Friday, July 31, 2015

Maryland Car Accident Lawyers Warn Drivers to Beware of Tire Blowout Season


Summer travel can take its toll on your vehicle’s tires. High temperatures, long distances and heavy loads can wear tires out more quickly, leading to tire failure or blowout. Blowout events are extremely dangerous. According to the NHTSA, flat tires and tire blowouts cause as many as 78,392 car crashes annually, resulting in more than 400 fatalities and 10,000 injuries. Several factors can make tires especially vulnerable in the summer months. Below are some causes of tire failure along with tips for keeping your tires safe when traveling this summer and throughout the year to avoid the risk of a car accident. Low Air Pressure Underinflation is a major cause of tire blowout. Lack of proper air pressure forces a tire to work harder than it’s built to. The tire’s internal components begin to bend and flex, causing the steel, fabric and rubber to become too hot. This, combined with high ambient temperatures, can cause the internal structure of the tire to break down rapidly, ultim
http://www.lthlaw.com/maryland-car-accident-lawyers-warn-to-beware-of-tire-blowout-season/

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers: New Anti-Drunk Driving Technology


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed two prototype vehicles that could potentially save thousands of lives each year. The vehicles are the first of their kind to be equipped with advanced alcohol detection technology that would prevent the vehicle from starting if the driver has had one too many drinks. The prototypes are part of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program, a collaborative research partnership between the NHTSA and automakers aimed at reducing drunk driving accidents and fatalities. The new technology is designed to be unobtrusive, easy to use and highly accurate. Vehicles would be equipped with special touch pads that can instantly measure whether the driver has been drinking. The sensors could be located on the steering wheel, the ignition start button or both. The touch-based technology uses infrared light to measure the alcohol content in tiny blood vessels in the driver’s finger or palm. Researchers are also
http://www.lthlaw.com/baltimore-car-accident-lawyers-new-anti-drunk-driving-technology/

Monday, July 27, 2015

Baltimore Personal Injury Lawyers: Homeowners Insurance and Dog Bites


In 2014, Maryland lawmakers elected to do away with laws that impose different liability standards on dog owners based on what breed of dog they own. The decision was supported by animal welfare groups and safety advocates who say the new law provides more balanced protection for victims of dog bites and the owners of dogs. However, many homeowners’ insurance companies continue to deny coverage to households with certain breeds of dogs. Sadly, this can leave dog bite victims at risk of not being able to recover adequate compensation for medical bills, lost wages or permanent disfigurement and scarring. In 2013, dog bite claims accounted for more than one third of all homeowners’ insurance liability claims, costing insurance companies approximately $490 million. The average payout for dog bite claims is roughly $30,000, but actual costs can be much higher. In a 2011 case, a Washington State Superior Court jury awarded a woman attacked by two neighborhood pit bulls $2.2 million for
http://www.lthlaw.com/baltimore-personal-injury-lawyers-homeowners-insurance-and-dog-bites/

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Warn Employers about the Dangers of Heat Illness


Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Warn Employers about the Dangers of Heat Illness Heat-related emergencies and illnesses can occur at any time of year in some occupations, but during the summer months, significantly more workers are at risk. Heat stress caused by extreme or prolonged exposure to heat can cause life-threatening illness if not recognized or treated early. As a precautionary measure, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently issued a reminder to employers in the greater Baltimore-area to protect workers from heat illness. Risk Factors for Heat Stress Occupation outdoor workers performing heavy physical labor and those who work in hot environments such as firefighters, kitchen workers, construction workers, miners, factory workers and others. Age and physical condition – workers over 65 years of age, or those who are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take certain medications may be at higher risk. Job site conditions –
http://www.bestmarylandworkerscompensationlawyers.com/2015/07/21/baltimore-workers-compensation-lawyers-heat-illness/

Monday, July 20, 2015

Baltimore Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers: $30 Million Lawsuit Against Nursing Home


The family of a woman who died in August of 2014 is suing a Catonsville nursing home alleging medical negligence and severe neglect caused the death of their loved one. Video footage shot by the deceased’s daughter-in-law shows the woman wailing in pain for more than an hour while nursing home staff ignored her cries for help. The patient, 85, was admitted to ManorCare Woodbridge Valley in July, 2014 for rehab after falling in her home. During her stay at the nursing home; however, her family claims she also suffered a fracture in her left arm and a dislocated right arm, both of which were unexplained by nursing home staff. The lawsuit also notes a number of discrepancies in the patient’s ManorCare chart. During a visit in August, the woman’s daughter-in-law became concerned about the quality of treatment her mother-in-law was receiving. She began recording video of her mother-in-law moaning in pain and pleading for assistance to get to the bathroom. The video shows her daughter
http://www.bestmarylandmalpracticelawyers.com/baltimore-nursing-home-neglect-lawyers-30-million-lawsuit-nursing-home/

Maryland Product Liability Lawyers: Hidden Allergens Leading Factor in Food Recalls


As many as 15 million Americans are living with food allergies, some so severe they can cause death. For these individuals and those that love them, the importance of proper food labeling cannot be underestimated. Still, undeclared food allergens are the leading cause of food recalls, as evidenced by a number of high-profile recalls in recent news. So far in 2015, the U.S. has seen 121 food recalls involving more than 19 million food items. Ninety-six percent of the recalls were classified as Class I, the most serious type. While bacteria contaminates like Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli consistently make headline news, it is hidden allergens that result in the highest number of recalls. Hidden Ingredient: Nuts Early this year, a massive food recall was issued after cumin shipped from India tested positive for the presence of almond protein. The recall affected 14 companies and more than 150 products. Allergies to peanuts and tree nuts are a major cause of concern, especially for pa
http://www.lthlaw.com/maryland-product-liability-lawyers-hidden-allergens-leading-factor-in-food-recalls/

Monday, July 13, 2015

Maryland Car Accident Lawyers: Defective Guardrails Manufacturer Penalized


Maryland Car Accident Lawyers: Defective Guardrails Manufacturer Penalized Trinity Industries Inc., maker of a popular highway guardrail system, has been ordered to pay $663 million for defrauding the U.S. government. The penalty was handed down by a U.S. District Judge who says the company made 16,771 false claims to the government and lied about design changes they made before installing approximately 200,000 potentially dangerous guardrails along highways across the country. The guardrails have been linked to at least nine car accident deaths and many more injuries. The issue was brought to light when whistleblower, Joshua Harman, began a campaign to expose Trinity for what he says are serious flaws with the ET-Plus guardrail system. Harman, a guardrail engineer, travelled the country taking photos of the guardrails and posting them to a website. His allegations were supported by lawsuits filed on behalf of at least 14 car accident victims who claim that they were seriously injured
http://www.lthlaw.com/blog/maryland-car-accident-lawyers-defective-guardrails-manufacturer-penalized/

Friday, July 10, 2015

Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers: Misdiagnosis of Heart Condition


Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers: Misdiagnosis of Heart Condition The family of a Talbot County teen who suffered irreversible heart failure after a series of misdiagnoses and medical mistakes has filed a lawsuit against the doctors and hospitals responsible for the boy’s care. The lawsuit claims that medical malpractice and negligence on behalf of the University of Maryland Medical Center and Shore Medical Center in Easton led to the destruction of the teenager’s heart and need for a heart transplant. Also named as defendants are three doctors, a radiologist, and a radiology lab. The young teen was just two days shy of his 15th birthday in August of 2013, when a radiologist misdiagnosed his pending heart failure as walking pneumonia. When his condition worsened, his family brought him to the emergency room at Shore Medical Center in Easton. There, a doctor correctly diagnosed the boy’s heart failure, but failed to stop the administration of fluids, which likely worsened th
http://www.bestmarylandmalpracticelawyers.com/baltimore-medical-malpractice-lawyers-misdiagnosis-heart-condition/

Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyers: Proposed Law for Break Safety Rules


Truck drivers who violate safety regulations are a serious threat to everyone on the road. Each year in the U.S., nearly 4,000 people are killed and more than 100,000 are injured in accidents involving large commercial vehicles. Recently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed a new regulation aimed at curbing this pervasive problem. The new regulation would prohibit transportation intermediaries from coercing truck drivers to violate safety regulations; including drivers’ hours-of-service limits, CDL requirements, drug and alcohol testing rules and hazardous materials regulations. The trucking industry is notorious for placing excessive demands on drivers, leading many to push themselves beyond their physical limits. Of particular concern is speeding and driver fatigue, both leading causes of fatal trucking accidents. To combat this problem, the FMCSA has adopted a series of safety regulations in order to protect drivers and everyone with whom they share t
http://www.bestmarylandtruckaccidentlawyers.com/2015/07/10/maryland-trucking-accident-lawyers-proposed-law-break-safety-rules/

Monday, July 6, 2015

Baltimore Personal Injury Lawyers: Toxic Lead Paint Injuries to Children


Baltimore Personal Injury Lawyers: Toxic Lead Paint Injuries to Children Before his death following spinal injuries he sustained while in police custody, Freddie Gray’s life was defined by academic failures, a tendency towards aggressive behavior, and run-ins with the law. Many of these problems began when he was a child living in one of Baltimore City’s poorest neighborhoods. During that time, Gray was one of tens of thousands of children exposed to toxic lead paint. Studies have shown that exposure to lead is still the most significant and widespread environmental hazard for children in Maryland. Every year, thousands of Maryland children test positive for high levels of lead. The risk of exposure to lead is particularly high in Baltimore City where, despite being banned in 1978 because of health concerns, lead paint still covers the walls of many older buildings. Not surprisingly, homes in the City’s poorest neighborhoods are most at risk. At the time when Freddie Gray lived
http://www.lthlaw.com/blog/baltimore-personal-injury-lawyers-toxic-lead-paint-injuries-to-children/