Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog

Here’s a statistic that should make you immediately resolve to stay more alert and watchful for distracted motorists while driving. According to new statistics released by the federal administration, at any given moment in the day, as many as 660,000 Americans are using their cell phones to have conversations or send and read text messages while they are at the wheel of their cars or trucks.

The results of the survey were released by the US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in order to mark National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. According to the statistics which came from the 2011 National Occupant Protection Use Survey, the numbers of drivers using cell phones at the wheel remain mostly unchanged since 2010.

More than 6,000 respondents above the age of 16 were included in the survey. Approximately 50% of the motorists admitted that they would answer an incoming call on the cell phone even at the wheel. One in 4 drivers admitted that they were willing to place a call while driving on all, or most, or some of their trips.

Continue reading "About 600,000 Americans Using Cell Phones at Wheel" »

Many children who suffer abdominal trauma every year may not need a CT scan, to diagnose the injury. In fact, putting children through an unnecessary CT scan actually exposes them to the risk of injuries from such unnecessary radiation.

It's no secret that children may be at a much higher risk of injury from excessive radiation, compared to adults. The problem is that a child's delicate body may be at a much higher risk of injury, even while receiving a normal dose of radiation during a CT scan. Therefore, it makes sense that children should not receive unnecessary CT scans, and that scans should not be recommended unless they are necessary.

Unfortunately, defensive medicine encourages CT scans and all kinds of other radiation-related diagnostic techniques to be used on children, even when these are not necessary. A study recently found that not every child who suffers an abdominal injury really needs a CT scan.

Continue reading "Unnecessary CT Scans Expose Children to Radiation Risks" »

The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it would be requiring manufacturers of several popular sleep medications to reduce the minimum recommended dose that is mentioned on the packaging of these drugs.

The active ingredient in many medications like Ambien, and Ambien CR is zolpidem. According to the Food and Drug Administration, studies show that high doses of zolpidem continue to remain in the bloodstream of persons even the next morning. This means that these persons may be at risk of impairment, when they're driving or working. If the recommended dose of these drugs is reduced, fewer traces of zolpidem will be found in the blood in the morning, reducing the person’s risk of being involved in an accident.

Continue reading "FDA Requires Sleep Medication Doses to Reduce Impaired Driving" »

Early this morning families started the process of filling their cars, packing their casseroles and making their way along busy highways and back roads to grandmother’s house. It is a time-honored tradition of good food: Big turkeys, sweet potatoes, stuffing and cranberries. Many families watch a little football and most families enjoy a lot of family fun. Thanksgiving is a wonderful celebration that goes back to the earliest days of our country's history. It officially kicks off the holiday season that extends into and through the New Year.

For some, it is a wonderful opportunity to give thanks for another full year of blessings and joy. But, sadly for many Indiana families, it is also a painful day of remembering those they have lost because of serious personal injury or medical malpractice.

In far too many homes around the state of Indiana, husbands sit at a table with an empty chair because of gross medical negligence. In hospital waiting rooms around the state, mothers will sit in silence, hoping for good news after another driver’s inattention and carelessness injured their son or daughter. In homes from Gary to Batesville, from Winchester to Lafayette, families will mourn the loss of their loved ones as a result of person injury or malpractice.

Those of us at the law offices of Montross Miller Muller Mendelson & Kennedy want to wish you and your family a safe and memorable Thanksgiving Day: Whether you gather to celebrate a year of plenty or solemnly honor those who are not with you this year. May this season be filled with thanksgiving for all that we have, the family and friends that we love, and an opportunity to faithfully honor those we have loved and lost.

The use of antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills could impair a person’s driving abilities, and increase the risk of being involved in an auto accident.

Researchers in Taiwan recently compared two groups of people to understand the effects of psychotropic drugs on a person’s driving ability. The first group included more than 5,100 people who had been involved in automobile accidents, while the second group consisted of 31,000 persons of comparable age and gender.

The second group had not been involved in accidents. The researchers found that among the group who have been involved in accidents, the use of psychotropic drugs like anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants was high.

Continue reading "Antidepressants Increase Car Accident Risks" »

Metropolitan areas like Indianapolis are likely to have lower accident rates, compared to smaller cities. A new study by the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention analyzed overall national accident death rates in 2009, and then compared these rates with the average fatality rates in 50 of the biggest American cities.

The researchers found that people, who lived in the 50 largest metropolitan areas of the United States, represented just about 54% of the population that year, but comprised only about 40% of all traffic accident fatalities. The overall national fatality rate was around 11.1% that year, but in these 50 metropolitan cities, the rate was just about 8%.

In the 50 metropolitan cities, the fatality rate varied from a low of 4.4 to a high of 17 .8 fatalities per 100,000 population. The Indiana-Carmel Metropolitan region had a total of 141 fatalities in 2009 with a fatality rate of 8.2 per 100,000 population.

Continue reading "Sprawling Metropolitan Cities Have Lower Accident Rates" »

Celebrations of our country's birthday will continue this year, even if they are more subdued without the flashes of color coming from your neighbors' back yards.

The severe state-wide drought has resulted in many counties and municipalities placing restrictions on personal fireworks. The Department of Homeland Security offers an updated list of all counties' restrictions and ordinances. The conditions are right for the spread of fire and the bans are enacted to prevent the loss of life and property.

All the attorneys and staff at the law offices of Montross Miller Muller Mendelson and Kennedy encourage Indiana residents to follow the posted restrictions and wish the residents of Indiana a very safe and happy 4th of July!

Mandatory bicycle helmets, mandatory ignition lock devices for all drunk driving offenders and other measures can help save more lives in Indiana every year. According to a new report titled The Facts Hurt: a State-By-State Injury Prevention Policy Report, the state of Indiana had the 27th highest rate of injury-related fatalities in the country.

In Indiana, the rate of injury-related fatalities per 100,000 population was 60 per 100,000 population. Overall, the national rate is 57.9 per 100,000 population. Nationally, injuries are the leading cause of death for people between the age of one and 44.

The list was based on how states performed on 10 key indicators. These indicators included everything from seatbelt and motorcycle helmets laws, to the establishment of e-record systems in hospitals to track data.

Continue reading "Ignition Locks, Mandatory Helmets can Save More Indiana Lives Annually" »

Parents often find it difficult to secure their child car seat to the rear seat. This isn't always the parents fault, however. According to a new study, many automakers simply do not make it easy for parents to secure the car seat.

The study was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the researchers evaluated approximately 98 automobiles from the 2010 and 2011 model year. They were specifically looking for the Latch systems of these automobiles, and how easy these were for parents to use.

They found that out of the 98.automobiles, only 21 had Latch systems that were easy to use. The Latch or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system is found in all automobiles from the 2003 model year on. The federal administration has made it mandatory for all automobiles to have these installed in standard models.

Continue reading "Children at Risk of Injuries from Unsecured Car Seats" »

Seat belt manufacturers in Indiana have seen a spike in the demand for school bus seat belts, after a deadly accident killed a 5-year-old child last month. Meanwhile, school bus driver groups as well as the school bus industry continue to oppose any mandate for seat belts on school buses.

Indiana does not have a mandate that requires seat belts to be installed on all school buses. That is in sharp contrast to many other states across the country that have mandated these most basic safety aids on school buses.

California has a rule that requires buses with more than 60 passengers to come with restraint systems, while Florida requires that buses purchased after December 2000 be equipped with seat belts. Even Texas, a state that is notoriously immune to safety laws as exhibited in its failure to enact laws banning the use of cell phones while driving, has a law that requires seat belts on school buses. Under the Texas law, school buses purchased on or after September 2010 must be equipped with 3-point seat belt systems.

Continue reading "Increased Demand for Seatbelts in Indiana School Buses" »

With Christmas shopping season underway, parents and consumers around the country need to be vigilant about the kind of toys that they buy as gifts. A new report released just in time for the shopping season, warns consumers that while children's toys are a lot safer than they were a couple of years ago, there's still much to look out for.

The report, Trouble in Toyland has been compiled by the US Public Interest Research Group. It is the group's 26th annual report and is based on a survey of consumers. According to the report, the main toy-related concerns in 2011 are choking, strangulation hazards and the presence of toxic chemicals in toys.

These are problems that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 attempted to deal with. For instance, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 set strict limits on the presence of lead in children's toys. There were also strict limitations on the presence of harmful chemicals known as phthalates in children's toys and products. However, the Trouble in Toyland report finds that these chemicals are present in excessive quantities in quite a few toys.

Continue reading "Toxic, Hazardous Toys Still a Risk " »

Soon after the deadly stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair last month that killed seven people, the state announced a $5 million settlement for victims of the tragedy. However, questions are already being raised about the feasibility of a cap like this in a tragedy that has claimed so many lives and left so much devastation in its wake.

Seven people died when stage rigging at the Indiana State Fair collapsed just before a concert was due to begin. More than forty people at the concert were seriously injured. Some of them suffered critical injuries.

The state responded by announcing a $5 million settlement to be divided among the survivors of those who were killed in the tragedy, as well as those who were injured. The settlement was set at $5 million because that is the maximum the state can commit to under Indiana's liability cap. Several states have caps on state liability, while states like Ohio and California have no cap at all.

Continue reading "Lawmaker Questions Indiana State Fair $5 Million Liability Cap" »

The death toll from the stage rigging collapse at a concert at the Indiana State Fair over the weekend already stands at five. Authorities believe the toll could rise further, because there is little information about the condition of some of the injured people.

The tragedy occurred on Saturday night when people at the Indiana State Fair grounds were waiting for a concert by country music group Sugarland, to begin. A storm was approaching, and the rigging had been buffeted by strong winds for a while. According to police, they had taken the approaching storm and dark clouds into consideration, and had been discussing a decision to evacuate the concert to another building. The concertgoers had been informed about this. However, before they could begin the evacuation, the metal scaffolding collapsed on unwary concertgoers.

Continue reading "Death Toll from Indianapolis Stage Collapse Rises to Five" »

A documentary that uses the infamous Stella Liebeck - McDonald's hot coffee case of the 90s to illustrate the increasingly restricted access to justice for ordinary Americans, is garnering rave reviews. For Indiana personal injury attorneys and indeed anyone who believes that big business in the United States have succeeded in limiting public access to civil justice, it's beyond encouraging that people are responding to the truth.

The documentary, Hot Coffee begins with the truth about what happened to Stella Liebeck. Most people who have heard about the McDonald's case, don't know the half of it. Liebeck suffered severe third-degree burns when coffee from a McDonald's cup spilt on her lap at a drive-through. She claimed $800 in medical expenses from McDonald's, but the company refused to pay. Her lawsuit finally ended with a jury awarding her close to $3 million in damages, most of which were punitive damages. For most Americans, this is where the story ends. However, the fact is that another judge reduced the damages, and Liebeck finally settled with McDonald's out of court for a much lower sum.

Continue reading "Hot Coffee Documentary Throws Some Well-Deserved Light on Reality of Tort Reform" »

Indianapolis – Seven Indiana children died between May 30 and June 13 this year. This is the equivalent of one child every other day. Making their deaths even more tragic is the cause: drowning. Over the past three years, more than 42 children have died in Indiana’s waterways and public or private swimming pools.

As Indiana summer heats up, the number of people entering Indiana’s waterways will increase and so will the risk to Indiana swimmers.

This past month, three Indiana State agencies are attempting to raise awareness of the problem. The Department of Child Services (DCS), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Indiana State Department of Health joined with the Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department to focus on the guidelines every parent should know in order to guarantee the safety of their children in and around water.

Continue reading "Indiana Promotes Pool Safety" »

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration needs more funds to be able to carry out vital bus safety initiatives that would prevent accidents. 2011 has been a deadly year for bus passengers across the country, with the fatality toll from accidents already standing at 25. Earlier this month, the chief of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration spoke before a Congressional hearing, asking for more funds for her agency to prevent these deadly accidents.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief Anne Ferro, her agency needs to be able to conduct more inspections of buses, especially long-haul carriers. Currently, the agency does not have the financial resources to hire the number of inspectors it would need to inspect every long-haul bus at least once a year. Additionally, Anne Ferro wants to hire more inspectors to be able to conduct surprise safety checks on buses.

Continue reading "FMCSA Needs More Funds to Prevent Bus Accidents" »

Elderly pedestrians are at a much higher risk of being killed in accidents in the United States, not just because there are more pedestrians these days than in decades past, but also because streets and crosswalks have not been designed with their safety in mind.

Elderly persons are expected to account for close to 19 % of the population of the United States by the year 2030. They currently account for 13% of the American population, but make up a staggering 22% of all pedestrian accident fatalities.

There are several factors contributing to this high rate of pedestrian fatalities involving seniors. For one, the average American can expect to live for 78.3 years, which means there are a lot more seniors alive today. These seniors are increasingly active and mobile, and many of them choose to walk to exercise. Also, many of them choose to live in urban areas, where there is easier access to medical care, and a strong sense of community, in short, the things that they need for a healthy life.

Continue reading "Elderly Pedestrians in Indiana at Risk from Myopic Road Planning" »

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration this week announced a series of new measures that the agency believes will keep bus passengers safer, and prevent the multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries that occur in accidents in Indiana and around the country every year.

The new rules will change the current CDL laws, and will require that persons applying for commercial drivers’ licenses apply for a commercial driver’s learner’s permit first. Currently, there are no such requirements in place. The new rules would also impose a national standard for CDL testing, that'll be uniform around the country. Right now, states are free to have their own testing standards.

Continue reading "FMCSA Announces New Measures to Improve Bus Safety " »

A new report by Transportation for America ranks Indiana at number 26 on a list of the states with the most number of structurally deficient bridges in the country. It's an honor that should cause great concern to Indiana transportation safety and legislative circles and Indiana personal injury attorneys, given that according to the report, close to 11% of our bridges are structurally deficient.

In fact, according to the Transportation for America report, 10.6% of Indiana's bridges are structurally deficient, with a total of 1, 968 such bridges in the state. Indiana's rate of 10.6% is just slightly better than the average national rate of 11.5% structurally deficient bridges.

Continue reading "Indiana's Structurally Deficient Bridges Are a Highway Safety Concern" »

Children’s safety group, Kids in Danger has released a report into children's product safety in 2010. The report is titled Moving toward Safety, and should be a fascinating read for any Indiana parent or Indiana personal injury attorney. Not surprisingly, the report shows that children’s products accounted for a large portion of recalls in 2010.

Specifically, 45% of all product recalls last year were related to children's products, and out of these, nursery products and clothing were the most recalled items. That was a change from the past few years, when toys were the most recalled children's product. Last year however, cribs, strollers, pacifiers and highchairs took over from toys as the most recalled products. In all, nursery products accounted for 29% of all children's product recalls. Most of the nursery products that were recalled were linked to entrapment, strangulation and fall hazards. Clothing accounted for 28% of all children's product recalls last year, and was most often linked to strangulation and choking hazards.

Continue reading "Why Indiana Parents Should Be Concerned about Children's Product Safety " »

Suffering a stroke can severely diminish a person's ability to drive safely and avoid accidents. These persons may suffer from motor challenges, diminished vision, reduced hearing, slower mental faculties, and a number of other challenges that increase the risk of being involved in an accident while driving. So how do you help determine whether a person who has just recovered from a stroke, is able to drive on his own? A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology finds that a person's ability to drive safely after suffering a stroke can be established by administering a series of three tests.

These three simple tests can be administered in just 15 minutes in your doctor's office. According to the researchers, these tests are fairly accurate and reliable in helping to establish a person's ability to drive safely after a stroke. The first test is a Road Recognition Test, which tests the individual’s traffic knowledge. Individuals need to score a minimum of 8.5 out of 12 on this test. The second is the Compass Test which measures the person's visual perceptual and visual spatial abilities. Individuals need to score 25 out of 32 on this test. The third is a trail making test which measures visual motor activities, and persons are required to complete this task within a period of 90 seconds.

Continue reading "Tests Help Determine Accident Risks after Stroke" »

It was a proud moment for Indiana personal injury attorneys and auto safety advocates in the state. Last week, the Indiana Senate voted to approve a bill that would ban texting while driving for all motorists. The bill was approved 29-21 in the Indiana Senate, and will likely be merged with another similar bill that was passed in the House.

The bill that has passed the Senate would extend the state's current laws banning text while driving for all drivers below 18, to all motorists. Last month, the House passed a bill that imposed a ban on texting while driving for all drivers. That bill was approved 85-11 and makes texting while driving an infraction. Under the bill, motorists would be fined up to $500 if they are caught texting while at the wheel. Once these two bills are merged, it will be sent to the governor for his signature.

Continue reading "Indiana Close to Law to Prevent Distracted Driving Accidents" »

A study of the safest states in the country based on the number of accident fatalities in 2009, places Indiana at number 24. With 690 accident fatalities in 2009, Indiana has a vehicle death rate of 10.8. That is slightly better than the national average of 11.0, but much worse than the District of Columbia and Massachusetts. In fact, Indiana fares worse than crowded New York and New Jersey with their notoriously bad roads.

As Indiana personal injury attorneys, we find that the accident fatality numbers in the state are unacceptably high. So, why does Indiana continue to struggle with high accident fatality numbers? The answer could lie in the number of rural roads we have. One look at the results of the study indicates that states that have fewer accident fatalities and lower vehicle death rates, have more urban roads than rural roads.

Continue reading "Rural Roads Add to Indiana Accident Fatality Toll" »

There are few accidents that can result in catastrophic injuries of the kind seen in rollover accidents. Indiana personal injury lawyers find that these are some of the deadliest crashes in Indiana, and contribute to 30% of auto accident fatalities every year. One of the biggest risks to occupants of vehicles during a rollover, is the risk of ejection. Even passengers who are wearing seat belts can be at risk of ejection from a vehicle during a rollover accident.

A new rule by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aims to reduce the number of occupants ejected during rollovers. The new rule announced last week will require automakers to enhance their vehicles to ensure that occupants remain inside the vehicle during a rollover. According to the NHTSA, the rule, which is likely to cover all vehicles by 2018, will ensure fewer ejections, and therefore, fewer fatalities in a rollover. Automakers will likely use rollover sensor-equipped side airbags or stronger glass to prevent ejections during a rollover accident.

Continue reading "NHTSA Rule to Help Prevent Injuries in Rollover Accidents" »

The number of auto defect complaints made by motorists to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration spiked in 2010, spurred, no doubt, by the massive Toyota recalls last year.

According to the NHTSA, it received a four-fold increase of more than 40,000 complaints in 2010. Approximately, 25% of the complaints were related to Toyota vehicles. The automaker suffered the biggest fall from grace in 2010, with defect complaints relating to its vehicles jumping to 87 for every 100,000 vehicles in 2010. Nissan came in at the second spot with 62 complaints for every 100,000 vehicles, and Volkswagen had 50 complaints for every 100,000 vehicles.

Continue reading "Indiana Auto Defect Complaints Increase in 2010" »

The law office of Montross Miller Muller Mendelson & Kennedy provides individual attention to every client who seeks legal assistance with their personal injury case. With nearly three decades of experience helping injured Indiana residents and their families, the attorneys take great pride in their ability to carefully evaluate the subtleties of a case.

Whether the injury is a result of a careless truck driver, a construction accident, or a faulty product, our attorneys have experience provide the expertise you require.

Over the years, the firm has developed strong working relationships with many professionals in a variety of specialty areas. Physicians, including neurologists, surgeons, orthopedists, and physical therapists assess the injuries of the client and help determine the necessary plan of care for injured. Economists are secured to calculate the true value of the case, evaluating the cost of lost wages, future expenses, and the cost of current and future medical care.

Continue reading "Indiana Personal Injury Firm Focused On Your Needs" »

2009 marked a record year of sorts in trucking safety in the US. Last year, the number of people killed in truck accidents around the country dropped to their lowest numbers since records began to be maintained. But does that really mean that motorists are much safer today?

The Institute Agency for Highway Safety has analyzed truck accident fatality data for 2009. Some of the findings from the analysis:

In all, a total of 3,163 people were killed in truck accidents in the US last year. Out of these, 14% were the occupants of the truck, while 70% were the occupants of the passenger vehicle involved in the collision. The remaining 14% were bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists.

Continue reading "Indiana Truck Accident Facts" »

Fall in Indiana is the perfect time to clean up dying flower beds, rake fallen leaves and plant new shrubs and trees. Unfortunately, too many Indian residents fail to take the proper steps necessary to protect themselves before they start on these beautifying tasks.

Indiana personal injury attorneys encourage all residents to take care when working in the yard, in the garden, and at the job site. Your safety is our primary concern.

It is hard to imagine but many utility lines and power supplies are buried just a few feet below ground and simple activities such as landscaping, trenching and tree planting can result in a severe electrical shock or even sudden death.

Continue reading "Call Before You Dig in Indiana" »

Dropping leaves and cooler temperatures are a beautiful reminder that it is fall in Indiana. The beauty of the season is often tempered with preparations for the winter weather just around the corner. One task on every home-owner’s to-do list is the duty of cleaning gutters. Leaves and debris accumulates over the course of the summer months, resulting in blocked gutters and downspouts that overflow during the autumn rains and winter snows.

The personal injury attorneys at our firm encourage every home owner to be aware of their surroundings when doing home repairs. Gas mains, phone lines, and utility boxes all pose their own hazards and precautions should be taken when working near them.

Continue reading "Overhead Electric Wires – Indiana's Forgotten Danger " »

The Indiana office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating a construction accident in Noblesville that left one worker seriously injured.

The accident occurred when the man, an employee of Filson Earthworks Company was operating an excavator. A scoop suddenly detached from the excavator, hit the ground and bounced right back, striking the worker on the head. He fell into the 10 foot deep trench. Shockingly, it was more than an hour before the worker could be rescued and emergency personnel could transfer him to a hospital. That's because the walls of this trench had not been shored, and the man had fallen into the most delicate part of the trench. Emergency personnel had to shore up the walls of the trench before the worker could be rescued. That took about an hour.

Continue reading "Indiana OSHA Wing Investigating Construction Accident" »

The Coast Guard's boating safety report for 2009 indicates an increase in deaths and injuries, although the overall number of boating accidents actually declined last year. Overall, there was a 3.81% increase in boating accident fatalities and a .81% increase in boating accident injuries last year. However, the number of boating accidents dropped by 1.23%.

In all, there were 4,730 recreational boating accidents in 2009, and these resulted in 736 deaths and 3,358 injuries. As for the causes of boating accidents, it should come as no surprise to any Indiana boating accident lawyer, that the primary factors continue to be operator attention and inexperience, excessive speeds, boating under the influence and insufficient lookout. The one common thing about these five factors is that all of them are related in some way to human error or inadequacy. Mechanical malfunction plays a very small role in the majority of boating accidents every year.

Continue reading "Coast Guard Report Shows Spike in Boating Accident Fatalities in 2009" »

Last year, Indianapolis residents had a close view of the massive destruction that can occur when a tanker truck is involved in a rollover accident. In October 2009, a propane truck flipped over on Interstate 465, and burst into flames. The resulting blaze could be seen for miles around, and even motorists a mile away from the explosion could feel the heat. That accident could likely have been averted if the tanker truck had come equipped with a stability control system of the kind found in millions of passenger vehicles around the country. Unfortunately, federal agencies have failed to make these systems mandatory on all commercial trucks.

This week, representatives of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told a hearing of the National Transportation Safety Board that the federal administration was looking into the benefits of having electronic stability control systems made mandatory on all commercial trucks. The hearing was linked to the Indianapolis crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board was specifically looking into safety systems to prevent tanker truck rollovers, like the one that occurred last year. According to the researchers who presented the findings at the hearing, electronic stability control systems on all 18-wheelers would prevent 3,600 rollover truck accidents every year, save 106 lives and prevent 4,400 injuries every year.

Continue reading "Stability Control Systems Could Prevent 3,600 Truck Rollover Accidents Annually" »

The American Automobile Association conducted a survey, which found that four out of every five dog owners drove frequently with their dogs, and one out of three admitted that their pet was a serious distraction. Half of the respondents in the survey said they liked to pet their dogs while driving, and 20% allowed their dogs to sit on the lap while driving.

Continue reading "Driving with Fido Could Increase Your Accident Risk" »

If efforts to develop a test that will determine the presence of brain injury through biomarkers are successful, we could soon have a simple blood test that doctors at any kind of facility could use to determine the presence of a brain injury.

Currently, procedures for the diagnosis of brain injury are fairly restricted. Doctors can diagnose injury by taking a patient's blood pressure and other vitals, and administering memory and concentration tests. However, the chances of a missed diagnosis are always too high for Indiana personal injury lawyers to tolerate. A delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, can radically impact a person's chances of completely recovering from the brain injury.

Continue reading "Progress in Efforts to Develop Brain Injury Biomarker Test" »

Independence Day Celebrations are about to begin in the Indianapolis area. You have probably already heard the pop and sizzle of the beginning celebrations. The 4th of July provides flashes of brilliant lights, booming explosions, and patriotic concerts. It is a grand event. However, Indiana residents must be on the alert for the inherent dangers of firework celebrations.

One of the most popular holiday fireworks is the common sparkler; a hand-held welding rod enjoyed by both adults and children. These glittering, fiery metal sticks can produce temperatures as high as 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. A third-degree burn can be caused by 220-degree temperatures. Safely using sparklers is critical to an enjoyable weekend. Safety is critical when using the bigger consumer fireworks, including assortment packages, aerials, firecrackers, fountains, roman candles, spinners, novelty items, and rockets.

Continue reading "Indiana Fireworks Injuries Are Preventable" »

Indiana summer brings warm weather, family gatherings, fun on the beach and open water. Indiana boasts more than 550 square miles of waterways and some of the most beautiful and enjoyable lakes and rivers. Boating, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming are recreational pastimes enjoyed by many Indiana residents. Keeping our state’s waterways safe is of utmost importance and a tremendous responsibility.

The most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics indicate that boating while under the influence is still the leading factor in fatal boating accidents. Nearly 17% of boating fatalities are a direct result of alcohol or drug use. Alcohol and water fun does not mix. Detecting and stopping boaters who operate under the influence of alcohol and drugs is an important step to ensuring the safety to all who enjoy the rivers and lakes.

Continue reading "Preventing Indiana Boat Accidents a High Priority" »

At the beginning of the decade, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a review that indicated an explosion of the senior motorist population in the country in the coming years. This, the IIHS believed, would increase the risk of accidents involving these drivers and other motorists. Nine years later, the IIHS has revisited the issue, and conducted a study into senior motorist safety. The results have been a pleasant surprise.

There are definitely more senior citizens driving today than in the past, but they are not contributing to more accidents, nor are they being fatally injured in accidents at a greater rate. If anything, accident and fatality rates for senior citizens are actually showing a downward trend. Fatal accident rates involving elderly drivers have dropped by as much as 37% over the past decade. In the case of drivers above the age of 80 - those you would think would have the most diminished driving abilities - fatal accident rates have dropped by as much as 47%.

Continue reading "Concerns about Senior Motorists May Be Unfounded" »

Utility crews, emergency responders, police, fire personnel, and construction workers risk their lives every day in an effort to assist the residents of Indiana. With each road construction site, traffic stop and roadside response, these men and women place their own personal safety on the line.

In recent years, Indiana and Federal legislators have added safeguards designed to reduce that risk. These safety measures include a requirement for drivers to reduce their speed, change lanes whenever possible, and always yield the right-of-way to personnel responding to an emergency and requiring personnel at the roadside to wear reflective gear.

Continue reading "New Law Reduces Speed of Indiana Drivers" »

It is a well-known fact that children are just as much at risk from choking on pieces of food, as on toys. Earlier this year, a study confirmed that 60% of children below the age of four, who had to be rushed to hospital emergency rooms after a choking incident, had choked on food, and not toys.

In spite of this, there are few or no restrictions on the kind of foods that you can allow a three or four-year-old child to have. In contrast, there are a number of barriers between a child and a small toy, or a toy with detachable parts. This is in spite of the fact that many of the small toys that are believed to be a choking hazard, like small balls, are shaped and sized exactly like foods that can cause serious harm to a child, like gumdrops.

Continue reading "Calls for Warning Labels on Foods Get Louder" »

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is in the process of developing/rolling out new technologies to help enhance trucking safety and keep Americans safer. As expected, these technological developments are the kind that make Indiana truck accident attorneys very happy.

First, the agency is in the process of finalizing technological devices that can help prevent rear-ender tractor-trailer accidents. These accidents kill 165 people in the country every year, and injure more than 1,600 more. The agency is considering lighting systems that will alert approaching motorists to the tractor-trailer.

Continue reading "FMCSA Working on Safety Technologies to Prevent Accidents" »

Two trucking safety questions are on the horizon for the trucking industry, safety groups and Indiana truck accident lawyers.

The first question - how does the industry plan to deal with a looming truck driver shortage that threatens as the recession ends?

The second question is linked to the first - will a driver shortfall mean that there will be more older, and thus less safe, truckers, on the highways?

Last week, several trucking groups and Reuters reported that as the recession loosens its grip on the trucking industry, there will be more opportunities in other areas for young men who would otherwise have turned to trucking. Historically, a good economy means more opportunities for potential trucking candidates.

Continue reading "Truck Driver Shortfall Looms, Raises Safety Issues " »

It is the right time to embrace the cause of bicycle safety in Indiana. There are more Hoosiers biking to work and for leisure than ever before. In fact, according to Bicycle Indiana, since 2007 alone, there has been an increase of 40% in the numbers of people biking to work in Indiana.

And why not? There are far too many incentives for Hoosiers not to take to bicycling. Biking helps save precious dollars on gas, and reduces your carbon footprint. With a massive oil blob the size of Delaware inching towards the Louisiana coastline, the need for promoting eco-friendly means of transportation is clearer than ever. Besides, with health experts warning of an obesity epidemic continuing into future generations of Americans, biking is a healthy lifestyle choice more Hoosiers should be encouraged to make.

Continue reading "Indiana Marks Bicycle Safety Month in May" »

Bicycle riders in Indiana share the road with many passenger cars, delivery vans, and large trucks. This traffic increases the risk of serious personal injury to the rider. To ensure a fun afternoon on a bicycle continues in safety, all riders should take a few simple precautions when they hit the road.

As Indiana personal injury attorneys, we believe visibility is of utmost importance for any bicycle rider. The ability to see potential dangers and to be seen by automobile and truck drivers can prevent serious injuries for the bike rider.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Bicyclists Avoid Serious Injuries by Following Simple Steps (III of III)" »

Just in time for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May comes an announcement by the Governors’ Highway Safety Association that there has been a substantial drop in the number of motorcycle fatalities nationwide.

According to data from the first nine months of 2009, there is expected to be a decline of more than 10% in fatality rates, the first time a decline like this has been recorded in the past 11 years. Indiana also recorded a drop in motorcycle accident fatalities last year. There were 108 motorcycle crash deaths here in 2009, a drop of four deaths from 2008.

Continue reading "Fewer People Died in Motorcycle Accidents in Indiana in 2009" »

Indiana bicycle riders have enjoyed many sunny days of wonderful two-wheeled riding this spring. But for every hour spent on the bike, the rider runs an increased risk of injury.

Perhaps the biggest risk for any bicycle rider is falling off the bike. A rider’s head has no protection from a fall except the bicycle helmet. This complex device made of foam and plastic is designed to absorb much of the impact that a rider would experience if a fall were to occur. Worn correctly, a helmet can help prevent life-threatening head injuries.

Continue reading "Simple Steps Can Reduce Indiana Bicycle Injuries (Part II of III)" »

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is looking at the problem of driver fatigue very seriously. In the latest move designed to reduce the number of tired, drowsy and simply fatigued truckers plying our highways, the agency has passed a rule that requires electronic on-board recorders (EOBR's) to be installed on trucks of carriers that frequently violate the Hours of Service rule.

The new rule will take effect from June 1, 2012. It will require a carrier found to be in violation of the work hour rules more than 10% of the time in a single compliance review, to have the EOBRs installed in all its trucks. The recorders must be synchronized with the truck’s engine to record precise and accurate data. The device must record the truck driver name, location, duty status, date and time. After an accident, the data can be accessed through the device, helping rule out or confirm the role of driver fatigue as a role in the accident.

Continue reading "New Federal Rule Will Require Electronic On-Board Recorders for Certain Carriers" »

The Georgia Supreme Court this week shot down a key provision of the state's 2005 tort reform laws capping noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits at $350,000. That comes just weeks after the Illinois Supreme Court declared that caps on medical malpractice damages violate separation of powers, by allowing lawmakers to interfere with judicial verdicts.

The Georgia Supreme Court decision involved an appeal by a hospital against a verdict awarding $1.15 million in non-economic damages to a patient. The patient had been severely scarred by a botched cosmetic surgery procedure performed at Atlanta Oculopasty Surgery. A jury awarded her $1.15 million in non-economic damages including pain and suffering, against a statutory cap of $350,000. The cap was part of sweeping tort reform laws passed in Georgia in 2005. The law’s proponents claimed these caps would reduce medical practice insurance premiums, and encourage more doctors to stay in the state.

Continue reading "Georgia SC Strikes Down Medical Malpractice Caps: Will Indiana Be Next? " »

Warm weather is finally arriving in Indiana. With the increase in temperature, Indiana streets are experiencing an increase in bicycle traffic. A stroll through any Indianapolis neighborhood will reveal both children and adults enjoying the freedom of a bike ride. As Indianapolis personal injury attorneys, we want to encourage everyone to enjoy the ride while being as safe as possible.

Since the invention of the “Walking Machine” in 1817 by Baron von Drais, people have enjoyed riding bikes. But throughout the history of this wonderful machine, safety has been of utmost concern. Builders have spent decades making improvements to the bicycle. They have engineered it to be stronger, go faster, and ride smoother; however, even the finest crafted bikes cannot keep you from a spill. As anyone who has tumbled from the two-wheel contraptions knows, falling from a bicycle, even at a slow speed, will do terrible things to your head and brain.

Continue reading "Helmets Protect Indiana Bike Riders (Part I of III)" »

Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood deserved to be proud this week, when he announced that according to preliminary data, highway fatalities across the country had dropped to their lowest levels in 54 years. Fatality numbers for 2009 were 9% lower than they were in 2008. The DOT estimates that there were 33,960 accident fatalities in 2009. Compare that to just four years ago in 2005, when there were 37,261 fatalities.

Obviously that's good news, although 33,000+ deaths in 365 days are still far too many to stomach for Indiana injury lawyers.

Continue reading "Highway Accident Fatalities Lowest in More Than Five Decades" »

In all the attention that the Toyota acceleration crisis has received, one fact has become clear – the role of trial lawyers in protecting consumers when companies fail to respond to safety concerns, and federal agencies entrusted with protecting the consumer, dither in their duty to keep defective products off the market.

In Toyota’s case, reports of unintended acceleration in its vehicles began surfacing as far back as 2002, when the company first introduced its bestselling electronic throttle control systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration however, failed to find the issue serious enough to warrant a recall. It took the deaths of four people in a San Diego accident involving a Lexus for the NHTSA and Toyota to admit that there was a problem.

Continue reading "Toyota Crisis Just One Example of Why Indiana Needs Trial Lawyers " »

Indiana medical malpractice cases involving radiation errors are extremely technical and complicated. One reason is because there isn’t just one way in which a radiation error can occur. With new medical technologies, using radioactive rays to diagnose and treat, and a continued paucity of training and oversight, the types and sources of these errors have increased.

The types of errors have been numerous.

Continue reading "Types and Causes of Radiation Errors " »

New radiation technologies are offering patients more focused and precise treatment, but as a series of investigative reports in the New York Times shows, lack of safeguards, software flaws, faulty programming, poor safety procedures or inadequate staffing and training are causing these technologies to harm the very patients they are meant to treat.

The New York Times profiles a series of radiation errors involving new, more advanced and highly sophisticated machines capable of delivering a treatment called Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). The errors have included overdoses caused by poorly configured systems, radiation that misses all or part of the target or is focused on the wrong part of the body and other errors. With these increasingly sophisticated radiation tools, you would think that the margin for errors would be virtually nil. In fact, as the NYT reports, the complexity of the machines that deliver the radiation, combined with the failure of hospitals to implement processes that catch errors in time and poorly trained staff, have all helped create a “crisis” situation.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Radiation Therapies Offer Hope, But Also Present Risk of Injuries " »

Indianapolis resident, Alice Helterbrand woke to a shock early Sunday morning when her furnace exploded, causing the total destruction of her home and the loss of several exotic birds. The explosion was so destructive that Ms. Helterbrand had to be rescued by neighbors through a hole in her wall. The home was determined to be a total loss, estimated at a value of $140,000. A neighboring home suffered about $20,000 in damage due to the flames and heat.

Helterbrand’s daughter informed officials that the furnace had been making a funny sound for several days.

Miraculously, no one suffered serious personal injured, as all other family members were staying with friends for the night.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Furnace Blamed for Devastating Fire" »

Indiana residents were again reminded of the devastation caused by semi tractor-trailer accidents when they awoke last Sunday to the news of a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a passenger van.

According to early reports, a passenger van traveling north on Interstate 65 near Edinburgh was struck from behind by a semitrailer. The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on the darkened interstate.

The full-sized passenger van, filled with family members, was returning from a kite flying competition in Atlanta, Georgia. The van carried 18 people. All the passengers in the van were from one Chicago area family.

Continue reading "Indiana Tractor-Trailer Accident Takes Two Lives" »

Last week, a safety group handed out its annual report card for highway safety. Indiana received a mediocre rating for the strength and effectiveness of its highway safety laws. Coming as it does during the first month of a brand new year, Indiana personal injury lawyers hope that the government takes seriously the issues brought up by the report card and its recommendations.

The report by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety called Road Map to State Highway Safety Laws, rated all states based on the kind of highway safety laws they have in place to minimize accidents, prevent fatalities and reduce injuries. Fifteen basic and essential highway safety laws relating to teen driving, drunk driving, adult occupant protection and other aspects of highway safety were taken as bench marks.

Continue reading "More Highway Highway Safety Laws Needed to Minimize Indiana Accidents " »

Indiana State Police responded to a call concerning a near fatal accident on the Indianapolis east side this past Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 9:00 am when the driver of a van hit a tow-truck driver on westbound I-70.

Indianapolis Police report that the tow truck driver, Mark Daily was outside his vehicle, helping a broken-down car on the side of the highway. While he was working, a van ran over him. Police say that the driver of the car, 40-year old Ronald Stevens, failed to obey the law that requires a driver to move to another lane when service vehicles and emergency personnel are present. He was cited for unsafe lane movement and following too close.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Tow Truck Driver Injured" »

As Indiana medical malpractice lawyers, we are always looking for ways that patients can protect themselves from medication errors. We came across this simple checklist that a patient can use to take the right medication and the right dosage of medication.

The list outlines three “checkpoints” at which errors can be caught and rectified.

The first checkpoint is at the doctor’s office when you receive your prescription. Make sure that the doctor or nurse informs you of the:
• Drug name
• Strength
• Dosage
• Dosage procedure
• Why you need the medicine
• What the medication will do
• How quickly you will see results

Remember those drugs are going into your system, and ultimately will affect your health. You have every right as a patient to demand information, and your doctor has every duty to provide the information you need.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Patients Can Prevent Medication Errors" »

The New Year promises to usher in new state and federal laws of the kind that Indiana personal injury lawyers would really like to see. Our state continues to lag behind many in its approach to the safety issues arising from motorists texting and using cell phones while driving. We currently have a ban on all cell phone use by motorists below the age of 18. However, there is no law yet that bans texting while driving for all.

A new bill introduced by Senator Travis Holman (R-Markle) will ban texting and sending emails behind the wheel for all drivers. The bill was filed in the legislature last year, and a non budget session of the legislature which begins on January 5th, has the bill on its agenda. The momentum against cell phone use while driving is gaining momentum in Indiana, and the bill has received support from legislators, Indiana personal injury attorneys and the public.

Continue reading "Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers Look Forward to Texting While Driving Ban in 2010 " »

Indiana is in the midst of a massive 10-year highway construction development blitz, but given a poor nationwide record of enforcing work zone safety standards, personal injury lawyers here will be concerned about the increased risk of accidents and injuries from these development efforts.

In 2006, the Indiana Department of Transportation introduced Major Moves, a highway development plan that includes at least 200 new highway construction projects and 200 preservation projects across Indiana. The plan was initiated as part of efforts to boost development, facilitate easier transportation and generate jobs. All that has been great, but the plan has also meant dozens of highway projects active across the state, at any given time.

Continue reading "Increased Indiana Highway Construction Could Mean More Accidents in the New Year" »

Thanks to relentless efforts by consumer safety groups and product liability attorneys in Indiana and around the country, there are stricter safety standards in place for children’s products. However, it is important for parents and caregivers to know that their children may also be at danger from other consumer products in the home. Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of up to 50 million rollup blinds and window shades, after a series of strangulation deaths involving little children.

The CPSC has confirmed eight reports of deaths in which children were strangulated by the blind and shade cords since 2001. It has also received reports of at least 16 incidents in which children wrapped the cord around themselves but were rescued in time. This recall is believed to be the second largest American product recall, and the latest in a series of recalls of window coverings. The last massive recall was nine years ago when 85 million blinds had to be recalled for similar hazards.

Continue reading "Indiana Children at Risk of Strangulation from Defective Roll Up Blinds, Roman Shades" »

Approximately 1.3 million people in the country, including thousands in Indiana, are injured every year from medication errors. Of these:

* 41 percent of deaths were linked to improper dosage
* 16 percent involved distribution of the wrong medicine
* another 16 percent was attributed to the wrong route of medication administration

Now, a new national alert program is aiming to minimize the frequency of such medication errors.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) have developed the National Alert Network for Serious Medication Errors. Actor Dennis Quaid recently announced the launch of the alert program. Quaid has some personal experience with the trauma that patients and families go through when they are injured by these preventable errors. In 2007, his twin boys were administered an excessive dose of the drug heparin. The event occurred at the Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

Continue reading "New Medication Error Alert System Promises to Reduce Frequency of Errors" »

As Indiana personal injury lawyers, we are constantly monitoring efforts by our state to prevent automobile accidents, especially those that result in fatalities and catastrophic injuries. With winter here, the chances of accidents increase because of the challenges of driving in adverse weather conditions. That is why we are encouraged to see the Indiana Department of Transportation (DOT) using technology and the Internet to keep motorists in informed about road and traffic conditions that affects their safety.

The DOT has set up a new website at www.trafficwise.in.gov to keep motorists informed of road conditions. The website launched just before the Thanksgiving holiday, which kicks off a high-risk season for accidents in Indiana.

Continue reading "Indiana DOT Launches New Website to Prevent Accidents" »

As Indiana truck accident lawyers, we have our reservations about the confirmation of Anne Ferro as chief of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Ferro’s confirmation has been controversial, and truck accident attorneys, safety groups and accident survivor groups have their doubts about the good judgment in having a former trucking industry lobbyist leading the country’s premier commercial motor vehicle agency.

Ferro served six years as president of the Maryland Motor Truck Association.
It’s not just the lobbyist past that concerns Indiana truck accident attorneys. Ferro has also been a strong supporter of the 11-hour trucking rule that the Bush administration passed just before he vacated office. Trucking safety advocates and truck accident lawyers in Indiana and around the country have been strongly critical of the rule, which extended the number of consecutive hours a trucker can drive to 11, from the earlier 10.

Continue reading "Indiana Truck Accident Lawyers’ Wish List for New FMCSA Chief " »

Indianapolis officials are investigating an accidental fire that resulted in the death of 94-year-old, Willa Mae Fossett.

Firefighters responded to a report of smoke coming from a third floor window at the Indiana Avenue Senior Apartments this Sunday morning. When they arrived just after 4:30 a.m., they found a small fire in the bathroom. They quickly extinguished the fire. Unfortunately, they also discovered Ms. Fossett unconscious in the bedroom. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Woman Dies in Apartment Fire" »

On November 24, 2008, a new federal regulation (23 CFR 634) went into effect, requiring anyone working in the right-of-way of a federal highway to wear high-visibility vests that meet specific requirements. This law applies to anyone who must be in proximity of or in the path of the roadway. Unfortunately, as some local news media have discovered, not everyone is following the law and the result can be deadly.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Police and Highway Workers in Danger" »

A 55-year-old construction worker died this past week in an accident at a downtown Indianapolis building site. The victim, Stanley Roberts of Indianapolis, was an ironworker employed by Harmon Steel. He was working on the new Indiana Convention Center construction site where approximately 250 construction workers are employed on the expansion project.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Convention Center Construction Death" »

Another Indiana construction fatality has occurred near Indianapolis. Randy Gardner, a pipe line worker from Tennessee, was killed when construction equipment fell on him late last week. The accident occurred in Decatur County near St. Omer.

Mr. Gardner was working on the Rockies Express Pipeline, which will carry natural gas from Colorado to Ohio. He was an employee of Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company, based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma and had worked with the firm for two years.

Continue reading "Another Indiana Construction Death Reported" »

The recent warm Indianapolis weather has offered wonderful opportunities for outdoor exercise and activity. Running, basketball, soccer and especially bicycle riding fill the warm spring days. The increased number of cyclists on the streets can result in tragic accidents for those who do not put safety first. In fact, Indiana bike accidents are a serious matter. In 2007, there were 15 bicycle-related fatalities in Indiana.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, nationwide, 43,000 people were injured in bicycle-related accidents in 2007. They also report that 700 people died that same year from injuries that occurred in bike mishaps.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Bicycles Hit the Streets " »

An Indiana construction worker drowned under a Wabash, Indiana street on January 27, 2009. Stephen A. Walls, an employee of Environmental Construction, Inc., was working in a water main access pit when he was pinned by equipment and water from a nearby leak filled the space.

Despite attempts by Mr. Walls, he was unable to free himself from the pit. Workers at the scene were unable to rescue him from the water main access trench. The pit was drained and he was rushed to a local hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival. The final cause of death is pending autopsy.

Continue reading "Indiana Construction Fatality Occurs in Tragic Accident" »

In a January 15, 2009 press release, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of Simplicity’s Rainforest Portable Play Yards. These products are sold in major department stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, and Toys-R-Us. Manufactured in China and sold under the company name, Simplicity for Children, with a Fisher-Price logo, these play yards pose a hazard to children in Indiana and around the country due to the unexpected collapse of the side railing. This collapse can cause entrapment and serious injury to young children.

Continue reading "Indiana Residents on Alert for Play Yard Recall" »

Today's front page for CNN's website draws attention to an issue highlighted here last December (Indiana Residents Risk Personal Injury in Local Pools). Indiana pools must have new safety drains in place before they open for business or risk being shut down. This is according to the The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007.

Indiana winter weather is unpredictable and road conditions change quickly when the snow and ice begin to fall. Traveling to and from family events, work and school can be treacherous if you are not properly prepared. This last Friday, three Indiana residents in Hamilton County were killed because of icy conditions.

By taking a few simple precautions, you may avoid some minor inconveniences and serious injuries.

Continue reading "Indianapolis Area Deaths Result from Winter Weather Driving" »

The FDA released a new warning concerning antiepileptic medications and an increased risk of suicide. The FDA will mandate that more than 30 medications prescribed for seizures must carry additional warnings of the increased risk. The agency also released a statement directing physicians to inform patients and their families about the medications. Physicians in Indiana should be receiving these notices very soon.

Continue reading "Indiana Seizure Patients Face Increased Suicide Risk" »

With the arrival of winter chill, Indiana residents’ thoughts turn to pool-side vacations in warm climates. But people living in Indiana should think twice before diving into the deep-end or dipping your toes into the wading pool. Tens of thousands of swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas are at risk for being closed because of a deadly hidden danger: Pool Filter Systems.

Continue reading "Indiana Residents Risk Personal Injury in Local Pools" »