InjuryBoard Local Blogs

Girl's ATV death brings out mourners in Fairhope....

Troy Schwant — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:54:36 GMT

An unfortunate accident involving an ATV, has claimed the life of another young child.

"The driver apparently turned too sharply, the vehicle rolled over and Dunnam's head was struck, Sawyer said. She likely died instantly; family members tried to revive her before emergency personnel arrived, he said."

The thoughts and prayers of Burns Cunningham & Mackey are with her family.

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Troy Schwant

Supreme Court OKs Claim For Punitive Damages In Tugboat Case

Greg Webb — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:13:14 GMT

In a recent 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Edgar Townshend, a tugboat crewmember who injured his arm and shoulder when he slipped and fell on the boat’s steel deck. His employer, Atlantic Sounding Co., said they would not pay for his medical care or time off. This decision allows seamen who are injured on the job to sue for punitive damages, or money that is intended to punish a party for its behavior and prevent a reoccurrence of that behavior, when their employers refuse to pay for time off or medical care.

For this Supreme Court to support a punitive damages case is a good thing, given its reputation as having a strong, conservative, pro-business tilt, given former President Bush's appointments. This was a victory for the working person - the little guy - against a business who allegedly mistreated an employee.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Webb

Toy Manufacturer Agrees To Penalty For Lead In Toys

Greg Webb — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:55:29 GMT

OKK Trading, an American based toy importer, has agreed to pay a $665,000 civil penalty settlement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) after it was shown that the company imported and sold toys that violated many child safety standards, such as having high levels of lead. The CPSC announced that the settlement resolves the agency’s allegations that OKK Trading violated a thirty-year-old ban on lead paint in toys by knowingly importing and selling toys with excessive levels of lead from November 2007 to August 2008. The settlement also resolves several other allegations that it knowingly sold and imported games, toys, rattles, art materials and pacifiers that violated federal safety standards. In agreeing with the settlement, OKK Trading denies that it knowingly violated the law. The company further claims it received no reports of injuries or incidents involving the products covered by the settlement.

Earlier this month, the CPSC also announced that toy maker Mattel Inc. and its subsidiary Fisher-Price have agreed to pay $2.3 million for importing and selling toys with excessive amounts of lead. A CPSC spokesperson said the agency expects to announce more civil penalties against companies that violated the lead ban in order to hold companies responsible for all of the recalls that attracted so much media attention in 2007 and 2008.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Webb

14-Year-Old Bicyclist Lured Out At 3 A.M. to Meet MySpace Girl Struck & Killed On Highway

Pierce Egerton — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:47:07 GMT

Winston-Salem police confirmed that 14-year-old Mark Zanzarella of Clemmons was killed Sunday morning while riding his bicycle on U.S. 311 near Union Cross Road. According to WXII, the accident occurred about 3 a.m., when a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Angelica Rincon hit the bicycle while traveling southbound on 311.

The young victim was riding a pink bicycle and was either crossing the roadway from east to west or proceeding in the left southbound lane. Police said they do not believe that speed or alcohol was a factor in the deadly crash.

WFMY is reporting that the teen’s mother, Earlene Jones, said he took his little sister’s bike to go meet a girl he met on MySpace. Mrs. Jones believed Mark was on the way from Clemmons to Kernersville.

According to Fox8, police would like to speak to the driver of a red pickup truck who stopped to help. They believe he may have witnessed the accident. Police are also asking anyone else with information about the accident to call them at 336.773.7700.

According to WFMY this is the 14th traffic death this year in Winston-Salem. There were only 6 fatalities during the same period last year.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pierce Egerton

North Carolina Adjuster Accused of Taking Claimant's Insurance Claims Payment

Pierce Egerton — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:57:00 GMT

The North Carolina Department of Insurance recently announced the arrest last month of Ashley C. Waddell, 39, 4610 Wending Lane, Greensboro. According to the investigation, Waddell, who owned International Loss Services in Greensboro, took $89,314.52 in insurance claims payments intended for her clients. Farmers Insurance Company originally issued the payment to Waddell's client for damage caused by a house fire in Wake County.

Waddell, a licensed public adjuster, is charged with felony embezzlement, obtaining property by false pretense and writing a worthless check. She was initially taken to Guilford County Detention Center and held under a $40,000 secured bond. Additional charges are pending.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pierce Egerton

Young Mother and Newborn Daughter Die in Ottawa County Car Accident

David Mittleman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:45:34 GMT

Holland, MI—Morgan DeHaan, a 19-year-old mother and her 6-week-old daughter, Hannah DeHaan, were killed in a car accident on Thursday after the woman’s SUV rolled through a stop sign and collided with a pickup truck. The woman’s other daughter, Jordyn DeHaan, who is 18 months old, suffered critical injuries but survived the crash.

Morgan DeHaan died upon impact. However, both children were airlifted by Aeromed helicopter to Devos Children’s Hospital, where Hannah was pronounced dead. Jordyn was listed in critical condition as of Thursday morning.

Police said that Morgan was driving her Ford Explorer north on 64^th Avenue at approximately 4:55 p.m., when she ran a stop sign. Her SUV then collided with a Toyota Tacoma on eastbound Barry Street. The pickup’s driver, a 31-year-old Hudsonville man, was unable to avoid the collision. He was not injured except for a few scratches. Sadly, Morgan’s husband, who was at military training camp when Hannah was born, never got a chance to meet his newborn daughter.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Trampoline Safety for the Summer

David Mittleman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:44:53 GMT

Jumping on the trampoline is a popular summer activity for children. However, many parents don’t realize the danger that lies in allowing children to jump unsupervised or by allowing more than one child to jump at a time. In fact, most parents don’t realize, either, the great number of injuries that result from the use of trampolines. For example, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons cites that hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, and clinics treated 211,646 trampoline injuries sustained by children under the age of 19 in 2003 alone. Moreover, young children ages 5 to 10 are particularly at risk: 102, 017 trampoline-related injuries for this age group were treated in emergency rooms, doctors’ offices and clinics in 2003 as well. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems as if this is the age group that enjoys jumping the most.

The most common types of injuries associated with trampoline use are sprains and fractures, which are often severe. Although severe injuries are not common, they still do occur and can lead to paralysis and even death.

The AAOS recommends the following safety tips if you do allow your children to use a trampoline:

· All activities involving the trampoline, including physical education, competitive gymnastics, and diving training require careful adult supervision and proper safety measures.

· Trampolines should not be used for unsupervised recreational activity.

· Competent adult supervision and instruction is needed at all times for children.

· Only one child at a time should jump on the trampoline.

· Spotters should be present when participants are jumping. Somersaults and other high-risk “tricks” should be avoided altogether unless there is proper protective equipment such as a harness.

· The trampoline should be placed on level ground.

· Supporting bars, strings and surrounding landing surfaces should have adequate protective padding.

· Equipment should be checked regularly for safety conditions.

· Safety net enclosures do not mean there will be no injuries. In fact, most injuries occur on the trampoline surface.

· Trampolines should not be used by children under 6.

· Trampoline ladders should be removed after use to ensure that young children do not attempt to use the trampoline without adult supervision.

Remember, it is probably best to avoid trampoline use. But if you can’t abstain, remember safety first.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Speeding Leading to More Accidents on M-13 in Kawkawlin Township

Devon Glass — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:40:00 GMT

Speeding seems to have led to an increase in accidents in Kawkawlin Township. Bay County Sherriff's deputies are investigating an accident that took place on Thursday, July 9, 2009. The accident left two people injured and caused heavy damage two both vehicles involved.

Residents claim that the 55 mile per hour speed limits that are posted on M-13 highway do little to keep people from speeding as much as 20 miles over the limit. Kawkawlin Township resident William R. Heading says "there's some kind of crash every week." He should know, as he recently had his pickup truck totaled when it was rear-ended by another speeding driver.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Devon Glass

One Dead Two Hospitalized from Car Crash in Beaufort County

Emily Mapp Brannon — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:29:00 GMT

A high speed car crash killed at least one person and hospitalized two others in Beaufort County. The surviving victims are listed as having suffered serious injuries after an early morning car crash Sunday.

Highway Patrolman, Steve Crumpler, said the crash happened around 2:30 Sunday morning on Highway 33 East just off the Beaufort County line. The names of the people involved have not been released.

As reported by authorities familiar with the crash, the vehicle was clocked at more than 100 miles per hour just seconds before it flipped several times. Officials say all three passengers were ejected from the car and drugs were involved, but no word yet on whether alcohol was a factor in the single car crash.One survivor was airlifted to Pitt County Memorial Hospital. The other was taken to Beaufort County Hospital.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper,Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Emily Mapp Brannon

Five Teens Killed When Driver Ignored Railroad Crossing Gate

David Mittleman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:20:00 GMT

Canton Township, MI—five teenagers were killed by an Amtrak train while travelling in a car on Thursday after the driver, 19-year-old Dan Broughton, sped around a lowered railroad crossing gate to attempt beating the train. Broughton had his license suspended the day before the accident for driving without carrying a license back in April of this year. Furthermore, he had a history of traffic violations on his record, including speeding and running a stop sign.

The surveillance video released by police revealed that Broughton’s car never slowed down as it came towards the lowered gate, and instead he proceeded past a stopped SUV. The train barreled through at about 67 mph around 12:30 p.m., broadsiding the car as Broughton attempted to cross the tracks. The car was crumpled underneath of the front of the train and ended up right-side up with its roof and front crushed.

Friends, family and community members are stunned and questioning why Broughton would assume it was safe to try to cross the tracks. Drugs and alcohol do not seem to be involved. Other than Dan Broughton, 19, the four other teenagers that were killed included Eddie Gross, 17, Sean Harris, 19, Terrence Harris, 21, and Jessica Sadler, 14. The train also contained approximately 170 people, but none of the passengers were injured.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman