R. Steve Bowden & AssociatesGreensboro Personal Injury Lawyers | Burlington NC Accident Attorney 2024-03-15T16:00:23Zhttps://www.rstevebowden.com/feed/atom/WordPressOn Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482632024-03-15T16:00:23Z2024-03-15T16:00:23Zmore rain than the average in the United States, and some parts of the state see far more rain than others. Precipitation keeps vegetation lush and contributes to a comfortable climate. Unfortunately, it also creates hazards for those driving. When rain storms last for hours and come day after day, it is frankly impossible for people to avoid driving in the rain. Rainstorms create a variety of different safety issues for those operating motor vehicles.
Those who refresh themselves about the risks related to rainy weather may have an easier time avoiding a weather-related crash.
Rainfall affects vehicle control and visibility
During times of active precipitation, drivers may find it difficult to drive safely. The rain falling can impact visibility, even when someone uses their windshield wipers. Heavier rainfall and rain during transitional times or after dark can be particularly dangerous. Rain often comes with wind, and windy conditions can push vehicles around on the road. Both light vehicles and particularly large vehicles can become difficult to handle during high-speed winds. Drivers may need to slow down and increase the distance that they maintain between their vehicle and other vehicles in traffic to avoid causing a preventable crash.
Rainfall affects traction as well
The crash risk associated with precipitation does not end as soon as the rain stops falling. Until the pavement dries, the risk of a crash remains elevated. Roughly 75% of all weather-related collisions occur when the roads are wet after or during precipitation, but many of those crashes do not occur during active rainfall. Water accumulating in the streets can bring oil to the surface of the pavement, affecting vehicle traction. Puddles can cause hydroplaning, which can also affect someone's control of their vehicle. When motorists know that rain is likely, they may want to plan to leave earlier so that they have time to adjust their driving for the weather.
Refreshing oneself on the top weather-related concerns for North Carolina drivers may help people reduce their personal crash risk. Motorists who make safety their top priority can stay safer and strengthen their case should they ever need compensation after a crash caused by someone else.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482612024-03-07T23:12:50Z2024-03-07T23:12:50ZNursing home elopement explained
Nursing home elopement is when a resident of the nursing home leaves without permission or supervision. This is dangerous because a nursing home resident could have decreased mental capabilities or an illness.
For example, a resident with Alzheimer’s or dementia is more likely to elope. They might get confused about where they are and try to find their way home. Sometimes, the patient might think they have to meet a friend or a family member. The danger is that the resident could get lost, suffer an injury, fail to get their medications or even face death.
What causes a resident to do this?
Many things can cause a resident to wander away from the nursing home. However, nursing home elopement is often the result of nursing home neglect. The resident may be able to leave the premises because they’re not being watched. In addition to inadequate supervision, it’s possible that the location isn’t secure.
The aftermath of elopement
If nursing home neglect results in elopement, the resident’s family members might decide to take legal action. Most people think that nursing home neglect is limited to sexual abuse, physical abuse or financial abuse, but ignoring a patient is often just as damaging. When a nursing home fails to supervise a resident, it can result in civil or criminal penalties.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482602024-02-27T23:39:32Z2024-02-27T23:39:32ZTruck accident statistics
The number of motor vehicle accidents involving trucks resulting in a fatality has increased by 13% since 2020. Many commercial truck accidents are attributed to speeding or distracted driving, with over 30% occurring at nighttime, predominantly on weekends. Additionally, nearly 60% of commercial truck accidents occur on rural roads.
Semi truck-accidents
In addition to factors like distracted driving or speeding, semi-truck accidents frequently result from fatigue, disobeying traffic laws or other forms of negligence. Due to their size and weight, accidents involving semi-trucks typically cause greater damage than those involving passenger vehicles.
Semi-trucks have longer stopping distances, a higher center of gravity and larger blind spots and may carry unsecured or inadequate loads. Close to 50% of semi-truck accidents result in injuries, and collisions involving them often lead to fatalities or serious injuries with lengthy recovery processes.
18-wheeler accident
It's estimated that every 16 minutes, one person is injured or killed by a truck, with 90,000 people injured annually by 18-wheelers. Victims of collisions with large trucks often face significant challenges, including hefty medical bills, mental anguish, lost wages and funeral costs for families. Additionally, they may experience economic and non-economic damages such as emotional trauma, loss of companionship and a reduced earning capacity.
The aftermath of a truck accident
Due to the potentially severe consequences of a trucking accident, victims must seek necessary assistance. This may involve understanding truck liability, where a driver could be liable for driving fatigued, distracted or under the influence of alcohol. The company employing the driver might also be liable for issues like inadequate vehicle maintenance or poor hiring practices. The more a truck accident victim understands truck accident liability, the better they can ensure fair compensation for their injuries.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482582024-02-19T19:46:05Z2024-02-19T19:46:05ZReasons for auto accidents
Motor vehicle accidents can happen for a number of different reasons, including manufacturers' defects, poor road conditions or a fatigued driver. However, examining data from the National Highway Traffic Administration demonstrates that there are certain behaviors that are particularly associated with deadly crashes.
Breakdown by state
The study further broke down these crashes by state. For example, Colorado motorists had the highest percentage rate of being charged with reckless driving. The largest percentage of people charged with driving after their license had been withdrawn was in New Hampshire. In Nevada, the highest percentage of motorists faced charges related to driving under the influence.
Other charges
Other charges related to fatal crashes included speeding and driving on the wrong side of the road. Drivers were also guilty of violations related to turning and observing traffic signs.
Taking safety precautions
When reviewing this kind of information, drivers should keep in mind that is not always easy to determine the cause of an accident based on legal charges. For example, a person might have been driving recklessly or swerved into another lane because they fell asleep at the wheel or were distracted by an argument they were having with someone else in the vehicle. It is important for drivers to remember that even a momentary lack of attention to the road can lead to serious consequences. For this reason, they should drive carefully and defensively even if they do not think of themselves as reckless drivers.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482562024-02-07T19:46:57Z2024-02-07T19:46:57ZSpeeding
An automobile doesn't have to be speeding to be involved in a rollover, but the chances of this happening are higher if they are. Statistics indicate that 75% of fatal rollovers happen on undivided rural roads with a posted speed limit of 55 mph or higher.
Hard braking
Hard braking while speeding is particularly dangerous. The car stops but is momentarily unbalanced as the wheels slide. That instability may result in car accidents. Pumping the brakes to slow down gradually is often the better choice.
Road conditions
Wet or icy roads offer particularly challenging conditions for drivers fighting to control a sliding car. The tires cannot grip the road to stop the momentum, and the vehicle may roll over if it hits a curb or pothole. Experts recommend that drivers encountering an icy patch should take their foot off the gas and keep the car straight. However, if it starts to slide, turn the wheels toward the slide. Applying force in the opposite direction to the car's momentum could result in a rollover.
Inadequate tire pressure
Check your tire pressure frequently and take action if your dashboard icons indicate low tire pressure. This step is most important if you expect bad weather. Your tires need sufficient traction on wet roads to reduce the chance of an accident.
If you are driving and see an obstacle in the road or feel your car start to slide, don't panic and don't stomp on the brakes. It may be safer to hit the pothole than trying to avoid it.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482522024-01-23T05:02:55Z2024-01-23T05:02:55ZPhysical signs
If you notice any unexplained bruises, cuts or injuries, this is indicative of neglect. Patients may have hurt themselves due to a lack of supervision. Also, severe weight loss, dehydration or malnutrition are also signs that adequate attention is not being given to basic needs.
Poor hygiene
Poor hygiene is also a sign of nursing home neglect. Signs include dirty clothes, unattended toileting needs, unkempt hair and dental issues. Poor hygiene can lead to critical health problems and a steep decline in overall wellbeing.
Bedsores
Bedsores should never happen, and if they do, this means that care is not being given to prevent skin integrity problems. Patients are not being cleaned and repositioned often enough. Even being left in dirty diapers can cause bedsores and skin breakdown to occur.
Changes in emotional wellbeing
Nursing home neglect can lead to changes in patients’ emotional wellbeing. Signs of emotional distress include sudden changes in behavior, depression or being withdrawn from others. It is up to staff to foster an environment where patients can thrive and feel supported, and falling short of that in any capacity is completely unacceptable.
Mismanaging medications
Failure to follow doctors’ orders concerning patient medications is a serious form of neglect. Patients who do not receive correct medication dosages or who are given the wrong medication can suffer deteriorating health or even death.
Unsanitary living conditions
Patients living in nursing homes are often forced to live in unsanitary conditions because administration and staff cannot be bothered to care. Signs of unsanitary conditions include dirty communal areas, soiled bed linens, a pungent smell of bodily waste, unclean living spaces and inadequate infection control measures.
If you notice any of these signs of neglect, start documenting immediately. Having an abundance of evidence will bolster the success of your case and help your loved one receive justice.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482472024-01-10T20:44:09Z2024-01-10T20:44:09ZGood communication
You may have had experience of both the type of doctor who seems to listen and involve you fully in decision-making about your care as well as the kind who is brusque, uncommunicative and condescending. However, the consequences of these two different approaches can go beyond simply how it makes you feel. With the latter type of doctor, you might not get the education that you need to make informed decisions about your care. You could be rushed into procedures that you do not understand or might not be fully informed about side effects of a certain treatment.
Fewer lawsuits
Studies over many years have found that poor communication and an overall poor bedside manner makes it more likely that a doctor will face a malpractice suit. Both malpractice suits and medical errors in general are not uncommon, but patients are less likely to escalate mistakes to a lawsuit if they feel that their doctor has a good bedside manner. One reason that malpractice lawsuits are filed in the first place is to prevent the accident from happening in the future. Another is to solve the current problem. If the physician takes steps to address these concerns, you might not feel as though a legal solution is unnecessary.
However, if you or a family member has been harmed by a medical professional, you might still want to file a lawsuit even if the rapport with the professional was good. You could be entitled to compensation if the doctor did not provide a reasonable standard of care.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482452023-12-28T06:04:18Z2023-12-28T06:04:18ZSome speeding facts
Over the past few years, the number of auto accidents caused by speeding rose by a massive 28% in the country, according to the latest research. Most of these crashes occur during holiday periods, and young drivers tend to be the most affected.
Potential causes and aggravating factors
For most people, time is a luxury, and they're always in a rush. This makes it tempting for drivers to go above the speed limit while trying to make appointments or when running late. Most of them do this without realizing that such behavior puts them at significant risk and endangers the lives of other people on the road.
Moreover, it's difficult to control a vehicle at high speeds, especially when you need to brake suddenly or make a sharp turn. The fact that most drivers don't leave enough space between them and the vehicle in front of them even worsens the situation.
What to do when involved in an accident
In case of a car crash, you should first check if you and all other passengers are fine and then proceed to call the police. As they come, if you can, take pictures and videos, witness testimonies, and keep any other evidence. This will help you when making an insurance claim or when seeking legal assistance.
Driving safely at the recommended speed is not just a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility. It's important to remember that speeding puts you at risk and endangers the lives of others on the road. Therefore, whenever you get behind the wheel, it's good to remember that safety begins with you.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482432023-12-28T04:53:39Z2023-12-28T04:53:39ZDiscovery
The discovery phase of a personal injury lawsuit is the time when the parties gather evidence and prepare their arguments. This can be a lengthy process when the plaintiff was injured in a truck accident because there could be many sources of evidence. Evidence that truck accident lawsuit plaintiffs could gather during the discovery phase includes:
Official accident reports
Toxicology test results
Electronic hours of service data
Commercial vehicle maintenance records
Truck driver accident and violation histories
Cellphone data
Information stored on commercial vehicle “black boxes”
Negotiations
The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled before they go to court. When the plaintiff’s injuries were suffered in a motor vehicle accident, the party negotiating on behalf of the defendant is usually an insurance company. This makes things challenging for plaintiffs because insurance companies employ skilled and experienced negotiators, and they are tasked with settling personal injury claims for as little as possible. When a plaintiff is seeking a five or six-figure settlement, negotiations can become contentious and drag on for weeks.
Reaching a settlement
The road to a settlement can be long and frustrating for the plaintiffs in truck accident lawsuits. Truck accident victims may not know who to sue until an official investigation has been completed, and this can be a lengthy process when the accident was serious. Gathering evidence, holding depositions and negotiating with an insurance company can also take weeks or months. Some truck accident lawsuits are decided in a courtroom, but most of them are settled at the negotiating table.]]>On Behalf of R. Steve Bowden & Associates PChttps://www.rstevebowden.com/?p=482402023-12-13T06:31:49Z2023-12-13T06:31:49ZThe components of medical malpractice
Not every medical treatment or surgery that goes bad is medical malpractice. You should understand that every medical intervention into the human body has some level of inherent risk. Instead, medical malpractice occurs when:
A professional duty between the healthcare giver and patient
A breach of that professional duty
Injury resulted from that breach
Injury resulted in damages for the patient
All four of these elements must be present for malpractice to have occurred. For example, just because a medical treatment failed, does not mean a breach of professional duty occurred. Instead, the care provided must be shown to have been substandard and not in line with the standards upheld by that doctor or nurse’s peers.
When knee replacements are medical malpractice
With all this in mind, you may wonder if your own case qualifies as medical malpractice. If you have had a knee surgery that you feel was botched, this may be the case. The most common form of knee surgery is knee replacement. Signs of a failed knee replacement can include:
Medical malpractice would have occurred if the surgeon improperly installed the implant. Alternatively, the implant itself may be defective. Keep in mind that such implants are sometimes recalled. If that is the case, you may have a case to make in court.]]>