Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Flatbed Truck Accidents in Hollywood and Florida

Published on: March 24, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Flatbed trucks are commercial trucks with a weight of at least 10,000 pounds (not including cargo or passengers). In a tractor-trailer, the cargo is hitched to the cab and the cab can be completely separated from the trailer carrying the cargo. This is not the case with the flatbed truck. With a flatbed truck, the flatbed is open and is attached directly and permanently to the truck’s chassis.

Flatbed trucks are often used to transport large, heavy, and unwieldy cargo. For example, these vehicles are commonly used to transport manufactured homes, lumber, building materials, vehicles, logs, and other large objects. One of the dangers with this is that the cargo can shift during an impact in an accident and the cargo can become loose or can shift forward and back, causing damage to the cab guards and striking the driver.

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Could a Lack of Supportive Friends and Family Lead to Injury?

Published on: March 24, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Research has shown us that many things can lead to injury. Distraction, alcohol, drugs, and other risky behaviors can lead to car accidents, slip and fall injuries, and other serious injuries in Miami or your community. But what about less tangible risks – such as loneliness?

We rarely think of loneliness as something that could be dangerous; for most, it simply seems like an unfortunate situation. According to scientists, however, lack of social support can also lead to injuries and harm in a number of important ways:

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Deciding to File a Truck Accident Injury Claim

Published on: March 19, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

If you have been involved in a trucking collision in Homestead or any Florida community, one of the things you will need to decide almost right away is whether to file an injury claim or whether to simply accept the insurance benefits your car insurance or the truck carrier’s insurance company offers.

It can be tempting to accept the first offer. It may seem like a lot of money and you may want to avoid a lengthy legal battle. The employees working for the insurance company may seem sympathetic to your plight and may encourage you to simply accept the benefits you are given.

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Spring Break Safety for Miami and Florida

Published on: March 19, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

At this time of year, many colleges have their spring breaks, and this means that students from across the country head to Florida and Miami in order to take advantage of the beaches and spring break activities available. For most students, spring break is a fun time to get away from the books and to enjoy life. Unfortunately, spring break can also lead to serious injuries.

Students can find themselves in car accidents in Miami, far from home, or can find themselves affected by mugging, theft, or sexual assault. If you or someone you love is headed for spring break, consider these safety tips to create only good memories this year:

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Dangerous Cargo in Trucking Collisions

Published on: March 17, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Any trucking collision in Homestead or Florida can be terrifying. However, when your trucking collision involves a hazmat carrier, you may find yourself facing even more serious injuries or problems. The Department of Transportation estimates that about 200 fatal trucking accidents that occur annually involve hazmat carriers. These are carriers that are permitted to carry hazardous materials (HAZMAT).

Due to the dangerous nature of the materials involved, trucking collisions involving these carriers can even more catastrophic. Trucks carrying hazardous materials may be carrying:

Gasoline
Compressed oxygen cylinders
Petroleum products
Flammable oils
Compressed gases
Flammable chemicals or other liquids
Chemical liquids and gases
Nuclear materials or other radioactive materials
Hazardous waste

In the event of a collision, this type of hazardous cargo can become especially dangerous. If it is flammable, it can leak onto the road, explode, or catch fire. It can expose bystanders and other drivers to radiation, chemical burns, or toxic fumes.

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Safety Tips for St. Patrick’s Day

Published on: March 16, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

For most people, St. Patrick’s Day is a lighthearted holiday filled with good cheer, parades, green T-shirts, and Irish pride. Unfortunately, due to the high alcohol content at many St. Patrick’s Day events, the holiday can end in injury or even tragedy. If you are planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year with a house party or at a public event in Hollywood or your ocmmunity, make sure that you have a plan to stay safe and avoid injury. Your plan should include:

1) A buddy system.

You will be safer if you consume alcohol with friends and family, especially if some of your friends are staying sober. Buddies can ensure that you are not at risk of getting mugged, falling over, or sustaining other injuries because you’ve been drinking.

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Ways that Technology has Helped Prevent Truck Accidents and Trucking Injuries

Published on: March 12, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

At the Omnitracs Outlook User Conference last month, professionals in the trucking industry gathered together to discuss the ways that they have used technology to comply with the Federal Motor Carriers Association’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. According to participants, technology played a major role in promoting safety, especially when truck carriers and fleets used:

1) Automated driver logs.

Rather than asking drivers to maintain logs, automated logs take care of the paperwork. They provide a more accurate view of how long truckers drive and the rest stops they take. Traditional driver logs can be easily falsified or can come into question during legal action. Automated driver logs take driver error out of the equation and ensure that the logs are always up to date.

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Chin Straps are Essential in Preventing Brain Injury

Published on: March 12, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

A study published in the journal Neurology India concluded that riders on two-wheeled vehicles (such as motorcycles and other vehicles) were twice as likely to suffer severe injuries in traffic collisions if they did not wear a chinstrap when compared with those who wore a more securely fastened helmet. Researchers concluded that while wearing a helmet helped many motorcyclists and other users avoid injury, those who wore chin straps had the lowest head injury rates. The study’s authors concluded that properly secured helmets could help protect the face, spine, and other vulnerable areas in an accident and called to make them mandatory for all riders of motorcycles, bicycles, and other two wheel vehicles.

What this study and other research shows is that whether you are riding a bicycle, motorcycle, or any sort of vehicle that requires a helmet, the right safety gear is essential. However, throwing on any helmet is not enough. When choosing a helmet, make sure that you:

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Will Future Truck Design Be More Fuel-Efficient and Safer?

Published on: March 10, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

Truck makers are creating future commercial vehicles that will be safer, more aerodynamic, and more fuel-efficient. Walmart, for example, unveiled plans for its WAVE (Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience) in early 2014. The trucks are more aerodynamic to be more fuel efficient. One of the more unusual features is that truckers in this vehicle are placed in the center of the cab for maximum efficiency. Walmart has not commented whether this might increase safety by changing how much of the road drivers can see.

Freightliner is another manufacturer investing in future truck designs. Among the features that future trucks will have are smart technology, lighter construction materials, and better mapping of expected fuel usage. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, is investing more heavily in autonomous commercial vehicles.

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Coaches and Other Staff are on the Front Lines in Preventing Sports Injury

Published on: March 10, 2015 | By Flaxman Law Group

The Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention released a study last month finding that football coaches with a sports-based education may help make football safer for young athletes. Researchers examined data for about 2,108 athletes between the ages 5 and 15. The study found that the football athletes were 43% less likely to sustain concussions in practices and 29% less likely to sustain a concussion when playing a game if their coaches had taken part in the USA Football “Heads-Up Football” training program.

The study is important in that it suggests that all coaches are not made alike. Whether a parent is choosing a coach for afterschool practice or a school is hiring an athletic director for their sports department, experience and training matter. There many ways that we can ensure that our children can avoid sports injuries in Hollywood and across Florida:

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Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

1) A buddy system.

1) Automated driver logs.