

Experts believe that these numbers would only rise with a change to helmet laws.

The Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Lawyers with Hughes and Coleman encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets at all times, regardless of what the law states. Doing so can cut your chances of dying in the event of an accident in half.

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17
Aug

Veteran’s Blindness and Brain Damage Caused by Eye Injection

August 16, 2011

What if you went to the doctor for a new a pair of glasses and walked out blind and brain damaged? This is the reality for one 77-year-old Army veteran, who has filed a claim against the US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) after an injection he received at their facility caused a serious infection and almost cost him his life.

The man walked into the Chattanooga, Tennessee hospital on March 29th and woke up two days later with a terrible headache, severe pain throughout his body, and a loss of vision. He went to the hospital again and was diagnosed with bacterial endophthalmitis. He was also informed that four other patients who had received the injections were also suffering from infections. Days later, the vet returned to the hospital and his condition quickly deteriorated. He was diagnosed with meningitis and is now in a vegetative state, requiring constant care.

The drug the man was injected with, Avastin, is typically used in cancer treatment, but is used off label for macular degeneration. This means the drug shouldn’t have been used at all on the patient. The VA says the drug was contaminated in the pharmacy when it was mixed to lower the dosage level.

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20
Jul

Tennessee Distracted Driving Laws Amended

July 20. 2011

An amendment to Tennessee’s laws regarding distracted driving changed earlier this month, making the penalties for causing a pedestrian or bicyclist fatality much more severe. The Knoxville Sentinel News reported the change took effect on July 1st and made the penalty for killing a pedestrian or bicyclist a class A misdemeanor, instead of a class C violation. The punishment could result in just under 12 months in prison, a revocation of a driver’s license for up to a year, and a $500 fine. Causing an injury could result in imprisonment for up to 6 months, revocation of a driver’s license for up to six months, and a $250 fine.

The amendment was backed by Bike Walk Tennessee, after receiving numerous reports of individuals hitting and killing bikers and pedestrians, and essentially, walking away. Caroline Cooley, a Knoxville member of the board of directors for Bike Walk Tennessee, stated, “This law brings criminal consequences and increases the possibility of having a civil lawsuit as well.”

The Metropolitan Planning Commission’s bicycling coordinator, Kelley Segars, agreed, saying distracted driving is a huge issue these days as more electronic devices enter our lives and fear of encounters with these dangerous drivers is the main reason why people do not bike or walk more. She hopes the law will encourage safer driving habits and curb some of that fear.

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15
May

Woman dies in Kentucky auto accident

May 15, 2008

The Lexington Herald-Reader reported that a woman who was a victim of a Kentucky auto accident died from the brain injuries she sustained from that wreck.

The Kentucky auto accident involved four cars. The first car hit the Kentucky brain injury victim’s car, forcing her into oncoming traffic.

She was then stuck by an oncoming sport utility vehicle, which pushed her car into the vehicle that was in front of her.

She died the next day from her Kentucky brain injury.

Read More: http://www.kentucky.com/779/story/404519.html

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